christus victor lutheran church 2015 annual meeting...
TRANSCRIPT
Christus Victor
Lutheran Church
2015 Annual Meeting
January 25, 2015
Agenda Call to Order
Opening Devotions and Prayer
Natural Church Health Process
Primary Ministry Areas
Stewardship 2015 Results
2015 Budget
Nominating Committee
Council Election
Announcements
Motion to Adjourn and Lord’s Prayer
Natural Church Health
2014 Accomplishments:
Prayer Team formed
Spiritual Gifts Implementation Team
formed
Completed 1st Spiritual Gifts training
sessions
Natural Church Health
2015 Goals:
Complete Natural Church Health follow-up
survey
Continue Spiritual Gifts training sessions
Primary Ministry Areas
Welcoming &
Fellowship
Faith Formation
Worship & Music
Service & Mission
Stewardship of Finances & Property
Welcoming & Fellowship
Welcoming Hospitality Communications
Including:
Potluck & Praise, Consecration Brunch,
Thanksgiving Eve Pie Fest, Sunday morning
coffee and goodies, Women’s Retreat, Men’s
Retreat, Sailing Trips, God Squad Softball Team,
Ski Fellowship, AA, Al-anon, NA, Scouting,
Communications such as Announcements e-mail
blast, e-newsletter, Facebook and the CV website
Welcoming Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Consistent newsletter articles / videos Re: the
power of welcoming others to our congregation
Welcoming Video for hallway monitors
“Invite a Friend to Church Sunday” with
cinnamon roll reception
Frequent, positive feedback from visitors on the
welcoming environment of CV
19 members (8 families) joined the CV
Family!
Welcoming Committee
2015 Goals:
Utilize creative methods to keep
congregation aware of welcoming attitudes
and ways to communicate with visitors
Focus education on intentional & personal
interaction with new members to help
them “connect” at CV
Hospitality Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Sponsored 5 events Girls of All Ages Tea Party (April)
Rally Sunday Celebration (Sept)
Consecration Sunday Celebration (Nov)
Thanksgiving Pie Fest (Nov)
Advent Pot Luck / Decorating (Nov)
Sunday AM Fellowship treats & beverages
Maintenance of the CVLC Kitchen
Narthex / Fellowship Hall decorations
Hospitality Committee
2015 Goals:
Maintain kitchen /supplies for all groups
Sunday am fellowship refreshments
Plan 3rd Girls of All Ages Tea Party (Spring)
Sponsor / support church-wide events during
the year Rally Sunday Celebration, Consecration Sunday, Thanksgiving
Pie Fest
Coordinate Fall Picnic
Communications Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Continued growth of communications tools
Weekly e-mail blast expanded
Refreshed the CV website
Continued publication of Voice of Victory
Newsletter including e-newsletter every
month
Communications Committee
2015 Goals:
Grow the Communications team
Continue expanding use of tools – emails,
facebook, announcements and CV
website
Create more reoccurring columns in the
newsletter and engage more member input
Worship & Music
Including:
Joyful Servants, Senior Choir Upward Call, ROCK
Band, JIFY, Recharge, Christmas Drama, CV
Band, Lenten Worship & Dramas
Worship & Music
Worship & Music
2014 Accomplishments:
Changed Liturgy
Sanctuary Decor:
Cross on South Wall
Advent Candle Holder
New Panel over Choir
Hosted Luther Jazz Orchestra
Revival of Advent Festival & potluck
Worship & Music
2015 Goals:
Sanctuary Decor:
Additional Wall / Scenery Panels
