Redeemer Lutheran Church Annual Report

Transcription

1 Redeemer Lutheran Church 2017 Annual Report Ty1

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3 Table of Contents 3 Agenda 4-5 Council President s Report 5-9 Pastor s Report 9-10 Associate Pastor s Report Pastoral Intern s Report 12 Youth Minister s Report Property Minister s Report Moyo Kwa Moyo (Heart To Heart) Kenya Ministry Report Treasurer s Report Financial Reports and 2018 Approved Budget Welcome Establish a Quorum Devotion Budget Update President s Report Election of Officers Adjourn Agenda 3

4 Council President s Report Jeff Felton First off, I d like to say thanks to both Redeemer Staff and my fellow Council Ministers for all their work, support, and ideas you really are, aside from God, the engine that makes this train go! By my estimates, 2017 was a good year for Redeemer. We ve continued to work toward our mission of being that beacon of hope in the Harrison neighborhood, using our ministries to strengthen relationships already formed, as well as create and develop new ones. Our congregation s work has garnered a strong reputation and allows for greater influence here in this community as well as the whole of Greater Minneapolis. The council, as with the rest of the congregation, has experienced a lot of change in 2017, both personally and socially. The changing of roles in family dynamics, families growing, the loss of loved ones; mass tragedies, natural disasters, persistent inequality, and abuses of power were all prevalent in the news and maybe even in our own homes. In all of this you ve managed to still stand up for those who are disenfranchised, prejudged, assaulted, or abused. I think we all envision Redeemer as a place of support, comfort, and peace. I believe we are doing a good job of just that. But it doesn t stop there. We have to continue: Continue to be a voice for the voiceless. Continue to be a comfort and support for those in need. And hopefully give some solace by providing a space of peace for people of all ages to learn, develop, and grow in their faith in how God sees them individually as well as how we fit into this world together. As the world rapidly changes, we must adapt and adjust as well. This is why council started the year with some strategic planning for where we see Redeemer in three, five, and 10 years from now. Thomas Seiberg and his family, dear friends of Redeemer, led us through a strategic planning exercise to think about some of these things early in the year. We gained much insight into what makes us who we are. It was clear again and again that you the congregation, the people are one of our greatest and most important resources. More planning sessions need to occur, but the baseline that was established provides enough clarity and direction for us to move forward. You ve already seen some fruits of that labor. More in-depth discussions around faith and the various steps being taken to meet the educational needs of our youth are just a couple of specific examples, with more ideas and plans in work. To broaden the scope of the conversation, our goal is to engage more with our parishioners and encourage you to do the same, both here at Redeemer as well as in your daily lives. I ll start the engagement now by imploring everyone to share your thoughts and ideas with me, staff, anyone just share them. Let s continue to turn our conversations from internal to external ones. 4

5 We also had the opportunity to share in a monumental moment for one of our own as we celebrated Babette Chatman s ordination and installation as an associate pastor here at Redeemer. I can only speak for myself, but it was HOT in the sanctuary and completely worth it! She has provided value and worth to this community for years, but this goes further. By calling her to serve, we are helping her in her development as a pastor (she s been one for a while, by title or not) as well. I do not doubt that God s family was made stronger on September 24 th in the sanctuary of Redeemer Lutheran Church. I m glad to have been a part of it and happy to start this part of her journey with her. Let s be sure to give her the support she needs! Respectfully, Jeff Felton Pastor s Report Pastor Kelly Chatman Baptisms: Abraham Seys, Ada Hussong, Elijah Iverson, August Albanese Deaths: Barb Smith, Jeanne Halonen, Martha Lalainen Confirmations: Kiara Sampson, Emander Deward, Nko Sanelee Received into Membership: Rufus and Caroline Campbell, Derwin Holim, Leslie and Josh Olson, Amy and Paul Koopman, Philip Spoehr and Charles Larson, Dave and Julie Scharnhorst, Jamie Seys and Linnae Nelson-Seys, Sara Schoen, Dennis and Jill Skovstad, Andrea Westby, Jeff Skrenes. Average worship attendance: 93 (estimate) Ordination: Babette Chatman, shared call at Redeemer, Redeemer Center for Life, and Augsburg University. Enrolled in Seminary: Redeemer members enrolled in seminary training are Christine Belfry Johnson, Joe Davis, Kendrick Hall, and Sarah Kretzmann Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy. In 2017, Redeemer continued to grow in depth. Our mission to serve as a Beacon of Hope was actualized as the doors of the church doors were and are often open seven days each week. Eight out of ten people entering the doors of Redeemer are not church members, and yet they are impacted by the congregation s ministry. Through Redeemer s participation in 5

