33rd Annual Congregational Meeting - Trinity Lutheran Church Grove City, Minnesota - January 26, 2025

President Melissa Bergstrom called the meeting to order at 11:02 am

1. Devotion – Pastor Donna Putney lead a devotion, and the hymn Now Thank We All Our God was sung as part of the Opening Liturgy.
2. Declaration of Quorum and Appointment of Election Tellers:  Jim Curry appointed as Election Teller.  Quorum declared by President Melissa Bergstrom
3. Adoption of Agenda:  Motion was made by Dennis Brown and seconded by Greg Jans to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.
4. Elections:

1. Report of the Nominating Committee:  After many years of service, Gordon Czycalla is retiring from this position
2. Nominations from the floor:
   1. Brian Bagley and Kevin Drange were nominated to share the vacant Head Usher position.
   2. Janelle Johnson was nominated to serve as a representative for the Green Lake Bible Camp Annual meeting.
3. Balloting:  Dennis Brown motioned to approve the Ballot and Willis Chase Seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

1. Pastor’s Report:  Pastor’s report was in the Annual Meeting Report booklet
2. Council Reports:

1. President’s Report:  In Report Booklet
2. Treasurer’s Report:  Thanked all who supported Trinity with their time, talents and offerings. Referenced the annual General Fund Offering Revenue History chart in the annual report that showed the upward growth trend that started in 2023 has continued into 2024. General Fund expenses for 2024 exceeded revenue by just under $5000.  Price inflation on consumables such as office supplies was a large contributor to this shortfall.  Parsonage rent is being put into the Building Fund to help make up for the unexpected expenses incurred.  We spent about $18,000 on major repairs to the church building, including 2 new air conditioning units.  This used up most of the non-earmarked funds in the Building Fund.  The remaining earmarked funds include insurance money for the church and parsonage roof repairs, and the Parsonage Repair Fund (which is still about $6000-$7000 short of our goal).
3. Finance and Stewardship Committee:  In Report Booklet
4. Christian Education and Youth Committee:  In Report Booklet
5. Mission and Outreach Committee:  In Report Booklet
6. Worship, Music, and Arts Committee:  In Report Booklet
7. Church Properties Committee:  In Report Booklet
8. Personnel Committee:  In Report Booklet
9. Organizations and Activities:  No Report

1. Reports of Groups and Organizations:

1. Endowment Fund:  Report in Booklet
2. Women of the ELCA:  Report in Booklet…Trinity will host the 2025 Fall Gathering
3. Green Lake Lutheran Ministries:  Report in Booklet
4. Scholarship Committee:  Report in Booklet
5. Library Committee:  Report in Booklet
6. Heritage Committee:  Report in Booklet
7. Knotty Quilters:  Report in Booklet
8. Prayer Shawl:  Report in Booklet

1. Auditors’ Report:  Report in Booklet…Audit was completed on January 14, 2025, no discrepancies found
2. Election Results – No re-balloting
3. Old Business:  No Old Business

1. New Business:

1. Approval of Budget for 2025:  Motion made by Dennis Brown and seconded by Joe Jans.  Motion carried.
2. Other:  Parsonage has been rented as of October 2024
3. Be it resolved that  “We give a special thank-you to our pastor and staff for their faithful ministry among us during the past year.”
4. Be it resolved that  “Permission be given to the Church Council to approve the minutes of the 2024 Annual Meeting at the February Council meeting.”

1. Adjournment and Lord’s Prayer:  Jim Curry made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Greg Jans seconded.  Motion carried.  We closed with the Lords’ Prayer, followed by a Table Prayer.

 
             **Minutes approved at Regular Church Council Meeting - February 11, 2025**
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