Category: Council Notes

Dear Fellow St. Philippians:

This letter is to inform you of a Congregational Meeting, which Council has schedule for Sunday, September 27, after the 9:30AM “parking lot” worship service.

The meeting will take place in the parking lot.

The purpose of this meeting is to vote on Council’s recommendation for changes to the St. Philips Constitution.  This will be the sole item on the agenda, and approval of the recommendation will require a majority of the voters present at this meeting.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that we have a quorum present for this meeting, so PLEASE make every effort to attend.

The changes being proposed are mostly to align our Constitution with the Congregational Constitution currently in effect in the Virginia Synod of the ELCA.  The Virginia Synod Constitution has had seven (7) updates since St. Philip last updated its Constitution in April 2013, so we need to get current.  The most important provision in the update to us right now would allow St. Philip to conduct Congregational Voter meetings digitally, without having an “in person” gathering.  The lack of this provision in our Constitution is beginning to hamper Council’s ability to effectively manage the affairs of our congregation.

It is NOT Council’s intent to adopt digital voter’s meetings as a preferred practice.  I think most would agree that in-person gatherings remain the preferred practice because it allows effective communication and important exchanges of ideas and viewpoints in a meeting.  However, we have learned that the ability to conduct a digital voter’s meeting is indeed an important option to insure effective management of congregational business in extreme circumstances.

A copy of the recommended updates can be found below.  Please review prior to our meeting on the 27.

God’s Peace to all of you,
Gary Sahm, Council President

Hopefully many of you heard the telephone message earlier this week from the Council President about the decision to extend the suspension of our in-person worship gatherings until May 17.

Due to the continually evolving circumstances this can change, so continue to check for updates from your church council and the pastors. 

This decision was difficult and arrived at by Church Council after prayerful consideration and discussion with our pastors in a special meeting of Council Tuesday night, March 24^th.

Some may wonder, are we overreacting?  That’s possible.  In fact, I hope we are!  The only other alternative is that our actions turn out to be inadequate…too little, too late.  I hold no hope that our actions prove to be the PERFECT response.  So, we really do have only the two options, and I think most would agree that if we err, we need to err on the side of caution.

Stay plugged in.  Watch for email updates each week. Listen to telephone messages.  Follow St. Philip on Facebook.  Be a regular visitor to the St. Philip website. Read the Bible. Participate in online worship, bible study, and more upcoming events available online. Read your mail.  Participate in programs being developed to reach members who cannot connect digitally.  Join the Prayer Chain.  Be creative and resourceful.  Spend time in Prayer. After all, we ARE in the Wilderness and we have an opportunity to make THIS Lenten experience the most memorable one ever.

Although we are suspending in-person gatherings, we are NOT suspending our expenses. So, bills need to be paid, salaries need to be paid, and our ministry continues to move forward.  Steps have been taken to reduce expenditures as much as possible, but it is still VERY important for us all to prayerfully consider maintaining our regular level of giving.  This should be easiest for members who have set up electronic automatic drafts. For those of you who have not done this, please consider this option*.  Otherwise please mail your checks to the church office so we can sustain our vibrant ministry.

God’s Peace be with you, and I look forward to us all being able to get together soon.

Gary Sahm, Council President

*click on the “Generosity Matters” tab, then “Give Now”.  You can make a one-time donation, or set up a regular, recurring donation.

It is so important to say thank you. St. Philip is a community that practices generosity. That generosity takes shape in so many ways. Thank you. As we celebrate that generosity know that we are always hopeful for expanding the ways we live out mission and ministry. Please prayerfully consider making an additional gift as the calendar year comes to a close.

We are active in so many ways, but know that for Christ’s sake there is always more we might do. Remember that gifts made through December 31st count as charitable donations for the year 2017. You can also be creative in your giving

Consider:

1. Consider increasing your offering so that we finish the year in a strong financial position. If 80 St. Philip families gave just an additional $100 between now and the end of the year, we would cancel that deficit and finish in the black. Your pastors are committed to making that additional contribution and invite you to do the same.
2. Giving stock. Pay no tax on capital gains when donating stock to a church.
3. Visiting the St. Philip website and set up a regular gift to ministry of St. Philip electronically.

*  please speak with your accountant or tax advisor for details concerning charitable gifts.