Deacons Meeting Minutes-September 9, 2012 - First Church of the ...

Deacons Meeting Minutes-September 9, 2012(Article X - DEACONS: “The deacon body's central interest is the spiritual, physical, andemotional well-being of the church family.” and “the deacons serve as caregivers of thecongregational members.”)(Distribution: Paper copies to Dick and Anne Ault, Carlyn Hoke, Glenn and Anna Miller andLou Tracy by the church secretary; email to all others by the deacon secretary.)The deacons met on September 9, 2012 at 6:00 PM in room 154. Present were: Greg and DebKlinedinst, Ed and Arlene Martin, Leonard and Helen Stoner, Terry and Sandy Yeager, Galenand Pat Trimmer, Patricia Carey, Lou Tracy, John Anderson, Larry and Pat Gibble and PastorDon.In our packets were an agenda, DVD Ministry Assignments 2012, Deacon of the MonthAssignment 2012 and the Deacon List 2012.The meeting was called to order by Chairman Greg Klinedinst at 6:00 P.M.The deacons fund balance is approximately $1,000. At that point Greg passed the basket aroundfor offerings. The offering received was $125.Love feast will be held after the worship service on October 7. Galen sent out assignments andthings seem to be under control.We reviewed DVD Ministry Assignments 2012: There were no questions.We reviewed the Deacon of the Month Assignment 2012. There were no questions.Pastoral support for visitation: Pastor Don needs support from the deacons and helping to visitour members and then report our findings back to him.Greg stated the need for a Gifts Discernment Team member from the deacons. No deaconsresponded. Greg will communicate to the Gifts Discernment Team that we are working on it butdo not yet have a name.Telephone Prayer Chain. The question raised by Pastor Don is, “Who owns this (whichorganization) in the church?” No one seems to know at this point. The two initiators of theprayer chain can no longer serve because of health reasons. Pastor Don will bring this questionup at the Leadership Team meeting on Tuesday evening.The deacons were asked to consider reorganizing the deacons into three teams. No final actionwas taken. Further discussion is needed.Team One would deal with the Church of the Brethren ordinances, such as Baptism,Communion, and Love Feast.Team Two would deal with crisis and support at times of special needs such as births, deaths,and other such life events. Visiting shut-ins may fall under this team.Team Three would be a membership team that would track persons who were missing forsignificant amounts of time and perhaps would benefit from visits from the pastor and deacons.In a discussion related to Team 1 which includes Baptism, Communion, and Love Feast, therewas a feeling that it could continue to serve as presently organized; that is, one personresponsible for Baptism, another for Communion, and still another for Love Feast.

Team 2, the crisis and support team, would also include deacon of the month support. PatGibble, Greg Klinedinst, Helen and Leonard Stoner volunteered for this team Team 2 was askedto consider is whether additional DVD players are needed for additional shut in membersTeam Three will secure information from the church’s database, “Servant Keeper.” LarryGibble, Pat Trimmer and Greg Klinedinst volunteered for Team 3 membership team.Pastor Don said he wants to be involved in all three teams.The question was raised regarding transportation for Erika Bergmann. There is a feeling that shedid not want the church to provide transportation. Larry Gibble agreed to call her son Klaus todetermine the family’s decision.Deb Klinedinst suggested that we develop a technique to have appropriate cards available at therear of the church to send to those for whom concerns were expressed during the “Joys andConcerns” portion of the worship service. Church members could fill out individual cards andplace them somewhere, and the church secretary would stamp and mail them out on Mondaymorning. An alternative was suggested that one larger card could be signed by many churchmembers, then sent out by the church secretary on the following Monday. The deacons seemedto like both ideas. We will be investigating this further.Leonard Stoner suggested that a list should be made available that includes those that are needinghelp, and providing a means of communicating what the previous visitors found, etc. The deaconabout to make the visit would then be better informed, rather than making a cold call because noinformation was available.The 2013 assignments will be discussed at the next meeting, which is slated for Sunday, October21 at 6:00 PM in room 154.Greg will send emails to the online deacons; the church secretary will US Mail the four nononlinedeacons.Nine deacon terms expire in 2012. The chair asked those whose terms are expiring for theirconsideration to continue on for another term.The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 P.M. with a closing prayer led by Pastor Don.(Secretary’s note: The deacons mailing list is Deacons1@yorkfirst.org Any deacon on the listcan send emails to the entire deacon list. All deacons names are on the list except for Dick andAnne Ault, Carlyn Hoke, Glenn and Anna Miller and Lou Tracy. They do not have email andwill need to be notified by some other means).Respectfully submitted,Larry Gibble, Secretary(File: c://My Documents/1st Church/Deacons/Deacons Meeting Minutes-September 9, 2012.wpd)