Elder Board Meeting
June 29, 2010

 Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack and Jim Seaser

Staff Present: Mark, Matt, Carol, Sue, Jennifer, and Sandi

• Pete opened with Malachi  3: 6 -12
  • Giving principles
•  Opened in prayer
  • Shared prayer requests
• Pete contacted Dave and Trent regarding a financial review
  • Looking to complete by 7/27
• Reveal survey
  • Results need to be discerned further
  • Matt to publish that survey results are in and available to those interested.
  • Matt will work on developing a one page summary for publication and how the results will be used
  • Jim to provide Matt input
• Mike – EB nominating committee
  • First meeting called
  • Mike to issue a note to Matt to let the church know the committee is accepting nominations.
• An update was provided on Beds for Kids
• Petition
  • A 7/25 meeting was requested to discuss changing the governance model, constitution and by-laws.
  • Petitioners want to be heard.
  • Board will delay action on this until the Senior Pastor Call situation is clarified
  • Dave will write a note for publication to the Church about the approach the Board will take on the matter and that a date will be picked on 7/27 for the meeting.
    • Matt to publish it (from the EB) on 7/7. 
  • When the meeting notice is sent out the following should be included:
    • Purpose (agenda)
    • Meeting ground rules
    • If a change is to take place, what is the constitutional path that needs to be followed.
• Survey
  • Matt to immediately send out the four survey questions discussed to the congregation
    • Request a response by 7/14

• Closed session
  • Moved and seconded that Glen has permission to move ahead with the Senior Pastor package that was discussed.
  • Moved and seconded to accept the Metrics that Jim passed out (with a couple modifications) effective 7/1.
    • Jim to e-mail the revised document to Matt and Board immediately.
    • Matt to populate the Baseline line metrics in the second table and be prepared to present to Board on 7/27. 
  • Reviewed finances
• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Minutes
April 13, 2010

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack, and Jim Seaser

Staff Present: Pastor Dan, Josh, Carol, Matt

Guests: Dave and Cheryl Couture

• Pete opened with Scripture
  • Romans 12 – Spiritual gifts
    • We shared about what spiritual gifts we possess. 
• Opened in prayer
  • Shared prayer requests
• Approved minutes from 3/23
  • Jim to send to Matt for publication
• Glenn - Senior pastor Search committee update
  • Provided Timeline and Q & A documents
    • Glenn will have Chris provide Matt with the documents for publication on the website. 
    • An e-mail update will be provided to the congregation
      • Targeting 4/20
      • From the EB e-mail address
• Next prayer time for the Senior Pastor search process
  • Wednesday, 4/28 at 7:00 pm
  • 2 -3 days before the meeting Elders are to call 10 people from the church and invite them to join us for prayer
    • Matt to provide Jim with an excel document showing names
    • Jim to distribute the names / phone numbers to the Elders for contacting
• Elder’s communication meeting
  • Shifted to 4/25 (6:00 – 8:00 pm).
  • Crossings Cafe
  •   The following are the topics to be covered
    • Update the Senior Pastor search committee process
      • Glenn / Chris
      • Provide a briefing on the REVEAL survey
        • Matt
        • Provide an update on the goals
          • Metrics for the governance model
            •  Pete
            • Will talk through objective and timeline
            • Membership committee update
              • Pete
              • Review compensation accountability
                • Pete
                • Benefits package
                • Elder nomination process
                  • Jim
                  • Goals for the staff
                    • Matt
• Elder selection process / Elder training process
  • Jim provided update
    • Three areas have been developed
      • Committee meeting process
      • Qualification of an Elder
      • Standardized questions
    • Will meet with Don and Mike on Sunday, 4/18 to review the proposed process and then send to the rest of the elders for review.
    • Open discussion on the following:
      • Suggested to get feedback from previous search committee members on a draft or the proposal
      • The overlapping characteristics of the Staff and Elders
      • How the New Testament model of an Elder applies to the Board
• Matt’s update on what is happening with the staff
  •  Working through the Whole Church book
  • What the Staff can do to help bring the Body together
  • Staff continues to update job descriptions
  • Planning for the Great Giveaway
  • Overview the highlights from the Chicago conference
    • Momentum (build upon what is there)
    • Clarifying the win
      • Why are we doing what we do?
        • Define this ahead of an event to help keep people in focus.
• Matt provided a roll-out plan for the REVEAL survey. 
• Matt reviewed a proposal for changing the Staff retirement plan
  • Guidance was provided by from Dave Allard and Kim Cosens
  • Centers on shifting from……….
    • A plan that provides a defined benefit
      • 9% of the staff members wage where the staff member directs where the money is to go.
  • To a simple IRA
    • Matt provided a handout on what a Simple IRA is.
    • The following summarizes the plan
      • 2/3 the 9% (6% of the staff member’s salary) that is currently provided as a pension benefit will be provided as salary.
      • The staff member will then have the option of allocating any or all of the 6% to a Simple IRA administered by Edward Jones.
      • Bethel would match the staff members’ contribution up to 3% of their salary.
    • Financial impact to Bethel should not be noticeable
  • A motion was moved and seconded to go forward with the Simple IRA program
    • The motion was passed by the board
• Important Dates
  • Next Board Meetings – April 27, May 4 and May 18
  • Great Giveaway – May 22
  • REVEAL survey – Mat??
  • Prayer Date for Senior Pastor Search (4-28-10)
  • Elder Board Communication Meeting
• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Minutes
March 23, 2010

