Finance

Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting of September 14, 2016

Present were:  KC Bretzke, committee chair, Pastor Walter Lockhart, Carrie Feldman and Jennifer Gahnstrom,staff, and members Jan Werness and Carole Megarry.

An Agenda was set.

The minutes of the July 13 meeting were approved, with a correction as to the Center for Servant Ministries funding.  The funding will be from Simpson church for the first two years and then by the Conference for an uncertain period, rather than the funding coming from the Conference for the first two years as the original minutes stated.

Financial Reports were reviewed.  While operating expenses are right on track, fundraising is low.  We are essentially living on our reserves.  There was discussion of creating a simpler, one page, summary financial report for use at the Council meetings.  Carrie will create a summary report with fewer categories, but retain the detailed report for Finance Committee review.

The 2017 Budget needs to be cast.  It needs to be done in time to present to the November church conference, so should be worked up in October.  Carrie is to do a draft for the October Finance Committee meeting which can also be submitted to the Church Council.

Staff Salary Disclosure was discussed.  It was noted that the pastor’s salary must be approved by the all church meeting, but that other salaries can be aggregated and individual compensation not itemized.  Pastor Lockhart stated that he had done a comparison salary table from 2014-2016 and sent that to Carrie for reference.

Center for Servant Ministries.  Pastor Lockhart stated that the CSM Pastor and Simpson want to have a meeting regarding the administrative and financial issues involved.  Pastor Lockhart noted that Carrie should be in attendance at this meeting.

SSUMC gifts were discussed and Carrie instructed to split such gifts between WUMC and Simpson.

Carrie’s Evaluation.   Committee members were allowed to comment on Carrie’s grasp of her job and her performance.  The comments were very favorable.

Powderhorn Empty Bowls has stated it will renew its Fiscal Agency arrangement with us.

Respectfully submitted,

Carole Megarry