May 15, 2025 | Deacon Meeting Minutes

Attendance: John Genskow, Adam Urberg, James Martin, Erika Zank, Gail Graese, Denny Denk, Del Polzin, Chuck Falch, Bruce Winkler,

Absent: Aaron Libner, Mark Oldenberg

Pastors: Mark Schulz, David Forke, Ethan Luhman (zoomed in)

Guests: Tonya Ida

Board Secretary: Sue Gumz

Meeting opened at 6:30 pm.

Devotion and opening prayer were led by Adam Urberg.

Staff Presentation/Introduction – Tonya Ida, Business Manager

Tonya sends out the financial reports and supervises the nursery.  She has been in the nursery for over 15 years and was a confirmation small group leader. She is married with 3 adult children, 2 grandchildren, and has been a member of Peace since 2001.

Consent Agenda

Denny Denk made a motion to approve the pastoral report. Chuck Falch seconded.  Approved.

Financial Report – Gail Graese

We are ahead of budget toward giving.  $168,000 is remaining on the mortgage loan. Denny Denk made a motion to approve the financial report. Erika Zank seconded.  Approved.

Review Action Items – John Genskow

The March 20, 2025, meeting minutes were approved by electronic vote.

Follow-Up Items

·       Leadership Book Study – Pastor Mark Schulz

Pastor Mark will send something out soon, and plans to start the study during the summer.  He’s planning to do one session on zoom and then one in person. He plans to meet monthly with weekly homework.

·       May 18, 2025, Congregational Meeting Update – Bruce Winkler

This meeting is something the bylaws say we need to do.

New Items

Deacon Nomination Update – Adam Urberg

We received three nominees from the congregation and three others from the committee.  We have had one say yes, one say no, and the other four we not heard back from yet.

2024-2025 Audit Schedule – John Genskow

Last audit by an outside firm was completed 3 years ago as per Policy G1 Audit Policy. An in-house Financial Review was conducted for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year. There was discussion about postponing the audit a year to close out Pastor Mark’s tenure.  Because Lead Pastor responsibilities have begun to be transferred to the Lead Pastor Elect, it was decided that we will keep with the audit schedule and plan on having an audit this fall for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The finance committee will find a company to do this. The committee consists of Tonya Ida, Luke Kempen, Pastor Mark, Gail Graese, Mark Oldenberg, and John Genskow.  An estimated cost of $10,000 will be added to the budget for the outside audit. 

Draft of 2025-26 Budget – Pastor Mark (discussion and direction)

Salaries: 2.8% cost-of-living increase for all staff except for the three new hires, who will receive 2.5%.

Benefits – staff will pay 10% (up from 8%) of their healthcare costs per schedule set by deacons a few years ago.

Cell phone stipend/reimbursement for new phone system (internet-based).

Staff expenses: $1,076,009 (up 7%)      

Age and Stage: $44,265 (up 4.28%)

Groups: $13,050 (down 5.43%)

Leadership & Guiding: $14,350 (down 12.23%)

Mission: $140,700 (up 2.10%)

Word: $4,310 (down 24.39%)

Worship: $18,500 (down 16.29%)

Operations: $332,161 (up 8.06%)

·       6500 – Building and Grounds – $53,000 (up 2.71%)

·       6570 – Utilities - $60,000 (down 7.69%)

·       6650 – Insurance - $25,000 (up 5.93%)

·       6670 – Office & Printing – $23,000 (up 15.58% - no mailing cost last year, increase in processing fees per transaction)

·       6700 – Communications - $4,700 (down 49.46%)

·       6800 – Technology - $33,850 (up 32.23%)

Total Budget $1,643,345 (up 6.25%)

Del made a motion to approve the budget with the tweaks made. James Martin seconded. Approved.

Additional comments - none

Closing Prayer – Chuck Falch 

Adjourn

Gail Graese made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Erika Zank seconded. Approved.  The meeting adjourned at 9 pm.