2016 November Stewards Minutes

 SEEKERS CHURCH

Stewards Minutes

November 6, 2016

5:00 p.m.

 Present:

Stewards: Marjory Bankson, Peter Bankson (notes), Kevin Barwick, Ken Burton, Joan Dodge (angel), Judy Lantz, David Lloyd, Sandra Miller (worship), Trish Nemore (angel), Brenda Seat, Keith Seat, Vincent Shepherd, Margreta Silverstone, Deborah Sokolove (Moderator) and Jacqie Wallen.

Guests: Glen Yakushiji, Bettina delSesto, Liz Gould-Leger

Housekeeping: Stewards will next meet on Sunday, December 4, at 5:00 pm at the church

Moderator: Dave                     Worship: Kevin

Note taker: Marjory                 Angels: Brenda & Keith

Worship was offered by Sandra.

Decorating for Christmas: Dave Lloyd reported that he will be coordinating volunteers to decorate the building for Christmas. Those who want to help are invited to join Dave at about 9:00 AM on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, November 26^th to string lights, decorate trees, set up the Advent tableau. Volunteers were asked to contact Dave to let him know they will be there to help.

Time & Space Mission Group Report: Several T&S members contributed to the report:

• Peter distributed five slides from the “Shape of Seekers” briefing, summarizing activity in 2016 (attached).
  • By the end of this year there will have been 711 events by 42 outside groups and several individuals.
  • There are currently 16 other faith communities who use our space regularly.
• Building Repair:
  • The building is aging. (Most of the initial renovation was completed in 2003.)
  • This year we had two major challenges, the ice storm in February and the current failure of the heat exchanger in the HVAC system that serves the sanctuary. Repairing these will require spending from our capital reserve.
  • T&S has requested increased funding for building maintenance in the proposed 2017 budget.
  • Carpet in the conference room is seriously stained, principally by outside groups who bring in coffee in cups with no lids. T&S is considering options to replace the carpet with an appropriate covering that can be replaced in segments, something like carpet tile.
  • T&S is working with the Children’s Team to maintain the play area:
    • Repairing and reinforcing the swing set;
    • Replacing the wood chip ground cover.
• The rear fence requires continuing repair. T&S is considering options to reduce vehicle damage and replace broken pickets and panels.

• Dave reported that another folding table has been damaged beyond repair by an outside group. T&S is prepared to replace the table when we determine that a replacement is needed.
• Katie Fisher is compensated for one day per week to coordinate use of the building.

Stewards’ actions:

• Deborah emphasized that our “Ministry of Place” nurtured by Time & Space Mission Group really is an important ministry to the community. Trish suggested that we might consider discounts we offer on use of our space as part of our external giving.
• Stewards affirmed with deep appreciation the outstanding support Katie Fisher provides, coordinating the use of our building.

Draft Seekers Budget for 2017: Marjory presented the draft budget for 2017, developed by the Financial Oversight Group. (attached). Major elements include:

• Overall level of budgeted income and spending remain at current levels ($288,000).
• Building support (Time & Space) is increased by $6,445.
• Marjory clarified distribution of the 2015 year-end surplus:
  • We had a surplus of $47,829. At the February meeting Stewards decided to allocate these funds as follows:
    • Add $6,000 to the capital reserve account, following our precedent of not budgeting an amount for it but allocating some of any surplus to it;
    • add $5,000 to the Holy Spirit fund,
    • Donate $10,000 to the Capital Area Food Bank (following our precedents),
    • Donate a gift of $5,000 to Dayspring Church for a need it will identify,
    • Add $7,500 each to our domestic and international giving.
    • Make a donation of $5,000 to Still Point Retreat Cabin at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community. (Keith/B&B Mission Group will authorize this action.) 
    • Marjory proposed that the remainder of the special fund supporting the Guatemala Pilgrimage $554 be sent to PAVA since there is no apparent energy in Seekers Church at this time to continue supporting the Guatemala Pilgrimage.

 

Stewards’ Christmas Party Cynthia Dahlin has volunteered to coordinate this celebration. Stewards affirmed her commitment with acclamation.

