April 18, 2024 | Deacon Meeting Minutes
Attendance: John Reagan, John Genskow, Paul Weinke, Vince Maro, James Martin, Anne Hartman, Chuck Falch, Bruce Winkler, Kristi Lambert, Gail Graese. Kathy Sahlhoff (absent)
Guests: Allie Urberg, Pastor David Forke, Mark Oldenberg, and Sue Gumz (secretary)
Devotions were led by Bruce Winkler.
Staff presentations/Review Action Items
• Gail: Tonya will complete a course at CVTC to help her better understand basic reports. The cost of the class is $1,700 and will start in August. Tonya will receive a certificate for this.
• John R.: transitioned $375,000 in CD at SFB and $75,000 in a Money Market account. The MM will be liquid.
• Pastor David: Wednesday Night supper – now charging $7 per adult (6th through adult). Some dollars will be put in the budget for paper supplies.
• Anne: She hasn’t had time to work on name tags for Deacons yet.
• Anne: Women’s Ministry asked for $1,000 for retreat funding and $1,000 for events. Women’s ministry has been going well. Having this funding will really help.
• Congregational Get Together – We need a lead person on this. This is a celebration for the Faith Journey by way of a pie and ice cream social for anyone who has completed their faith journey plan. Deacons are asked to fill one out.
Consent Agenda
Pastoral Report, February minutes, March financials and policy updates.
– John Genskow made motion to accept the consent agenda items, Paul Weinke seconded. Motion passed.
Follow-Up Items
Pastoral call update. Mark Oldenberg
The Call Committee has talked with 4 people. First interview last night. Gabe Kasper from Ann Arbor, MI. He has a high impression of Peace. He is not sure if he will be able to fill the role. He has 3 smaller children and parents/in-laws nearby in MI. Anne might be having a conversation with him about the split. We will need to see how he will connect with Mark and the transition. Other candidates have been turned off when hearing about the split. Pastor Gabe was not.
Anne will share a document with deacons as to what really happened during the split and how to approach the candidates. Gabe is in his late 30’s, has young children, has a vision, has been a church planter.
Anne would like to put on the docket for a Board of Elders that would be a spiritual guidance/advisory group of men to support Peace’s called workers.
Mark O. will give another update in May.
Children’s Ministry Update. Allie Urberg
Kaya Mueller came this past weekend. She’s from Iowa City and has been at her church for 19 years. Peace has reached out to her 3 times in 15 years. She’s passionate and energetic, amazing spirit for new things depending on the setting. The Call Committee was impressed. Candidate #2, Madi Patrow, will have a zoom call next week. She’s 3 years out of school. Allie met her in Phoenix. She has 2 other churches talking to her. Marlee will be there part-time for the first year and this new staff hire will reevaluate if Marlee needs to continue. The goal is to have them here by the beginning of the school year.
Video volunteer update: Kristi did a great job. Thank you! James is next on the list. He will connect with Kristin.
Deacons not running: Need verbal announcement the last weekend in April. 6 positions are open and a couple of these positions to have one at 2 years and one at one year, the other four will be three years. Bruce will provide the office with an announcement.
Gayle – yes run, Paul – yes can run, but will step aside, James – planning to run at this time.
John Genskow will begin meeting in July and continue with the odd months instead of the even months.
New Items
At the next board meeting we will look at the completed budget from the Peace staff, and if it is good, we can vote on it.
Annual Congregational Meeting: Monday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. Change from Sunday.
HSA contribution: There is a vote each year for Peace to contribute $500 to each staff that qualifies for the HSA - currently that is Kristin, Sue, Pastor David, and Pastor Mark. Gail made a motion for Peace to contribute $500 to each qualifying staff for the HSA contribution. Anne H. seconded. Motion passed.
Missions: Anne will work with Kristin on slides for our missions, she will also send a letter to all our mission partners so they know how much we will donate and will talk to Camp Luther to see how far along we are in the 10-year commitment. We’ve been giving $10,000 per year.
May lunch with staff: Monday, May 13, at noon. Bruce Winkler and Chuck Falch volunteered to attend. Sue will talk to John R. about what they would like to order.
Good News Global: Monday, May 6, 2024, is the banquet at Florian Gardens. Pastor David is going and is opening it up for anyone else to go with him. This is formerly Good New Jail and Prison Ministry.
Anne closed the meeting with Prayer.
Paul made a motion to close the meeting. It was approved. The meeting ended at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Gumz (acting secretary)
