Participants: Congregation Council
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Facilitator: Chris Lewis, President
Materials: Agenda 1-16-23, Minutes 11-18-22, Council Binder with agenda & financials
Members Present: Pastor Karla Halvorson, Pastor Alicia Saenz, Chris Lewis, Sheri Barker, Erick
Posada, Skip Knudsen, Mary Lizarraga, Robert Nava, Melissa Hernandez Velasco (*Strike-through
absentees)
Visitors: Krystina Torres, Treasurer; Dick Bolin, Legacy; Diane Flint Wages, Budget Committee
Meeting Purposes:
Ensure smooth and effective functioning of St. Mark’s Church to serve God’s purposes
Monitor and refine the financial operations of St. Mark’s to ensure God’s mission is fulfilled
Build our capacity to lead and work as a team to guide St. Mark’s to fulfill God’s plan
AGENDA
TOPIC COUNCIL MOTIONS
Nov.
Minutes &
Dec.
Financial
Consent Agenda: Approve all in one motion. Motion: S. Barker, Second: S.
Knudsen. Approved.
Moving
funds in
checking
account
S. Barker to move $44,725.50 to checking account from reserve facilities and move
$4,506 net income for 2022 to reserve facilities fund. Motion: S. Knudsen, Second
R. Nava. Approved
2022
Holiday
5 days of holidays for 2022 to be payed to Cindy Diaz, Jason Chase, and Alicia
Saenz, with a sub-committee being formed to correct personnel policy. Motion:
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
MINUTES: Congregation Council Agenda
Pastor Karla, Second: S. Knudsen. Approved.
TIME Topic Activity Lead
6:30 PM Call Meeting to Order Chris
6:30-6:35 Meditation and Prayer Chris
6:35-6:45 Check-in (1 min each) What has made this last year on
Council worthwhile to you?
All
6:45-6:50 Agenda Review, Time Keeper? Erick
6:50-6:55 Review 11-18-22 Council Minutes Consent Agenda: Approve all in
one motion. Motion: S. Barker,
Second: S. Knudsen, approved
Chris
6:55-7:05 Review Nov/Dec & 2022 Financial
Reports
Krystin
a
7:05–7:15 Financial Report
End of year was at 95% of
budget, 1% in the positive
Utilities at 110% of budget
due to rising energy costs
S. Barker to move $44,725.50
to checking account from
reserve facilities and move
$4,506 net income for 2022 to
reserve facilities fund.
Motion: S. Knudsen, Second R.
Nava. Approved
5 days of holidays for 2022 to
be payed to Cindy Diaz, Jason
Chase, and Alicia Saenz, with a
sub-committee being formed
to correct personnel policy.
Motion: Pastor Karla, Second:
S. Knudsen. Approved.
PK
PA
7:15-7:20
Time
Certain
Pastor Reports
Glory Lutheran will be
involved in staging the Palm /
Passion children’s play on
April 2 nd
Confirmation resumes
Sunday, January 22 nd
Aaron Ruiz from the city of
Chula Vista’s Senior Services
department will give a
bilingual information session
on services available for
seniors on Sunday, February
19 th at 10:15
Lenten Suppers and bilingual
Dick
Bolin
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
MINUTES: Congregation Council Agenda
3
dr.sheridan.barker@cox.net
services begin on Wednesday
February 29 th , supper at 5:30
and service at 6:30.
Bell Concert performed by
Concordia University Irvine on
Saturday, March 4 at 7:00 PM
Concert Series on Saturday
March 18 th
7:20-7:30 Legacy Committee Report
Gabi Gutierrez to join Legacy
Committee in 2023.
Committee is doing its part to
talk to member to see if they
are willing to remember the
church in their wills
Dick Bolin will be staying on
as Chairman
Diane
Wages
7:30-7:50 Discussion Items
2022-2023 Council Term
confirmation (see below)
Draft By-Law for 2023 Vote
Review plans for Jan 29 Annual
Congregational Meeting
Plan for Congregation Lunch
following Annual Meeting (funds,
tasks, roles, decorations)
Council Retreat plan: Sat, Feb 25
Discussion:
New council member to be
voted on and confirmed in
January
By-Laws:
– Executive Committee will be
defined as it appears on
Robert’s rules, that is to say
what the executive
committee is and why it
exists.
– Define what the personnel
committee is and have it as a
by-law
Fencing: Construction to start
late in January or in early
February. $7,500 deposit,
Recognizing Volunteers: Find
a way to recognize all the
work the volunteers at the
church do in a way that makes
sure no one is left out.
AV System: problems with the
feedback and sound quality. S.
Barker will find out and
consult with a sound engineer
to alleviate the problems until
the system is eventually
upgraded.
Chris
7:50-7:55 Reports: (Top item only, if any)
Children & Youth
Suggestion to move back to
the nursery once the fencing
is finished.
Melissa
Security Training Back door to the church Rob
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
MINUTES: Congregation Council Agenda
4
needs to be kept closed
during service.
Music Suggestion to focus cameras
on congregation during
singing and employing
ambient microphones to
better capture the
congregation’s singing
Skip
President’s Report & Visioning C. Lewis met with the
architect for the improve of
the campus in order to
provide a daycare facility.
Cost for construction will be
$30,000. Will need to be
financed with a loan against
the church or be funded with
bonds.
Chris
TBD Executive Session (optional)
7:55-8:00 Closing Prayer Who will lead meditation &
prayer for February Council
Retreat?
Sheri
8:00 PM Motion to Adjourn Meeting Chris
TASK LIST Reminders:
TASK By Whom? By When?
UPCOMING Calendar Items:
Annual Budget Review: Sunday, January 22, 2023
Annual Congregational Meeting & Lunch: Sunday, January 29, 2023
February Council Meeting & Annual Retreat: Saturday, February 25 (Time TBD – 4 hours)
2023 Congregational Council Terms:
NOTE: A Council Term = 2 years. A member is restricted to serving 2 terms in a row.
Chris Lewis: 1st Term, Year 2, elected 2022
Sheri Barker: 2nd Term, Year 2, elected 2020
Erick Posada: 1st Term, Year 2, elected 2022
Melissa Hernandez: 2nd Term, Year 1, elected 2021
Skip Knudson, 1st Term, Year 2, elected 2022
Robert Nava, 1st Term, Year 2, elected 2022
Tentative 2023 Council nominees: (NEED Bio & Photo from each by January 20)
St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
MINUTES: Congregation Council Agenda
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dr.sheridan.barker@cox.net
Krystina Torres
Margarita Alvarez
Dennis Coughlin
Dorothy Geier
Gerd Pfeiffer
Tentative 2023 Nominating Committee nominees:
Sheri Barker (automatic at end of Council Term)