WCA Annual Meeting Agenda
April 28, 2007
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 1:04 pm by Moderator Jarl Peterson.
Convening Prayer
The convening prayer was offered by Rev. Randy Kohls of Kewaunee.
Roll Call and Declaration of Quorum
Secretary Rev. Cynthia Bacon read the roll call and declared a quorum. Churches in attendance were:
Arena Congregational Church-Pastor and Delegate
First Congregational Church of Beloit-Pastor and Delegate
Second Congregational Church of Beloit-Pastor and Delegates
Community
Congregational
Heritage
Congregational
Pilgrim
Congregational
First Congregational Church of Mukwonago-Pastor and Delegates.
Fox River
Congregational
First Congregational Church of Rochester-Pastor and Delegate
First
Congregational
First
Congregational
Approval of Agenda
Ray Moyer moved and Carol Taylor seconded the approval of the agenda, with the modification of the item: Other New Business to New Business. The vote was affirmative.
Approval of 2006
Minutes
Rev. Leslie Schultz moved and Rev. Jim Jupin seconded the approval of the 2006 Annual Meeting Minutes. The vote was affirmative.
Report of Executive
Committee
Rev. Susan LeFeber reviewed the actions of the Executive Committee in the last year. Diane Williams moved and Carol Taylor seconded approval of the report. A question was raised about the NA Annual Meeting in 2009. The vote was affirmative.
Report of Resource
Person
Cheryl Stapleton reviewed her report and then spoke about the papers and resources available here at the meeting. There was a question about family camp, which was answered by encouraging interested persons in working on this project.
Report of Youth and
There were no questions about Rev. Shawn Stapleton’s written report.
Report of the WCMA
Rev. Barry Syzmanski reported a great year and that plans are underway for next year’s meeting schedule. Rev. Leslie Schultz is Secretary-Treasurer of the WCMA. He spoke about contributions needed from churches. Jarl Peterson encouraged the meeting attendees to share this information with their home churches.
Report of the WCTS
Rev. Dr. Steven Peay reported on a great year. Next year will be the twelfth year for the WCTS. There is always wonderful discussion, as well as good attendance of laity and clergy alike. Our papers are reaching around the globe, where our materials are being used. He thanked the WCA and encouraged all to attend.
Report of Treasurer
Bob Noble reviewed his report.
Question—It would be helpful to list the churches who have contributed (amounts not necessary). It is helpful in determining quorums (active status).
Answer—That is easily included and will be added in the future.
Question—Clarification of the deficit was requested.
Answer—In looking at the proposed budget, Bob commented that he hoped our projected contribution income was conservative, and that if we do a better job of communicating WCA activities to the churches the total contributions might be higher.
Question—Looking ahead to 2009 Annual Meeting, there is a considerable cost. Has any thought been given to that? The last time we hosted there was money given from the NA and from WCA churches. ($4000 for meeting from churches, other churches increased for that reason but did not earmark it specifically.)
Answer—see discussion later in the meeting
Approval of 2007-2008
Budget
Ray Moyer moved and Rev. Barry Syzmanski seconded approval of the 2007-2008 Budget.
Question—Cash on hand has diminished substantially. We are on a clearly unsustainable path. If we continue, next year we will be in debt. What is the plan to fund our budget, most especially the staff position?
Answer—EC will pursue fund raising options, also grant application for Resource Person will be resubmitted. We will also communicate to the individual churches regarding the importance of their cash donations.
Comment—Getting out to the churches has been discussed before. Maybe the EC cannot do it on their own. Perhaps there should be a committee working with the EC in their specific geographic area, meeting with committees from the individual churches.
Comment—Much of the budget is a straight in and out (camp, rallies, etc. are self supporting). Our contributions need to cover the newsletter and the Resource Person. A budget is a statement of intent. Do we want to support these two things?
Comment—Could we review Cheryl’s responsibilities and cut them in half? (things that were formerly done by volunteers, etc.)
Comment—Cheryl does more than the responsibilities, it would be more like cutting them in ¼.
Comment—Have we approached non-active churches?
Comment—Perhaps we should review the job description, now that it has been in place for a year and a half, to see if it needs any modification. It is always good to evaluate a new position after it has been in place for a while.
Comment—We do not really know what the Resource Person is doing—how can we make a decision?
Ray Moyer called for the question to end debate. By voice the vote was 8 yes and 3 no. Discussion was ended.
The Budget Approval motion was then voted on, with 12 yes and 1 no. The motion passed.
