Walker Church Council
August 30, 2016
Present: Walter Lockhart, Jan Werness, Bonita Blumenauer, Deb Ramage, K.C. Bretzke, Lucy Slater, Jesse Watkins, Allyson Hayward, Al Hildenbrand, David West, Nancy Larsen.
K.C. presented the financial report. We need donations.
Lucy spoke for the SPRC. Plans are in the works for performance reviews for all staff. These will be completed by mid-October. Walker SPRC meets with Simpson SPRC twice a year.
{ A sub-committee of SPRC will meet to respond to a confidential request.}
Al presented the trustees report. The boiler had been off for several weeks due to a technical glitch when the gas was turned off to install the washer dryer. The dryer is almost installed.
K.C. reported on fundraisers. No silent auctions are in the works. Lulu will run the fall rummage sale, scheduled for October 8 and 9. The Art Fair is November 19 and 20.
Walter stated that the first Sunday in Advent is November 27. We discussed options for Christmas services since December 25 falls on a Sunday. The Christmas Eve service will be at 4 pm on Dec. 24, followed by a meal of ham and biscuits.
David is now celebration committee chair. He is going to solicit ideas for celebrations at the potluck on Homecoming Sunday.
Jesse is annoyed by interjections from the congregation during Sunday Celebration. It interrupts his train of thought. A workshop was suggested.
Deb presented the peace with justice report. She reported that the organization Isaiah is focusing on the issue of predatory lending and she wants to support that.
Walter gave the pastor’s report. The involvement committee is putting together a slate of candidates. He proposed an alternative governing structure that is often used for smaller churches. He proposed combining the church council, SPRC, and the trustees into one body, but maintaining a separate finance committee.
Walter is monitoring Methodist Church trials of GLBT pastors closely.
The Simpson Spanish language ministry is called the Center for Servant Ministries, but it will soon be renamed. Jesus is working half-time. His philosophy of ministry is a balance of social justice and personal holiness. Walter hopes it will become self-perpetuating in seven years.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Larsen
Church Council Secretary