Host & House Luther Jazz Orchestra
Faith Formation
Children & Family Ministry
Youth MinistryAdult
Education& Discipleship
Including:
Faith Trek, Dekaf, Connections, Adult Forums,
GIFT Bible and 1st Communion Classes, JIFY,
Vacation Bible School, Confirmation, SWAT Team,
Peer Ministry Leadership, SWAAG, Thursday Bible
Study, Small Group Bible Studies, Men’s &
Women’s Retreats
Children & Family Ministry
Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
VBS – 60 children - largest group in 7 years
2014-2015 Faith Trek - 47 children registered
Children’s Offering: Sponsored a child from Tanzania
Donated to the FMSC Mobile
Implemented new Faith Trek schedule: 3 week rotations
Pre-school/kindergarten same rotation schedule as 1-
5
Children & Family Ministry
Committee
2015 Goals:
Increase number of Faith Trek volunteers
Sponsor a child from the Dominican
Republic with the Children’s Offering
Recruit additional members to the Children
and Family Ministry Committee
Youth Ministry
2014 Accomplishments:
Successful transition between interim Associate
Pastor and new Associate Pastor
Youth Service
Peer Ministry Training (4 youth)
Assistance with JIFY, Confirmation, etc (13 youth)
Boundary Waters Service trip (6 youth, 5 adults)
Other intergenerational ministries: HS Lock-in (20
youth, 5 adults); MS Moonlight Madness (8 youth, 2
adults); Summer Stretch (9 youth, 9 adults); Camp
WAPO (45 children / youth)
Youth Ministry
2015 Goals:
Increase intentional inter-generational ministry
Create more opportunities for individual ministry
Better utilize youth peer leadership
Adult Education &
Discipleship Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Held 3 Sunday morning class series
Promoted Lenten Devotional series
Adult Education &
Discipleship Committee
2015 Goals:
Continue to offer relevant Sunday classes
Expand number of people involved in Small
Groups
Explore new options / delivery methods to help
adults grow in knowledge, understanding, and
faith as disciples of Jesus Christ
Service & Mission
Social Ministries
Missions Endowment
Including:
Food Shelf and Food Drive, Thanksgiving Baskets,
School Supplies and Backpacks, Armful of Love,
Bloodmobile, Pack It Up, Tanzania Partnership (Mlowa
Parish, Student Scholarships, Agriculture Program),
Kids Alive in the Dominican Republic), Mid-wife Kits,
Feed My Starving Children, Baskets of Love
Social Ministries Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Increased the number of families sponsored for
the 360 Communities Armful of Love program
Continued to provide opportunities for the
congregation to be involved in our projects such
as Thanksgiving Baskets and Newborn Kits
Expanded partnership with the Greenleaf
Kindness Connection
Social Ministries Committee2015 Goals:
Increase involvement in the Greenleaf Kindness
Connection
Integrate youth involvement in the planning and
execution of the committee’s projects
Missions Committee
2014 Accomplishments: 5 CV members completed successful, meaningful
Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic in March.
Provided opportunities for CV members to become more
deeply engaged in Missions work
Baskets of Love, Kid's Alive speaker & injected prayers and
songs into worship
Sponsored / facilitated secondary education of 17
Tanzanian & 10 Dominican Republican students
Supported Million Tree Project and Radio Faraha in
Tanzania.
