COUNCIL NOTES - FEBRUARY 7, 2012

7-9PM Elenbaas Residence
Present: Eric Likkel, David Anema, Mike Elenbaas, Teresa Elenbaas, Mark Nelson, Rennie Araucto, Ryan Engel
Absent: Kristen Vander Linden, Kurt Munson, Biff Gaitan, Cornell Blackwell

1. Check-in; Joys, sorrows, prayer
- Joys: exciting worship recently; Belltown Covenant big today; good to feel like NH is full on Sundays; Arauctos multiplying; excited about South End Small group; good Groundworks in January; Big Kids Bible Workshop staffed; nice to have Josiah on bass
- Sorrows; mourning Anthony King today; feeling behind on Stewardship tasks; church family suffering marital breakdown; unemployed, underemployed members, struggling; missing those who seem to have lost their way
- Prayed together

2. Updates
- Finance: Acts 6:1-6 Fund/account
o Still have follow-up tasks left over from January Elders mtg. (see notes); learn logistics about feasibility of setting up separate non-profit accounts; Is there a tax form to be attached to charitable giving to people? If paying for medical costs directly, tuition, etc., the recipients do not need to pay taxes on gift
o Affirmed focusing on members’ needs; those among us in need of temporary financial help
o Discussed merits of including this Acts 6:1-6 fund as part of Emmaus Road’s tithe, or distinguishing it separately; seems like too much work for too little an amount to create separate entity, non-profit; Council decides instead to use Emmaus Road’s tithe as umbrella for Acts 6:1-6
o What happens when individual members want to pledge a specific gift for a specific need, through church? Council discusses issues which could arise.
o Council decides to move ahead; Stewardship Team willing to write proposal for March 4 Road Crew
o Come up with FAQ section about this online
- Thank-you note from church members, for financial gift, shared with Council
- Groundworks
o Two biggest growth edges; facilitating projects to include families with little ones; remembering to include non-church volunteers; FB helps
- Children’s Ministry: Deacon Teresa
o Too early to get feedback from BKBW teachers yet, but so far so good
o Matt Park enjoying arrangement of writing stories, keeping hours steady
o Council affirms keeping Godly Play over summer
o Background checks done; Teresa still going to let everyone know
- Worship; attendance numbers
o Good numbers
- Cluster/Classis
o Mike E willing to attend Classis
o Greenwood office may change; Sanctuary will assume new lease at 8515 Greenwood Ave. N, next to Razzi’s, when current lease is taken by new tenant yet to be identified
- Worship
o Rehearsal session during Groundworks? Some like idea; some do not; maybe another time could be found?
- Roots/Branches: 1 Peter 3:15; Evangelism Beyond Sunday
o Pastor shares steps taken to reach out to Jessie Elenbaas and Alicia Likkel w/some ideas toward encouraging bolder, more proactive sharing of faith among church; celebrating stories of how evangelism is happening


3. Road Crew Agenda/Calendar
- March 4 lunch mtg.
o Proposal re: Acts 6:1-6 account to be shared; Roots/Branches and general updates; fellowship luncheon
- David Anema’s Completion Party; 2yrs of Americorps!
o Remains in the TBA category