2014 November Stewards Minutes

Seekers Church

November 2, 2014 Stewards Meeting

Present: Kevin Barwick [angel], Ken Burton [recorder], Pat Conover, Dave Lloyd [angel], Sandra Miller,Trish Nemore [worship], Brenda Seat, Keith Seat, Vincent Shepherd, Margreta Silverstone, Deborah Sokolove [moderator], Jacqie Wallen

 Cynthia Dahlin, Peter Bankson, Marjory Bankson

 

A major part of the December meeting will be devoted to the annual Stewards Hilarity (aka, Christmas party). Cynthia will again provide leadership for the event. Stewards are reminded to review the preparatory material circulated by Trish.

Stewards approved by consensus a proposal from the SLT to not receive regular full reports from mission groups during 2015. How these reports will be handled in 2016 will be determined by Stewards late in 2015. Mission groups continue to be encouraged to bring to Stewards any matter of particular concern to them.

Vincent Shepherd: Vince read his spiritual autobiography and was received and blessed as a Steward of Seekers Church.

Time and Space Mission Group: The mission group, represented by Deborah and Glen, made its regular report. The call document for the group had been previously circulated to Stewards.

With regard to accountability, some mission group members write regular spiritual reports while others do so only occasionally. Mission group sharing provides an accountability mechanism for all.

Building Use: Katie Fisher continues her extraordinary work as building manager. During this year, Katie will have coordinated over 600 events that have taken place in our building. These included the various gatherings of the eight different spiritual communities that use the building.

In response to question, we determined that there is currently no formal policy about sleeping on the back porch of the building. This will be an agenda item at a future Stewards meeting

Also noted was that we don’t pretend that our building is a shrine to big donors but rather encourage its full use, with all the wear and tear that entails.

Building Assessment: An important aspect of the work of Time and Space is the ongoing assessment and repair of a wide variety of resources that we use in our building. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: the elevator, numerous motors, a variety of electronics, the wifi, the roof, and the carpet. A major part of this work is done under contracts which are subject to review by the mission group.

.FOG Report: Keith presented the Financial Oversight Group (FOG) report.

  • A draft of the 2015 budget was reviewed. It will be presented for formal approval at the December meeting. Learners and Teachers is planning to hold a discussion of the budget for the wider community on the last Tuesday in January.

  • 2014 financial results through September were presented. It appears that by year-end, income and expenses will both be under budget. If this is the case, FOG was asked to present an analysis of why income failed to meet budget.

  • Debbie presented an overview of Seekers investments. They are in Manna, Inc., City First Bank of D.C., N.A., and Oikocredit International.

  •  C of S Council Meeting: The next meeting of the C of S Council will be at the Wellspring Center on Sunday, November 16, 2014. A major agenda item will be a financial plan for Dayspring presented by the Dayspring Church. Interested Stewards are invited to attend, but participation in the meeting’s business is limited to the designated representatives of the member churches. Keith represents Seekers.

    Conclusion: The meeting concluded with soul talk and prayer.

     

    The text of the brokerage account resolution follows.
    RESOLUTION BY
    STEWARDS (COREMEMBERS) oF THESEEKERS CHURCH
    REGARDING THE OPENING OF A BROKERAGE ACCOUNT
     
    The Stewards (Core Members) of The Seekers Church, the duly constituted governing
    body of the institution, this second day of November, 2014, hereby resolve to:
    (1) open a brokerage account so that Seekers can accept donations ofstocks and bonds to the extent permitted by law,
     
    (2) require the immediate sale, absent extraordinary circumstances, of any such donation, and
     
    (3) authorize payment of any appropriate charges for the sale of any such donated stocks and bonds.
     
    The Stewards hereby authorize Keith Seat, President, Debbie Barwick, Treasurer, and
    Marjory Bankson, Chair of the Financial Oversight Group, to act for Seekers Church in effecting the opening ofthe brokerage account and the sale ofthe stock and/or bonds received.