First Christian Church

Board Minutes

January 16, 2008

OPENING:

Karen Nye opened the meeting with a welcome to Judy Gregorius who has agreed to act as recorder at board meetings. 

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

The minutes of the last board meeting were approved.

DEVOTIONS

Rachel Crum shared a portion of Psalm 119 and prayed.

DISCUSSION/DECISION ITEMS

• Personnel- Elaine Ulry
  • The proposed job description and timeline (attached) for selecting a new Director of Music was presented.  The report was approved as written.
• Pastor Relations – Barb Reynolds
  • The job description was approved with the addition of a statement regarding self care for the pastor.  The Pastoral Relations will not be required to return with the adjusted job description.
• Camp Quixote – Leah Wilson
  • Potluck with Camp Quixote - the camp has invited us for dessert and a camp tour after the main dish in Koinonia Hall on January 20.
  • Host Orientation – 12:45 PM on Sunday, January 27.
  • Fund Raiser for Camp Quixote – February 22 at 6:00 PM.  Spaghetti and Silent Auction. This will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
  • Jobs for camp members – in the process of being organized
• Donations for extra expenses related to hosting Camp Quixote - Karen
  • An anonymous donation of $500.00 has been given to the church to help with excess expenses incurred because of hosting Camp Quixote.  It was decided to hold the funds until we know how much excess utilities, etc. are being used.  Any funds left over would be passed on to the next church to host the camp.
• April Board Meeting – Karen asked that the April meeting be moved to the 23^rd of April as she will be out of town on the regular meeting date.  The board approved the change.

• Timeline for Stewardship and Nomination processes was presented.  (See the attached timeline.) Annual Congregational meeting will be June 8, 2008.) 

• New Beginnings
  • After listing qualities that members felt important to lead small groups in the New Beginnings process, Karen asked those present to list people who could serve as leaders for the cottage meetings.  These leaders will meet with other churches in the area at a cluster meeting at Gwinwood to learn the process.  

• Word update
  • The children’s educational program will be moved to the upstairs class room.  They will meet during the last part of the Worship time.  Ten parents and those involved met Saturday to make final plans. 
  • Discussion was held regarding our traditional Lenten Bible Study.  It was decided that, because of the involvement with the New Beginnings, it would be better not to hold it.  A prayer retreat, instead, was suggested. Mary will explore this possibility.
• Elders – (see written report)
• Personnel – Elaine
  • Elaine reported that the minimum wage will increase to $8.07 per hour.  This affects the custodian and the child care assistant. 
• Pastoral report – (see written report)
  • Mary will be on vacation March 3-10
• Financial report- Judy Bushell
  • The building fund has been paid off!!
• Deed report – Cheri Gonyaw (see written report)
  • Dessert and a movie – January 30
  • Valentine’s Day party at Evergreen Vista – February 14^th
• Worship report – Rachel Crum
  • Plans are in process for lent and Easter
• Property – Jim Brown
  • Jim reported that a new roof would cost about $100,000. He indicated that he did not feel that a new roof was the right move.  He said that adding a roof over the existing roof was a better choice.  Maybe a roof only over the sanctuary is all that is necessary.

OTHER COMMENTS:

• Leah Wilson reported that we had received a thank you from the city of Olympia for our involvement in the downtown holiday celebration.  We also received a certificate of thanks.
• Security
  • The front door is sometimes being left unlatched.  It is important that when closing the door we must PUSH HARD in order for it to stay closed.

The meeting was closed with a prayer circle led by Mary.