6 the Vitality Study of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations, we learned that Redeemer displays above-average signs of vitality. Redeemer also collaborated with Westwood Lutheran Church and Edina Community to host the Series on Race, among whose guest speakers were Reverend Jim Wallace, Julia, and Judge. We grew in our attention to children in worship and Sunday school. Members established a parents group and more consistent engagement of parents and adult leadership in Sunday school. Special thanks to Minister of Education, Helen Collins, Heather Anderson, Kathryn Parent, seminary Christian Public Leader intern Seth Wynands, and a host of volunteers. It was inspiring to be here each Sunday to witness a growing number of children participating in worship and Sunday school. We continued to grow a deep bench of talented and faithful staff. Sarah Stadie transitioned away as office administrator after she completed her master s degree in Social Work, and we were blessed to hire Amy Koopman to fill the position. Redeemer continues to be blessed through the partnership with staff, interns, and volunteers at Redeemer Center for Life. Thank God for Redeemer s insight and wisdom to have established the non-profit, Redeemer Center for Life, nearly 20 years ago. Partnership with Redeemer Center for Life supports the kind of relational ministry that impacts lives and lets the community know we care about more than ourselves. We demonstrate our care for others as we advocate for equitable and affordable housing through RCFL s operation and management of 23 housing units, its commitment to youth development, and by providing employment opportunities to community residents. We also hosted block parties, cookouts, community gardening, and Venture North bike and coffee shop because God cares, and we believe this is good news worth sharing. Through the combined resources of the congregation, non-profit, and partner congregations, we seek to be faithful to fulfill our mission to serve as a beacon of hope in North Minneapolis. In addition to my pastoral duties at Redeemer, I continued to work ten hours a week as Advisor to Minneapolis Bishop Ann Svennungsen. Babette and I were blessed to travel with the bishop and sixteen pastors to Leipzig, Germany as part of the celebration for the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation. I also co-lead a group of 14 pastors who meet once a month for the Macedonian Ministries, among whom are pastors from our partner congregations Edina Community and Westwood Lutheran. In May, our group combined with a group of pastors from Ireland for a two-week pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine. 6

7 Lutheran Volunteer Corps Last year we received our fifteenth and sixteenth Lutheran volunteers at Redeemer, Elizabeth (Bitta) Gordon and Ian Magnuson. Elizabeth worked providing office support and Ian provided support with communications. Northside Leadership - The Glenwood House continued to be an impactful ministry at Redeemer with six young adult males exchanging a portion of rent for five volunteer hours per week in the community. An additional seven women reside in the neighborhood at 419 Newton and at 250 Logan working and volunteering in the community five hours per week. Harrison, Healing, and Harmony (H-Cubed) Birthed in 2016 through an RCFL grant to support civic engagement in the community, H- Cubed is a monthly music and poetry outreach event offered to engage community and provide strong connection with poets and artist engaged in Black Lives Matters. Our Block Party was again a huge success as members, partner congregations, and Northside residents shared the celebration of community. Corn was provided for free from the farmers market with volunteer roasters from Christ the King in New Brighten. Thanks once again to T Williams for inviting representatives from Minneapolis Police 4 th Precinct to attend the Block Party as an effort to bridge divisions and unite us. Lenten Series During the 40 days of Lent, Redeemer worshipers gathered on Wednesdays around soup and table conversations. Newer members and voices were filmed sharing their faith and journeys to Redeemer. Lent concluded with shared worship at Westwood on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship back at Redeemer. Yearlong Series on Race Modeled after Westminster Town Hall Series and cohosted with Edina Community and Westwood Lutheran Congregations Additional ways Redeemer partners to supported outreach: Harrison, Harmony, and Hope (H-Cubed), Block Party, Soul Food Dinner, Christmas Store, Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings each week at Redeemer. Martin Luther King Celebration 7

