110th ANNUAL MEETING - January 26th 2003

The annual meeting of the church membership was conducted on January 26th, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of the Shelton Congregational Church. The meeting was called to order by church manager Cheryl Patrick. The Rev. Dr. Gregory W. Schmidt then offered an opening prayer. Betty Ogden, clerk, reported that 18 members or more were in attendance and a quorum, specified by the bylaws as ten percent of the church membership (currently 175) was deemed satisfied.

The minutes of the previous annual meeting held on January 27th, 2002 were reviewed and accepted.

Cheryl Patrick asked for questions or comments on the regular (non-financial) officer and committee reports as listed on pages 4 to 20 of the current 2002 Annual Report. There being none, the church membership voted to approve the Officer and Committee reports.

Bill Barker presented the Treasurer’s Report, prepared by church treasurer Bruce Nichols, in Bruce’s absence. The report showed income in 2002 of $100,117.00 against expenses of $136,223.00. The figures do not include pass through income of $4,485.00, which represents money collected for charities and such during 2002 and forwarded directly to designated agencies. When combined with a market value decrease of church stocks and bonds in 2002, the income versus expenses deficit of $36,106.00 caused the church net worth to decrease to $243,606.00 (a drop of $87,399.00 from the 2001 year end value of $331,005.00). Bill Barker added a few details on key items of income and expenditure and asked for questions or suggested amendments from the church membership. Cheryl Patrick then asked for a motion to accept the report. A motion was made and seconded and there being no further discussion a vote was taken to approve the Treasurer’s Report.

Cheryl Patrick then called upon Bill Barker, Asst. Church Manager, to present the proposed church budget for 2003. Details appear on pages 28 to 30 of the current 2002 Annual Report. Bill discussed highlights of the proposed budget, with estimated income of $95,650.00 and expenses of $131,062.00 for the year 2003. He noted this expense budget is less that the church expenditures of $136,223.00 in 2002 and includes a salary freeze for most employees, except for a modest increase for the office secretarial position. Bill expressed his view that our financial shortcomings are due to low church income, rather than excessive spending.

He added that the Budget Committee was unable to recommend expense cuts that might reduce the anticipated 2003 deficit of $35,412.00. Bill then asked for questions or suggested amendments from the membership. There being none, a motion was made and seconded to accept the proposed budget. The membership then voted to approve the 2003 budget.

Old Business: None

New Business: None

Lucille Wells, on behalf of the Nominating Committee presented the slate of proposed officers and committee members for 2003. Since the printing of the 2002 Annual Report, Kim Karkut had volunteered to serve as Church Manager, Betty Ogden will be staying on as Church Clerk for 2003 and Bill Barker volunteered to fill the remaining open position on the Nominating Committee. A motion was then made and seconded to accept the proposed nominations. The membership then voted to approve the proposed Officers and Committees for 2003, as revised.
Rev. Dr. Gregory Schmidt then led the membership in a closing prayer. It was then moved the meeting be adjourned. This motion was seconded and passed. The meeting then adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Betty Ogden, Clerk