Congregational Growth Ministry Team minutes

 

Last meeting: Feb. 12, 2008

 

Attendees:

Gary Akgulian

Bob Heil

Dale Hershfield

Jen Wageman

Staff:

Jan Sommerfeld

Guests:
Bob Damon

Shannon Howard

Jean Monson

Excused:

Collin Goldschmidt

Lance Schmidt

 

Important items of information:

 

New Member Sessions evaluation

Jean Monson updated the team on the New Member Sessions that were held Jan. 16, 23 and 30. The current format of the New Members Sessions - 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. for three Wednesdays - did not allow enough time to comfortably accomplish the whole agenda. To allow more open discussion, it was suggested to begin future sessions at 6 p.m.

 

Jen felt that more time should be spent with the spiritual inventory to help connect soon-to-be and recent spouses with each other and the church. More time could also be spent in spiritual discussion.

 

Existing members who were approached to be new member guides were reluctant to participate, apparently because they were unsure of the expectations. It was proposed that recent new members be approached to act as the next guides and give feedback on their experiences.

 

Sherrill Moard would like to be more active in the social aspect of the program for new members and has offered to organize a welcome dinner at the Detweiler’s home. Council representation at the dinner would be beneficial. She will be interacting with our group to determine session dates, approximately every three months.

 

Welcome/Connection Center update

Bob Heil forwarded the budget report compiled by Jan, which included the balance in our promotions budget. He also presented the revised cost estimate for the Connection Center. Due to ministry team budget cuts, the team will reassess strategy and discussed options for the center, including seeking an FELC member who has woodworking skills to build the unit in-house; and scaling down some of the elements of the unit to be more cost-effective. Jen suggested hosting a fund-raising effort. Bob Damon offered his expertise on the computer/networking aspect of the project, including security issues, particularly with youth being able to access the computer. It may be likely that one of the computers in the FELC office could be “recycled” and used in the center. Suggestion: check out the information and welcome center booth in the narthex of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 3009 N. Meade St., Appleton.

 

Chili cook-off

The team finalized its top-secret, prize-winning plans for the Feb. 24 chili cook-off and team members agreed to get corn bread in disposable tins and chili to Jen’s house after 10 a.m. on Feb. 23 … heehaw!

 

Submitted by:

Jan Sommerfeld

 

2008 meeting schedule - 6:30 p.m.:

Downtown Site

·         March 11

·         April 8

·         May 13

·         June 10

·         No July meeting

North Site