Faith UMC Church Council Meeting Minutes May 4, 2014 Members present: Mike Brown, Brenda Cook, Darrell Cook, Grady Cook, Winston Cook, Harvey Hightower, Liz Hyde, Bob Jackson (Chairman), Mary Jane LeCroy, Reverend Larisa Parker, Patsy Skinner, Roy Wilcox and Kimberly Withka. The meeting was called to order at 12:25. The meeting was opened in prayer by Bob Jackson. Treasurer's Report: reported by Mary Jane LeCroy. She provided the Council with the attached Financial Report. This report provides an overview of the budget situation and designated fund accounts. She advised that current giving is close to budgeted operating amounts and that the previous deficit is closing. The upcoming Cake Auction will be used to supplement the general fund. The committee continues to encourage stewardship and for the people to consider stock and estate gifts. A motion was made and approved to have the Finance and Missions committees to meet to assess and possibly re-designate some of the designated funds. Trustees Report: no verbal report was given. A two page handout was provided to the Council. It shared some of the Current and Future concerns (see attached). Music/Worship Report: reported by Kimberly Withka. All areas of the music ministry continue to grow. She is moving the children's choir time to 9:30 am on Sundays to allow for a more consistent meeting time. The summer musical mission's project will be the "Music Man". The music program continues to emphasize the meaning and spirituality of the music that the choirs are singing as well as having a time of prayer during the rehearsals. Faith Friendship Circle Report: reported by Patsy Skinner. She reported that the group met on March 20th with 15 members present and on April 17th with 21 members present. The group held the Mother, Daughter, Friend Banquet on May 3rd with 58 present. There will be no official meetings in May, June or July. The group provided refreshments at a reception during the April Sunday night Lenten worship service. The group will sponsor the recognitions of all ladies on Mother's Day in May with a special bulletin in honor or memory of any special ladies. The group will sponsor the recognitions of all men on Father's Day in June with a special bulletin in honor or memory of any special men. Both of these bulletins will be used as a fundraiser. On July 17th, the group will prepare Summer Sack Lunches for the MUST program. This will be funded by the group. On July 31st, the group will prepare a meal for the Extension Women's Center. This will be funded by Missions. The group made donations to the Ronald McDonald House ($100 for paper products), the Calvary Children's Home ($200 for clothes for Easter plus socks, underwear, flip-flops, shampoo and lip balm) and the Extension Women's Center (4 baskets filled with sheets, mattress pads, towels, washcloths and toiletries). The group also assisted the pastor with some visitation.
United Methodist Men Report: reported by Harvey Hightower. The Habitat for Humanity build will begin in early July on South Gordon Road. The annual Cake Auction fundraiser will be held on May 18th in conjunction with the celebration of Carter Sample's birthday with a visit of the Varsity truck. PALS Report: reported by Liz Hyde. The PALS continue to meet and have fellowship as stated in the bulletins. The group has a possible new driver for the bus (Richard Burnett). This is pending getting his CDL license and Trustee approval. SPPRC Report: reported by Mike Brown. The SPPRC met April 13th with Reverend Parker. She requested and received committee feedback on her performance. Prayer Team Report: reported by Darrell Cook. The prayer group that meets with the pastor on Sunday mornings continues to grow in numbers. A new prayer meeting ministry has started meeting on Thursday nights at 7 pm. This group meets to pray over needs provided by the congregation. Some prayer requests are followed up with cards mailed to those prayed for, offering them encouragement. This group will also begin praying through the church membership roll as means of support and encouragement. Reverend Parker has been asked to reach out to our sister churches to see if there are any opportunities that the prayer group might share prayer time with them in their churches or during our prayer time. The entire Church Council was encouraged to attend any of these opportunities for a good time of fellowship and prayer. Evangelism Team Report: reported by Grady Cook. He advised that the group had met several times and was generating some good ideas for future projects. The group had considered participating in the upcoming Mableton Day by wearing church shirts and handing out water. Some of this will be unable to be done due to the events rules but it provides the group with future ideas. Several members of the group participated in an on-line webinar dealing with "Following Up With Visitors". The prayer team requested that all visitor information be provided to them so that the visitors could be prayed for and reached out to via a card. Mission Team Report: reported by Roy Wilcox. The Mission Team is currently collecting towels and bed linen for MUST ministries. They are preparing to gather school supplies soon for their next ministry. Library/History Report: no report. Lay Leadership: no report. Education/Youth/Children Report: reported by Brenda Cook. The rotating Youth Group returns to Faith Church this month. A new Disciple Group is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall season. A coordinated topic of Hospitality will be shared during June's sermon series and Sunday School classes. Pastor's Report: reported by Reverend Parker. As we are entering tornado season, Reverend Parker provided the Council with a copy of the procedures concerning Emergency Response to Disasters (see attached). We discussed the results of the straw poll taken by the congregation on April 27th concerning the possibility of a merger our church with other churches. We will
continue to have discussion amongst ourselves and other churches and pray concerning this matter to discern more information and the proper path to follow. The meeting was closed in prayer by Darrell Cook. The meeting was adjourned at 13:38.
