FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

LEXNGTON, KENTUCKY

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MINUTES

October 13, 2003

 


7:07 p.m. Foster Ockerman, Jr. chair, called to order the First United Methodist Church Administrative Council.  Ken Creech and Richard Dorton were excused from the meeting.

 

CONVENING THE BODY

 

 

 

Foster Ockerman, Jr. presented the Minutes of September 22, 2003.  Two corrections to the Minutes were noted:

  1. Page 1 – Centering Time:  Russ should be corrected to Wess.
  2. Page 4 – Staff Parish:  Judith Henny-McKee should be corrected to Judith Heaney-McKee.

Bill Pabian made a motion to accept the Minutes as corrected, second by George Denmark.  Motion approved.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

 

 

Dr. Al Gwinn introduced a guest, Doug Childres.  Dr. Gwinn explained that Doug is a UM student studying at Asbury Theological Seminary.  As part of a Polity and Discipline Class (taught by Dr. Gwinn) he is required to observe an Administrative Council Meeting.

 

INTRODUCTIONS

 

 

 

Dr. Gwinn began Centering Time by rejoicing for many good and exciting things since the last meeting.  Yesterday’s service was so wonderful, thank you to David for his leading the service.  Dr. Gwinn read from David’s 8th Psalm, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” and then shared a video with us entitled, “All Hail The Power”.  The video took us from the day of David in the Psalms to current times, of which we know, and gave us a sense of the greatness of God.  

 

Dr. Gwinn invited Rev. Ken Klemme to talk about ministry of bringing individuals into the church family and the Great Commission.  Ken sees life from the inside of the church and has a passion for those who don’t.  Ken asked the Council to listen to the song, “Heart Cry”; he believes this song relates to our world, as Ken put it, a cry in our society.  We should stop at nothing to begin a massive undertaking to win the lost.  Ken reminded us of something he said at the last Council meeting: “The staff feels like they don’t have time to bait the hook for fish jumping into the boat.”  Ken added our American culture is so spiritually hungry and so many don’t trust the church.  We must ask: what can we do to engage people?  At this time the Council entered into a time of table prayer.

 

Rev. Chuck Griffin shared about a lady he regularly visits at the hospital who is dying.  One day recently he went into visit he found her reading the new Rick Warren book, “The Purpose Driven Life” and she shared how the book had been very enlightening for her.  Chuck went back about a week later to say possibly say good-bye due to her fragile condition and instead of saying good-bye they prayed for her calling.

 

CENTERING TIME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CENTERING TIME continued…

 

 

 

Foster Ockerman, Jr. explained for our guest, Doug Childres, the committee-meeting format our Administrative Council follows.

 

United Methodist Women

·      Lana Marshall reported on behalf of Jackie Bondurant that Al’s BBQ for Local Missions lunch after services last week was a great success.  About 325 people were served and the money is still being counted.

Finance Committee

·      Ernie Stamper, chair presented the Budget Summary through September 30, 2003.  We are still running behind on fulfilled pledges from last year and we are continuing to under spend the budget, this allows us to have a surplus of about $28,000.  Ernie called attention to new line items added to the budget report:

o     Line of Credit

o     Secured Debt – Andover

Ernie reported we have received all four proposals to refinance; two were under the prime rate – one from NatCity and another from BankOne.  The Finance Committee recommends that Foster Ockerman, Jr. and Ernie Stamper be commissioned to negotiate, to a conclusion, the refinancing with BankOne at a sub-prime rate or tied to a pure floating rate and also secure a line of credit option.  Foster advised the Council a motion from a reporting committee does not need a second.  There being no questions or discussion the vote was taken.  Motion approved. 

 

Second action by the Finance Committee to discuss was to ask Scooter if a line of credit could be added with Bank One and negotiate a refinance when we enter into a major building program.  Motion was made by Jodie Coutts, seconded by Bill Pabian.  Motion approved.

 

Endowment Foundation

·      Foster Ockerman, Jr. reported for Bob Flemming, chair – an Endowment Education event is planned for October 20, 2003 at 6:00 p.m.

