Present:  John Bibby, Dave Johnson, Herm Scharm, Ken Olson, Pastor Fred Hill, Marsha         
               Einhorn
Not Present:  Larry Coltrin and Mary Ann Klein
Others Present:  Dodie Moser, Brian Rittmueller,  Heidi Haffner, Tim Gioe, Jan Stage, Barbara
            James, Jim Shepherd, Del Neel and Barb Olson (recorder).

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Ken Olson.  The devotion, “Navigating by GPS” was shared by Ken Olson and the opportunity was given for personal sharing.

Pastor Fred Hill circulated a DRAFT copy of the brochure developed for Lord of Life to share with the Welcome Wagon program.

ALPHA PROGRAM - Dodie Moser provided information on this “faith journey” program which will be held April 2/3 to June 4/5, 2008.  This program covers 10 weeks with one all day “retreat” on May 17.  Adults age 18 and above are invited to participate and Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village is the host church.  The first evening is a dinner with worship and introduction video.  There is no youth ALPHA program offered at this time. The cost is not yet determined.  Dodie will compile an information sheet for our congregation and have a form available for those interested in participation in the ALPHA program.

Call Committee Update - Call committee members were present and the chair, Brian Rittmueller, reported to council.  The committee had voted to present a candidate for call as Senior Pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church. The candidate’s strengths include leadership and preaching. The call committee had a phone conversation with the candidate and agreed to the following dates, February 2 and 3 to meet with the congregational council members and to have a “meet and greet” time with the congregation at large.  A special congregation meeting would be on February 3, 2008 to vote on the call.  A temple talk at the worship services on January 27, 2008 will provide a verbal introduction of the candidate.  Heidi Heffner will compile a list of the dates and draft a letter to the congregation. Tonight is step #14 from the “Outline of the Call Process.”

Natural Church Development – An information sheet was included in council packet and in church mailboxes with “The Three Colors of Ministry” workshop –train the trainers information.  Pastor Fred Hill asked the council to designate a representative for the workshops.on February 9 and 23.  Marsha Einhorn and Herm Scharm will be council representatives.

Christian Education Hour update.   Discussion included the Sunday School program –“how we lost Sunday School this year?”  What action or inaction of the SS program contributed, who needs to address this?  What was done, where it is now and what we learned?  Pastor Fred is meeting with Sunday School representatives on Wednesday evening, Jan 16, 2008 with discussion to include strategy, program, timing and the previous discussion questions.

Business
            Consent Agenda  Marsha Einhorn moved to accept the December 18, 2007  minutes with second by John Bibby. Motion passed.  There was no Treasurer’s Report as we are closing the books for the year.

Committee Reports
            Finance  There was no written report.  John Bibby reviewed items discussed at the committee meeting.  One item the committee is reviewing is the cost of the parking lot bill for this coming spring when the parking lot will be sealed and restriped.  Motion to receive the Finance Report by Dave Johnson with second by Marsha Einhorn.  Carried.

            Worship and Music Report  John Bibby asked why the names of those present were not listed and names of who was absent.  Pastor Fred reported that at the present time there is no chair or secretary for the committee and the written report is a review of the meeting. Discussion of how to get lay persons involved.  Point of order to put item under new business.
 
            Personnel Committee  Herm Scharm asked to get names to the personnel committee from Ken Olson or Pastor Fred Hill for council positions.  The committee is collecting names for council positions for annual meeting.  They met with Dave Johnson’s for his annual review.  Motion by Marsha Einhorn with second by Dave Johnson to accept this report.  Motion carried.

            Property Committee  The report was reviewed and decided to put garden club request under new business.  Motion by Marsha Einhorn with second by Dave to Johnson to accept report.  Motion carried.

Old Business
            Assistance to others  Discussion on how to reach out and how to best utilize resources to help people with the Love Fund, Thrivent, Endowment and Memorial---local needs and beyond.  A time for discussion with a group will be set up for later time.

New Business
            Vacancy on council includes secretary – short term—one year and Treasurer short term until June.  At the annual meeting a nominee for council position will be for a one year term.  Marsha Einhorn moved to table council vacancies with second by John Bibby.  Motion carried.

 Metropolitan Chicago Synod Assembly - Lord of Life has been allotted two voting members—one male and one female for the 2008 synod assembly. Appoint representatives later.

Personnel Committee - Herm stated that Jim Shepherd requested that personnel committee responsibilities go to the congregational council.   Constitution changes would be required.

Review facility audit -            Items include a screen in the sanctuary.  The computer committee is gathering additional information regarding size and placement for room size.  Property committee is planning to install tile in entryway and immediate area beyond doors in the Narthex.
Group use of Narthex - A printed copy of suggested guidelines was in the council packet. There is not a process in place now.  Discussion on how to give information to the committees and how to get response from the committees and groups.  Council members requested Ken Olson draft a short letter using the document in packet as a guide to give to committees and groups regarding use of the space and time for special promotions in the Narthex.     

Suggestion Box  No items.

Certificate of appreciation  The Hunger Action Team of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America awarded Lord of Life Lutheran Church  a certificate for contributing $0.94 per baptized member to the ELCA Hunger and Disaster Relief Program Feb 1, 2006 to Jan 31, 2007.

Items moved to new business
            Discussion ensued regarding encouraging congregation members to actively be involved in various committees such as the worship and music committee and Christian Education committee.  Personal contact and encouragement was seen as the most effective action
.
Garden club request  Property committee asked that the congregational council review this request and respond to the property committee with an answer. Motion by Marsha Einhorn with second by Dave Johnson to authorize the use of open space south of the parking lot by the Garden Club.

Special Council Meeting  The congregation council will hold a special meeting on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 7:00 PM or Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM to review recommendation by the Call Committee. All check schedules and contact Ken regarding the best time.  Discussion regarding the schedule for the Senior Pastor candidate included meeting with the congregational council members on Saturday, Feb 2 at 10:00 AM  Meeting with the staff following the council meeting. Meeting with the youth and counselors later afternoon.  Meet and greet congregation members in the evening with a supper at 6:00 PM.  It was moved by Marsha Einhorn with second by John Bibby that a special congregational meeting be held on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at 11:30 AM for the purpose of voting on the call for a Senior Pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church.  Motion carried.  Announcement will be posted in the bulletin regarding the call for a special congregational meeting.  Tim Gioe, the communications representative on the Call committee will present call committee announcement January 20, 2008 at the worship services and all of the call committee members will give comments and answer questions following the worship services on January 27, 2008.

A motion for the meeting to adjourn by John Bibby with second by Marsha Einhorn. Carried.  Meeting adjourned at 9:27 PM.   All present joined together in the Lord’s Prayer.

Barb Olson
Recorder