8 Capital Improvements - Redeemer now has WIFI access throughout the church along, with renovated bathrooms downstairs, and newly-painted walls in the fellowship hall and downstairs hallways. Calendar that highlights - January Martin Luther King Worship, potluck and celebration; February, Lent Holden Vespers, video interviews with table conversations; March Lenten Series continued; Maundy Thursday worship with Westwood; April May; Forum Series on Race; June Vacation Bible School at Augsburg College, Summer Youth Program, Redeemer and Redeemer center for Life employ 22 high school youth; July - Summer Cookouts, summer youth program; August Annual Block Party, September October Soul Food Dinner, Ordination of Babette Chatman; November December Advent Worship, Children s Christmas Store, Christmas Eve Worship Training Leaders through Horizon Internship 2017 was the 14th consecutive year Redeemer has participated in the Horizon Internship Program. In August, Matt began his pastoral internship at Redeemer. Matt is a student at Southern Seminary and arrived at Redeemer with his lovely wife Aubrey and their two-yearold daughter Nora. Upon completion of his internship, Matt will return for his final year of seminary. Through The Horizon Program Redeemer partners with ELCA church-wide and the Minneapolis Area Synod to each contribute one-third to support an internship. Redeemer s Mission Partners - Bethlehem, located in South Minneapolis, supported Redeemer with volunteers at the afterschool program as well as some financial support. Calvary, Golden Valley provided representation on the RCFL board, financial support for RCFL Housing Coordinator position, Sunday morning worship visits, service trips to the Gulf Coast Synod, men s group, and small group service projects. Christ the King, New Brighton invited Redeemer leadership to participate in their annual Block Party, furnished an RCFL apartment, hosted the lunch for the Christmas Store program, volunteered for the Community Garden, and provided financial support to Redeemer s budget. Edina Community Lutheran Church collaborated with Redeemer and Westwood congregations to sponsor the series on Race and provides financial support for Lutheran Volunteers placed at Redeemer. Edina Community has been a long-term partner in exploring equitable partnership between a suburban and urban congregation. 8

9 Faith, Waconia prays for Redeemer each week, provides financial support for RCFL Housing and Transition (HAT) program for youth, volunteers at the Block Party and Christmas Store, and participated in worship exchange. Immanuel, Eden Prairie provided representation on the RCFL board, and Sunday morning worship visits, technical computer support, and assists with Christmas Store and Block Party. Immanuel also provides financial support to Redeemer s budget. Mt. Olivet, Minneapolis each Tuesday, Mt. Olivet volunteers anchored the Redeemer Afterschool Program providing meals, and high school and adult mentors. They also support the annual Block Party and Christmas Store and Redeemer s budget, in addition to shopping for and donating Christmas Store gifts. Westwood, St Louis Park provided representation on RCFL board and regular worship visits, anchors the Redeemer After-school Program with volunteers on Wednesday and Thursdays, sponsorship for the men s retreat, preaching exchange, and volunteers with the Christmas Store, Block Party, and small group exchanges. Westwood also provides financial support to Redeemer s budget. Zion, Buffalo provided critical support to the capital campaign, representation on RCFL Board, regular worship visits, service projects, and staff and preaching exchange. Zion provided volunteers at the Block Party and Christmas Store, and financial support for Redeemer s budget. Associate Pastor s Report Pastor Babette Chatman Luke 4:19-20 To proclaim the year of the Lord s favor.: And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. This is the Word of the Lord! This is a portion of the text used for my ordination on September 24, 2017, thanks be to God. It is with such gratitude that I reflect on this joyous event. As Redeemer has called me as Associate Pastor, director of housing ministry, and collaborating partner at Augsburg University Campus Ministry, it has been a very special year. Days before my ordination I found out I was the one hundredth (100) woman of color to be ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. How awesome is that? 9