Seekers Relationship to Church of the Saviour Keith facilitated a reflection on our current relationship as one faith community in the Church of the Saviour, and our ideas of what might be helpful to draw us together. This question will be on the agenda for an upcoming meeting of the Ecumenical Council, and our conversation will guide Keith as our representative.

We affirmed the importance of our continuing identity as a member of Church of the Saviour, and identified several initiatives that could strengthen our connections and nurture our outreach. Details are in Attachment 3 below. 

Two Stewards to Share: Sandra and Vincent shared from their personal life journeys.

Soul Talk.

 Submitted November 12, 2016

Peter Bankson

 ATTACHMENT

1. 2016 Building Use Summary
2. Draft 32017 Budget
3. Reflections on Relationship to The Church of the Saviour

Attachment 1

Attachment 2

2016 BUDGET+ 9 mos. Actual + DRAFT 2017 Budget

*Mission Groups/’16 Budget/Spent       2017 Budget       **2015 Year End Distribution         

B&B . . . . . . .   $600……………187   $600                Designated Funds (1 Nov ’16)

CC . . . . . . . .   $1,000…………360    1000               Care Packs . . . . . . . .  324

Is2C . . . . . . .   $1,500….……  325     2000               Carroll Café . . . . . . 2,801

Koinonia . . .    $2,500…..  …..349      ……….                       Guate Pilgrimage . .  554

L&T . . . . . . .   $1,000   ….……462    1000               Othandweni . . . . . .1,502

LW . . . . . . . .   $600………….…300     600               Christmas ’15 . . . . .2,593

OMG…………………………………………………….. 2000             Year End ’15 . .  11,829   (Dayspg+Stillpoint) Total:             $7,200   ….…2,003         $7,200                     TOTAL:              19,603

                                                                                   

                                                                                    Capital Reserve Fund: $48, 471

Attachment 3

Seekers Relationship to Church of the Saviour

Notes from Seekers’ Stewards Meeting

Nov 6, 2016

Seekers Church is, as we all know, one of the handful of church communities that formed out of the Church of the Saviour in 1976.  We have long claimed that Seekers is “in the tradition of the Church of the Saviour” and continue to assert our connection as “a Church of the Saviour community.” The Ecumenical Council invited each Church of the Saviour faith community to reflect on the importance of Church of the Saviour as an ongoing organization.

What does that heritage mean for Seekers Church in November 2016?  Our perspectives on the importance of Church of the Saviour for the life of our congregations will be on the agenda for an upcoming Ecumenical Council meeting.

During the November Stewards meting we reflected on this issue in small groups and then together. In preparation for those conversations, Seekers were invited to thoughtfully/prayerfully consider the following questions:

• Is the Church of the Saviour important to you?  Why or why not?  What would make CofS more important to you and/or Seekers?
• Is connection with other CofS churches important to you?  Why or why not?  What are the benefits and/or barriers to having a closer connection?
• Dayspring is now the single shared property owned by CofS on behalf of the sibling communities.  How important is Dayspring to you and/or Seekers?  Are there ways that could be enhanced?
• What role can/should the Ecumenical Council and the CofS Office play in these issues?
• And finally, to the extent not captured in the previous questions, what does our CofS heritage mean for Seekers Church in 2016 and beyond?

After a time for small-group sharing, those present at the meeting identified these responses:

• Importance of the CofS relationship: a culture of commitment;  the structure of Stewards & mission groups, values; focus on call/gifts/ministry of all; regular recommitment. The relationship provides us with a larger whole (affiliation rather than hierarchy of denomination).
• What would help to unify us?
  • CofS website that would report from the churches now;
  • Resource office to share experience with liturgy, Sunday school/youth; School of Christian Living; mission group life
  • Joint events (e.g. Parr lectures, sacred conversations on race and diversity, fundraisers)
  • Dayspring – the physical expression of our spiritual center: Quiet days; Open retreats; Kayla’s hospitality ministry; Mission group retreats
• Day-long retreats for leadership teams from all 8 churches
  • Other retreats with a particular focus (e.g. immigrant sponsorship, SCL, preparation for membership)