Church Council Meeting - November 17, 2004

Kim Karkut called the Church Council Meeting for November 17th, 2004 to order at 7:42 p.m. in the Shelton Congregational Church Library. Rev. Jean McCusker offered a prayer. A quorum (6) was met with 11 being present (P) and 3 being absent (A).

The minutes from the October 20th, 2004 Council Meeting were reviewed and accepted as written. Church Manager Kim Karkut then called on officers and chairs for their reports.

Treasurer-Bruce Nichols-During the month of October 2004 the church had expenses of $8,750.61 and income of $6,936.34 for a net deficit of $1,814.27. Net worth for the church at the end of October was $232,246.24 down $192.57 from the end of September and down $3,947.94 from the end of 2003.

Personnel-Ron Karkut-Ron reported on the November 14th, 2004 special council meeting held at the request of the Search Committee. At the special meeting Ron Karkut presented the personal information on Rev. Shepard Parsons. He also shared the reasons the Search Committee unanimously chose this candidate. Bruce Nichols presented the financial agreement discussed with the candidate and subject to council approval. At the November 14th, 2004 special meeting the church council unanimously approved Rev. Parsons for the position of full time pastor of Shelton Congregational Church at the financial agreement presented. After Ron Karkut finished giving his report Bill Barker asked some questions about the financial package because the budget committee would need to incorporate these figures into the budget.

Nominating-Cheryl Patrick-Bill Barker reported that nominating was going well.

Women’s Fellowship-Lucille Wells-Lucille reported the Christmas Fair raised over $1300.00. This year the mission donations can be raised to $200.00.

Minister-Rev. Jean McCusker-Since August I have prepared and led 12 worship services. One Sunday the Elm City Girls Choir provided the message, another was planned with Bruce Nichols and Lesley Barker, and a worship service for the residents at Hewitt Memorial. I presided at the sacrament of Holy Communion in three services and gave one additional member Communion on World Communion Sunday. I visited on fourteen occasions. I baptized two children. I conducted a graveside service for a non-member and funerals for three other non-members. I attended the annual meeting of the CT Conference and the fall meeting of the Fairfield East Association and “God Is Still Speaking” training. I wrote three newsletter articles. I attended one Shelton Clergy Association meeting. I helped at the tag sale and visited the Christmas Fair. I enjoyed practicing and singing with the choir. I enjoyed a week’s vacation that I had earned by August. This quarter, August-November, I earned another weeks vacation that I have not yet received. I drove 647 miles for the church from October 20th to November 16th, 2004. The Community Thanksgiving service is at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004 at First United Methodist Church. I will be preaching.

Membership-Walt Crosby-Darleen Conklin-The committee report was prepared by Darleen and read by Kim Karkut. Membership met briefly last month after church to discuss a request from the Search Committee to assist with addresses of our current active membership. Since the Membership Committee had been working on this project, it was unanimously agreed to supply the Search Committee with a copy of our research. This information was given to Betty Ogden last week as a hard copy. When the few addresses still needed are obtained, a CD-R copy will be supplied to the church secretary as a permanent file in the church office. Only the Membership Committee will do updates to this list. This will eliminate multiple membership lists and questions as to member status within the church. Currently, with my new computer I do not have Excel software. I have made hard copies of the membership address list for each council member. I have included as much contact information as I found available on this document to ensure various methods of contacting our active members. I am also supplying hard copies of a summary of our “B” list. Members whose status is in question. This document is titled Verification of Membership Status 2004. On Sunday, I will give to Kathey DeMarco the money received with the responses from our letter as indicated on the Verification of Membership Status 2004 document. The membership committee had three motions they wished to make for this council meeting. After council discussion it was decided to address them within this report. 1. A motion was made to move Edna Beard, Sarah Beard, Andrew Campagnuolo, Pat Campagnuolo, Joan Cerulo, Kevin Cerulo, Patty Chuckta, Stephen Chuckta, Jr., Michael Patrick, Ambrose Stevens, and Jackie Stevens from the active membership list to the inactive membership list per their request. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 2. A motion was made to move Betty Armbruster, Gail Brooks, Michael Brooks, Eric Christensen, Susan Christensen, Joe Leonard, James Leonard 111, Patricia McDonnell, Michelle Murphy, Alex Poole, Dave Poole, Lara Rizzo, Holly Schilkowski, Chris Thomspon, Tom Thompson, Lori Walsh and Robert Walsh from the active membership list to the inactive membership list as the October 31st, 2004 response deadline was not met. The motion seconded and passed unanimously. 3. A motion was made to keep Wallace (Chip) Hurd, Marion Peers and Mark Rizzo as active members since their membership status letters were returned as incorrect addresses. Once their correct addresses are found, each will receive a new membership status letter. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The Membership Committee also suggested they send a letter out to all active and inactive members on record announcing the arrival of our new pastor. Council decided this would be a duplication of the letter sent to the church membership by the Search Committee and was deemed unnecessary.

