Church Council

Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2010
Recorder: Bob Morse

Present: Roger Addor, David Allen, Chris Dow, Matt Early, Andy Ellis,Sally Hinckley, Chris Keiter, Nancy MacLean, Carl Murphy, Elsa Peters, Carrie Skeffington, Phil Whitney, Bob Morse.

New members not present: Peggy Murray, Robin Reinhold, John Shoos.

Nancy MacLean, Vice Moderator, opened the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Bob Morse read some reflections by Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Introductions - by all for Carl Murphy as a new Council Member.

May Minutes - reviewed and accepted; noted that Food Pantry is already on the list for approved fund-raising in the church.

Minister’s Time:
• John is at a community gathering as the moral voice for the future direction of the city.
• Southern Maine Gay Pride Parade and Festival will take place on Sat., June 19. Our congregation is participating. People are encouraged to meet at Noon at Monument Square.
• John and Elsa will be doing a Summer Sermon Series, “First Followers”, capturing the lives of persons following in the ways of Jesus. They are anticipating building on a theme of discipleship for the coming year.
• Elsa has shared with the Mission Outreach Team that she would like to do an intergenerational Mission Trip to a location in Maine next summer. There will be no upper or lower age limit. There is hope this can be done through the Maine Seacoast Mission. The goal will be home building, with expectations based on type of skill.

Moderator and Vice-Moderator:
• Nancy MacLean shared reasons she is not able to be the Moderator, although she continues for one more year on the Council.
• Chris Keiter shared some of the expectations & his experience in that role. He noted that budget preparation leadership is NOT automatically the Moderator's work.
• There were no volunteers.
• Decision: Nancy MacLean will continue to function as the Moderator through the summer and into the fall. Matt Early will be the Vice Moderator.
• Topic of Moderator and Vice Moderator will be re-introduced.

Homecoming Sunday:
• The Council agreed with Teams that it will be Sunday, September 19. This is one week later than it has been.
• Much discussion about the particular style it should be, primarily around the value of sign-up time at the Homecoming Fair.
• Feeling that it has lost some of its emphasis; not a valuable response for the energy it takes.
• Directions:
- Some may still want to do it; some may not. Group agreed with suggestion that each team have short announcement time spaced throughout the church year at worship services to promote their tasks and ask for volunteers.
- Supervision of refreshments will be handled by EF&G.
- Nancy will get in touch with teams. Word will go out to groups who might like to participate in sign-up opportunities.
• Brainstorms for Sept 19:
- Intergenerational Service with a parade of youth downstairs.
- Church school will begin Sept. 26. Registration will be online.

Church Vision:
• Decision: “FCC-UCC A Christian Family: Welcoming, Loving, Serving.”
• Much discussion about how this will be presented to the congregation. Decision: Report in the “Beacon” that the Vision Survey was initiated by the Council, Elsa was chair of the team, this is what we did, if there are comments we would like to hear them.

Volunteerism:
• EF&G needs three persons. Stewardship needs one person.
• Phil Whitney has made 21 calls to new members. Much appreciation expressed for all that he has done.
• Much discussion: Some areas:
- How are volunteers sought out and selected?
- Why are there often openings on some teams and not on others?
- Is the new governance approach to filling teams working?
- The structure of a Nominating Committee is relatively efficient; at least everyone gets only one telephone call. How do you prevent someone being called multiple times? Suggestion to set up Nominating Committee for filling slots was tabled to the future.
- Nancy, Phil and Elsa will get together to consult with EF&G.

Congregation Annual Meeting:
• Good feelings about it expressed.

Maine Conference Annual Meeting:
• Nothing specifically related to local churches to report.

Next Meeting will be Thursday, September 16, 6:30 p.m.
• Carrie Skeffington: Reflection and Recorder.
• All joined hands at the end with appreciation for the excellent job which has been done by Chris Keiter, Moderator, and Nancy MacLean, Vice Moderator.