All Church Conference, November 29, 2011

ANNUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE MINUTES

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, SANTA ROSA, CA

November 29, 2011, 7 p.m., Montgomery Campus

Pastor Greg Bergquist opened the meeting and introduced Rev. Amy Beth Durward, pastor of Petaluma UMC, who will conduct our business meeting. Rev. Durward welcomed approximately 75 attendees, then offered a prayer for the meeting. The printed FUMC Annual Report was distributed.

Creative Arts Ministry report:  Director Doug Albertson offered additional remarks to the CAM information in the Annual Report. He named and commended several part-time staff people who help create the music, art, and drama for FUMC: Colleen O’Malley our Assistant Music Director/Organist; Bob Ressue and Nancy Robinson, accompanists for various services and groups; Ian Riggle, Assistant Music Director/ Technical Coordinator; and Elizabeth Walton, Children’s Creative Arts Coordinator. He also commended the Chancel Choir Board officers who work diligently in organizing music events as well as overseas choir tours, specifically mentioning their work with church trustees and administrators to acquire a $10,000 money market fund needed to support music activities. Many more CAM volunteers who should be commended are too many to name. Doug also announced FUMC’s winter musical drama will be “1776,” and that 20+ men are needed for casting the founding fathers’ acting parts.

Stewardship status: Norm Bryan reported we are just finishing our in-house stewardship campaign for 2012. There have been 3 mailings, 1 e-mail, and 5 family gatherings, with a video shown at all worship services and gatherings. FUMC faces a challenge in 2012 to increase our apportionment payment to 100% and reduce our dependence on the Ferguson gift fund so that it will last through 2013. To meet this goal will require $57,000 additional in pledges for 2012 over last year’s $620,000 – or a total of $677,600 in pledges – if we are to avoid cutting staff. To date, 174 pledges have been received totaling $452,000, short of our goal by $226,00. We are also currently approximately 10% short in received 2011 pledges, and Norm urged that all pledges be brought up to date to avoid an end-of-year deficit.

Pastoral Compensation for 2012:  Bill Stephens for Staff/Parish Committee:

MOTION: That for year 2012 Senior Pastor Greg Bergquist receive a total annual compensation of $89,341, with amounts designated as: cash salary: $56,241 of which $9,000 is designated as tax deferred and $3,000 for additional housing-related costs. Motion seconded by Bill Wycoff and unanimously approved.

MOTION: That for year 2012 Senior Pastor Greg Bergquist receive $27,600 as housing allowance and $6,500 for utilities. Motion seconded by Kathy Young and unanimously approved.

MOTION: That for year 2012 Senior Pastor Greg Bergquist be provided with health insurance and pension benefits, as indicated on the 2012 Pastor’s Compensation, Benefits, and Reimbursement worksheet presented at this church conference. Motion seconded by Bill Hart and unanimously approved.

MOTION: That for year 2012 Associate Pastor Kris Marshall receive a total annual compensation of  $53,900, with amounts designated as follows: cash salary: $37,500 of which $1,000 is designated as tax deferred. Motion seconded by Rusty Jump and unanimously approved.

MOTION: That for year 2012 Associate Pastor Kris Marshall receive $14,00 as housing allowance and $2,400 for utilities. Motion seconded by Bob Cheal and unanimously approved.

MOTION: That for year 2012 Associate Pastor Kris Marshall be provided with health insurance and pension benefits as indicated on the 2012 Pastor’s Compensation, Benefits, and Reimbursement worksheet presented at this church conference.  Motion seconded by Scott Miedema and unanimously approved.

Certification of Lay Speaker: Pastor Greg

MOTION: That the Church Conference of First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa recommend renewal of Patricia Sanborn-Pavliger as Lay Speaker for year 2012. Motion seconded by Bob Cheal and unanimously approved.

Pastor Greg stated that Mere Ponijiasi, who was a Lay Speaker for our church in 2011, would have been recommended again as Lay Speaker for 2012. However, she has now become a Certified Lay Minister and was offered our congratulations.

Fijian Ministry remarks: The members of our Fijian Language Ministry are considered full members of FUMC and are increasingly integrating into the life of the church. To facilitate this process, the FLM is electing representative members to sit on the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and the SPRC. Due to the work patterns of Fijians who move back and forth between Fiji and the United States, efforts are proceeding on the conference level to create a bilateral agreement with the Methodist Church of Fiji and the California-Nevada Annual Conference. This agreement will define questions of membership, leadership, and ultimately recognition of ordination. Pastor Greg, as part of the Bishop’s delegation, recently visited Fiji to help develop this relationship.

Nominations and Election of Officers: Pastor Greg

MOTION: Pastor Greg moved that the Secretary cast a ballot favoring the nominees to the Board of Trustees as presented in the attached Annual Report. The motion was seconded by Mike Ferrel and unanimously approved by ballot.

MOTION: Pastor Greg moved that Lay Leadership Committee names as presented in the Annual Report be approved. The motion was seconded by Norm Hardin and Kathy Young and unanimously approved.

MOTION: Pastor Greg moved that all other names for Church Council, Commission and Committee members as presented in the Annual Report be approved. The motion was seconded by Norm Bryan and Peg Ferrel and unanimously approved.

Membership Report: Pastor Greg explained the membership categories and numbers presented in the Annual Report. There are 25 new members reported for the year, and 33 deleted from membership for varying reasons: 12 deaths, 21 transferred to other churches, and 2 requested withdrawal. Total professing members as of this date is 830. Average weekly worship attendance is 589. Pastor Greg also remarked about our many active members who have not yet made an official commitment to church membership but are welcomed as full participants.

Remembering the Saints: Pastor Greg and Pastor Kris, in quiet reflection, read the names of 24 departed saints since our last Annual Conference. Pastor Greg then offered a prayer of remembrance. 

Pastor Durward gave closing remarks, and Pastor Kris offered the Sending Forth and closing prayer.  The meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m.

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

Doris Evans, Recording Secretary

Attachment:

FUMC Annual Church Conference Report