Category: Council Notes

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Council Notes

Church Council News – November

Church Council News – November
Dan Radmacher

Council met on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. in the church library. Though most of the meeting was taken up by going over and approving the 2018 spending plan, a good portion of the meeting was devoted to Pastor Kelly’s announcement that she has accepted a call to serve as Assistant to the Bishop of the Virginia Synod.

This sad and exciting news means major transitions ahead both for St. Philip and the Derrick family, and council spent some time discussing potential ways to fulfill the many responsibilities that Pastor Kelly currently handles. No decisions were made, except to keep Pastor Kelly’s compensation in the spending plan so resources would be available for future staffing decisions.

Council continued to wrestle with the spending plan, approving a plan with a hefty $17,000 shortfall. The fixed expenses of funding the church — staff compensation, utilities, maintenance and upkeep — continue to outpace giving in recent years. While St. Philip is blessed with resources, including substantial endowment and investment funds, council wants to make sure those are used in a responsible and sustainable fashion.

There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. to discuss and approve the spending plan.

The next council meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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Council Notes News

Church Council News – October 

Dan Radmacher 

Council met Monday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the church library. Once again, the spending plan for 2018 dominated the discussion.

Council examined a draft plan that, despite cuts to several areas, anticipates an $11,000 shortfall next year. As noted during the meeting, a large percentage of annual spending is taken up by the fixed costs that are fundamental to the work and ministry of the church: Staff compensation and benefits, office and other administrative expenses, utilities, and property upkeep and maintenance.

At current giving levels, there is little room for spending on the ministries and benevolent activities that many want to see the church engage in. St. Philip is fortunate to have an endowment fund and other investment funds, though. Pastor David discussed the philosophical approach council has been taking to utilizing these funds — appropriating money from them mostly for one-time expenses — and questioned whether the church needs to rethink that approach.

After much discussion, council decided to move forward with developing a spending plan for congregational approval that anticipates a significant shortfall and to meet an hour early in November to devote more time to discussing both how to approach spending and how to best communicate the issues and situation to the congregation.

Pastor Kelly debuted the church’s new Twitter account, @StPhilipROA, and council discussed ways it could be put to good use. Dan Radmacher updated council on the website redesign, and Pastor David discussed the plan for the rollout of the new logo and tagline.

Sarah Parker was unable to attend the meeting but sent an email describing her experience at a training session for the Forwarding Faith Campaign, the effort to raise at least $2.5 million over the next five years to provide an endowment for faith formation activities in the Virginia Synod. That campaign is now entering the congregational phase, and council agreed that a reasonable goal for St. Philip would be to secure commitments from members of the congregation to give $25,000 over three years.

Sarah will lead that campaign over a six-week period from January 21 to February 25 with the last week corresponding with St. Philip’s 60th anniversary. The pastors shared that they had already pledged $3,000 personally and that other St. Philip families have made similar commitments.

Pastor David reported that situations requiring pastoral care continue to arise with greater frequency than normal and that he and Pastor Kelly are doing all they can to meet those needs.

Council will meet again on November 14 at 6 p.m. in the church library. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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Council Notes News

Church Council News

Church council met on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in the church library. Church finances were discussed extensively as council prepares to submit a 2018 spending plan for congregational approval in December and as expenses continue to outpace giving this year.

While giving is up from last year, expenses are exceeding receipts by about $55,500 so far this year as insurance, utilities and other costs continue to rise. It is likely the church will end the year in the red for the third year in a row, which is a troubling trend.

Thanks to the Kinder Bequest and other substantial gifts over the years, St.. Philip has a sizeable endowment and long-term investment fund for capital projects, but council has tried to keep routine spending in line with annual giving.

Council discussed how best to communicate the situation with the congregation, and whether there are ways of responsibly tapping some of the church’s investment funds or income to cover ongoing expenses.

This will continue to be discussed next month.

Council voted on a new motion for the 2016 endowment disbursement. The motion presented last month contained an error. According to congregational policy, a portion of investment earnings from the endowment fund is disbursed every year to further the mission of St. Philip.

The disbursement will be as follows: $5,000 for the upcoming National Youth Gathering, $6,500 for media upgrades for the church (video conferencing for the library, televisions and monitors for the youth rooms and fellowship hall and improved wi-fi throughout the building), $2,000 to support Matt Leonard’s seminary studies and $1,500 for Caroline Furnace..

Council discussed the rollout of the new logo and tagline for the church and received an update about progress on a new website, which should be ready to be unveiled at the end of October.

Sarah Parker will attend a training session in September to serve as head of the congregational Forwarding Faith campaign, St. Philip’s contribution to the effort to raise at least $2.5 million over the next five years to provide an endowment for faith formation activities in the Virginia Synod.

The next council meeting will be Monday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the church library. Anyone is welcome to attend.