May 2021 Splinters
New Board Officers were elected:
Secretary – Bob Lovell
Vice President for Finance – Rob Mack
Incoming President Deb Feltz thanked Outgoing President Judy Goth-Owens for her service in a difficult year.
Walt Wheeler and Stephanie Fleming of the Covid Task Force presented their Reopening Plan. Board members thanked the Task Force for their work this year, and the Board approved a motion of support for the plan.
Jennifer Castner of the Stewardship Committee reported that the May 2021 Auction raised about $4500. A second auction is planned for fall.
A family within the congregation has offered a matching gift of $5,000 and is inviting members of the congregation to make gifts totaling an equal amount for use in paying down the congregation’s mortgage. That match has been met by our congregants.
The "Spring Ask" launched by the Stewardship Committee last month, to fund the purchase of hardware and software to enable worship to be livestreamed and recorded in perpetuity, has raised $12,585 to date of the goal $16,000. [By the end of May, the goal was nearly reached.]
Pat Quinn will continue as one of the Board-appointed Nominations Committee members.
Rev. Neal reported that Ice Cream Sunday will be held to celebrate Teresa Putnam, retiring Director of Lifespan Faith Development, on Sunday, June 27 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. An offer has been made to a new Acting Director of Lifespan Faith Development.
Michael McClellan reminded the Board of the upcoming meeting with consultant Laura Park in June to continue to the process of adopting a policy governance model.
The Boardʼs next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Prepared by Bob Lovell, Board Secretary
February 2021 Splinters
Following the congregational meeting presentation by Michael McClellan regarding the Mapping our Future initiative, two separate online gatherings were hosted for congregants to ask questions and offer feedback. The Board members who facilitated those sessions updated the entire Board on the questions and concerns raised by those who participated. Participants were particularly interested in getting greater clarity regarding the ends statements and how those relate to goals for the congregation. In addition, there was interest in receiving additional details about the Board’s efforts to move the church toward use of policy governance. The Board agreed to continue to work on informing and involving members of the congregation in living into the identified values, mission, and ends as well as the policy governance process. On February 11, the Board conducted another 90-minute facilitated policy governance transition session with our consultant. Throughout March, Board members will engage in individual study and work in preparation for another 90-minute work session with the consultant in April.
The Board received a draft revision of the church bylaws from the committee appointed by the Board to conduct a review and revision process. Joe Stuart, Deb Feltz, and Jessica Martin, who comprised the committee, updated the Board on the process they used over the last six months to review and identify necessary revisions. During that time, the committee met with numerous individuals involved with church committees as well as with church staff. The overall goal of the review and revision process was to create a more streamlined document that is easier to read and understand. In addition, the revised bylaws are intended to better reflect the church’s movement toward policy governance. It has been approximately five years since the last significant bylaws review. The Board is currently reviewing the proposed revisions and will, at its next meeting, engage in further discussion of the proposed revisions.
The Board received the monthly Budget/Finance Committee Report, noting that the committee is currently working to close the 2020 financials and hopes to complete that process by the end of April. The Board received notice from the Investment Committee that there will be a $30k payout from the endowment available as a spendable allocation. The Board will request that Rev. Neal work with staff and volunteers to identify from the existing “wish list” of special projects as well as other emergent needs a proposal on where those funds will be allocated.
The Nominations Committee informed the Board that they anticipate there will be two seats on the Board, two seats on the Finance Committee, and two seats on the Nominations Committee to be filled this spring. The committee will put out information in the church newsletter and seek additional opportunities to inform the congregation and to invite people to recommend names of those who might be interested.
The Board is partnering with the AIM team (Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry) to schedule a two-hour workshop for lay ministers and congregation leaders for sometime this spring.
-Bill Arnold