Zion Lutheran Church
Council Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015
Council members present: Ken Benson, Emily Jones, Nathan Norquist, John Bye, Martha West, Jessica Aasheim,
Jamie Gaboury.
Council members excused: Steve Will, Tricia Porter (attended Executive Committee meeting only).
Pastors present: Connie Tiede.
Others present: Dee Ann Cameron, Director of Administration.
President John Bye called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
Christ Care Prayers
Pastor Connie led the group in Christ Care Prayers.
Adoption of Consent Agenda
 John stated that the Executive Committee reviewed the reports included in the Consent Agenda during
their earlier meeting. John also thanked Pastor Connie for sending out the meeting minutes ahead of time.
Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda made by Martha and seconded by Jamie. Nathan inquired about
the General Fund ending balance for 2014. Dee Ann stated that the General Fund ended at $69,342.
Nathan also asked for verification that the goal of this fund is a balance of $115,000. Dee Ann confirmed
this amount. No further discussion. Motion carried.
Old and New Business
 Hope4Youth Sheltering Project
Pastor Connie reminded the group that last year Council approved this sheltering project to happen at
Zion. Pastor Connie went on to report that Deb Lande, Hope4Youth Executive Director, has stepped down
and that the group that was working on this project has decided to go in a different direction working in
cooperation with the Anoka Police Department to do some sheltering during the winter months. Zion
facilities will not be needed at this time. Pastor Connie also stated that Hope4Youth’s goal of raising a
million dollars to build a permanent youth shelter has been exceeded. John asked if this decision to work
with the Anoka Police Department came out of the Homelessness Summit. Pastor Connie stated that it
was a separate group that arose out of the Homelessness Summit who met and made a lot of these
decisions. Pastor Connie went on to say that the Homelessness Summit has met again and has divided into
work groups—communication, fundraisers, volunteers, education—to set goals and develop specific
actions based on these goals. The Homelessness Summit will meet again in March.
 Annual Meeting
John stated that Zion’s annual meeting will be held on Sunday, February 8 at noon. Dee Ann reported that
instead of receiving a bag lunch as in previous years, those attending the annual meeting will have a selfservice lunch available to them. This method will save time and will reduce food and condiment waste.
Pastor Connie stated that the annual meeting will highlight various staff reports and will also include the
2014 Treasurer’s Report and 2015 General Fund and Building Fund Budget presentations by Jamie. The
congregation will also be asked to adopt the proposed changes to Zion’s constitution and bylaws. Pastor
Connie went on to explain that the proposed changes to our constitution will bring the document in line
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with the current ELCA Model Constitution. Pastor Connie also stated that the bylaws were pared way
down. This will allow the church council to write continuing resolutions and work within these continuing
resolutions instead of having to go to the congregation to make changes. John asked if there was any
feedback from the December 18 constitution/bylaws open congregational meeting. Pastor Connie
responded saying that only a couple of people attended the meeting. The main concern expressed was that
the bylaws are now too vague, they don’t give us enough structure. Dee Ann interjected that, in addition to
the bylaws, Zion’s constitution provides structure for many issues. Pastor Connie concluded by saying
that a ballot will also be presented for approval at the meeting for nominees for Church Council, Zion
Foundation, Zion Pre-K board and Nominating Committee.
2015 General Fund Budget
John asked Jamie, as an addition to the agenda, to go over the 2015 budget.
Jamie stated that anticipated giving for 2015 is down and expenses for 2015 will probably remain about
the same as 2014 so we will have a shortfall somewhere between $135,000 and $150,000. We will be
asking the congregation to adopt a deficit budget. This puts pressure on the council to either come up with
more income or cut programs. Jamie went on to say that while he applauds the effort to come up with a
balanced budget he is not necessarily in favor of cutting programs and staff to do so before we even know
how the Lord will provide. If we had a history of passing deficit budgets which resulted in financial
troubles he would be worried but we have a history of just the opposite—somehow it has always turned
out in the end. It is a journey of faith. Ken suggested a temple talk to get a few people to pledge a little bit
extra before the annual meeting. Dee Ann stated that the temple talk would have to take place this
weekend because the annual report is scheduled to be printed next week and the 2015 budget is included
in this report. Jamie stated that it doesn’t really matter if you have the temple talk before or after the
meeting. Discussion took place about membership and worship attendance. John stated that 2014
worship attendance of 52,888 was down just about 200 people from 2013 worship attendance of 53,192.
That is pretty stable membership. John went on to say however, that for the last several years we have
consistently seen a decrease in worship attendance during the last two quarters of the year. Along with
this decline in attendance there has been a decline in revenue. John agreed with Jamie stating that the
problem is not controlling expenses but increasing revenue. We have Stewardship working very hard on
revenue as well as the staff working hard at controlling expenses. We need new ideas and thoughts on how
to drive revenue into this place. We also need to look at not just revenue but how to get people involved in
the various ministries. Jamie stated that he would prefer to do a temple talk after the annual meeting.
