First Christian Church

Board Minutes

March 18, 2009

Devotions:  Mary Olney-Loyd

The board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of January 2009.

Financial– Judy Bushell:

·         The electricity (lights) bill is higher as compared to the budgeted amount.  Judy will follow up on this.

·         Beginning in this month’s financial report, the comparison of the current items with the previous year’s items will be on a month-month basis.  As of February, 2009, the income to-date is $4,000 behind February a year ago.

·         Foundation funds are being affected by the downturn in the market.  For this reason the Bushell Scholarship will not be awarded this year so that the principal isn’t decreased.  Also, the Jenny Hughes account will provide $4,000 less for the general fund because of the downturn.

·         On a more positive note, the new toilets are helping save on our water bill.

Property– Greg King

·         Greg reported that pews will be moved from the sanctuary this coming Saturday.  They will be placed in Koinonia Hall until they can be sold or otherwise disposed of.

Personnel – Elaine Ulry

·         Sherrie and Larry Fisher will be on Vacation from April 14 through April 20.

·         Future needs.  The computer in the office needs replacing.  The current computer can no longer be updated as updates are not compatible

Pastor – Mary Olney-Loyd .

·         Mary reported that the New Church Planter Training which she recently attended was inspirational as well as very informative.  One of the worship services was in many languages, reflecting the attending pastors from across the world.

Deed – Si Sarton

·         Si expressed that the Deed task force is too large an area of responsibility and should be split into at least 2 sections…Deed and Fellowship.

·         Potlucks will begin being held only on 5^th Sundays. The schedule is as follows.  

o   No potluck in April (Easter Breakfast is being held.)

o   Potluck on the 5^th Sunday in May.

o   No potlucks during the summer.

o   Begin the new church year with an August picnic on the fifth Sunday in August.

o   Potlucks will be held on the fifth Sundays from then on, during 2009-10.

·         It was suggested that a donation basket be placed out each Sunday to pay for the soup and coffee supplies.

Worship – Joanne Goodwin  (see complete written report)

·         Planned the Ash Wednesday Service:  Pastor Mary, Pastor Ullery (Lacey Community Church), Nell Carlson and Joanne Goodwin.

·         Holy Week plans:  Special music, Kathleen Alviar; Passion Reading for Palm Sunday – Vern Kunze.

·         Easter – Kathleen Alviar, Special Music. Breakfast coordinated by Helena Wilson and Virginia Muntman.  Easter Egg Hunt will be held for the kids, organized by Jan Carlson and Joyce Smith.

Word – Jan Carlson (see complete written report)

·         Swim party for kids will be held April 25.

·         The question of acolytes to light candles for worship was discussed.   Details will be worked out.

Calendar for March through June 2009 was approved.  Moved by Elaine Ulry and Seconded by Joanne Goodwin.

Free Herbal Clinic – Karen Nye

Karen reported that the Free Herbal Clinic has requested the opportunity to share space with POWER in the Payne Room.  Discussion followed.  Concern as to church liability was a major concern.  Karen will check with our insurance company to see if this is currently covered by our insurance.  If not, the board agreed that the church would not be able to grant the request.

Family support Center – Karen Nye

Karen reported that the Family Support Center requests use of the basement as a permanent site for the overflow shelter.  Other churches would continue to rotate hosting. There are many details to consider:  true and fair rental cots, liaison “point person” between church and shelter and our Church’s expectation of Support Center’s responsibilities.  The board decided to continue this discussion.  Karen will work with a task force to explore these and other details that will need to be determined before we can say yes or no to this request.

New Beginnings – Karen Nye

Board members were provided notes from the two NB meetings in February.  Karen summarized these notes by indicating that several concerns had been expressed by the people attending the meetings and that these concerns will need to be addressed.

·         Financial

o   How can we afford the parallel start?

o   What about our current finances?

·         What is going to happen to us?

She further indicated that we will need to do any planning for now or the future around the priorities that also surfaced in the report from Rick and during these last meetings.  These priorities are worship, study and service. These, of course, are quite general and must be refined to serve as our guide during this whole process.  There will definitely need to be more congregational “conversations”.

The meeting closed with a prayer circle.

Next meeting will be April 15, 2009.