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Don Darrah, Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack and Jim Seaser

Staff Present: Pastor Dan, Josh, Carol 

• Pete opened with Scripture
  • Joshua 1, Luke 18:27, Luke 22:42
• Opened in prayer
  • Shared prayer requests
• Approved minutes from 3/9
  • Jim to send to Matt for publication after modifications
• Pete reviewed a document of another church going through a pastor search
  • http://www.1freechurch.org/SeniorPastorSearch/StatusUpdate.htm
• Pastor Dan
  • Average search process is 18 months
  • Met with the search team this past Sunday
    • Team seems to be doing OK
• Josh’s update on what is happening with the staff
  • Matt is doing performance evaluations with the staff
    • Working on job descriptions and focused on ministry action plans
  • Going through the book “Whole Church”
    • Distributed copies to Elders
  • Scheduling the Great Give-away for the end of May as an outreach to the community
  • Wedding procedure is being updated
  • Reviewed how the staff approaches their weekly prayer time
• Pete to ask Matt to update his job description
• Finance Review
  • Don reported that he spoke with Trent and Dave
    • The finances are ready for review
    • Will be looking at the end of April (after tax season)
    • Need to conduct a review at the end of each fiscal year (to be complete my the end of the calendar year)
• Glen reported on the Senior Pastor Search Team
  • Interviewing some candidates and continuing to review resumes and listening to sermons
  • Marilyn will report on Sunday (3/28) to the church on progress
  • Job description needs to be updated
    • To be reviewed at next EB meeting
      • Don to send out a copy of the Senior Pastor job description to the EB
      • Review the Search brochure
      • Review the job description on Bethel Sem website
        •  http://seminary.bethel.edu/placement/mn-pastor
        • Reviewed how to improve the communication with the church about how the search process is going. 
          • Glen to review with the search team about how to approach this.

• Jim reported on the Elder Search Committee
  • On 3/21 Don, Mike and Jim reviewed the current process along with the information that Josh shared from his Dad’s church.
    • Will focus on confirming that the search committee remains independent and provided with appropriate guidelines
    • By the next EB mtg Jim will have a draft for review. 

