SEEKERS CHURCH
Stewards Minutes
January 6, 2019
Present: Marjory Bankson, Peter Bankson, Ken Burton (recorder), Cynthia Dahlin (angel), Joan Dodge, Michele Frome, Elizabeth Gelfeld (worship), Judy Lantz, David Lloyd (moderator), Sandra Miller, Trish Nemore, Brenda Seat, Keith Seat, Vincent Shepherd, Margreta Silverstone (angel), Deborah Sokolove, Jacqie Wallen, Glen Yakushiji.
Absent: (None)
Worship: Elizabeth led us in an exercise in which we were encouraged to drop a load or “stone” which had become a burden to carry.
Housekeeping: Stewards will next meet at 5:00pm on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at the church. Roles for that meeting are as follows:
Moderator: Ken Worship: Judy
Recorder: Trish Angels: Sandra and Elizabeth
FOG Report: A preliminary financial report for the year ending December 31 was presented by Marjory. An updated and final version will be available at the February meeting. Expenses exceeded income for 2018. The deficit will be made up from the working capital reserve in our checking account.
DC Audit: The District of Columbia has notified Seekers that it will conduct an audit for the period November 2015 through October 2018 in mid-February or March. The audit is to focus on DC sales and use tax. We have not been paying sales tax on Carroll Café receipts, and Bob First, our accountant, suggests it would be good to begin doing so for 2019 prior to the audit.
Bokamoso: Their main fundraising event, the concert at GW, will take place on Friday evening February 1 and Saturday evening February 2. They will visit Seekers and bring the word on Sunday, February 3. Sharon Lloyd is again taking a lead role in organizing the mentoring activities which will take place at Seekers immediately following the service on February 3. Drivers are still needed for Tuesday, February 5, when the group will visit work sites.
Brenda’s SLT Review: Brenda’s quadrennial review as a member of the SLT is due this year. Sandra and Cynthia will lead the team and recruit one or two members to join them. Questions used in previous years are available.
Friendship Dinners: Brenda provided information about the Friendship Dinners program which she is coordinating. It will begin with dinners hosted by Stewards in February.
Redevelopment of Hostel Property: Trish will represent Seekers as an audience member at the meeting of the District of Columbia Historical Review Board on January 24 at 9 AM. At this meeting a proposal will be presented for the redevelopment of properties adjacent to Seekers building including the hostel.
Annual Report of the SLT – SLT Activities: SLT meetings occur twice a month. Their focus is less on problem solving and more on process to bring issues to the attention of the community. The first meeting of the month focuses on pastoral concerns. These include the following: mission group support of persons with physical issues; mental health support generally and particularly with regard to parenting; financial issues; interpersonal relations within the community; and taking the “temperature” of Seekers. The second meeting occurs later in the month and deals primarily with the agenda for the next Stewards meeting. The question of the timing of the sharing of information within the community is ongoing. Members of the SLT are in touch with one another by email almost every day.
Annual Report of the SLT – Community Energy: The SLT currently sees the following aspects of Seekers as currently “high energy”.
- Ageing (Jacqie)
- Celebration Circle and circle time
- School for Christian Growth
- Gallery (Sandra)
- Carroll Café
- Nature Group (emerging)
- Men’s Breakfast
- Ministry of Place
- Peace and Justice in Nicaragua (Oswaldo and Rosa)
- New people in the community
The following areas now seem to be “low energy”.
- Bokamoso – how to continue to partner
- Othandweni – support carried by Linda and Bill
- Silent Retreat – understanding its value, particularly for new members
- Mental health issues – we all want to “let the cup pass”
- Sunday School – multiple age groups
Annual Report of the SLT – Current Concerns:
(Not included here are issues that are currently being handled by mission groups.)
- Updating the “Guide to Seekers Church”
- Updating information regarding sponsoring a new Steward
- Processes for spiritual direction
- Possible construction by others next door to the church building
- Friendship Dinners
- Orientation for new Stewards
- Care for Seekers not in mission groups
- Care packs
- How the SLT cares for its members
Pastoral Concerns
Two Stewards Sharing: David and Margreta
Soul Talk
submitted by Ken Burton