Ray Moyer moved and Carol Taylor seconded a motion in favor of the EC coming up with a finance plan for the 2009 NA Annual Meeting.
Question—Will this plan be a part of the WCA budget?
Answer—I’m not going to tell them how to do it, they may do it any way they wish.
Question—What is our monetary commitment for the meeting?
Answer—It is up to the EC, by deciding what we will do for the meeting.
Answer—Last time, certain activities were sponsored by certain churches and/or individuals.
The question was called to end discussion, which resulted in an affirmative vote.
The vote on the motion was unanimous in the affirmative.
Report of Nominating
Committee
Rev. Leslie Schultz reported for the committee and thanked Rev. Jim Jupin and Rob Fredrickson for their contribution to the work of the committee.
A couple of changes to the report were noted: Rob Brink (2007-2008)
Julie Smith (2007-2009)
Remove * by Jarl’s name
Approval of Slate of
Officers
Rev. Leslie Schultz moved and Ray Moyer seconded the nominations be closed, and the report of the committee be accepted as presented.
The slate of officers was approved unanimously.
Old Business
Curriculum Committee—
Rev. Hillary H.V. Bowser reported as required by last year’s meeting. The committee (Rev. Doug Gray, Rev. Jim Jupin, Rev. Bowser and Karin Armbruster) met three times in the last year. They looked at making teaching and educational resources available to our churches. They have decided it would be best to set up an information exchange immediately through the NA rather than the WCA, in order to have broader involvement. The information exchange would act as a supplement to the materials we are currently using, and offer adaptations for a Congregational context. Some churches are developing their own curriculum, cradle to grave, all on the same lesson each week. The committee wants to facilitate sharing these ideas and encourage others to develop their own ideas, as well as share information on multi-media resources and how they are used, and update our printed resources and make them more available to our churches. Hillary asks that the WCA decide what the next step should be.
Conflict Resolution Seminar—
The seminary is open to 12 people and need 8 to secure the facility. Dates in this third scheduling of the seminar are October 18-20, 2007. The information presented in this seminar is for use in the local church and to share with other churches.
New Business
2009 NA Annual Meeting (see questions and discussion above)
Question-We might have a zero balance in a year. What will happen if we run out of money in the next year?
Answer-We will have to stop doing what we do or make appeals to people/churches.
Comment-Do we have a fund raising committee?
Comment-If we let churches know what we are doing the money will come.
Comment-Could a day be set for a special WCA offering for budget income, or have we considered seriously one of the many other suggestions for raising funds. What do we do in our churches, in our homes, to do the things we are called to do? Have we prayed about this? If God has called us to do it, it will happen?
Carol Taylor moved and Mrs. Viets seconded that a Host committee be formed by the EC for 2009 NA Annual Meeting. The vote was affirmative.
Volunteers to serve on this
committee are Andrea Beilfuss of Mukwonago, Carol Taylor of
Rev. Hillary Bowser moved and Diane Williams seconded a review of the Resource position, with a correct job description to be presented at next year’s meeting.
Comment—Is the position doing what we want? Can it be amended or do we look at something else?
Comments—The job review of Cheryl’s performance was favorable.
Comment—We would like to see in our publications more than just Cheryl’s name about who to contact and would like to contact the EC people directly.
Comment—Cheryl is not accountable to every member of every church, but to the EC. The EC however, is accountable to every member of every church.
Comment—What we need to do is be specific about what the resource person should be doing, and we should do the rest ourselves.
The vote was affirmative, with 13 yes and 1 no.
Rev. Dr. Steven Peay requests that the WCA authorize the EC to investigate the WCA merger with the WCMA to be more historically correct. We should study it and then talk about it.
Ray Moyer moved and Rev. Hillary Bowser seconded a motion for the EC to explore this possibility. The vote was affirmative.
Rev. Peay and Rev. Schultz have volunteered to work on this with the EC.
Diane Williams asked if we had
received an invitation for next year’s Annual Meeting. Several years ago five year plan
instituted.
The EC will look into this.
Rev. Leslie Schultz reminded us we need to form a Nominating Committee for the 2008 meeting. Three nominations are needed. Randy Kohls, Diane Williams and Carolyn Connelly volunteered. They were approved unanimously.
Bob Noble expressed the WCA’s thanks to First Congregational Church of Mukwonago for hosting this year’s meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 pm.
Worship with Communion
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Cynthia Bacon, WCA Secretary