Missions Committee
2015 Goals: Explore ways to build stronger relationships with our
brothers and sisters in Mlowa and with the Kids Alive
community in Constanza including more regular
communication, prayer and mission trips
Continue to engage CV members in Mission
opportunities through events, conversation, programs
and fund-raising
Complete a successful, relationship-building 2015
Mission trip to Tanzania
Endowment Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Awarded 3 $500 secondary education
scholarships to graduating high school seniors
Provided $250 charity contributions (per the
results of the congregational poll taken at the
2014 annual meeting) to:
Sharing & Caring Hands
Second Harvest Heartland
Endowment Committee
2015 Goals:
Award scholarships to graduating seniors as
directed in the bylaws
Provide contributions to outside charities as
directed in the bylaws
Provide a refresher to the congregation
concerning the purpose of the Endowment Fund
and options for contributing to the fund
Stewardship
of Finance & Property
PropertyCapital
CampaignMutual Ministry
Stewardship Finance
Property Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Furnace and Air conditioner projects completed
New windows (fellowship hall/narthex/youth
room)
Utilities around church updated (water softener
and new electrical services)
New Custodial contract
Property Committee
2015 Goals:
Stained-glass window improvements (sun
screening and back-lighting)
Office remodel and staff relocation
Landscape improvements and sprinkler
system
Capital Campaign Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Heating and cooling in sanctuary and art room
New windows in Narthex, fellowship hall, and
youth room
Updates to kitchen
Security update
Capital Campaign Committee
2015 Goals:
Office remodel
Architect design for future expansion
needs
Prioritize remaining capital needs /
projects
Mutual Ministry Committee
2014 Accomplishments:
Staffing: Facilitated transition between Interim and
new Associate Pastor
Successful transition to adult-staffed
nursery care
Negotiated new healthcare plan
Substantial progress on Employee
Handbook revisions
Mutual Ministry Committee
2015 Goals:
Staffing: Facilitate team building / revise job descriptions as
applicable
Continue to monitor Nursery & other staffing needs
Complete revision of Employee Handbook
Stewardship
2014 Accomplishments:
Continued using Narrative Budget to make the
CV budget story more understandable
Try Tithing Sunday raised $3,475
Successful stewardship campaign
Stewardship
2015 Goals:
Improve the Narrative Budget
Increased participation in Try Tithing Sunday
Lead a prayerful and successful 2015
Stewardship campaign
Facilitate more opportunities for discussion of
stewardship throughout the year
Provide more opportunities for exploration and
giving of time and talents
Confirmation of member contact information
Stewardship 2015 Results# $
% of Total # of Pledges
New Pledges in 2015 12 8%
Pledges increased over 2014 50 31%
Pledges remaining the same from 2014 72 45%
Pledges decreased from 2014 26 16%
2014 Pledges not in 2015 (13) 0
2015 Projected Pledges 160 447,826
2014 Total Pledges 160 438,500
Increase (decrease) over 2014 Pledges 9,326
2014 Actual Pledged
Results
# $
% of Total # of Pledges
Actual Giving exceeded Pledged 53 10,766 34%
Actual Giving = Pledged 49 0 31%
Actual Giving less than Pledged 54 (29,264) 35%
Additional funds available If ALL pledges were fulfilled 29,264
Possibilities:
Additional Benevolence @ 6% 1,756
Elimination of Current Net Deficit 10,378
Additional Resources for Ministries 17,130
29,264
Finance Committee 2014 Accomplishments:
Completed first financial audit in CV history Used independent auditing firm recommended by Synod
Formed Audit Committee to help review and present audit findings
to Council
2013 Year End Audit completed in September
No significant issues found
Continued to grow the Scrip Fund Raising Program Increased Participation (34 families in 2014)
Lowered admin. expenses
Increased funds raised ($6,748 in 2014)
Recruited New Committee Members/Counters Aaron Nyquist - Financial Secretary
Bruce Schafer - lead offering counter
Finance Committee
2015 Goals:
Continue implementing suggestions from auditors
Work with Council to determine long term plan for future
audits
Establish a permanent Audit Committee
Develop a Financial Audit Protocol / frequency
Work with Council to update Fundraising Policy
Audit Recommendations
Most issues identified were because GAAP accounting requires
accrual-basis accounting & we use cash-basis accounting.