• Elder/Staff Retreat
  • Looking at June 11 and 12
  • Keep it local
    • Glen offered his office
• April 18^th (6:00 – 8:00 pm) for Elders communication meeting.  The following are the topics to be covered
  • Explain the Senior Pastor search committee process
  • Provide a brief on the REVEAL survey
  • Provide an update on the goals
  • Go over the goals for the staff
• Pete provided an update on the revisions being proposed for the staff retirement plan
  • At the next EB meeting Dave Allard, with Kim Cousins will brief us on the proposed changes

• Important Dates
• Closed in prayer

•  
  • April Board Meetings (April 13 & 27)
  • Easter Sunday (April 4)
  • Good Friday Service (April 2)
  • Prayer Date for Senior Pastor Search (March 31- 7:00)
  • Elder Board Communication Meeting

Elder Board Minutes
March 9, 2010

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Don Darrah, Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack, and Jim Seaser

Staff Present: Pastor Dan, Matt, Josh, Carol

Guest: Jeff B.  

• Pete opened with Matthew 7
  • Judging others
•  Opened in prayer
  • Shared prayer requests
• Approved minutes from 2/16
  • Jim to send to Matt for publication after modifications
• Pastor Dan
  • Phil 1:3
    • What got started at the Elder retreat needs to continue
    • Reviewed some of the positive aspects that we need to keep moving forward with.
  • Shared from Phil 1:3
• Carol shared about the Care Ministry
  • Everyone should care for someone and be able to receive care
  • Stepped through the different components of the ministry
    • Crisis response
    • Mentoring
    • Comfort and loss
    • Ultimate journey
    • Watch care
  • The ministry is working in a “leader of leaders” model
  • Some of the challenges include…….
    • Identification and equipping of leaders
    • As a culture, we do not like to ask for help
  • Future
    • Ministry of encouragement and visitation 
• Matt reviewed and provided an update on the budget
  • Spending limits have been put into place to align with giving
  • Matt to issue a communication to the church about the current state
  • Matt to explain the $48,000 amount that is in the mission account
• Don reported that the financial review by Dave Allard has been delayed
• Glen provided an update on the Senior Pastor search process
  • A few more resumes have been received
  • Did conduct a phone interview with a candidate on 3/8.
  • Will provide an update to the congregation after the 3/18 committee meeting
    • Matt suggested some metrics be provided with the update
• Prayer for the search committee
  • 3/31 at 7:00 in the auditorium
  • Matt to promote this in the Weekly and the bulletin 
•  Reviewed Jim’s proposal for how to review / update the Elders search / training process
  • Don, Mike and Jim to meet on Tuesday, 3/16 at 7:00 pm at Bethel to move forward
• Reveal survey
  • Matt to contact Willow Creek to start the process moving forward.
  • Matt to recommend a timeline and a plan for how to get people to participate.
• Next EB communication meeting
  • 4/18 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
  • Need to think through how to get more people involved.
  • Be prepared to discuss possible topics for the communication meeting during the next EB meeting on 3/23.
• Annual congregational meeting
  • 9/19
• Next EB / staff retreat
  • After the Reveal survey results
    • Maybe June 25 / 26
  • Matt to check on availability of the Pine Lake Camp in Eldora, Iowa
•  Important Dates
  • Next Board Meeting March 23
  • Easter Sunday April 4th
  • April Board Meetings 6 & 20
  • May Board Meetings 4 & 18
• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Meeting

February 16, 2010

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Don Darrah, Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack and Jim Seaser

