Annual Congregational Meeting – 2014

 
1. Meeting Opening:  Wendy Davidson

2. Quorum
The President and Cecily Skuce were present at the head table.  It was confirmed that 44 people had signed in.  Thirty people are required for quorum.  The President declared a quorum and the meeting was called to order at 11:15 am.

3. 2012 Annual Congregational Meeting Minutes Approval
The minutes of the 2012 Annual General Meeting held 2013 02 24 were approved.  Moved: W. Fortier, seconded: R. Rodgers.

4. Report of the Pastor
Pastor reported on several key items.

He wished to acknowledge Darren George’s 30 years as treasurer of the Church and how much we appreciate Darren’s hard work and efforts on our behalf.  Thanks also to Wendy Davidson and Brian Wirth for their support and help over the years.

The average weekly attendance and confirmed members increased in 2013.

It is the beginning of the third year of his three year call.  He wished to express his joy and appreciation at being able to serve as our Pastor for the past two years.  Mutual Ministry will be conducting a review of his call this year.

He mentioned our primarily need to focus on mission for others and to continue to focus on collaboration with others.  By example he cited:
  1. Choir re-start,
  2. Back to church Sunday with visitors and guests,
  3. Aging well workshops with the City of Ottawa, and
  4. Transition to weekly communion, with help of altar guild.
He also talked about being elected Dean of Ottawa, St. Lawrence Conference, the need to right size and focus on mission, not ourselves, the need for shared ministry. and the need to focus on the vision of Church and on confirming our identity. Melvin Schwalm noted that the Carlington Chaplaincy choir festival has been moved to May 4, 2014. Ken Smith asked if the Pastor’s vision would be requested to be adopted by the Church.  The Pastor emphasised we still need to find our identity and get input from others. Ken also thanked the Pastor for the comprehensiveness of his report and commended the Pastor on his dedication, hard work, spiritual guidance and leadership for our Church over the past years. Pastor’s Report was approved.  Moved: Pastor, seconded: M. Schwalm 5. Report of the President Wendy thanked the congregation for its support throughout the year.  She talked about the efficiencies of Council’s current size, the number of children at the children’s service and especially about how blessed we to have Pastor Martin.  The President’s Report was approved.  Moved: W. Davidson, seconded: M. Fortier. 6. Nominating Committee (first call) The Nominating Committee Report was made by Cecily Skuce.  Wendy Davidson, Carol Essenburg and Brian Wirth are leaving council as their terms are complete.  The Chair expressed her appreciation for all their efforts on our behalf and they were thanked in the usual way. Cecily then called for nominations to Congregation Council from the floor.  There were no nominations at this time. 7. Committee Reports Committee and Other reports, with the exception of Christian Education, were approved.  Moved: B. Riley, seconded: A. Galt. The Pastor added one amendment to the Christian Education Report.  The Vacation Bible Church was held at City View United Church. Moved by B. Riley, seconded M. Schwalm. 8. Ratification of Eastern Synod Covenant This covenant offers a best practices model for spiritual organizations dealing with each other.  It is aspirational, not legislative and Council is highly supportive of this model. There was some discussion concerning the wording of the Preamble to the Covenant.    It was moved by R. Shearer to add the wording “by following the Word of God as directed in his Holy Bible and the Book of Concorde.”  to the preamble “As the Bishop and Synod Council of the Eastern Synod ELCIC, we promise that we will do the following.”  After discussion it was felt that this sentiment was explored in other parts of the Covenant.  The motion was not carried. The Ratification of the Eastern Synod Covenant was accepted.   Moved: B. Riley, seconded: W. Fortier. 9. Nominating Committee (second call) Cecily Skuce called for nominations to Congregation Council, from the floor.  There were no nominations at this time. 10.   Financial Statement Review Engagement Report Ken Smith described a ‘review engagement’.  Neither he nor Ian McGill are auditors.  Ken also expressed his gratitude to Darren George for Darren’s thirty years as treasurer.  The Church might consider a token of our appreciation toward Darren. The Review Engagement Report was accepted.  Moved: K. Smith, seconded: B. Riley. Ian and Ken were asked to perform this function again next year.  Moved: B. Wirth, seconded: B. Riley.         The motion was carried. 11. 2013 Financial Report Brian Wirth went over the 2013 financial results as described in the 2013 Financial Report.  He noted that giving had been steady throughout 2013. There was some discussion concerning the amount in the Fund Raising Committee Account.  It was explained that this was the Gift Card program.  It was felt that it was no longer feasible to continue with this program and to have this amount invested in Gift Cards.  It was moved by K. Smith that the time line be set by year end to sell the inventory of remaining Gift Cards and to discontinue the practice.  It was seconded by I. McGill.  The motioned was carried. The 2013 Financial Report was accepted.  Moved: B. Wirth, seconded: I. McGill. 12. 2014 Budget Brian Wirth presented the 2014 budget.  He noted that Pastor’s salary was based on ELCIC, Eastern Synod guidelines.  Wages for other staff is based on annual long term cost of living, calculated year over year as of October and salary guidelines established by their associations, as is our normal practice. There are also some increases due to some anticipated repair projects in 2014.  It was also noted that a Government grant had been received for the upgrade of the Church lighting.  The 2014 budget was approved.  Moved: B. Wirth, seconded: W. Fortier. 13. Nominating Committee (final call) Cecily Skuce called for nominations to Congregation Council, from the floor.  There being no nominations at this time, nominations were closed.  The Nominating Committee Report was approved.  Moved: C. Skuce, seconded: Des Nolan. We are pleased to welcome three new members to Council by acclamation: Randy Rodgers, Mark Quenneville and Julia Wirth. 14. Confirmation of Synod Conference Rep Ann Gault is nominated to represent Faith at the Synod Conference in Toronto this summer. Pierre Quenneville is her alternate.  Moved: M. Schwalm, seconded: M. Fortier.  It was mentioned that the next actual Joint National Convention is not yet in the works. 15. Meeting Close There were no further questions from the floor.  The meeting was closed at 12.15 pm.  Pastor Malina led the congregation in a short closing.
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