Deacons Minutes

August 15, 2013

 Attendance:  Don Behnke, Eddie Armendariz, Carrol Blevins, Nancy Cowan, Carol Goss, Bill Haynes, Marianne Maley, Bill Marlow, Donna Mathis, Anna Suggs,  Cindy Tafoya, Collette Walz and Bruce Pearson.  Rev. Norm Story also attended the first part of our meeting.

 Absent:   Harry Topley, Dutch Matkin, Mike Bartholomew (excused), Jacque Parks (excused)

  Carrol Blevins opened the meeting with a prayer at 7:03 p.m.  

 ACTION ITEM FOR SESSION:   None

 Pastor's Remarks:

             Rev. Story said that our Sunday attendance is down, even when taking into account that it normally decreases somewhat during summer.   He attributed this decline to our aging congregation, with members either dying or moving away in order to be closer to their children.    Rev. Story said we must turn around this situation within the next three to five years if our church is to survive.   He urged the deacons to contact all their sheep and to listen to any of their complaints or other comments they may have about our church.    He also said that we must do a better job of following up with visitors and with members who have dropped out.   We deacons must spend more talking to people we do not know, and not just to our friends.   Churches are about establishing strong personal relationships and about "people who are not here yet", i.e., we must go out, find them and tell them that our church would welcome them.

             Rev. Story added that for many years, Janet McPherson was in charge of handling receptions after funerals.   Now that she has left us, we need a new committee to take on this task.   This committee would not have to assume full responsibility for the receptions, but it would have to work with the family of the deceased, ascertaining their wishes, providing them with the names of caterers, etc. This committee would report through the deacons. Don Behnke needs the names of two or three people willing to serve on this committee.       

 Moderator's Remarks:

             Don requested the deacons' approval for reimbursement to himself, Rev. Story and Marianne Maley for a total of $60, for three recent hand-outs of $20 each to the needy.   The deacons approved the request.

             He also explained our new procedure to dealing with such requests for hand-outs on Sundays.   As he previously told us via e-mails, all persons requesting financial assistance on Sundays must return to the church on Monday at 11 a.m., where Don will ask them for full details and will then give his recommendations ("approve" or "disapprove") to the deacons, who will make the final decision.  We are instituting this new procedure because none of us (but especially Rev. Story, Rev. Blevins and Don) has the time to deal with these requests on Sunday mornings before, during or after church).

             We had some problems with this year's backpacks program, in that the lists from Walmart of recommended items for students in various grades were incorrect.  Consequently, some of the items with which we filled the backpacks were no longer being used in the schools. Anna Suggs, who is a teacher, volunteered to update the lists so that next year, we will be providing the students with items they will actually use.  

             The foregoing led to a suggestion from Marianne Maley that next year, we begin our "Socks and Undies" collection in June, rather than in July, in order not to conflict with the July campaign to collect backpacks.  The deacons agreed.

 Correspondence:    The deacons received thank-you letters from the Gospel Rescue Mission and the El Caldito Soup Kitchen. 

 Treasurer's Report:   Donna Mathis reported that the current balance of the deacons' fund was $158.59, but that this figure does not reflect the $60 we just approved for reimbursements (see above).  Thus the real figure is $98.59.   Our balance is now quite low, but Rev. Story pointed out that this indicates that the deacons are using our funds for worthwhile purposes and not merely to accumulate money for its own sake.   Nevertheless, we must build up our reserves to meet future emergencies. Members of the congregation may designate offerings for the deacons' fund, but these offerings should be in addition to, and not subtracted from, our regular pledges.    Don plans to put an item in the "Good News" to urge the congregation to make special donations for the deacons' fund.   Also, the hamburger fry, our main fundraising event of the year, will be on October 20.   We are trying to line up some live music for entertainment -- maybe Clyde Treat's country and western band, or our own  Praise Band.

 Local Missions:  Don noted that we now have lots of bedding in our inventory and that we intend to begin distributing it to needy families, via the public schools, after the schools open. 

 Visitation:   Carrol Blevins reported that this has been a somewhat slow month, although some visitations have been taking place.

 Soup Kitchen:   The need for meals and the number of meals served have both increased.  The level of poverty appears to be worsening in our area.

 Transient Meals:   Donna Mathis recently replenished our stock of transient meals. 

 Transportation:      Bill Haynes reported that we have five drivers who alternate driving the van on Sundays, but that this duty sometimes conflict with their commitments to usher.  When these conflicts arrive, the driving must take precedence, so other deacons should be ready to fill in as ushers on short notice.   Also, one more person is now riding the van on Sundays -- Marian Pelking at Northrise.

 Building and Grounds:   Ongoing projects include:  upgrading the pump for the irrigation well; removal and replacement of the broken sidewalks within the next month;  renovation of the playground;  installation of barriers to confine the gravel within the new west garden;  repair of the defective freezer unit in the Reeves Hall kitchen;  and painting of the kitchen and hallway walls in Reeves (scheduled for August 17).

 Christian Education:  Michelle Osborne has volunteered to be the new director of Salt and Light.   Greg and Kelly Temple are temporarily in charge of our other youth activities until we get a new Youth Pastor, hopefully by the end of this year.       Carol Goss said there is a need for more Sunday school teachers.

 Missions:   On September 15, Donna Evans, missionary whom we support in the Philippines (Indonesia), will be visiting our church.  

 Music and Worship:   Marianne Maley said there is a need for volunteers to prepare the  children’s bags which we set out on the pews for children attending the Sunday services, for volunteers for the decorating committee and for a volunteer to take the recordings of the Sunday services and make copies for distribution to shut-ins and others desiring them.  

 Nominating Committee:   Collette Walz advised that the committee is still seeking one new elder and one or two more deacons.    They will not replace Irene Kouna, who recently moved away, as her term as deacon would have expired at the end of this year anyway. 

 Administration:   Don said that our budget problems continue, contributions are down, and we should all expect cuts in this year's current budget. 

 Old Business:    None, other than items stated above in committee reports.

 New Business:    None      

             We adjourned with the Mizpah Benediction at 8:00 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted by Bruce Pearson