Staff Present: Pastor Dan, Matt, Josh

• Pete opened with Mat 6:15
  • Do not worry
•  Opened in prayer
  • Shared prayer requests
• Reviewed minutes from 1/19 and 2/2
  • Jim to send to Matt for publication after modifications
• Pastor Dan
  • New sermon series
    • Dear Dad – On the Lord’s prayer
  • Shared from Phil 1:3
• Talked through how the EB and Staff could further develop as a team
  • Proposed a leadership team meeting periodically
    • The agenda could be developed by both Pete and Matt
• Don to send note to Matt stating that there will only be 6 Elders going forward, until the next election.
• Dan to follow up with Dave Allard on the financial review that is underway.
• Staff shared about the plan for KidZone
• Matt provided a financial update
  • Balancing in flow and outflow using spending restrictions. 
  • Giving is down
  • Matt to add a “budget” column to the print out provided.
• Key initiatives
  • Elder Selection / training process
    • To be revised by 5/1
    • Elders should review all the information that Pete provided as hand ours.
    • Jim, Mike and Don to be on committee
      • Jim to Chair
  • Membership committee
    • Keep a covenant model in mind
    • Pete, Dave and Josh to be on committee
    • To be complete by 6/1
  • Measurements of Ends
    • Decided that the Ends should be reviewed first before revising
      • Elders – read through the  Reveal survey
        • The survey will be used in parallel with developing the ends and means
        • Look at www.revealnow.com
        • Give feedback to Pete before next meeting
        • Dave and Matt on committee

• Closed Board meeting
• Need to set a date for the next Elders Communication meeting
• Next meeting dates
  • 3/9 at 6:30 pm
  • 3/23 at 6:30 pm
• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Meeting
February 2, 2010

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Don Darrah Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack and Jim Seaser

Staff Present: Pastor Dan, Matt, Josh, Dennis and Joel

• Dave Tverberg opened in a devotional
  • 1 Pet 5, EZ 33:4, Lev 27:32
    • Focused on shepherding  
• Opened in prayer
  • Shared prayer requests
• Matt to update the names of the Elders on the website
• Jim to review minutes from 1/14/10 for publication
• Prayer time for Search committee set for 2/17 at 7:15 pm
• Pastor Dan
  • Shared from 4:1-3
    • Unity should be protected
    • Encouraged the Elders and Staff to keep building unity
    • Recommended that the EB not add a 7^th Elder at this time
• Discussed at length the motion to keep the EB at 6 members until the next congregational election.
  • Voting took place on the motion to keep the EB at 6 and it passed
• Don to write an announcement for publication during the week of 2/8 that the EB will remain at 6 people.
• Staff communicated the plan for the adult ministries
• Matt to compile a document containing the plan for the ministries that the staff is responsible for and to summarize what was presented to the EB by each staff member. 
  • Matt to seek input from staff on what is the top one or two things that they need to help propel the church (their ministries) forward to help Bethel glorify God and make disciples 
  • Staff presentation on the Youth Ministries was tabled due to time constraints.  Joel will present it to the parents on 2/11 at 6:30 pm.

• New business
  • The following are the near term goals for the EB
    • Review the membership process at Bethel
      • Would like a sub-committee with at least one EB member and staff member
    • Review the Elder selection process
      • A copy of the current process was handed out
    • Establish Staff Metrics
      • Discuss the option of visiting the Ends / Means before establishing metrics
      • Input on the needs of the congregation will be sought
        • Proposed to use the Reveal process
          • Dave T. volunteered to be involved with this.
  • The Elders were asked to identify which of the above three initiatives that they would be involved with so work could be accomplished in a more effective manner.
• Next meetings
  • The vision of the Kidzone and the Care Ministry will be covered
  • A briefing on the Reveal material will be provided. 
• Next meeting dates
  • 2/16 at 6:30 pm
  • 3/9 at 6:30 pm
  • 3/23 at 6:30 pm
• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Meeting
January 19, 2010

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Dave Tverberg, Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack and Jim Seaser.

