February 21 Minutes

Below are the minutes from our February 21st meeting. Please take the time to read them and perhaps comment on anything you feel necessary. Please let me know should there be any corrections.

Trinity Church Council Minutes
February 21, 2011

Charlie opened with the unison reading of both mission statements.

Attendees: Pastor Jeff, Pastor Nate, Charlie Yund, Fred Claus, Mark VonWald, Nikki Fadel, Tracey Swartzmeyer, Jan Garrison, Sheila Rader, Paul Sipson, Sue Kaiser, Anne Hipp, Judy Maurer, John Harbison, Bob Kaiser, Gail Conschafter, Tom Burkman, John Jones, Laura Mason,

Charlie gave a brief description as to why we are here.

He also stated that the committees that are the most “successful” are the committees that meet and report regularly. He explained who the Church Council is and what our “job” is and how we manage to get it done. Discussion of the church calendar and how things are coordinated so as not to conflict with one another.

Tom Burkman asked if it was now the policy for all Methodist churches to have a Church Council and not a Council of Ministries.

Mission is part of the plan and the strategic action. As stated in the overview, “the purpose of the church council is to plan a program of nurture, outreach, and witness:” this includes Missions.

We are about ½ the size we were in 1990. Some things slipped past us and it took us a long time to realize that.
A monthly barometer of attendance will be addressed, so we can keep a handle on what is happening at TUMC.

Attendance for each service was documented. The total attendance has decreased since 2008.
The pattern continues to drop, and we need to take a look at this! Discussion on the overall decline in attendance in most churches in the 1990’s. The Mega churches are a big draw for some. Some have just stopped coming to TUMC that are not going elsewhere. As we go forward, the intent is to turn the attendance around and grow as a church.

Mark questioned the approach to help the church grow. Any suggestions can be filtered through Pastor Jeff, the church blog, each/any committee specifically involved. See Charlie if you would like for it to be placed on the agenda.

Attendance has “flattened off.” This is the first time in 5 years we have been current with our apportionments. We currently have a budget of approx. $370,000. Our revenue is approx. $335,000 - $340,000. We have a shortfall, but somehow God has seen us through, and has kept us on a level field. We have enough to pay our apportionments for February. Our deficit does not look to be $30,000, but Jay cannot say specifically what it will be. We may not be able to support our budget if things go as they are going now. Perhaps another special “appeal” should go out to the congregation. Perhaps people are embarrassed because they cannot pledge due to their own financial situation. There is no plan in place at this time. Charlie is in constant touch with the finance committee to keep a close eye on this. Next month, we will have a better picture of where we are and what the pattern might be.
Facts have been shared. Any suggestions see Jeff or Charlie. We are currently ahead of last year, but next months’ report will give us a better view of things. Anne shared that her feeling is to get new families into the church to add to the budget.

Committee Reports:
SPRC Tom reported
The Staff Parish Relations Committee has completed its tasks with regard to the posting of a new senior pastor to Trinity Church. As reported to the congregation on February 6, Bishop Matthews has announced that the Rev. Larry R. Baird will become the pastor of Trinity on July 1, 2011.

The role of the SPRC in this process was to compile a Trinity profile, with congregational input, in the fall 2010 months. Charlie Yund, then SPRC chair, led in preparing the profile. The profile described the circumstances of Trinity and our best perception of the needs of the church. With Pastor Childs’s concurrence in the desirability of a pastoral change, the cabinet of district superintendents decided to recommend to the Bishop that Rev. Baird come to Grand Island. Larry and his wife Brenda are eager to re-enter parish ministry after the eight years Larry has served as a district superintendent. The SPRC met with District Superintendent Natalie Hanson and the Bairds on January 30 and concluded that Rev. Baird is a good match for our needs. We believe that good things lie ahead for Trinity.

Members of the SPRC have engaged with Pastors Childs and Lange in the visioning project. We are hoping that the Trinity leadership and membership will be enthused about the concepts and goals generated by this process. We want to convey to Rev. Baird the hopes and plans of Trinity people for a new and creative ministry.

The Board of Trustees is already looking into parsonage needs.

