Finance

Minutes of the WUMC Finance Committee Meeting March 15, 2017

Present:  KC Bretzke, chair, Carrie Feldman, staff, Pastor Walter Lockhart, members Jan Werness and Carole Megarry.

An Agenda was set.

The Art Fair was discussed.  It has been set for Nov. 18-19, the weekend before Thanksgiving, per a survey of the artists.   It was noted we made about $2,000 last year and we discussed how to get more buyers in the door.

Conference: possible changes coming.  Walter advised that there may be more political problems ahead for the General Conference around the possibility of an “out” gay bishop.  He noted the Judicial Council will decide if she can be elected a bishop.  He estimated that about 60% of the churches currently oppose this possibility, and that if the Judicial Council approves her election, many conservative churches will start to leave.  He raised the question of what would happen to our apportionment debt to the MN. Annual Conference in the event the conference splits.

In reviewing the financial statements, KC requested that Carrie prepare a monthly record of individual donations for the years 2015-2016, to see if any patterns emerge.

Standing Rock Equipment.  Owing to changes at Standing Rock, the winter equipment which was bought with WUMC donations several months ago, was never sent to Standing Rock, and remains in possession of Carrie.  (Apparently some items were returned to the sellers for refunds.)  No formal list of donors exists, but the Deposit Slip for the Sundays after the donations should be a fairly complete listing of people who donated with checks.  Carrie and committee members will review the Deposit Slips and make a list of those who donated by check.  Jan will do an announcement on Sunday explaining the status of the donations and inform the congregation that anyone who wants a refund should request it.  However, it was noted that some of the purchase monies were advanced by Carrie and that she should be reimbursed for those funds.

Future Meetings:  It was recommended that Fin. Comm. Meet every other month on the second Wednesday of the month, meaning that the next meeting for this committee would be Weds. May 17 at 5:30, unless circumstances arise which necessitate additional meetings, subject to the discretion of the chair and pastor.