Staff Present: Matt, Carol, Josh, Dennis and Joel

• Pete shared from Romans 15:5
• Opened in prayer
• Mike to ask Don to write a thank you note to Dan for his effort with the Elder retreat.
• Reviewed that Pastor Dan’s compensation is considered as a house allowance
• Approved minutes from the 1/5 meeting.
  • Glen moved, Dave second.
  • Jim to send to Matt for publication
• Matt provided a financial update
  • Spending about $7,000 under FYTD plan
  • Giving about $10,000 under FYTD
  • Reported that giving versus spending were being held in line.
  • Matt will publish a trend chart showing the BUDGET DAYS for Total Checking
  • Need to pray for sustained giving
• Mike Decker hired for the “front of office” position.
  • AV, web, communications, IT.
• Pete went through an update that Don provided on the financial review being done by Dave Allard.
  • Will be completed when the finances are switched over to the new system
• Reviewed the status of bringing a new Elder on the board to replace Rocky.
  • It was brought up that the elder selection process needs to be reviewed before the next election of Elders.  This should start in March.
  • The church by-laws were reviewed for guidelines on filling the open Elder position.
  • Tabled to next meeting.
• Reviewed the agenda that Pete has proposed for the 1/31 congregational meeting.
  • Want to focus on how to connect at a heart level with the congregation
  • Assignments were made
  • Pete will publish a revised agenda based on discussion.
• Senior Pastor Search prayer scheduled for 2/17 at about 7:15 pm.
  • Glen to check with the Search Team on availability
  • Dave T. to lead again
• Staff shared their plan, strength, weaknesses, communication plans, etc.. for the ministries they are responsible for
  • Matt will publish summary of what he presented for the Exec Pastor position.
  • Dennis – shared his plan for worship
  • The meeting ended before Carol, Josh and Joel had an opportunity to share.  This will be scheduled for the next meeting.
• Next meetings
  • 2/2 at 6:30 pm
  • 2/16 at 6:30 pm
• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Meeting

December 14, 2009

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Don Darrah, Dave Tverberg,  Mike Stockwell, Glenn Schack and Jim Seaser.

Others Present: Matt Bissonette, Dan Rotach

• Open in prayer

• Meeting minutes from 12/1 approved
  • Glenn moved
  • Don second

• 12/20 there will be a presentation to the staff of the Christmas gift.
  • Gift will be presented to Matt by Pete.

• Ends discussion
  • Titus 3: 1 – 8
  • Carver
    • Defined leadership roles of Staff and leadership roles of Elders
      • Membership issue is still on the table
      • Women in leadership was settled by a congregational vote a few years ago.
    • Intended to set boundaries and definitions
    • Early 2006 started to take serious steps to implement
    • The Ends defines who the organization is
      • Took many months to work through the process due to other issues.
      • Ends were reviewed with staff for input and understandability.
  • Policy governance was used to implement staff led model with board setting vision.
  • The by-laws define us as a staff led church
  • Staff led, board governed is a good way to express the model.
  • Four components of policy governance
    • Executive limitations
      • Fence around the staff  (phased in a “cannot” manner)
    • Governance process
      • Defines how the Board functions
        • Gives authority for the board to act in certain ways.
    • Board / CEO linkage
      • How will the board and the CEO relate to one another.
        • CEO is a central theme of the policy governance
          • One person that the board goes to who is responsible for the staff and is responsible to communicate to the Board what is going on within the staff.
        • CEO is normally the Senior Pastor
          • Reports to Board
      • The purpose of the board, while following Jesus Christ and representing the congregation, is to see to it that Bethel achieves:
        • Defined Ends
        • Avoids unacceptable actions and situations (policy comes into play here)
    • Ends
      • Use Ends instead of Vision because Ends include the recipients, beneficiaries and the cost. 
        • What good
        • Which people
        • At what cost
      • Ends are not actions, programs or services (not something you do)
      • CEO is responsible to implement methods to meet the Ends within a certain, allowable tolerance.
      • What gives us reason to exist?
      • What makes Bethel different?
      • March 2009 is when Ends were approved.
      • The Ends could be viewed as a “values” document
        • The metrics will be established to define how the Ends will be accomplished.
      • Our statement, (BR, LF, BH) describes how we will get the Ends done.
      • Owners of the organization (who we are responsible) are Jesus and the congregation.  
      • The EB needs to come together on the Vision and the Ends in the process of hiring a Senior Pastor. 
      • Governance model metrics need to be put in place ASAP.
    • The Elders all supported the Carver Model
    • Board generates vision, takes it to CEO, takes to Staff for implementation into the Body.
      • If the body has an issue it is taken upstream for resolution. 

