FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

LEXNGTON, KENTUCKY

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MINUTES

January 23, 2006

 


At 7:00 p.m. Paul Ferrell, Administrative Council Chair called to order the First United Methodist Church Administrative Council and welcomed all new and previous Council members.

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

 

Paul Ferrell shared a brief devotion based upon two scriptural foundations:
      Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
      Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

DEVOTIONAL

 

 

 

Rev. Ken Klemme and Rev. Todd Nelson led the assembled in Holy Communion followed by a closing prayer.

 

HOLY COMMUNION

 

 

 

Paul Ferrell took the opportunity to remind the Administrative Council of its purpose and read the following from the current United Methodist Book of Discipline:

THE CHURCH COUNCIL
¶ 232.1 Purpose—The church council shall provide for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church.  It shall also provide for the administration of its organization and temporal life.  It shall envision, plan, implement, and annually evaluate the mission and ministry of the church.  The church council shall be amenable to and function as the administrative agency of the charge conference (¶ 244).

Paul went on to read:
      4.  Other Responsibilities—It will also be the responsibility of the church council to:
      a) review the membership of the local church;
      b) fill interim vacancies occurring among the lay officers of the church between sessions of the annual charge conference;          c) establish the budget on recommendation of the committee on finance and ensure adequate provision for the financial needs of the church;

 

CHURCH COUNCIL CHARGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Paul Ferrell explained to the assembled that attendance of Administrative Council meetings should be taken very seriously and in the future the names of excused absences will be read and entered into the official Minutes.  The names of excused absences for this evenings meeting are the following:  
  1)   David Bratcher 
  2)   Tom Billups                                                   
  3)   David Turner                                                 
  4)   Linda Peel
  5)   Todd Clark
  6)   Kristin Clark
  7)   Barbara Mack
  8)   Judy Withers
  9)   Karen Olive
10)   Proctor Blair

 

ATTENDANCE

 

 

 

Minutes of January 23, 2006 meeting were distributed and reviewed by the assembled.  Motion was received and seconded to approve minutes as presented.  Motion approved. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

 

 

Bill Bosta, Finance Committee Chair reported the Finance Committee feels good about the 2006 Budget being presented this year.  Bill is pleased to once again report that again the year ended with a surplus, as has been the case since 1999 – this year it amounted to about $61,000.  The budget is up this year about 8.26% from last year.  The “Debt Service has gone from $50,000 last year to $84,841 this year.  After a time of Q & A Bill Bosta announced that a more detailed copy of the budget would be available on Sunday mourning if anyone was interested they could pick one up at that time.  Motion was made and seconded to accept the 2006 Budget as it was presented.  Motion approved.

 

BUDGET

 

 

 

Marsha Berry reported Lee Ellen Martin has been nominated to replace Isabel Yates on the Endowment Committee.  Motion was made and seconded to accept the nomination of Lee Ellen Martin.  Motion approved.

 

LAY LEADERSHIP

 

 

 

There being no other business at this time, motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  Motion approved.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED

 

 

 

Property Purchase
Rev. Paul Brunstetter advised that he believes decisions made in 2006 will have a huge effect on this church in the next century and those decisions need to be:
1.  Unique
2.  Minister to the community
3.  Focus on youth and children

Rev. Brunstetter reported:  1st UMC was seriously considering offering a contract to CMW for a property of 1.32 acres that includes 2 houses for a price of 2.2 million dollars.

Richard Dorton, Chair of the Building Task Team came to the floor at this time; explaining the possibility of expanding the sanctuary was far too expensive and therefore we need to build onto the parking lot if we cannot fit into the current sanctuary.  Richard reiterated the asking price of the CMW property is 2.2 million and the people of CMW have advised there is no room for negotiation.  CMW also advised they have another buyer in the wings behind us so we best not take to long to decide.  The plan is to present a Contract To Purchase with a “good faith” check in the amount of $10,000.  The contract would include a thirty-day vote clause so Church’s Administrative Council would have time to do a property appraisal, cash flow study, check environmental issues, property title search, survey, pursue financial lenders, as well as hold a Church Conference.  All of this would need to be done with in the 30-day period of the Contract To Purchase.  The Trustees felt there was no choice but to go with the 2.2 million and so authorized the Building Task Force to proceed forward with the Contract To Purchase.  CMW has also offered to finance the purchase with them for a 5-year period.  10% at closing and split remaining balance.

Richard also mentioned that a fundraising consultant would be selected with in the next week or two. 

 

INFORMATIONAL MEETING

 

INFORMATIONAL MEETING continued…




 

 

 

 

 

 

The next called meeting will be Church Conference on Monday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m.

 

NEXT CALLED MEETING

 

 

 

Paul Ferrell adjourned the meeting with prayer at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Joyce Miller
Recording Secretary

 

ADJOURNMENT