Council Minutes

St Matthew Lutheran Church Council Meeting Agenda
March 23, 2025

Present: Caroline Netzke, Aaron Struntz, Joel Schoer, Brittney Goche, Jennifer Zollner, Jan Arends, Chris Christensen, Pastor Jon Wendt
Absent: Kevin Bock

Call to order at 10:17 by President Jennifer Zollner.

Devotions: No devotion, sermon from church.  

Pastor’s Report: Hospital visitation, preparing for Lent and Easter. Three youth are doing first communion training that was canceled due to weather; they will have class on Wednesday nights. Three baptisms are coming up, all adults. Three families will be joining the church. The pastor has completed his three years on his initial call and is available to move but does not plan on moving. Asked to represent the synod in Arizona, the pastor declined the invitation. Working on youth and mission trip stuff with fundraisers.

Secretary’s Report/Treasurer’s Report:

Secretary’s report – emailed to council.

Treasurer’s report- For the month of February we are at 17% of our budget and are at 6% of our actual income.

·         Checking: $11,159.53

·         Building & repair: $4,540.79

·         Savings: $1,000

·         Memorial Savings: $2,363.09

·         Scholarship Savings: $13,659.51

·         CD: $40,000

·         Youth Group: $2,485.24

Motion made by Caroline to approve the secretary and treasurer’s report, seconded by Jan, vote, motion carried.

Old Business:

·         Church Directory – Caroline will meet with pastor on the church directory to get clarification.

·         Flooring in offices update – Kevin is absent. Will follow up in April.

·         Security cameras- discussion on different types and locations. Tabled to the next meeting - Kevin is absent. Will follow up in April.

·         Cement outside of kitchen door (tabled until Spring) – Chris will look into lifting the or shaving the concrete, once the frost is out of the ground.

New Business:

·         Synod Assembly Reps- June 6 & 7 (physical or virtual). Need 2 people- male and a female.
Kevin will go as the male delegate. Brittany would be a backup to attend virtually if we cannot find someone to go in person. Still looking for a female to go.

·         VBS- summer 2025 – Dates are still TBD, will be using Green Lake Ministries. Dates suggested will be June 22nd – 26th. Pastor will confirm these dates with Green Lake.

·         Chicken dinner fundraiser through the Roadhouse-April 6 (Sunday) – Looking for people to assist with serving and help in the kitchen.

·         Easter Sunday / Holy week – looking for people to assist with services during holy week. Caroline washing hands on Maundy Thursday. Roles assigned for Good Friday service. Easter Sunday service – Barb doing the egg hunt. Council will provide rolls after the service.

·         Check came from Meadowland  for $21.17 for Redwood Central Lutheran Parish. Refunds for capital dividends from 2010-2014. Check will be corrected and made out to St. Matthews (Chris will handle).

Next council meeting: April 21st at 1900 hours.

Caroline made a motion to adjourn at 10:56, seconded by Chris, motion carried, closed with the Lord’s Prayer. 

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Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, January 26, 2025

The annual meeting of St. Matthew Lutheran Church was held on Sunday, January 26, 2025, following worship service.  Council President Jennifer Zollner called the meeting at 10:01 a.m. in the church sanctuary with 34 members present. 

The minutes from the 2023 annual meeting were read by Secretary Caroline Netzke.  M/S/C to approve the secretary’s report.

Financial reports were reviewed, including the balanced 2025 budget, totaling $166,911, which was an increase of approximately $4,300 over 2024.  Increased expenses from 2024 include salary increases for Pastor Jon and insurance. Pastor’s salary increase based on synod guidelines, as well as increase in Portico (Pastoral benefits).  Savings from 2024 were changes to our printer contract, postage, and decrease in monthly paper usage.

The 2024 Congregational Annual Report from Green Lake Bible Camp was included in the annual meeting packet. Jim Zollner stated that they have nice family retreat center facilities available at both as there were recent renovations. 2024 was over pre-Covid numbers for campers.

Conference Assembly scheduled for February 16, 2025, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Wabasso. St. Matthew’s is allowed six voting members. Jim Zollner, Barb Wendt and Jan Arends volunteered as representatives; anyone else interested was asked to talk with either Pastor Jon Wendt or President Jennifer Zollner.

The Synod Assembly will be held June 6 and 7 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. St. Matthew’s is allowed one male and one female voting delegate.  No one volunteered as St. Matthew voting delegates; anyone interested in attending to contact Pastor Jon Wendt or President Jennifer Zollner.

We had two open positions – Anthony Thielges and Angela Matter.  The congregation thanked both for their time of service on the council.  Brittney Goche was elected to fill one term.  Anyone interested in the other open position was asked to talk with either Pastor Jon Wendt or President Jennifer Zollner.

Old business:

·         Church directory has been started and is in-progress.

·         Council is working to calculate current membership, as well as outreach in the community.

New business:

·         Discussion on how to how to bring more people to the pews; possible option is to start a task force.

·         Question raised if we should donate to St Anne’s for their building initiative; M/S to donate $5,000 following discussion. Vote: Aye – 33, Opposed – 1.  Motion carried.

M/S/C to adjourn meeting at 10:44 A.M.  Adjourned with Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted – Caroline Netzke