Between now and July 1, the SPRC will devote its energy to seeing that a smooth transition takes place; that Pastor Childs is duly celebrated for his significant contributions to life and change at Trinity; and that the Bairds are given a warm welcome and full church cooperation as they begin ministry here. There are some dates that church leadership should keep in mind:

Sunday, May 22. Rev. Baird will preach at the two 10:30 services.
Sunday, June 19. Rev. Childs’s last services; farewell reception.
Sunday, July 3. Rev. Baird’s first services as pastor.
Sunday, July 10. Welcome reception.
July date TBA. “Meet the leaders” cookout at the Burkmans’

The SPRC needs the help of lay volunteers in several functions related to the transition.”

Tom has not seen Pastor Baird yet, but is hoping to meet with him to convey our ideas from the visioning meeting. He welcomes any suggestions that we feel should be brought up in any meetings with him. Sue asked if we could invite Pastor Larry to our Council meeting(s) prior to his coming here? He will be preaching on May 22 at the two 10:30 services. We don’t want to “cast the church on him” until he officially is here. Jeff hopes that Pastor Larry could connect with the visioning portions.

Pastor’s Report:
Jeff received Pastor Larry and his wife’s hands to be sewn to the banner. Carolyn will sew them on the banner. There are some categories that need to be taken care of.
We need a new pictorial directory. There are many people not in the 2007 directory. This would be helpful to the new pastor with names and faces. We are looking to do this on the computer and not employ Olan Mills. Pastor Jeff will talk with Colleen Marx and membership care. The other thing will be to pull out the name tag board again to help with names and faces. Lastly, what more we might be able to do after the services. Lunches after church bring in about $500. We might want to do one on May 22 when Pastor Larry is here. Hopefully all will stick around and meet Larry. There is very little that Pastor Jeff has to do with the actual “running” of the church; each committee and head will be of great assistance to him. Pastor is looking to finish on June 19 and take that last week to pack up. Nate is in charge during the “gap.”

A brief demonstration as to how to access the blog was shown. It is the intent for all committees to post their reports prior to each meeting. The purpose is for all to read the reports before coming to the monthly meeting. Comments can be made. This is a public record, and available to anyone that has an interest in reading them. Each committee should send Gail their report shortly after their own meeting so it is current and everyone has time to read all reports. Discussion followed.

ACE: Fred Claus and John Harbison encouraged all to attend the upcoming seminar this Saturday. Charlie encouraged everyone to visit our church website. There are a lot of informational items and events.
“The Adult Christian Education Committee will be sponsoring its February seminar this Saturday. This seminar will be in conjunction with the mission committee and focus on the topic of local and global missions. As of this past Sunday we had 27 people signed up to attend with about 40 expected.”

The seminar will be all day Saturday as well a Sunday School lesson and sermon from Rev. Dr. John Nessal on Sunday. John will be speaking on missions in general and there will be 4 speakers from various specific mission groups as well. This is expected to be our largest event to date.

TRUSTEES: Bob Kaiser reported:
“All Church Spring Clean-Up – Sat Morning, April 30
please help spread the word--and plan to participate.
Trustees continue to promote church tidiness

Please help us spiffy up our more public spaces.
Please minimize and neaten storage, etc in your less public areas.
We greatly appreciate the work of the KCC in cleaning kitchens, etc.
Framed info about “tracer” and framed flags is to be mounted on FR walls

Projects
Several of our larger, outdoor projects await better weather.
Inside maintenance and repairs continue.
All church Spring clean up on April 30 in the morning. Please spread the word.
Look at our public places from a visitor’s standpoint. Changes and clean up have been made.”

HOSPITALITY AND OUTREACH:
“We will be meeting on Sunday, March 13th after worship. Nate Lange would like to speak to the committee about the Outreach Dinner Program that he is proposing for April. Charlie Yund would like to talk to the committee about welcoming and greeting.

I have prices on cloth shopping bags with the UMC logo and TUMC on the bags to be given out to visitors. Do we want to order 100 and reserve just for visitors or order 250 and make them available to those who may want to purchase them for $3. We are currently using red gift bags for this purpose.

The Welcome Center is collecting brochures and information flyers again. I attempt to keep this under control and keep it to welcoming information and brochures about upcoming Trinity Events of interest to visitors. It is not a community bulletin board. Please put community brochures on the bulletin board.

