Administration Ministry Team
Meeting Minutes by Moderator Newman McAllister
The Administration Ministry Team met on January 4. Those present were Pastor Darlene Avery, Moderator Newman McAllister, Vice Moderator Linda Seger, Member Vaughn Drinen (by ZOOM) and Guest Teresa Allen.
Pastor reported that the Bible Study on Tuesdays (worship stories about women) went well with up to 12 participants on occasion. The Advent concert on November 17 was successful, but not as highly attended as last year’s. There were several other holiday arts events the same evening in the area. The Christmas Eve service at 7:00 was well attended. It has been suggested that 6:00 would be a better time for Christmas Eve, and all are agreed that there will be only one service on Christmas Eve for 2024, which is a Tuesday. Pastor and Teresa Allen are already busy planning for Lent. Pastor is quite busy with pastoral care for the ill and those recovering from surgery. Liz Speir and Patty Nyquist Heise on the We Care Team are of great help. The final report on the grant for the handbell conference held in September will be provided to the Kirkpatrick Foundation. Green Mtn. Falls is working on a master fire mitigation plan; Pastor Darlene was asked to attend for the church. There is a Fire Mitigation Team public education event scheduled in February at the church. Inquiries about weddings continue, especially for April. Pastor is on vacation from January 22-29. Rev. Dr. Sarah Linn will preach on the 28th. She is Moderator of the Rocky Mtn. Conference. The church’s computer in the Admin Office needs replacement. The team approved. Pastor has asked that all members or friends of the church who wish to participate in Web of Care training in May with Elizabeth Thompson should commit to do so by January 12. A new member class may be appropriate for March.
The team reviewed the November financial report. All income was $12,081.25 and all expenses were $16,090.47, for a negative balance for the month of $4,009.22. The positive balance for the year is $62,909.54, although that includes the $100,000.00 from the Sallie Bush Community Building sale.
Teresa Allen obtained an estimate of $2,500.00 from our electrician of the cost of installing the wiring and the speakers for the proposed new Carillon bells. Adding that to the cost of the bells and speakers of $14,175.00, the total estimated cost is $16,675.00. Teresa presented fund raising ideas and the team approved going ahead with the fund drive. Two meetings were scheduled. One would be after worship on Sunday, March 6, and the other would be on Wednesday, March 10, at 7:00 p.m. in Tatter Hall. The latter would be for the community. Teresa will develop a handout explaining the proposed system and its advantages to the church and the community. Pastor can assist in soliciting contributions from business owners in Green Mountain Falls. Donor acknowledgement and publicity were discussed.
Vaughn has installed three monitors in the church along with a main control in the basement, that would tell us if there is water in the basement. Newman will measure the carpet and padding left over from the re-carpeting of the VanArsdale room and will pursue a sale. The video card that was purchased and installed for recording the church’s services still is not working properly. Vaughn and Chris Ruccius are pursuing. Volunteers will be solicited to do painting jobs in the church. Ron DeValk will shovel snow in January and Cactus and Nicole Caldwell will handle February. Newman will solicit proposals from accountants that audit the financial records of churches.
Pastor’s call agreement provides for yearly evaluations. Pastor was last evaluated in December 2022. The team agreed that evaluations could be done by-yearly and the next evaluation will be in December 2024. Newman will draft an amendment to the agreement.
The next team meeting will be on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 3:30 p.m.