Town Hall Meeting Minutes 10/21/2018

Town Hall Meeting 10/21/2018

Introduction: Judy Walruff, Leadership Council (LC) President
Invocation: Jolene Baney, RScP
Vision Statement: Bill Sneed, RScP
Noticing the Good:  Rev. Lezli and Rev. Karin

  1. The Youth and Teen Ministry has doubled
  2. Jeff did a great job designing the pledge cards.
  3. We have 7 Circles growing our Ministry in the Valley and they are all doing well
  4. The “In My Opinion Cards” are collected in the lobby and prayed over and given to the person who can do something about the suggestions.
  5. Three Leadership Council members are completing their terms. If you are interested or feel like “they should do it differently” contact any LC members for a conversation on how to serve in this capacity.

 Update on the sale of the Property:  Judy Walruff, President LC

  1. The initial due diligence period is now complete and the buyer is moving forward with the purchase.
  2. The application for re-zoning has been submitted for a Senior Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care.
  3. Signs will be posted soon and public meetings will be posted.
  4. The buyers are providing monthly updates on their progress.
  5. Closing date to be approx. mid to late 2019.

Treasurer’s Report:  Tom Rose, Treasurer, LC

Current Financials –                                            2018                               2017
Revenue thru September 30                               $306,000                       $290,000
Expenditures thru September 30                        $330,000                       $324,000
Committed Giving for the year 2018                   $250,000                       $189,000
(important for planning)

 

Cash in bank 10/17/20118                                                 $24,000

Restricted Funds                                                            $18,000         (earnest/due diligence)

$6,000

Cash received from the sale of the property         $35,000 (not included in budget)

Finance Team:  Team Lead: Tom Rose  Members: Ron Owen, Jeff Miller, Judy Walruff, Marty Stephens, Joan Thompson, and Karin Lewis.

Many ways to be in financial partnership:

  1. Cash envelopes
    1. Please put your name on it. That helps us track your tax-deductible contributions
    2. It also allows the Center to have statistics for outside lenders
  2. Checks – can be postdated if you are traveling [Tom shared that he loves to write checks because he enjoys the feeling of knowing he is serving the community.  It really is a love offering.]
  3. Auto Tithe – using credit, debit or automatic withdrawal from checking account (If you have questions ask Tom)
  4. Lobby Kiosk – credit or debit
  5. Tax advantage ways of giving:
    1. Donations in kind – example the food that was brought today

These are given to Amy our bookkeeper

Appreciated Stock – If you transfer shares of appreciated stock, you will receive a deduction for the Fair Market Value of them vs the price you paid for them.  (Speak to Tom if you have questions.)

  1. New “TEXT TO GIVE” Essentially you text the amount you want to give (i.e.20) to 602-638-3433. The 1st time it walks you through a quick and easy set up and after that it is as easy as sending a text. Jeff Hargis is quickly becoming an expert in how to help folks set this up!

Tina pointed out that we are in the BLACK and growing!!!

MISSION BASED BUDGET – Rev. Karin Lewis

There are 5 buckets- each describe and include where our income is distributed to

  1. Deepening in Spiritual Growth       70%
  2. Teaching Spiritual Growth       10%
  3. Living Spiritual Teaching         7%
  4. Growing our Youth in Love         6%
  5. Celebrating Abundance Consciousness         7%

New Spiritual Leader update:  Nancy Harkins, VP of LC

We now have 3 applicants.  The 3rd applicant is a couple.

Vetting continues, online interviews are scheduled. Questions are prepared to see how the Ministers live the Science of Mind teaching and if there is enough of a fit in order to move into the candidating process (most likely after the holidays)

The question of merging with Creative Living Fellowship (CLF) came up as their Minister Rev. Michele Whittington is stepping down.  CLF is a beloved sister community; however they are not part of Centers for Spiritual Living.  Nancy shared that merging is very challenging in the best of circumstances.

Search Committee: Lead: Nancy Harkins, Members: Bonnie Saba, Elizabeth Lassuy, Bill Sneed, Jenie DeNoia, Karin Lewis, Ron Owen, Mary Ann Wilkerson and Frank Smith.

In response to the question of what we share about our Center, Nancy said:

  1. The packet we have tells about all of our Ministries, our commitment to the consensus process, the sale of the property to name a few things.

Ad Hoc Committee for the search for a New Building:  Marty Stephens

When we 1st got together we were gung-ho about getting a new building.  However, they realized that this will not happen for a while and so we are mostly planning.

  1. We are collecting information from each Ministry as to the amount of space they will need among other things
  2. We do go and look at properties to see what is out there and if anyone wants us to look at something let any of us know.
  3. The Vision that has been created for our new building is being held in consciousness
  4. We are planning to stay within 5 miles of our current location

Ad Hoc Committee: Lead: Marty Stephens, Members: Joan Thompson, Ron Owen, Elizabeth Lassuy, Blair Baillin and Darell Macey

Jolene asked the group to extend our hearts to the folks at CLF as they have lost not only Lonny Whittington a few months ago but now Michelle.   She suggested a picnic be organized to get all the Religious Science and New Thought communities together.  The group cheered acceptance of this idea.

Benediction:  Jeff Hargis

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments by filling out the In My Opinion form below.

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