The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERMINUTES OF CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday 18 June 2008 at 7.45 pm
Present: Jan Clear, Roger Vass, Beverly McGlead, Yan Emms, David Jackson, Doug Newberry, Marjorie Bedford, Graham Lockhart, Lynne Boyer, Warren Greenwood, Max Whittaker, Murray Lowe, Rev Lynette Dungan, Rev Greg Fry, Graeme Frecker (Chair), Wendy Wyatt (Minute Secretary).
Apologies: Kerryn Leister, Alanee Hearnshaw, Amy Whittaker, Helen & David Boucher.
Chairman Graeme welcomed all to the meeting
Joys & Concerns:
Michael Boyer has had surgery on his injured shoulder incurred at Youth State Games (YSG). He and his mother are OK now. Nearly 60 people went to the YSG. Marjory Lee has had a hip replacement and will be coming home on Friday. Has been visited. Amy Whittaker is experiencing back pain after physiotherapy. PPEP Ministers’ Retreat went very well with 26 people there. Greg Fry said that at the BOMAR Conference the Synod Budget for 2009 has as $1.9 million deficit. BOMAR will continue to work at ways of reducing the deficit for 2009. John Muir’s mother has passed away. Thanksgiving Service in the Chapel on 19 June at 1.00 pm
Minutes of previous meeting (21 May 2008)
Noted that some members did not receive the Youth Report as stated in the Minutes. This to be sent to those who did not receive it.
Minutes confirmed.
Devotions:
Beverly McGlead read from Mathew 28: 16-20. “Commissioning Disciples”. Mystery of the Trinity – not something to talk about, but something to celebrate. Followed by prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.
Matters arising from Minutes not listed elsewhere: Nil
Correspondence:
Letter of resignation – Rod Dungan – for health reasons. Graeme noted that Rod was an ideas man and that is to be appreciated. Letter to be sent to Rod. Agreed
Email from Ineke Gyles advising that she is looking forward to coming back to Glen Waverley.
Letter from Dawn Forbes advising of her resignation from the Christmas card ministry. Yan Emms believes Faye Wagon would be willing to take this over. Letter to be sent to Faye asking her to take this on board with our thanks. Letter to be sent to Dawn thanking her for her long and devoted service over many years.
Letter from Laura Morgan thanking Church Council for the opportunity to take part in the Internship Programme. Note to be sent to her with thanks.
Special Items of Business:
Graeme Frecker showed slides which had been prepared by Kerryn Leister and Steve Terrell following the congregational meetings, about the progress of “On the Way Together”. Information to make Council aware of how things are shaping after the meeting on Sunday 15 June.
Themes picked up:
Pastoral Care: • Caring • Belonging • Supporting • Relationships
Outreach: • Outreach to the wider community • Generosity enables us to share Christ’s love • Size and capacity and diversity of things we do
Belonging Community: • Acceptance • Included • Inclusiveness • Involvement
Active involvement: • Being empowered to participate in this congregation • Opportunity to influence • Provision of ways to express faith in action
Worship: • Evolving • Diversity • Empowering • Life-giving • Inspiring • Participatory • Leadership • Telling our sacred stories
Diversity of Worship: • Diversity of outreach/witness (fund-raising and faith sharing) • Innovation in worship
Journeying in Faith: • Enabling us and others • Faith development and formation • Telling and listening to our sacred stories • Leadership • Study of scripture • Diversity of learning
These things are being built up to help us as we move into the next phase with Steve Terrell. Support for what Steve is doing. Concern expressed that there has not been provision for diversity of opinion. There was an opportunity to express diverse opinions on June 8 and Kerryn is compiling these. This exercise is trying to learn what the congregation feels.
On June 22 it is Asset Mapping, relationships, buildings, partners, skills. Isaiah Festival 25 July through to 2 August – ‘Imagining God’s Future for GWUC’. What future are we called to? September/October – ‘Naming a Vision with clarity and passion’.
Finance Committee: Report tabled and read by Roger Vass.
Finance Committee Recommendations: 1. That the ministry team review its functioning and redeployment across the congregation for the remainder of 2008 and beyond in the light of the above (commentary). 2. That the ministry team and worship planning groups plan for greater intergenerational activity and opportunities. 3. That all groups in the congregation be reminded of the challenge to the congregation to raise at least $10,000 for the local work of the congregation. This is traditionally done via social/fellowship events 4. That the specific ministries seek to promote their activities to the wider congregation 5. That a review of all areas of the budget income and expenditure be reviewed on a priority basis and that the review be actively discussed with the Congregation. ( in parallel with, or part of the Steve Terrell exercise but without further delay) 6. That leaders of worship events ensure that an offering is made. Also, where appropriate, that a donations to defray costs or in support of church funds bowl be provided at all events 7. That the Treasurer continue to monitor and approve expenditures against specific budgets. In this regard the Treasurer to request all groups impacting on the budget to provide an updated budget (income and expenditure) for the remaining months of 2008.
Council response:
Finance Committee recommendations 1 & 2. were explained by the Treasurer. Concerns expressed by Rev Lynette Dungan at the wording of these two recommendations. After much discussion Recommendations 1, 2 & 4 were condensed to the following:
That the Ministry Team be requested to review the utilisation of the team with support from other groups and Presbytery for the remainder of 2008 in order to: • increase the opportunity for greater intergenerational activity and opportunities and take appropriate action, and • enhance the promotion of activities of the specific ministries for the wider congregation. Agreed by Council.
Roger moved that the Treasurer undertake action in item 3. Agreed
Re No 5: Special meeting with Church Council and Elders to be held to process and discuss the framework and strategy of the Budget before the end of July. Agreed
Re No 6. Finance Committee is looking at how the Continuation Committee can follow up with new members of the congregation in regard to Planned Giving. There is a link between how congregation is feeling and finance. Greg advised that a Worship Group is looking at the next month with regard to the 9.00 am service. They have worked out a number of things to do for involvement of families and are looking at addressing some of these issues in July.
Re No 7: Discussion took place on No 7. Task for Treasurer – already in process.
Roger also circulated copies of the Budget performance for period January – 31 May 2008.
Reports:
Ministry Team: Baptism of Owen Sean Dennis on 6 July at the 11.00 am service: Approved by Council. Seniors’ Service 20 July. Lot of planning and activity going into the service on 22 June. About 20 pastoral visits have been made.
Youth: Report read and tabled by Lynne Boyer for Alanee. 28 June – NCYC Launch. Recording being done by professionals. Should be great – all encouraged to come at some time.
Pastoral Committee: Deletions from Roll:
Iris & Leon Pederick Stephanie, Bruce & Jay Robinson Alan and Merryn Ashcroft Susan & David Karoly
Property: (tabled) Warren advised new rates to apply for hire of church facilities from January 2009. Broadcast went ahead to Beeac on Sunday 15 June and was extremely well received. May take 2 Sundays per month in the future. Thanks expressed to Warren and his team for all their time and work in this initiative.
Children & Families: (tabled)
Any other Business: Need to know where the proceeds from the Fete will go. A Committee will meet to discuss this and bring recommendations to the congregation. Suggested part of the proceeds might go to our own church.
Next meeting: Wednesday 16 July 2008 at 7.45 pm. Devotions: David Morgan Supper: Yan Emms, Brian Clarkson