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CHURCH COUNCIL
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April 8, 2008 Church Council Minutes
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Centenary United Methodist Church
Church Council
Minutes
April 8, 2008
Don Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Dr. Don Carlton opened the meeting with prayer.
Don Hall asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 26 meeting. A motion was made and seconded. The minutes were approved as written.
Dr. Mark King provided a handout with year-to-date financial information for the church through February. Income was $59,417 over budget; expenses were $24,206 over budget. This leaves us $35,211 ahead of budget after the first two months of 2008. We budgeted $372,000 in contributions Y-T-D and have collected $388,000. Mark noted that the current economy can have an impact on the church and the budget.
Tammy Clark next spoke about the youth programs. She stated that the youth have a real longing to know God. The fourth floor has been renovated to make it more useable for the youth. There are currently two youth Sunday School classes – one for middle school and one for high school students. A senior high youth group (The Well) has been started as an addition to the existing middle school youth group (Cornerstone). On Wednesday nights, there are currently 20 seventh graders going through confirmation classes. May 18 is scheduled for Confirmation Sunday. The youth are also planning three mission trips this summer including trips to Hinton Rural Life Center and to Chicago.
Mark King next gave a presentation regarding the Child Care Center to express what the Child Care ministry could be. He noted that the Child Care Center began in the 1960s as a mission of the church. He asked that we imagine the Child Care center transformed into "Centenary Kid's Place", a Christ-centered nurturing and learning environment. This ideal center would focus on the Bible and faith, exposure to God's love, and foster creativity and personality. It should encompass the whole family as a ministry.
These changes would require a new plan of governance for the center, a first-rate staff, a new approach to finance and facilities, new marketing and the full commitment of Centenary.
There are currently 100 children, age birth through 5, enrolled in the center. The children are from all over Forsyth County. There is a demonstrated need for child care within the county which will continue to grow.
The new governance structure is suggested to be a 6 – 9 member advisory board elected at Charge Conference. The Staff Parish Relations Committee, Committee on Finance, Trustees and Children's Council will also have a representative. The advisory board could possibly include a representative from the Parents Council of the center.
The center needs to have an experience, credentialed, degreed director. An assistant director may also be hired. In addition, standards must be developed for teaching /caring excellence.
The concept that the center be self-supporting should be removed. The Children's Council has agreed to work with the center cooperatively. The Business Office manages the collection of tuition and payment of expenditures. Mark would like to see a budget based on classrooms rather than the center as a whole.
The center has requested updates to classroom furnishings, teaching supplies, office equipment and general repair totaling $98,670. In addition, the playground needs work. Mark suggested that UMW, parents and individual church members raise money for those improvements which will total $9,000. There is also a need for new mulch or the replacement of mulch with rubber matting. The cost for this will run between $44,000 and $156,000.
The center needs new marketing. The center would like to return to its 5-Star Rating and possibly pursue an NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation.
Mark requests endorsement of the concept presented for Centenary Kid's Place. He asked the Council for questions and comments.
- A question was asked about whether closing the Child Care Center was being considered. Mark
said that it was not.
- A suggestion was made that there would be advantages to having more parents represented on
the advisory board.
- A question was asked about what percent of enrollment are Centenary children. Mark stated that
10% of the enrolled children are children of members.
- A question was asked about what the annual cost of the Centenary Kid's Place would be to
Centenary. At this time, the amount is not determined.
- A comment was made that if Centenary members knew about the status of the Child Care Center
that it would be fixed.
- Amy Welch, interim director of the center, expressed her excitement about making changes to
the center. She stated that she has been hoping for more church involvement in the center.
- A question was raised about how much Christian Education is included in the current curriculum.
Mark stated that the goal was to be more intentional about Christian Education in the proposed
Centenary Kid's Place.
- A question was raised about when a budget would be available. Mark said that the advisory board
will make that decision. The budget will be heavily impacted by the salary of the new director and,
possibly, assistant director.
- A question was raised about the availability of scholarships based on need. This will be
considered.
A motion was made as follows:
That the Church Council approve the plan in concept, with the understanding that it does not require cutting other programs without the approval of the Church Council, including permission to choose nominees for an Advisory Board.
The motion was seconded and approved by the Church Council.
Mark King next gave a report on the Church Communication Review. The church has new signage. We have changed the publication of Through Centenary Windows to twice monthly. In addition, Through Centenary Windows now included information about education, worship and service opportunities that used to be in separate publications. The church is currently interviewing for a director of communications. We are also planning improvements to the Centenary website.
Libit Glenn announced that the UMW will be holding a three-session discussion on immigration on April 20, 27 and May 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Auditorium.
Tom Cannon announced that there will be a meeting on April 29 at 5:30 regarding a new men's ministry at Centenary. The ministry will be focused on spiritual growth, small groups and service opportunities.
Steve Rainey announced that April 25 we will be welcoming John Dominic Crossan for our Reading with the Author series. There will be a dinner at 6:00 followed by a discussion at 7:00.
Dr. Michael Brown thanked Laura Young for her work on the Super Sunday series and expressed appreciation to Chris Campbell as well.
Dr. Brown reminded the Church Council that Earth Sunday is April 20. Dr. Bill Leonard from Wake Forest Divinity School will be preaching.
Dr. Brown thanked everyone for their time and service and closed with a prayer.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by,
Steve Reeder
Secretary
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