2005 Annual Meeting Minutes

January 29, 2006

Our moderator, Phil Johnson, called the meeting to order at 11:00 A.M. There were 84 church members in attendance.

The moderator recognized and congratulated our church’s new 50-year members; there were 26 in all. He also recognized the 50 plus year members who were in attendance. Phil noted that 24 new members joined our church this past year.

Phil asked for a motion to dispense with the reading of last year’s Annual Meeting minutes and with the minutes of the special congregational meeting held on December 11^th, 2005. This was motioned, seconded and approved. It was also motioned to accept the various board reports contained in the Annual Report without reading them aloud; this was seconded and approved. The new church mission statement that council has adopted was read aloud. It is contained in the Annual Report on page 2. Phil recapped the major accomplishments of council in 2005, including the Alice Mann series, our Open and Affirming declaration and extensive work on strategy and stewardship. He offered thanks to Mike Dunfee, Susan Spear, Doug Hodgkins, Jill Couillard, Barbara Langill, Sally MacDonald and the members of council. Reports were then heard from the following groups:

Pastoral Search Committee: Debbie Cotting reported that the search committee is working diligently and things are progressing well. She will keep the congregation as updated as confidentiality requirements allow.

Missions Commission: Chris Gehret informed the meeting that Missions has expanded their focus this year. They developed a "Missions Menu" that worked well. The funding issues from the beginning of the year were resolved nicely; by asking our members for funding and goods, they received the support they needed. Chris thanked all for their help.

Membership Commission: Chuck Cotting reported that he, Mike Dunfee and Tony Lucia are organizing this year’s expanded Membership Commission. They are currently working on the web site, Sunday morning greeting efforts and a mailing. More plans for spring are underway.

Stewardship: Hugh Penney reported that, as was planned, we hired a stewardship consultant for this year’s drive. We are moving in the direction of "tithing" as our theme. The fiscal year has been changed to a July through June calendar. The next stewardship campaign will begin in May. Our Fall 2005 campaign resulted in a 12% increase, which is the largest in the history of our church.

2006 January- June Budget: Dwight Decker presented the budget for the 6-month period only. This is because of the change in our fiscal year, which will now be from July through June. The budget as presented is balanced, with no deficit. Dwight acknowledged that there is good reason to be optimistic about our financial future. The moderator moved to accept the budget as presented, the motion was seconded and approved.

Phil thanked all members who served on commissions this year and those who have agreed to serve an additional 6 months until the new fiscal year begins. He then requested that the Nominating Commission’s slate of officers and commissions as it appears on page 22 of the Annual Report be approved. There were no additional changes from the floor, and the motion was seconded and approved. Phil then asked Bruce Gist to come forward. He thanked Bruce, who is stepping down as Financial Secretary after 20 years, for his extraordinary service to the church and presented him with a gift. Bruce received a lengthy and well-deserved standing ovation.

Phil then called upon the members of the congregation to remember our members who had passed away in the last year. All the names were read and a moment of silence was observed in their memory. Finding no more new or unfinished business, Phil asked Mike to lead the congregation in a closing prayer. The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 A.M.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Lambe, Recording Clerk