Missions Committee

·      Scooter Leonard reported for Linda Creech, chair and David Bratcher not present.  Faith Promise spending items requiring approval by the Council are:

1.      For the Shalom Zone at Nathaniel Mission a program to help people with a month’s rent.  $3,500 is needed for seed money with the plan to ask other churches to help or match, $10,000 is the goal.  Money to individuals would be a loan and they would be expected to pay it back.

2.      The Missions Committee has been meeting weekly each Wednesday evening.  It has transformed itself to help the church be in ministry, to be out in the people.   The Missions Committee believes we need to reach out to the poor and needy.  “Room In The Inn” is such a program and consists of seven churches to go downtown and bring homeless individuals back to the church for a hot meal, a place to sleep, breakfast, a box lunch and then take them back to where they were picked up.  The committee will need 14 people who will work the program and the whole church can help.

3.      Lexington Rescue Mission is a homeless ministry wants to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  They would like us to partner with them to do the Christmas dinner in the afternoon.  This would mean we would provide and serve the meal.  Rescue Mission will screen everyone who attends the dinner.

Foster Ockerman, Jr. reminded the Council a recommendation of the report needs no second.  A call for questions was given about the three components:

o        Is “Room In The Inn” for men and women?

P       “Room In The Inn” presently is only for adult males and 50% are working poor

Foster Ockerman, Jr. called for the vote – all in favor signified by saying aye – Motion Approved.

Stewardship Committee

·      Bill Bosta, chair reported the campaign theme for this year is “Together We Can”.  Kick-Off will be October 19.  During the campaign we will have three mailings beginning next week and ending with a letter from Dr. Gwinn.  On November 2nd members of the Stewardship Committee will visit the Sunday School Classes.

 

Staff Parish

·      Dr. Al Gwinn introduced Judith Heaney-McKee and David McKee.  Judith is our new Director of Youth Ministry and David will lead the Youth Music Program.

Added Agenda Items

·      Foster Ockerman, Jr. added to the agenda:

o        The sign for the Andover property is designed.

o        Refinancing the debt will move forward.

o        Foster asked Scooter Leonard to contact each committee chair, to request each committee meet prior to Charge Conference in November in order to determine how each committee can utilize the Andover Campus.

United Methodist Men

·      No report was at this time.  Dr. A Gwinn commented on how interesting the program was that St. Paul AME Church presented at the recent UMM dinner.  Dr. Gwinn was so impressed how all the St. Paul people scattered about the room in order to sit with all of us.  Foster Ockerman, Jr. shared a little history about St. Paul:  it seems a slave belonging to a member of 1st UMC started St. Paul AME Church. 

 

MINISTRY UPDATES & DECISIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINISTRY UPDATES & DECISIONS continued…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINISTRY UPDATES & DECISIONS continued…

 

 

 

 

·      Laity Sunday                                        October 19

·      Stewardship Kick-Off                          October 19

·      Planned Giving Seminar                        October 20       6:00 p.m.

·      All Saints Carnival                                November 2

·      District Prayer Summit                          November 8

(Pre-registration deadline for this event is 11/3)

·      Commitment Sunday                             November 9

·    Charge Conference                                November 17    7:00 p.m.

 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

 

 

 

·      Marsha Berry: Will there be a next step from the Building Task Force Report, possibly after a Sunday service?

o     Foster Ockerman, Jr. advised the Building Task Force is planning to meet a week from Wednesday, October 22 to look at a large-scale view.

o     Scooter Leonard said the recent preview was video taped.  Marsh Berry said she was glad to hear that, the more information the better.

o     Dr. Gwinn added, we identified the parking is needed and hasn’t been solved yet.  As leaders, we should not let people think we are going to let 60 parking spaces keep us from

moving ahead with God’s work.  Marsh Berry added we all could be good ambassadors.

·      Patty Wilkins reported for Nathaniel Mission: their situation is becoming financially critical, however, payroll is met through October.  Patty encouraged people to talk more about the Mission.

 

WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE? continued…

 

 

 

·      Dr. Gwinn offered a closing prayer. 

 

CLOSING PRAYER

 

 

 

·      The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Joyce Miller

Recording Secretary