10 In 2017 I was selected, along with Pastor Kelly, to travel to Leipzig, Germany, as part of a group of sixteen delegates invited by the Lutheran Church of Leipzig to represent the Minneapolis Area Synod in Germany s largest celebration of the 500 th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. We joined almost 300,000 people to gather for worship and festivities in Wittenberg. It was truly what Bishop Svennungsen called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in this great celebration and time of learning and sharing. Shortly after my ordination, we planned Redeemer s annual Women s retreat at Bay Lake Camp and Resort that included more than thirty participants from Redeemer and Augsburg. I continue to represent Redeemer serving as chair of the Minneapolis Area Synod Mission table. I look forward to walking together in all the places God will lead us in 2018! Pastoral Intern Report Vicar Matt Canniff-Keesekcer My family and I have been richly blessed by the Redeemer community since we arrived among you last August. I stepped off the airplane on the morning of the annual Block Party and that first day gave me the picture of the celebration of life and community that is Redeemer. Since then I have been engaged in the community in various ways. I have deeply appreciated learning the unique way the Redeemer congregation worships and the relationships, and community experienced on Sunday mornings has become a moving ritual for me. I enjoy being involved in worship leadership and the opportunity to preach at least once each month as I wrestle with scripture and practice exercising my pastoral and prophetic voice in sermons. I have been involved in ministry within Redeemer s congregation across the span of generations, from assisting with Sunday School and the Christmas pageant to coordinating young adult events collaboratively with Westwood Lutheran Church to participating in the parents group to spending time with older adults in Redeemer s Busy Fingers sewing group. Youth ministry in particular has been a focus of my time and energy as I have worked with other leaders to envision and redevelop the next incarnation of Redeemer s commitment to walking alongside young people. Considerable work has been done in developing a team of leaders to support the work of youth ministry and build a framework that emphasizes youth development and youth leadership within the congregation and more broadly in North Minneapolis. With many years of professional youth ministry experience myself, one of my 10

11 greatest joys has been supporting and coaching the young adults who are using their gifts to mentor young people and build Redeemer s youth ministry. I have learned from Redeemer s leadership through collaborating with staff, congregation council, the RCFL board, and other leadership teams. I have also interacted with other church leaders and congregations through collegial and continuing education opportunities, Redeemer s partner congregations, the Holy Hoops basketball league, and the Northside Lutheran Parish collaboration. The last endeavor has been especially interesting for me,as I have watched neighboring congregations forge partnerships and radically rethink what it means to join in Jesus mission in North Minneapolis. I took a missiology class in seminary and this feels like a real-life lab component. Most of all, I have loved all the opportunities I have had to hear the wonderful stories of the people of Redeemer, shared in conversation on Sunday morning or in a Black Lives Matter meeting or over coffee at Milda s or Venture North. It was those times of being with people in a deep and authentic way that planted seeds for the season of holy listening that Redeemer is undertaking during Lent, which will connect more people to each other and strengthen relationships within our community. Organizing that effort has been a priority for me lately, and I am energized by collaborating with the other passionate leaders of the project. A goal of mine for the second half of my year with Redeemer is to more intentionally practice the art of pastoral presence. Pastor Kelly, being the wonderful supervisor he is, has routinely told me that he is not evaluating my growth by my productivity. He reminds me that I am not here just to be busy or get a lot done but to be a pastor, and the measure is my relationships with people. What I love about Redeemer is all the opportunity it creates to practice being a pastor beyond the people gathered for worship on Sundays: there is the community of the bike shop, the regulars at Milda s, the neighbors who frequent the Health Commons, H-Cubed, the residents of Redeemer s housing initiatives, relationships with all the various organizations with whom Redeemer partners, neighbors gathered around the bread oven or in the community garden, and even Redeemer s staff which is a community unto itself. In the coming months, if you come to the church building looking for me during the week, I hope I ll be hard to find. I want to be out in those places, representing Redeemer and representing Jesus Christ as all disciples do, learning what it means to be a pastor in this special place. Thank you for all the ways you support me and my family as I do that. 11

