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| 725 Pine St. Winnetka, Illinois 60093 847-441-3400 |
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Councilors present: Kimberly Brya, Debbie Cogan, Steve Dyer, Susan Gillette, Steve Huels, Jack Jadel, Bob Linn, Peggy McNamara, Jodie Stewart and Sarah Woodburn. Councilors absent: Georgie Geraghty, Betsy Holden, Gina Logan and Brek Peterson. Pastors and Staff present: Connie Stewart, Jenny Gleichauf and Floy Schrage. Gathering – Little Chapel Before the beginning of the business portion of the Council meeting, Council members, pastors and staff gathered in Little Chapel for Worship at 7:00 p.m. Preliminary Matters Steve Dyer, Chair, called the business portion of the Council meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. then asked for approval of the June 19, 2007 Council minutes. Jodie Stewart moved, seconded by Steve Huels, to approve the June 19th minutes. Approval was unanimous. Kimberly Brya, Treasurer, reported that we are where we should be this time of year with everything in order. She reminded Council members for the need to urge their groups to turn in their expenses on a timely basis. The chair asked everyone to read the pastors’ reports and asked if they had any comments to make. Associate Pastor Jenny Gleichauf said she will be teaching confirmation in the fall and that volunteers are needed for the soup kitchen. Interim Associate Pastor Connie Stewart announced that her tenure at Winnetka Congregational Church will conclude the end of October. Steve Dyer, on behalf of everyone, expressed thanks to her for the amazing job she has done while at WCC. While we respect her decision as an interim pastor to move on, we will miss her and wish her well. Connie said it has been a blessing to be at WCC. Business Kimberly Brya commented on the Council Overview sheet everyone received emphasizing that communication, commitment and community are central to the role of a councilor. Also, Council members represent the leadership of the church and as such need to be open and inclusive, engage in thoughtful discussion, be part of solutions, be healers and represent the body of the congregation, not special interest groups. She then talked about the church’s Web Site and the importance of keeping it up to date. At the request of the Search Committee Co-Chairs, Steve Dyer reported on the status of the search for an Associate Pastor. Although the committee has been working most diligently for almost two years, they have yet to extend a call to anyone. Even though there have been several good candidates it is difficult to find someone willing to leave their denomination to serve a community church. Also, since fewer people are entering the ministry in today’s world, this further complicates the task of finding a pastor. At the Executive Committee’s last meeting it was decided that it is time for the Search Committee to finish interviewing the current round of applicants and then step back to see if we have the right model. The Personnel Committee is to be contacted for their input. Councilors were asked to look over the church calendar for 2007-2008 for any additions or corrections before finalization. The chair the announced that the Executive Committee and staff recommend the return of a single worship service on Sunday morning. In his July 10th report to Council Senior Pastor Joseph Shank states: “I believe returning to one service appeals to our church whose identity seems to be that of a ‘family style’ faith community rather than a programmatic one.” A discussion of the recommendation t o return to one service followed with input from the Worship Survey, which favors a single service, and Council members. A motion to move to one service on Sunday morning was made by Susan Gillette, seconded by Steve Huels. Approval was unanimous. A motion by Sarah Woodburn, seconded by Bob Linn, to have the Sunday morning worship service commence at 9:45 a.m. was defeated. A further motion made by Kimberly Brya, seconded by Steve Huels, to have the Sunday morning worship service commence at 10:00 a.m. was approved. Announcement of this change in the time of Sunday worship service will appear in the upcoming Messenger to be followed by a subsequent letter detailing a summary of the results of the Church Survey and Council’s decision. Steve Dyer announced that two task forces will be formed in the fall to discern how WCC can best work to build a sense of community, commitment and involvement among its members. He asked Council members to begin thinking about people who could lead could lead these and how we should proceed. This will be an agenda item at the September Council meeting. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned following a closing prayer. Respectfully submitted Peggy McNamara, Clerk
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