Trustees-Glenn Wells-Glenn reported the tree behind the parish house as down. Bruce Nichols has already removed four truckloads of the wood. New church signs have arrived and are scheduled to be installed on November 27th, 2004. The new lease for the apartment over the parish house has been raised to $780.00 a month. Trustees intend to renew the lease for the FPKC at last years rate of $ 380.00. Betty Ogden asked if Trustees should place the FPKC lease on the agenda at the Annual Meeting in January 2005. Because of the discord at the Annual Meeting in January 2004 over the lease amount, doing this would allow the church membership to participate in the decision. Bill Barker stated that should be brought up under new business.

Outreach-Lesley Barker-Lesley reported Spooner House will be served on November 20th, 2004. The Angel Tree will be up Sunday, November 21st, 2004. The gifts for twelve children need to be returned by December 5th, 2004. The Christmas Card Tree will be up early this year. Fair Trade Coffee was served on October 31st, 2004. Forms are available for people to order individually.

Deacons-Carol Edson-Carol reported a need for Advent Candle Lighters.

Stewardship-Bill Barker-Bill Barker reported Consecration Sunday preparations are in good shape. The committee decided the candle lighting section be dropped from the program. Rev. Susan Townsley will be the guest speaker. Time of Commitment will be held after the service. Glenn Wells and Ron Karkut are doing the cooking for the breakfast buffet.

Delegates-Bill Barker-At the October council meeting Bill Barker reported that he and Lesley attended our Annual Conference Meeting on October 16th, 2004 as the Shelton Congregational Church delegates. The resolution that said same-sex couples should not be excluded from the civil right of marriage was on the agenda. The Connecticut Conference voted to approve the resolution. The Shelton Congregational Church vote on this issue was not part of Bill’s report at the October council meeting, so questions came up at this council meeting. Bill reported Rev. Greg Schmidt always brought these resolutions to council for discussion before the Annual Conference Meeting. That was not done this time. He and Lesley as delegates representing Shelton Congregation Church voted against the resolution. Rev. Jean McCusker said she felt the UCC policy was that delegates voted their conscience. Ron Karket felt that Lesley and Bill without direction from the church council or membership should have abstained. Bill said his delegate’s report would be published in the Annual Report due the end of January. Bruce Nichols said the Annual Conference Meeting was in October and the church membership should not need to wait until the end of January to read the delegates report. The report should to be completed and placed on the bulletin board in the narthex as soon as possible.

Old Business:

1. Bill Barker and Church Manager Kim Karkut attended a workshop on “Will We Be A Safe Church” on May 8th, 2004. Using information and literature from the Cheshire Congregational Church a “Safe Church Policy” for the Shelton Congregational Church has been created by Bill Barker. Not everyone present at the council meeting had read the policy. Not everyone present who read the 15-page policy understood it. The cover letter Kim Karkut asked be added wasn’t. Further discussion was tabled until the December 15th, 2004 council meeting.

New Business:

1. Bill Barker requested council endorse trustees intention to renew the FPKC lease as presented at the same rental rate as last year. Questions were raised because of the many complaints and problems that have been reported to Bill Barker from church members relating to the FPKC use of our church. It was felt that we needed to address these issues with the FPKC representative before the lease is renewed. Further discussion was tabled until the December 15th, 2004 council meeting.
2. Kathey DeMarco requested all committee chairs submit their Annual Committee Reports to the office as soon as possible.

The next council meeting will be held Wednesday, December 15th, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the Shelton Congregational Church Library. The council joined together in saying The Lord’s Prayer. The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Betty Ogden, Clerk