• Parent’s meeting
  • Input from a group of parents regarding the youth ministry was reviewed. 

• Closed in prayer

Elder Board Minutes

11-03-2009

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Don Darrah, Jim Seaser, Dave Tverberg, Duane Rockensock, Mike Stockwell and Glenn Schack

Others Present: Carol Dobson, Dan Rotach, Josh Amstutz, and Leo Coyer

Meeting Opener:

• Leo Coyer came and shared with us about prayer. He extended an invitation to all of us to come to a regularly scheduled time of prayer on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00p.m. He also shared several passages of scripture related to prayer and God’s blessings. We prayed as a group for each other and for Bethel. Leo also shared how we as a board can pray for him and his ministry.
• Glenn shared that there was a fair amount of activity with the search committee in the last few weeks. Some of these were very promising. Dave shared that several people had come to pray with the search committee. It was a good time of prayer. There were comments from the congregation that they felt invited and welcomed into the process. The committee was encouraged by those that attended to pray.

Staff/Board Session:

• There are two women applying for membership at Bethel. Sue Geary and Jeanne Brannon have met with the membership committee and their salvation testimonies have been published. Duane made a motion to approve and Don seconded. The motion carried.
• There was some discussion about the minutes from the past meeting. These items were clarified. Mike made a motion to accept the minutes as communicated and Glenn seconded. The motion carried
• Dan shared from Phillippians about pursuing what is most important.

Old Business

• Pete brought up a tabled discussion, from the last meeting, about making a new appointment to the Senior Pastor search committee. At this time, no one from the board has felt led to join the search committee. Dave did volunteer to lead an encouragement effort for the search committee. He will get specific prayer requests from the committee and communicate those to the congregation as well as coordinating times of prayer specifically for the committee members and the search process.
• Don gave an update on the next financial review. He has spoken with a qualified professional that asked some specific questions about purpose and objectives for the review. They will attend the next board meeting and talk through these issues and we will formalize a plan. Don will get back with them.
• Pete brought up the Elder Retreat. We will meet the weekend of January 15^th and 16^th. Tentatively on November 19th the board will meet with Matt and Josh in attendance. They will be addressing “Living Free, Being Real and Bringing Hope.” There will not be a Tuesday elder board meeting.

New Business

• We will send out the minutes to the Annual Meeting. This is to make sure we are communicating with the congregation.
• We also read some emails that were addressed to the elders. We discussed them briefly and Don volunteered to be the elder to reply to these communications in the future.
• Pete brought up the Holiday Pastor Gift and read the letter. We agreed to send the letter as written.
• Pete brought up the need to schedule Quarterly Communications Sessions to honor our commitment to do so. We had discussion around how to do this and what they would look like. We recognize the need to vary this communication forum so we can reach more of those that attend Bethel Church. There is agreement that we need to build our knowledge base and gather information to help us lead with excellence. We are committed to working with the evaluation process. This led into a lengthy further discussion around our values (ends) and how we can determine our progress. Pete brought the discussion back to asking for two volunteers to coordinate communication with the congregation in a variety of forms. Mike and Don agreed to handle this capacity. They will be responsible for gathering information and reporting to the board.
• Pete handed out an Elder Report which we all read. We made some suggestions and slight corrections. Pete will make his edits and then will submit the report.
• Pete brought up the need for us to be prepared to do a semi-annual review of Dan’s performance. He will then offer some observations of the board and staff.
• Mike asked a question about whether there has been a discussion amongst the staff about having a Thanksgiving dinner as a church or a Christmas Program. Currently there will not be an all-church Thanksgiving dinner, but there are some plans for a children’s Christmas Program.

