Missions Committee Minutes

December 10, 2013

 Present: Kate Puckett, Mike Bartholomew, Collette Walz, Alex Burr, Jean O’Neill

Excused: Jacqui Jones

The meeting was opened with prayer by Kate at 7:05 pm.

 The meeting began with a long discussion of how and when we will compensate missionaries for their expenses when they come to visit.  We discussed how the availability of funds, planning for future missionary visits, and the recommendation of congregation members influences this decision.  We also discussed the budget line in the Foundation that can be used for missionary expenses, how much interest it brings in each year, and how we might try to spend or save that depending on how many visits we anticipate will occur.  For example, last year we had no missionary visits and this year to date we have spent $2805 (which is more than double what the fund earns in a year).

 After this discussion we decided that we would create a guideline for the future to help us make these decisions.  We decided that when funds are available that we will reimburse missionaries with their expenses and give a $100 honoraria in addition to that.  The check for the $100 would be cut before the visit and provided to the missionaries and the time of their arrival.  A check for their expenses would be cut later when the extent of those expenses has been determined.  Based on this general guideline, and given the extraordinary services provided by the Trudells on their recent visit, the committee unanimously agreed to send them $550.

 The Missions book is ready for proof reading.  When all edits are done the committee approved Alex to send it to the printer with all expenses to be paid from the Discretionary Fund.

 The meeting was adjourned with prayer by Alex at 8:20.