Qualified Opinion – land & building tax value vs. cost
Common for non-profit our size
Endowment Fund – include in CV statements 2015
In / Out Funds – Finance in process of reviewing funds
Many should flow through revenue & expense
Accounting of Mortgage Payments
Interest expense vs. reduction in principal of loan
Change how this is recorded starting in 2015
Depreciation – track & record this for capital items
Conflict of Interest Policy – for Council members
2014 Results
Actual
(000)
Budget
(000)
Variance
(000) %Variance
Offering
Other Receipts
Total Receipts
450.8
69.0
$519.8
468.5
54.2
$522.7
(17.7)
14.8
($2.9)
(3.8%)
+27.3%
(0.6%)
Administration
Benevolence
Total Committees
Mutual Ministries
Property
All Other
Total Expenses
21.0
28.7
33.1
323.2
111.0
13.2
$530.2
22.3
29.4
33.3
338.6
105.4
10.9
$539.9
1.3
0.7
0.2
15.4
(5.6)
(2.3)
$9.7
(5.8%)
(2.3%)
(0.6%)
(4.5%)
+5.3%
+21.1%
(1.8%)
Net Surplus
(Deficit) ($10.4) ($17.2) $6.9
Selected Balance Sheet Accounts
December 31, 2014
12/31/2013
(000)
12/31/2014
(000)
Variance
(000)
Current Assets $437.4 $291.0 ($146.4)
Current Liabilities 77.9 57.9 (21.1)
Reserves(Cash, Building, Repairs) 288.9 169.2 (119.7)
Available Cash 70.6 63.9 (6.7)
2015 Budget Plan
Revenue\Expense
2015 Budget
(000)
Variance
Vs. Act. 2014
(000)
Total Offering
Property Income
Garage Sale (gross receipts)
All Other Receipts
Total Receipts
$473.8
21.4
16.0
23.6
$534.8
$23.0
(3.3)
(1.0)
(3.7)
$15.0
Administration
Benevolence (held at 6%)
Benevolence (10% of net Garage Sale)
Total Committees
Mutual Ministries
Property
All Other Expense
Total Expenses
$21.6
28.4
1.5
22.9
327.3
116.4
17.6
$535.8
$0.6
1.4
(0.2)
(10.2)
4.1
5.4
4.5
($5.6)
Net Surplus (Deficit) $(1.0) $9.4
2015 Committee Budget Cuts Most committees reduced their budget requests
Admin – little “cushion” for unexpected equipment
repairs, extra congregational mailings, or supplies
Worship & Music – request for sanctuary artwork, music
& pew supplies was removed
Property – little “cushion” for unexpected utility,
insurance, and repairs /maintenance costs
Mutual Ministry –
No “cushion” for healthcare expense increases
Staff Retreat / Consulting fees eliminated
Staff Holiday Gifts eliminated
Books, registration fees, etc reduced
No budgeted increase to Benevolence
Congregational Challenge
In effort to continue in our commitment to grow our
benevolence each year, council recommends
the following triggers:
At April 30, if actual pledged giving = or > 100%
of budget, Garage Sale Benevolence will be
increased from 10% to 20% (~$1,500) and
At year-end, if actual pledged giving = or > 101%
of budget, General Benevolence will be
increased from 6% to 7% (~$4,700)
CV Council
2014 Accomplishments:
Installation of new Associate Pastor
Respectful Conversation Re: Marriage Equality
Natural Church Health
Sponsored leadership retreat
Council members completed Strength Finders assessments
CV Constitution approval
2015 Goals:
Establish Building Campaign & Steering Committee
Draft Conflict of Interest Policy / Update Bylaws
Continue Natural Church Health process
Nominating Committee
for the purpose of securing nominations for the
Congregation Council, shall consist of four voting
members of this congregation & shall be elected at the
annual meeting for a term of one year:
Two outgoing members of the Congregation Council
Barb Damlo
Two members of the congregation at large
Church Council Election
Thank you to…
Barb Damlo
Matt Zarras
Nominees
Jennie Rice
Sarah Thomson
Announcements:
Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders – Saint Paul
Area Synod; Saturday, February 21, 2015 8:30 am –
2:00 pm
Conference Assembly – Saint Paul Area Synod;
Saturday, February 28, 2015 8:30 am – 12:00 noon
Synod Assembly; Friday, April 24 – Saturday, April
25, 2015
Motion to adjourn
Close with prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Thank you for joining us to review 2014
and plan for 2015 –
God is Good All the Time!