12 Youth Ministry Report Mario Beanie Locust In 2017 the youth ministry team went through some big changes. Most significantly, Youth Director Angela Bonfiglio resigned and accepted a job at Augsburg University. Redeemer then added two people to our youth ministry team, Marcell Locust & Tasheante Trotter. Marcell and Tasheante are running a new Redeemer Center for Life program called Youth Bank through which community youth between the ages of help organize grants to give to other youth to help better their community. Marcell and Tasheante also help organize the Redeemer high school youth group. Redeemer had a great year with our Holy Hoops basketball team. We came in second place in the end of the season tournament. It was a good year for Youth Ministry and we are looking forward to a great 2018, even as we reorganize with the help and leadership of Marcell Locust, Tasheante Trotter, Romario Smith, and Vicar Matt Canniff-Kesecker. Property Report Stuart Munk Property activities in Babette and Laurie s offices painted. -Washed windows of structure, repaired several, repair to continue in Painted exterior doors, window frames and back-alley handrail. -Air conditioning unit for offices replaced. -Kitchen dishwasher repaired. -Damaged water pipe connection leading to Glenwood Av. repaired. -Developed relationship with boiler repair/ maintenance team, established schedule for air conditioning and boiler air filter replacement. -All Fellowship hall and lower level windows and sills were cleaned and unstuck. -In preparation for Babette s ordination the balcony pews were wiped clean and the floor vacuumed. -Received bids for work to improve sound system for sanctuary with help and advice from members Jay Beech and Dave Scharnhorst. This project passed onto another ministry for completion. Planned Activities for Paint back stairway to Fellowship hall, women s main floor restroom and possibly sanctuary. 12

13 -Check on reflective shades/curtains for windows facing the church courtyard, this will reduce summer temperature of offices and hallway. -Courtyard improvements involving drainage, sod and flowers. -Add flowers to east side of church (facing Milda s) and add flowers to Glenwood/ south side of church. -Check on updating kitchen space in full partnership with Fellowship team. -Check on floor covering replacement for Fellowship hall and lower level hallways. -Check on security lighting for back alley of church. -Try to find source of the offensive odor that occasionally overcomes and offends sanctuary and offices, most probably caused by corrosion of pipes placed when church was originally built. It has been my pleasure to occasionally work alongside Tyrone Wade, Redeemer s custodian and true caretaker. I extend a sincere yet inadequate thank you to Tyrone for his devotion to staff requests and the immense demands required to keep the building and grounds presentable, inviting, and reflective of our ministry. Also, as with any ministry within Redeemer Lutheran Church, I welcome any suggestions, observations and expertise involving current or potential projects. Moyo Kwa Moyo (Swahili) Report Stuart Munk Moyo Kwa Moyo Swahili for Heart to Heart Kenya is a project started by Beatrice, Beth and Stuart Munk. It seeks to promote a life of hope and stability for orphans of Kenya, Beatrice s birthplace. Currently the project has 8 children, aged 2-11, who now live with trusted and caring families that provide care and access to education. On our visits to Kenya we ve witnessed numbers of homeless children living and begging on the streets or backcountry due to parents who were unable to provide basic necessities. In many cases these children had become caretakers themselves with parents addicted to home brew or glue, incapable of or indifferent to anything other than their substance of escape. Several of the children in Moyo Kwa Moyo had been offered for sale to men, revealing the true, despicable, dehumanizing nature of the situation. Over 5 years, $40,000 has been sent to Kenya to assist these children and the families that house them. Today one American dollar equates to approximately 100 Kenyan shillings. For example, one recycled aluminum can here in America becomes one Kenyan shilling. In

