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FELC Youth Ministries

Support minutes | Stewardship minutes | Property oversight minutes | Communications Team

Support Ministry Team

The Support Ministry Team ensures the vitality of First English by conducting the business of our congregation, which includes the oversight of buildings and grounds, personnel policies and financial management. The team plans stewardship programs that focus on time and talents, in addition to financial resources. The Support Ministry Team also provides strong financial management of the congregation to accomplish our ministries. All decisions are made with a goal of being good stewards of God’s gifts.

Stewardship Policy
First English has adopted a Stewardship Mangement Philosophy and Policy.

Facility & Equipment Use Policy

Simply Giving
Simply Giving is an automated giving program sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans designed to help you conveniently, consistently and joyfully share your financial gifts through electronic funds transfer. First English is enrolled in the Simply Giving program and encourages this convenient way of sharing.
Through Simply Giving, your gifts are made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account. You determine the frequency of your automatic gift – weekly, semi-monthly or monthly – the option is yours and Thrivent pays all transaction fees. These funds are deposited on the same day into the congregation’s bank account. For more information, download a Simply Giving form or follow the "Online giving" link on our home page.

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How to contact your Support Ministry Team        

Jeff Diehl
Dean Haas
Mike Lokensgard           mlokensgard@gklaw.com
Don Monson
Diane Putzer
John Zweig,
Chairman                        jzweig@new.rr.com

Staff Liaisons                                                   
Jenell Barth                     jkruger@felc.com
Jean Monson                  jmonson@felc.com
Walt Rugland                 felc@tds.net
Brenda Smongeski       bsmongeski@felc.com
Jan Sommerfeld            jsommerfeld@felc.com

Support Ministry Team minutes

Last meeting: June 10, 2008

Attendees:
Jeff Diehl
Don Monson
Diane Putzer
Walt Rugland
John Zweig
Staff:
Brenda Smongeski
Excused: Mike Lokensgard

Items that may require council action:

• FELC Trust Fund Continuing Resolution – recommend approval
• FELC Trust Investment and Management Protocols – recommend approval 

Other important items of information:

FELC Financial Review: Giving is behind 2007 by 1.7 percent and 5.6 percent behind our budgeted goal through May. Our revenues through May were in line with our budget goals thus our financial statement is showing a deficit. Emphasis must be made to the congregation to meet their pledges to sustain our programs.

Support financial review: We reviewed and discussed the Support Ministry Team’s expenditures. We are currently only performing essential maintenance and upkeep. Any remodeling and modernization expenses will need to wait for improved financials for the church or next year. The water and sewer project at the North Site is on hold pending a resolution of costs for attaching to the city system.

Physical security policy/procedure: remains a work in progress.

Revenue/expenses reporting: The ministry team approved a new format for quarterly reporting of revenue and expenses for the church.

Auditing: The ministry team reviewed and adopted the FELC Audit Guide. The audit guide will be used for the next audit to be performed this year. Following the audit, the audit guide will be reviewed for any needed changes.

Ministry team minutes: Summary report and/or minutes are due electronically to Jean Monson on the Friday following a ministry team meeting. Thank you! Please e-mail the minutes to: jmonson@felc.com.

FELC trust: The ministry team reviewed several documents prepared by Walt Rugland to address issues related the FELC trust. This past year he had conversations with the FELC Trust trustees to discuss their concerns. It is the intent to remove Memorial and Designated Gift Funds from the Trust to allow management by the Council. The Trust will oversee only the Trust Fund. These documents are a result of these discussions:

• The ministry team reviewed the accounting of the Perpetual Endowment Funds in the FELC Trust Fund.

• In accordance with the bylaws, a new Continuing Resolution of the Congregation Council is proposed to govern the FELC trust. It covers the trust’s authority, the requirements for Council coordination and action, delegated authority, admonishments, the spending plan and the accountability. The ministry team approved the draft resolution and recommends Council approval.

• The ministry team reviewed a draft FELC Trust Investment and Management Protocols. These supplement the continuing resolution to govern actions by the Trust. The ministry team recommends approval.

• The ministry team reviewed a draft Trust Investment Policy Statement and Guidelines. The ministry approved this policy statement and guidelines consistent with the Support Ministry Team’s financial oversight role.

• The ministry team then reviewed and approved a new Gift Policy to align gifts to the church to the revised operation of the Trust.

Submitted by:
John Zweig

Archived minutes:

Support Ministry Team minutes:
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008

Property oversight minutes:
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008

Communications Team minutes:
May 29, 2008
May 1, 2008
March 2008
January 2008

Stewardship Committee minutes:
June 2008
April 2008
March 2008