GENERAL BOARD

Members Present: Karen Nye (Moderator), Elaine Ulry (Vice Moderator), Judy Bushell (Finance), Rachel Crum (Worship), Jan Carlson (Word), Cheri Gonyaw (Deed), Leah Wilson (Elders), Pastor Mary.

Members Absent: Nancy King (Deacons).

Guests: Ellen Cholski (Pastoral Relations Task Force)

The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Karen Nye.

Jan Carlson presented the opening devotion and prayer.

Business

1. Pastoral Relations Task Force (see attached report)

Ellen Cholski presented the draft of the new Pastor’s Job Description that the Pastoral Relations Committee is writing. In the past, the “Call” document served as the primary job description. It was suggested that items be added re “taking time for herself and her family,” and the expectation of continuing education classes, seminars, etc. Ellen will take these suggestions back to her committee.

2. Word (see November Word report)

The Word Task Force had a meeting with Gale Peterson, the UCC Christian Ed person from Kent, regarding reshaping our children’s church school.

Proposed changes:

a. Eliminate 9:30 children’s church school and have the classes during Sunday Worship.

b. Move the classes upstairs into the former Youth rooms. The rooms will need cleaning, painting, etc.

c. Use the upstairs foyer as a story-telling/reading area.

d. Recruit storytellers from the congregation.

e. Continue to pay Joyce the same amount she is receiving now.

In December, a letter will go out to the parents explaining these changes. The task force is hoping to have a get-acquainted party for the kids, parents and storytellers.

They are hoping to move into this new format gradually, with full implementation in the spring.

The Board greeted these changes with excitement.

3. Barb O’Neil’s Christmas Dinner

Cheri Gonyaw reported that the Christmas dinner is scheduled for Saturday, December 22. Barb O’Neil’s crew has requested use of our building, with the same schedule as the Thanksgiving dinner: we would serve from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. Clean-up from the dinner is very labor intensive and takes many “people” hours, with relatively few people to help.

The Board turned down hosting Christmas dinner.

4 Summer Collegium

Mary would like to apply for a grant to attend “The Summer Collegium, A Project in Support of Small Congregations.” Held at Virginia Theological Seminary, it offers time away from daily church duties to receive refreshment, new ideas, and energy for future ministry. Sponsored by the Lilly Foundation, their endowment fund will cover all expenses, including tuition, travel, lodging, meals, books and a supply preacher during the time Mary would be absent. The Collegium lasts 10 days, beginning June 24, 2008. The deadline for application is December15, 2007. The Collegium is limited to 25 pastors. Notification of acceptance is February 15, 2008.

The Board encouraged Mary to apply.

5. New Beginnings

We will be videotaping our Sunday morning worship services during December, as part of the requirement for New Beginnings. We still have heard very little about what is expected of us. We are tentatively scheduled for our first meeting with the consultant on Thursday, January 10, 2008. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for February 22-23, and cottage meetings will be scheduled for March.

6. Interest in Our Building

Jim Brown could not attend tonight’s meeting, but left the message that he and Don Carlson showed some people from the State around our building.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation has also expressed interest in the building and requested permission to discuss it at their board meeting in December.

The Board determined that discussions regarding selling the building are premature. No major decisions regarding the building will be made until after the New Beginnings study is complete.

7. Camp Quixote

Karen turned in Permit applications this week to the City of Olympia. Notices to our neighbors within a 300 foot radius have been mailed or hand delivered, as have letters to our building tenants. Two large yellow Public Notice signs have been posted, one on 7th and one on Franklin.

The public informational meeting will be Saturday, December 15th at 10:00 A.M. in our library. If the crowd is large, we will move into the Sanctuary. Everyone is invited to attend.

8. Sleepers Under Church

After much discussion, the Board recommended that we be consistent and call the police to roust sleepers from under our building. Each morning Larry valiantly cleans up the mess which includes broken bottles, needles, blankets, vomit, feces and urine.

9. Sanctuary

Because of the late hour, the Board agreed to table this item until a future meeting.

Reports

Personnel – Elaine Ulry: They are working on the Job Description for the Music Director position.

Pastor – Mary Olney-Loyd: See written report for November.

Financial – Judy Bushell: The building loan will be paid off in December.

Deed – Jan Carlson: see written November report.

Worship – Rachel Crum: Fridays at the First begins on Friday, December 7th. Advent/Christmas decorations will be up by December 2nd.

Our first “Blue Christmas” service will be Friday, December 21st, at 5:15 P.M. This gentle service is for those who find the holidays a difficult time, because of loss, illness or other reasons.

Word – Jan Carlson: see written November report.

Also, there will be no adult classes in the library from now until January 13th.

Elders – Leah Wilson: Deacon/Elder party will be at Marian Seeley’s home on Wednesday, December 12th.

Second Sunday Capital Place worship services will begin again in January.

Announcements

The Office will be closed December 25, 26, 27, 31, and January 1. Office hours will be 9:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. on December 24, 28. Regular hours will resume January 2.

Next Board meeting: Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

Karen Nye