14 our family sent $250 or 25,000 shillings to the project derived from aluminum recycling alone. That translates to 10 pair of children shoes! This year the church council approved adding the project to Redeemer s online giving opportunities and we are excited about the possibilities that will provide. We thank the council and all who support the project with cash or cans. Any contribution truly changes a life. A return trip to Kenya is planned for summer 2018 and we will provide more eyewitness updates for God s work beyond Minneapolis. Thanks, Redeemer, for your prayers and involvement. God s Peace, Stuart, Beth and Beatrice Treasurer s Report Mike Terras In this annual report I will present the entire month-by-month financial accounting of the church financials and summarize our financial standing as of December 31, I will also discuss our plans for 2018 and the results of our normal annual operations, including the audit and the 2018 budget creation and approval process. As discussed in Redeemer s monthly Faith Matters newsletter and presented below, we have the month-by-month revenue and expenses of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Month Jan. Feb. March April May June YTD $32, $58, $86, $113, $148, $169, Revenue YTD $40, $81, $122, $161, $198, $240, Expense Tithes $11, $11, $11, $14, $11, $11,

15 Month July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. YTD $202, $238, $274, $312, $353, $424, Revenue YTD $280, $324, $361, $394, $444, $486, Expense Tithes $15, $13, $11, $16, $13, $59, The 2017 Budgeted Revenue was $492,850 and the Budgeted Expense was $492,680. We ended the actual year with a loss of approximately $62,000. However, our financial health is in good standing with assets of just under $950,000, and approximately $72,000 in the bank. As discussed in the budget approval meeting held in December at Redeemer, we have plans to begin a Debt Retirement campaign in Before this happens we need to renegotiate our loan with Bremer Bank, and we need to secure the funding from LVC to kickstart the campaign. Our annual audit found little of note that was out of order. There was a habit created in 2017 of making payments to individuals who work for the church without adequate documentation. This was caught by the audit, and the appropriate discussions have been made to hopefully mitigate this activity. In 2018 we will begin the audit earlier in the year, and we will audit the 2017 financial year. We approved the 2018 budget in December of The budget for 2018 came in just over $50,000, and does include the debt retirement campaign funding. This concludes the report. 15

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17 Comparison to Previous Years by Category Income Offerings , , , ,067 Partners ,111 36, ,378 43,197 Grants , , , ,237 Contracts , ,151 78,642 59,333 Rentals ,239 21,713 17,659 2,085 Capital ,860 7,925 9,152 15,065 Restricted , ,122 16, ,247 Other ,201 92,470 51,123 41, YTD Income & Expense Breakdown 2017 Income Offerings Partners Grants Contracts Rentals Capital Restricted Other Offerings Partners Grants Contracts Rentals Capital Restricted Other Expense Payroll Expe , , , ,320 Operating E ,753 59,028 55,084 50, Ministry/Be ,419 27,896 60,179 26, Property Ex , , ,147 50, Restricted/O , ,863 79,777 33, Capital Expe ,900 32,454 51, , Payroll Expense Operating Expense Ministry/Benevolence Expense Property Expense Restricted/Other Capital Expense/Debt Service 2017 Expense Payroll Expense Operating Expense Ministry/Benevolence Expense Property Expense Restricted/Other Capital Expense/Debt Service

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