We need greeters at the front entrances to both churches at the 10:30 AM Services. If you feel this is your gift, please sign up for a Sunday morning.”
Sheila asked how many bags to order for weekly guests. She will order 100 and has the money in her budget – which does not require a motion. Sheila reported that people are still confused as to what church to go to for each different service. Nate reported we need more durable signs. Visitors are not sure which service is in which church. Charlie has a sermon he will send to us all called Radical Hospitality. It’s good info. Sheila is taking the Welcoming Ministry webinar. Discussion on signs and greeters. The greeters will be discussed in Sheila’s committee meeting. She will ask two of us before the meeting ends. Nate will find someone for the Contemporary service and we will find one for the traditional service. We absolutely need to do Radical Hospitality…. Come on March 12 and join us in the visioning.

Paul Sipson reported that Sister Mary Jo is coming on March 12.

Missions: John Harbison reported on the blog:
“Catch the Spirit: Trinity UMC was represented by several attending
* Saturday, February 5th , 2011 at Clarence Center UMC
* The Mission Group presented: Getting Mission Going in Your Church
o There were 14 Speakers representing and describing a mission effort
* Seneca Street Project Murray Gallway
* Habitat for Humanity Dave Zopblotny
* Viva La Casa Sister Beth Niederprun
* Journey’s End Refugee Tom Tripp
* Central City Café Johnnnie Mae Holt
* Ashbury Shalone Zone Jueanita Matta & Ellie Robinson
* Kamina Friends Jeff Tyburski
* Volunteers in Misssion Charles Hodges
* Gateway Longview Kathy Swenson
* Food Bank of Buffalo Mike Billioni
* Edunations Ken Krieger
* Medical Missions Dr. Andrew Harbison
* Haven House Petrino Piro
* Good Neighbors Clinic Kathy Armenat

ACE Adult Education Event: Faithful Witness February 26 & 27, 2011
* This is a Mission Focus Event
* The Feature Speaker is Rev. Dr. John Nuessle, Associate General Secretary of The Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
o Serving as managing supervisor of Mission Relations and Mission Initiatives staff teams in a wide range of mission connection
* Dr. Andrew Harbison will talk about Medical Missions in Haiti in terms of how they are organized and how they affect lives
* John Harbison will talk about working through service groups and NGO’s working in Bolivia and Haiti
* Ken Krieger, President of Edunations will describe how working with refugees evolved into Building Schools in Sierra Leone, Africa
* Jeff Tryburski of Fairport UMC will describe how the Friends of Kamina project was started and how the Western NY Conference became involved in:
o Micro Credit lending
o Developing Businesses and Business Leaders
o Building the Community Infrastructures
Haiti Medical Clinic: Rural Haiti Village of 8,000, Permanent Medical Services
* Cost Estimated at $70,000
* Funds raised $47, 693.90
* Grant will provide $27,000 from Rotary
* Construction to start in March, 2011”

Pastor Jeff shared portions of his sermon “Rules to Live By – Old and New,” He asked that we all read The New Testament.

Charlie commented on the fact that leaders of the church need to have some definition. Jeff’s “chart” gives us some idea as to what it takes to be a disciple.

Charlie directed our attention to the last two pages of the handout. “Why are we looking at Future Visions for Trinity?” After asking Jeff to do all we asked of him, we still didn’t see an increase in our attendance. It was then decided to grow our leaders. Major issues: Need to maintain attendance, build spiritual leaders and disciples, provide a welcoming atmosphere for all ages especially to young people and families that will be the future leaders of Trinity.
We took the above issues and developed core values. Please read the blog and the draft of core values and send any ideas or revisions to Charlie or post comment on blog. There might be a correlation between the fact that Evangelism did not come up numerically in the survey and that we are not growing as a church. Nate taught several seminars on Evangelism and is willing to offer his services for this. Sheila suggested that one of us give our testimony as to why/how we became a Christian. Charlie stated that we are getting close to a set of core values. Sue reported that the choir members are taking time to share and recognized the passing of Tom’s father. Please read core values as stated on handout.

Are we here to follow Jesus? Are we here to make/be disciples? Are we transforming the world? Come on March 12 and share.

John suggested that we all visit another church when travelling.

Motion was made to accept minutes – Sheila first seconded by Fred. Motion passed.

Next meeting Monday, March 21, 2011 7 PM

Sue Kaiser closed in prayer.

Meeting adjourned at 9:13 PM.