FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

ADMINISTRATION MINISTRY TEAM

8 JANUARY 2008

 

Present:                      Dina Schroeder (Moderator), Mary Kammann, Carl Connor, Winnie Quinzi

Excused:                     Darla Topley

 

As the Moderator of the Administration Ministry Team for 2008, Dina Schroeder introduced the new members of the Team; Carl Connor (Elder) and Darla Topley (Deacon, in absentia).

 

Mary Kammann opened the meeting with prayer.

 

OLD BUSINESS:  Building use request from the Las Cruces Oral History Group.   Although the Team discussed this request and is generally in favor of approving it, we are unclear of where the negotiations between the Oral History Group and last year’s Moderator (Mel Parish) stood at the end of the year.  As Moderator, Dina Schroeder took an action item to determine the status of the request and update the Team at the next regular meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS:  1)  Team members were advised that the Administration Ministry Team will be responsible for the after Church fellowship on 17 February.  Since our next regular Team meeting will be on 12 February, we will finalize our hosting plans and assignments at that time.

 

2)  Dina Schroeder pointed out the problems associated with the team Moderator keeping and publishing the meeting minutes.  Carl Connor stated that when he was on the Buildings and Grounds Committee, they established the procedure that the new Elder coming on the committee each year would assume the duties of Recording Secretary.  The Administration Team agreed to establish that practice as ours, and Carl was designated as Recording Secretary for 2008.

 

3)  By-law Review:  It has been brought to Pastor Story’s attention that there is a set of  Church By-laws from 1988.  Since the Book of Order is the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, each Team member was provided with a copy of the 1988 By-laws and requested to compare them with the appropriate parts of the Book of Order.  We will discuss our findings at the next regular Team meeting, and then forward our recommendations to the Session as an Action Item for the 19 February meeting.

 

4) 2008 Calendar for Administration Team:  Several changes concerning the Church Office and office staff were discussed and approved on a conceptual basis.  We have funding in our 2008 budget for computer upgrades including the replacement of several old and slow computers.  We will also plan to send Kathy for training on our church organization proprietary financial software program so that she will be better able to respond to requests for specific financial reports.  We plan to find publishing software classes for Linda and Kathy to help in preparing the bulletin for worship.  We will discuss their needs and help pick classes accordingly.  We will also plan some type of cross-training program so that both Kathy and Linda will both be better trained and prepared to fill in for each other during absences. 

 

5)  Church Facility Use:  The absence of any record of a written request for the use of Church facilities by the Las Cruces Oral History Club initiated an action to update the Facility Use form in our Facility Use Procedure.  Dina has requested Linda Ramirez to give us her recommendations for specific changes to the form that will include all or the information that she feels is necessary to efficiently handle building use requests.  The revised form will be evaluated at the next regular Team meeting.  Prior to the meeting the Team members received emails from the Office staff concerning a request from Debbie Decker to use Watkins Hall on Saturday night, 2 February, for a birthday party.  Based on the lack of detailed information about various specific requirements and our concerns about the potential problems associated with the after party clean-up and set-up for church use on Sunday morning. 2 February, the Team voted against approving the request.  Subsequent discussions and clarifications about the request, including the resolution of cost and clean-up questions resulted in the Team approving the request.  Hopefully, the revised Facility Use Request Form will eliminate many of the questions and problems experienced with this request.

 

6) Stewardship Campaign (Chairman):  We are hoping to find a member to Chair the Stewardship Campaign for the next 2 years.  A few names have been suggested and we hope to have an answer by our next regular meeting. February 12th.  Mary Kammann agreed to be the Administration Team representative on the Stewardship Campaign Committee.

 

7)      Treasurer:  Dina has asked a member to perform the 2006 and 2007 financial reviews.    We should have an answer by our next regular meeting, February 12^th.

 

 

Dina adjourned the meeting with prayer.

 

Next meeting: 12 February at 7:00 PM

 

Respectfully submitted by Carl Connor