Faith Finance Team Report April 25,2014 Report prepared by: Harvey Hightower and Rev. Parker Our Budget situation overall is very good in one respect and suffering in the other. Our current Designated Funds section of our Budget is in great shape while the Operating Budget is lacking despite the recent influx of some generous gifts. The 2014 budget was very close to the 2013 budget and was carefully prepared. Fall pledges were the same number as the year before, but to a total greater amount. One area of giving that has decreased is loose plate offerings. The office is preparing first quarter giving statements for our congregation. The level of giving to our Operating Budget needs to increase by about $6,875 per month (for the 8 months left of the year) to end the year without a serious shortfall. Some Sundays our offerings can be as low as $2,000. Our budget as presented at Annual Charge Conference was $289,053 and our Pledge Cards input from 56 respondents was (and this is an estimate) $200,000. As you can see, if we stick to these numbers, our shortfall will be $89,053. Some of this shortfall has been eliminated by the recent generous additional gifts. Our current Designated Funds is where the good news lies. These funds currently contain $81,367. Please review the table below. Of these amounts, $27,946 can be used on capital expenditures. The rest is only for children, youth or missions. Missions General (Regions) Missions General (CU) flfiuuluho Youth (CU) $ 6,187 $12,389 $15,056 Memorial (Regions) General Savings (CU) Accessibility (CU) $ 7,400 $ 3,531 $ 2,575 Mi jjieiis Children (CU) $12,389 Sale of Parsonage Capital (CU) $21,840 We should be prepared for a typical shortfall in summer. We have fundraising activities planned to support the church operating budget. We continue to celebrate what the Mission Committee allots to various causes. We continue to teach and encourage stewardship, and encourage people to consider stock and estate gifts.
Current Trustee Concerns Cost Estimates Sanctua'v Roof. $ 40,000 $ 50,000 Flat Roof =H & Ed Wir,g $ 35,000. S 40,000 FH&EWVeta! Doors ' $ 8rCOO $ 12,000 Accessibility $ " 10,000 $ ' 15,000 EdWingHVAC " '. $ 9,000 $. 10,000 Parkhg Lot ; Spot Repair.,; $ - 21,000 $ 25,000 Crack Fill $ 4^500 $ 6,000 Sealer & Re-Stripe ;. $ 4,500. $ 6,000- Doors Choi & Library J 1,000 $ ' ' j se
Future Trustee Concerns Building & Property Challenges to Growing Faith» Sanctuary Seating Fellowship Hall Capacity School Rooms Bathrooms/Sewer» Parking Capacity New Sign Handicap Access a Choir Office
60 Guidelines, Policies, Relationships, Standards Emergency Calling Chain & Response Procedure: 1. Immediately following a disaster, the pastor of a local church inspects damage to any/all church property, as well as checking the personal needs of his/her parishioners, then makes two phone calls to: a) The district superintendent b) The trustee chairperson for their local church (Trustee chairperson contacts the insurance company for the local church and begins deliberations according to churches policy.) 2. The district superintendent contacts: a) The district disaster coordinator b) The conference disaster coordinator: Mike Selleck @ 678-533-1441 3. The conference disaster coordinator contacts: a) The resident bishop: Mike Watson b) The conference disaster relief chairperson: Mike Yoder @ 404-957-2137 (cell) or 770-483-6384 (home) 4. The "conference disaster relief chairperson contacts the following persons: a) Pastor of the local church who initiated the call b) Chairperson of the conference disaster assessment teams c) Eleven other district disaster coordinators 5. The chairperson of the conference disaster assessment team visits damage site, calls in other teams as needed to assess conditions. Through coordination with the conference disaster relief chairperson, determines the number of early response teams needed to cover disaster area. 6. The conference disaster relief chairperson determines site for a command post and selects as many helpers as possible to meet the needs of the command post and related disaster area. Emergency Calling Chain & Response Procedure-Chart PASTOR OF LOCAL CHURCH DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT I TRUSTEE CHAIRPERSON OF CHURCH DISTRICT DISASTER COORDINATOR I 1 CONFERENCE DISASTER COORDINATOR MIKE SELLECK: 678-533-1441 RESIDENT BISHOP: B. MICHAEL WATSON INSURANCE COMPANY CONFERENCE DISASTER RELEEF CHAIRPERSON DETERMINES COMMAND [MAND POST SITE HELPS DETERMINE i DISASTER NEEDS PASTOR OF LOCAL CHURCH Guidelines, Policies, Relationships, Standards 61 CONFERENCE DISASTER ASSESSMENT TEAM: 11 OTHER CHAIRPERSON DISTRICT DISASTER COORDINATORS. ASSESSMENT TEAMS DISASTER TEAMS