Seattle Church Council meeting notes

Council members present: Mike Faris, David Roberts, Miwa Aparo, Justin Taylor, Sarah Nishioka, Noriko Fisher and Larry Krishnek. Mas Kubo and Eunha Holdhus were unable to attend.

Chairman introduces agenda

No community members are present to make comments.

Financial report will be presented at the March Council meeting.

Pastor Report

 New Sunday Service Schedule implemented and meeting expectations  Young couples and others meeting together  There is a request for a Japanese meeting  Sunday School attendance lower than Sunday service attendance  Too early to judge level of success, but indications are good  Lunch is going smoothly. Donations are covering the cost of preparing meal, but not the contribution that is made to the Providential organizations.  Comparing first 5 weeks of 2014 to same period in 2013, tithes are up 10.4% and attendance up 17%.

Mike Faris – We can get a clear picture of progress when Mas presents financial report next month.

2nd. Gen Involvement

Pastor Roberts is talking to people about someone taking a youth leader role. Not a lot of enthusiasm so far.

Need to clearly define that job

 Let candidates “ramp” into the position  Long term, should be professional and paid. o Volunteers have more flexibility that paid staff o No budget at the moment for this position  The Young Adult group that is currently meeting here might result in someone rising up.

Old Business – none

New Business

 Committees – Council tasked with supporting formation of essential committees.  Existing committees o Finance Committee o Sunday Service committee being formed later this month o Needed Committees

 Building Committee  Sunday School Committee (composed of teachers)  2nd Generation Committee (see discussion below) o A successful committee is more easily built with 1 committed person rather than 2 or 3 assigned.

Youth Pastor and Younger membership discussion

 Miwa Aparo o Could get friends involved in a Raising our Kids committee. Older BC’s still in the church find value despite all the challenges. Find out what that is and work with it. What serves their families, rather than what can they do.  Pastor Roberts o Hoping something would naturally rise from our young people.  Justin Taylor o The existing young people’s group wants to include all BC’s (family, college, etc.). When critical number is reached, separate out to specific groups. o Church can help with organization and support their plans (D. Roberts: church can help with that and finance)  Mike Faris o Council should let this grow naturally; provide oversight and support

Action Steps for attracting younger leaders

 Position is Assistant Pastor (not youth pastor)  Market it attractively e.g. “someone energetic with new ideas…building the new UC”

Finance Committee members

Mas Kubo, Mike Faris, Mike Lancey and Gerhard Wiesinger. Larry Krishnek stepped down. Pastor Roberts with join the committee. Itsuko Bodzewski will be invited to attend the meetings in her capacity as bookkeeper.

Building Committee

Larry Krishnek volunteered to form the building committee. The council agreed Nelson Mira, Eva Marie Taylor and Scott Dolfay should be invited to join the committee.

Local Church Success Pastor Roberts has an employment agreement that details expected outcomes measured in terms of tithing and membership growth. Council discussed what the appropriate metrics are for measuring our Church Success. We agreed to carry that discussion over to our next meeting which will be Sunday, March 2 nd, after Services.

Closing prayer Respectfully submitted,

Larry Krishnek Council Secretary