Walker Church Council
September 28, 2006

Present: Jesse Watkins, Mary Burns, K.C. Bretzke, Walter Lockhart, Jim Feldman, Jennifer Gahnstrom, Wayne Bailey, Kristine Smith, Joel Albers, Nancy Larsen, Julia Phillips, Sally Kuehn.

Walter Lockhart opened.

The minutes were approved as corrected.

Financial Status
We’re a little behind, as we usually are at the end of the summer.  It is important to catch up, especially in paying our apportionments.  Plan to participate in our biggest and best fundraising (and community building) events this fall: rummage sale, silent auction, art fair (this year coinciding with a band concert), and wreath sale.
 
Parsonage
We are moving ahead with rental to Simpson Housing on a two-year lease beginning November 1.
 
Children’s Education
New material this year, appropriate for wide range of ages.  Sally will arrange and Education Committee meeting soon.
 
Outreach
We have contracted with Camp Fire again for the after school program, starting Oct. 9, but we still need to raise money for our match to the grant.  The rest is in limbo, with a meeting planned soon to decide what to do.

Joel Albers of Minnesota Universal Health Care Action Network wants Walker Church to be his organization’s fiscal agent. Part of the network’s work will be to do screenings at health fairs. Walter pointed out that Walker could be liable to be sued in the event of false negatives. The network needs insurance against that eventuality and signed waivers. When insurance has been obtained the network should send us the paperwork. Also, the network can’t endorse candidates.

MSP that Walker become Minnesota Universal Health Care Action Network’s fiscal agent provided that the network only do advocacy, not diagnostic work until Joel sees the Church Council again. Walter, Jennifer and Joel will work out the details together. Walker will charge the network 5% for this service.
MSP that Walker become fiscal agent for the Reconciling Ministry Network of Minnesota.

Jennifer reported that the Walker Talker deadline for inclusion will be the 20th of each month at the close of the day. This will be hard and fast.

K.C. reported that she will be in charge of the retreat again next year. We will pencil in Labor Day weekend with Kingswood for next year.

Jesse reported that Rich Deming is planning a workshop at Walker in January training people for prison ministry.

Walter gave the pastor’s report/.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
K.C. Bretzke
Nancy Larsen