Westminster Diaconate Board Meeting Minutes

May 6, 2007

5:00 PM Room 105

 

Attending: Jeff Sutton, Bill Burig, Jim Joseph, John Lockhead, Darren Skeen, Bill McAvoy, Louise Holland, Scotti Harwood, Bruce Capehart, Anne Vann, Sharon Barnes, Duck Rufty, Nancy Safrit, Michael Reich, Betty Berghaus, Sally Keener

 

Michael called the meeting to order and Betty led devotions reading from Genesis 11 about the building of the tower of Babel by one people of one language, but the Lord confused their languages to many and scattered the people. Then, reading in Acts 2, Betty shared the Pentecost story in which the many people with many languages are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and can understand one another. The miracle of the Pentecost story reverses the Babel story; it is where God reunites us to understand one another even with our differences. Betty guided us to appreciate how God wants us to hear one another. She also shared a list of discernment listening guidelines from Grounded in God that enumerated ways to be good listeners.

 

Concerns/Celebrations

Celebrations were raised for Nancy’s son who is graduating and for Sharon’s son who is doing great and soon to move into his own apartment. The diabetes seems to be a transient variety and he is now off medication! We shared her concerns for her husband Alex who is awaiting treatment for his cancer and for her stepson with aggressive cancer.

 

The Minutes of the April meeting were approved as submitted.

 

Budget Discussion with Doug Wellemeyer, John Graham and Shayne Ruffing:

Representing Ways and Means and the Transition Committee, Doug, John and Shane answered these questions for the deacons as we prepare to set our new budget.

 

1        With Westminster in transition, is there any plan by the Session to perhaps change our focus/mission/direction during this next year?

No. They are learning lots from the surveys. If a weakness is identified it will be addressed. For example, they recently reorganized the Personnel Committee, but no big reorganization or change of direction is planned. The surveys seem to indicate we should stay as we are. The session does want to identify and articulate what works and describe committees, their organization, how they function and who is responsible so the new pastor can know how we work. This is not to seek change, but to clarify and document.

 

2        We have heard that an upward increase in salary/living expenses may be necessary as we recruit a new minister. If correct, how might this impact the Diaconate budget?  

Present salaries are aligned with salaries in the area and longevity of experience. There could be an increase, but the Session is not expecting a huge change to impact the budget. This won’t be fully known until we find the pastor.

 

3        What budget constraints might be expected for 2008? The 2007 budget just about mirrored the 2006 budget. Can we expect the same strategy for next year?

The budget was held flat 2006 to 2007. It isn’t known yet if it will be held flat again for 2008, but we might take the conservative road and plan for that. Once pledges come in and the stewardship drive is complete we will know better what we can do, but signs are very healthy and encouraging.

 

4        If the questionnaire, now being completed, indicates new direction for Westminster could that occur before a new minister arrives?  

See number one.

 

5        For 2008 we ask that if changes are necessary after our budget is submitted, we be given the opportunity to make those changes ourselves rather than have them suggested by others.

The deacons will have a lump sum (maybe reduced, but a lump sum) and the deacons decide how to cut and reallocate. There is not a Session directive on how to adjust. The Session will inform the Diaconate of the total amount they have to work with for their budget. In the meantime the deacons are encouraged to identify both their needs and wishes for programs and agencies and we’ll see how much we can do once the budget is set.

 

Michael summarized that setting a budget in July for January has challenges, but we should ask for what we need being mindful that chances are the budget might be flat one more year. Shane added that the Session is seeing increasing confidence by the congregation that we are going forward. We may be able to increase the budget soon.

 

The floor was opened for Diaconate Officer Nominations:

Moderator: Bill Hatch, Bruce Capehart and Walt Beckwith were nominated

Co-moderator: Darren Skeen was nominated.

Clerk: Anne Vann and Holly Borden were nominated

 Voting for election of officers will be in June. You must be present to have your vote counted.

 

Community Work Day – May 19th - Update:

Information about the workday was in the bulletin this week and will be again next week. Next week we will again have a sign-up table. Duck will manage the sign-up table after early service and Bill B. will man it after second service. Project sites and project leaders are as follows:

Andover House – Duck Rufty

Westminster – Betty and Bill Burig

DCRC – Scotti Harwood

Project leaders are asked to gather all supplies the workers will need for the projects and have cold bottled water available for the volunteers.

Bruce volunteered to buy bagels, juice and oversee coffee for the 8:00am breakfast. Betty will open the breakfast in prayer. Barb Vanden Broek will help with childcare of infants and toddlers. The Youth will be on hand that day to work as part of their fund-raising for the Mexico trip. If they help with childcare the deacons will pay them. Anne will check on what the youth might do to help that day. Rick and Lynn are in charge of lunch for the volunteers. Betty will see that the work day is announced from the pulpit.

 

Deacon Activity for Memorial Day – Update from John Lockhead:

Six camp sites have been reserved at Kerr Lake just around the corner from Pres Pt. at Henderson Point. That will accommodate about 36 people. John urged all to come, even for the day to join in the fun. He will get maps ready and put information in the newsletter. Usually about 15-20 youth go camping on this weekend.

 

Possible Change to July Diaconate Meeting Date

·        Since this is budget review for 2008 we may need to move the meeting to Saturday, July 14 and make it a half day session

After discussion it was decided to keep this meeting on Sunday, July 15th at the regular 5:00 time and provide pizza for a working-dinner.

·        Also propose to include newly elected Deacons as observers to help educate them on the budget process

All agreed this was fine.

 

Old/New Business

 

IHN will be here May 13-20th; most responsibilities are already covered. Bill B. also reported on the IHN annual fund-raiser golf challenge, which will be June 4th. He asked for names of golfers who might want to form a WPC team for this 27-hole golf event at Braeburn. It was noted that last year WPC did not have a golf team, but we made a monetary contribution instead.

 

Michael reported that he has informed Meals on Wheels of our decision not to sponsor a route. Betty announced that four members of the congregation are volunteering on the route that has been set up in our area.

 

The Deacons’ Shelter Meal on the 24th went well.

 

Bill McAvoy thanked all who jumped in and helped with the morning’s deacon responsibilities for the survey project.

 

Betty closed the meeting in prayer. We adjourned at 6:25pm.

 

Next Meeting: Sunday, June 10 beginning at 5:00 PM

 

Respectfully submitted: Sally Keener, clerk