Jamie reminded the group of the meetings last fall where the congregation was told about the financial
situation. 2014 pledge to giving ended up being down approximately 5% or $100,000 for the General Fund
and the Building Fund revenue came in $1,000 under the pledged amount. Jamie went on to say that last
year coming out of 2013 into 2014 council voted to apply $120,000 to our loan principal. The 2015
Building Fund budget will have available approximately $165,000 of which $120,000 will be applied to loan
principal and $45,000 held for unanticipated expenses. Dee Ann stated that the Properties Committee has
looked at new drinking fountains. Pastor Connie stated that most of the Pre-K rooms do not have a water
source in the room so we are looking at updating all of the existing water fountains and adding an
additional one near the Pre-K rooms. The cost for these fountains is approximately $9,000. John stated
that last year the council approved the transfer of $120,000 from a dedicated account to be applied to the
loan principal. John asked if council needs to apply the excess of 2014 to the 2015 budget for principal
reduction. Dee Ann stated that we are talking about two separate things. Jamie went on to explain that
the Building Fund ended the year at $148,486. This fund has a target balance of $50,000 so that leaves
$98,000 that the council needs to decide what to do with. We do not have to decide on that tonight. We can
put it in a restricted account and decide later. Jamie went on to clarify that within the 2015 Building Fund
budget, of the $165,000 available within the budget, $120,000 will be used for additional principal payment
on our loan. Jamie asked for confirmation that the council is comfortable with the $120,000 additional
principal payment that is included in the 2015 Building Fund budget. We can always apply more towards
principal if we want to. Dee Ann stated that the remaining $43,000-45,000 will be reflected in the
additional building expense line.

Staff Benefits
John stated that last year it was decided to go with the Gold+ Plan for healthcare benefits and that the
pastors would pay $50 per month and staff would continue to pay $100 per month. This equates to a cost
to Zion of approximately $95,000 per year. This year we will be changing this cost to $200 per month for
both pastors and staff. This will be a cost savings of approximately $15,000 in our 2015 budget. If costs
continue to rise, we will probably have to do the same thing next year. We stayed with a robust plan so that
the co-pays and deductibles remain somewhat manageable but that comes with a cost. Our overall ELCA
backed benefits went up 14% this year. Nathan asked how much of the 14% increase will be offset by the
increase to the employee contribution. Dee Ann stated that healthcare went up 11.7% and new this year is
the disability costs of 2.7% that previously were paid by the ELCA. Last year’s medical costs were $85,293.
Jamie interjected that overall we will actually see a reduction of last year’s actual costs by approximately
$5,000. Nathan stated that we basically are cost shifting and that we have to be careful of how much we
are balancing on our employees. Pastor Connie stated that Pastor Peter had worked hard to make sure
that all of the pastoral staff is at or above the ELCA salary guidelines. Prior to Pastor Peter coming to Zion
this was not true. Dee Ann stated that there is money in the 2015 budget for potential moving costs for the
new Lead Pastor and also money for costs incurred by the call committee. Nathan asked about the budget
that is being presented, has it been voted on by the Executive Committee or who will present it to the
congregation? Dee Ann stated that the budget will be presented by Jamie at the annual meeting for the
congregation to vote on. Nathan asked if we could potentially take money from the Building Fund overage
to offset the deficit in the General Fund budget. Jamie stated that we cannot co-mingle funds. We can
offset some of the expenses that would have come out of the General Fund if they are building related.
Nathan asked if in the years that we have had a deficit budget, has there been an influx of money in
November and December that has offset the deficit or is it that the staff saw the shortage and tightened
things up in order to balance. Jamie replied that he has seen it go both ways. It gets bad when we squeeze
staff and reduce hours or eliminate positions. But we also have had people give extra. Jessica asked if the
staff has been told of the potential increase to their monthly medical premium deduction. Dee Ann stated
that staff have been told that it is possible that their medical benefit contribution could increase and that
council would be making that decision tonight.
Strategic Mission Information and Action Items
 Five Year Vision Conversations
John stated that the Ministry Site Profile will contain information from council’s earlier discussions on this
topic. It will also contain comments from Pastor Peter’s exit interview along with information and
suggestions that come out of Pastor John Hulden’s meeting with the Call Committee this evening. Pastor
Connie shared a handout with the group that contained the visions that Pastor Peter had the council write
and send to him. Pastor Connie went on to state that it is important as lay leaders of the congregation that
the council understands its own vision and that the council takes time to read and discuss what their fellow
council members have written about their vision for Zion. John stated that we have just come through a
whirlwind the last couple of months and it seems that now is a good time to re-ignite this area of the
agenda. It would be timely for us to take a look at long range planning and see if there are any updates and
then re-think our agenda especially with the turnover on council during the next couple of months—make
this a common piece of our agenda that we get to every month. Pastor Connie agreed stating that the
Strategic Mission Information and Action Items should be the main chunk of the conversation at council
meetings. John also stated that it would be great after the last couple of months of transition, to get
feedback from those council members that are going off council—what has changed, what is still relevant,
what new ideas have been uncovered during this time. Martha suggested that maybe it is time to define
what our sacred cows are that we are willing to give up—are we not willing to have a more casual service, a
little more up tempo. Martha also suggested that maybe everyone gets a window cling as they leave
worship. We need to be a little less introverted overall in our effort to get the word out beyond our own
community. We have to decide what we want to be and what we don’t want to be and what we are willing
to sacrifice or not. Martha reminded the group of the statistic that Pastor Peter shared about only 19% of
people in Anoka County have a church home—that leaves +80% that are out there prime for the picking.
These are the people we need to go after—social media, surveys. Jamie interjected that this is what Christ
calls us to do. In the same way Christ wants us also to give, the church needs money but Christ also calls us
to give, it is part of the mission, not just about the money. John asked that everyone take a look at these
visions and update or add to them. When the new council members come on board we will ask them to do
the same.
Other Items
Ken asked Pastor Connie how she is holding up with the added work load. Pastor Connie responded that
everything is fine. She went on to state that she has a great staff and great council leadership to work with
and all work well together.
Miscellaneous discussion took place about the Zion Pre-K dynamics and also the upcoming accreditation
process.
Ken stated that we need a pop and water machine in the building. Dee Ann stated that it is already in the
works.
Miscellaneous discussion took place about rental of the CLC.
Emily asked how many Zion members are a part of Boy Scout Troop 233. Dee Ann said she would find out.
Motion to adjourn made by Jamie and seconded by Emily.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.