Mike made the motion to adjourn and Don seconded it.

Elder Board Minutes

10-20-2009

Elders Present:  Pete Kalan, Jim Seaser, Dave Tverberg, Duane Rockensock, Don Darrah, Mike Stockwell and Glenn Schack

Others Present: Matt Bissonette, Carol Dobson, Dan Rotach, Josh Amstutz, Joel Stauffer and Chris Schuler

Meeting Opener:

• Pete opened with prayer. He read a couple of passages of scripture to encourage us in unity, compassion and kindness.
• There was a recommendation to accept Joe Strobel for membership. He has met with the membership committee. Glenn made a motion to accept and Don seconded. The motion carried.

Staff/Board Session:

• Duane read the minutes from 10-06-2009. Don made a motion to accept and Glenn seconded it. The motion carried. There was a suggestion made to add the board minutes to the website or as a link to “The Weekly” email communication. They will now be added to both.
• We welcomed the new Elders to our group. Mike Stockwell, Dave Tverberg and Jim Seaser are our new members voted in at the Annual Meeting. We also selected the different offices that are held by the elders. Duane was willing to be the secretary for a second year and was selected as such. Glenn was affirmed as the vice chair of the board again for this year. Dave made a motion to accept Pete as the chair of the board. Jim seconded the motion, and the motion carried. We added Mike Stockwell as the third check signer in addition to Pete and Glenn. Matt has been removed from the bank accounts as an authorized check signer per our updated written policy. There was some discussion about the new policy and procedures that are being implemented and communicated between Matt and the board.
• Pastor Dan shared some thoughts about the future we have in front of us. He shared from Ephesians 4:3 about working very hard at unity. Unity is kept and guarded. Dan shared some observations he has about Bethel and our system and how we need to be cautious moving forward. There was discussion around how we move forward and how we evaluate recent concerns and a very split vote on the bylaws during the annual business meeting. We talked about evaluating feedback and listening to the affirmation as well as the negative feedback.
• Chris Schuler gave an update on the Senior Pastor search. Chris has taken Tim’s spot as the chairman of the committee. The team has had a little time to regroup and heal after the loss of Tim on the committee. They have been active for 14 months now. They still are getting resumes and he feels they are back on track. The members of the committee are: Chris Schuler, Glenn Schack, Steve Bloom, and Marilyn DeForth. There were questions around process, and how the committee is doing. It was helpful to hear what has happened and to get some specifics about the process. Dave suggested that the elders meet with the search committee to pray with them. The board will meet to pray on the 27^th with the committee members, and Mike suggested that the meeting be opened up to the congregation. Chris also suggested that the board come up with a congregation meeting process or weekend so the congregation has a good feel for a new candidate when he is found. The board will need to make a decision about whether or not to select another board member to be on the committee. Pete asked the board if anyone felt led to be on the search committee. There was not a response from anyone at this time. The decision will be tabled until the next board meeting.
• Pete gave a potential date for the Elder Retreat. The elders will get back with their availability.
• Matt gave a financial update for the September month end. He also talked about some software changes that are being considered. These will make things cleaner and more user friendly. The year end financial report for Fiscal 2009 will be done by mid-November.
• Matt gave a Youth Ministry update. At Matt’s request Jim Seaser has stepped off of the Youth Advisory Team to accommodate his new challenges on the Elder Board. This position will not be filled going forward since the team will be active through the end of the calendar year.
• Matt also gave an update about the addition of Senior High Sunday School. There was some discussion about the staffing of the Sunday School since there were some questions from the congregation. The board affirmed the steps that the staff have taken to address the concerns.
• Pete brought up the financial review that needs to be done. Don will put together a team to do the review. This will be done by the end of the calendar year.
• Don closed in prayer.

Don made the motion to adjourn and Mike seconded it.