Minutes of the Pilgrim Council meeting of June 29, 2010
Present: Joan Washington, Pat Perryman, Jan Good, Mary Morris, Betty Morris, Katie Menz, Rita Hill, Mark Robinson, Langston Jackson, Tom Bentz, Sarah Coffin, Felicia Scott.
Mark opened the meeting with prayer.
Pat distributed the agenda.
Concerns about building security
Langston has been considering how having tenants in the building could compromise security. He strongly suggests that we ensure that tenants not have all access to the building but be limited to those areas that are necessary for their program. In particular this will mean adding security doors with panic bars along the main stairway. The Council agreed and asked Langston to get bids to determine the cost of these upgrades so that we can calculate in the cost when we negotiate with new occupants. We will not do the work until we are sure we have an agreement with the tenant.
Summer worship schedule and location
We have been getting feedback from some members that it is very hard for them to make it to worship at 9:30. We went to summer worship at 9:30 to beat the heat but we are using the air conditioning anyway. We also have music for worship that doesn’t present well in the parlor. Sunday July 4 we will meet in the sanctuary at 10:00 but will all sit in the chancel to preserve a level of intimacy. We anticipate returning to worship at 10:30 in the sanctuary on July 11 and keep that through the rest of the summer and into the fall.
Clarification of the role of the pastor in shaping worship
With the recent change in pastoral leadership, revisions to the by-laws, and new leadership of the Worship and Music Ministry there have arisen questions about the role of the Pastor in shaping corporate worship in Pilgrim. The Council affirmed that the Call of the Pastor and the By-laws of the Congregation both place the responsibility for worship with the Pastor, and that the Worship and Music Ministry supports the Pastor and the Director of Music Ministry in the conduct of the worship of the congregation.
Piano renovation and protection
The Council agrees that the music ministry and the attractiveness of the hall for music programs requires that we have excellent pianos in the sanctuary and the music room. We approve the expenditure of $1000 for the repair and protection of the Miller and will take the money from Memorial Funds unless we get a grant from the Woman’s Association. We also urge Fred O to continue to explore our options to sell, trade, or renovate the Steinway though we have not yet identified a source for those funds.
Christian Education leadership
While we are confident that in the near term we will be able to maintain a program of Christian Education for the adults of the congregation, we don’t see sufficient lay leadership to sustain a program for children and youth. We want to remain open to new forms of education and new options for leadership but we have a sense of urgency about ensuring a program for children and youth come the fall. Pastor Tom will continue to explore options for securing leadership from Eden Seminary or other sources for a term of employment of from nine months to a year.
We honored an adjournment time of 7:30 and will next meet at 6:00 on Thursday, July 22, 2010.
Submitted by Mark Lee Robinson
