January 15, 2026 | Deacon Meeting Minutes

Attendance: John Genskow, Bruce Winkler, Chuck Falch, Stan Norman, Denny Denk, Aaron Libner, Adam Urberg, Mark Oldenberg, James Martin

Absent: Gail Graese, Erika Zank

Pastors: Mark Schulz, David Forke, Ethan Luhman

Guests: Anna Reineke, Tonya Ida

Recording Secretary: Sue Gumz

John Genskow called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.

Chuck Falch led us in an opening prayer and devotion.

Consent Agenda

Dec. 9, 2025 meeting minutes

January 2026 Pastoral Report – 2025 year-end

Aaron Libner made a motion to approve the two consent agenda items. Chuck Falch seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Financial Report –Tonya Ida for Gail Graese

December financial report was shared.

Denny Denk made a motion to approve the financial report. Aaron Libner seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Standing Committee Updates:

• Building/Operations – Chuck Falch

  Met with safety team

• Personnel – Denny Denk

  Met and discussed what Caleb Haack and Anna Reineke put together re: volunteer involvement

• Finance – Gail Graese

  No additional report

• Mission – Erika Zank (Pastor Ethan Luhman spoke on her behalf)

  Love EC for local schools: Peace brought breakfast from the French Press on the first day of school for 2026. The amount that was donated to the various missions this month are in the bulletin board. The board believes that this helps with recognition. Congregational survey stated that local mission opportunities have been important.

• Audit Committee – Mark Oldenberg

  Clifton Larson Allen is the company we are working through. The cost will be $15,000, which is up from the $10,000 that was budgeted. Tonya has already been working on things. This process will be done before the annual meeting, and it will be stated that our internal controls were looked at this year. The congregational chair shall initiate an Audit.  They will bring this back to the march meeting.

  Chuck Falch made a motion to increase the budget from $10,000 to $15,000 for the audit. Stan Norman seconded. Motion carried.

Vision Process:

We have had two Story Brand sessions with the staff/deacons. We are beginning to look at who the person is that we are trying to reach at Peace. We’ve had good conversations, but nothing has been solidified.

Pastor Ethan Luhman inquired about what kinds of things do you want to see on the pastoral report? Right now, it’s who is coming in and going out, how many people are in the pews for attendance. What markers would you like us to track?

Staff Introductions – Anna Reineke

January 1, 2026, was Anna’s 1-year anniversary. She met with 8-10 MS and HS kids around the campfire this past summer.

Confirmation classes have seen a few changes, and some new students have joined.

HS: A lot of underclassmen, and they have been forming as a core. This group has been comfortable inviting friends.

Youth Ministry Intern – Kaemyn is from Eagle River and is a CVTC student. Helps with HS nights on Sundays and most recently Confirmation on Wednesdays.

Eight students went to the Youth Gathering this past summer. The youth had a sponsorship meal to follow up on their adventures at the Gathering.

Twelve students confirmed their faith this fall.

The FamJam podcast had its first session. The second podcast will go out next week. These Episodes will go through March. Anna is doing this with Caleb Haack. This focuses on faith formation in the home.

Anna has plans to make the Refuge feel like a second home for the high school kids.

Anna is launching a college bible study beginning Feb. 3.

Pastor Mark’s Retirement Celebration

Date is Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Florian Gardens with an open house from 4-5:30 pm and dinner/program from 6-8 pm. The planning team consists of Cheri Weinke, Donna Stolp, Dawn Hendel, and Sue Gumz

$2,000 was budgeted under events for this celebration. The cost of the venue and expenses will be $3,000. Meals will be in addition to that. The team was asking if they could get some additional money to cover these expenses.

Aaron Libner made a motion to allow the leadership to cover the cost of the event and the gratuity so the cost for each person would not exceed $15 per plate.  Denny Denk seconded. Motion carried.

Peace Policy Manual Revisions – Bruce Winkler

A few grammar corrections were the primary changes to the policy manual.

We want to keep the large donation policy but increase the amount from $10,000 to $20,000.

Chuck Falch made a motion to increase the dollar amount for large donations from $10,000 to $20,000. Mark Oldenberg seconded. Motion carried.

Erika Zank Resignation

She has moved from Hayward to Milwaukee. Her term is up at the end of June, 2026.

A recommendation was made that the board leave her role vacant until the end of the fiscal year. The board was in agreement with this.

National Convention: Voters and Nominations

Aaron Libner made a motion to accept John Genskow and Pastor Ethan Luhman, as Pastor Mark’s designee, to serve as our synodical presidential voters at the National Convention. Adam Urberg seconded.  Motion carried.

Mark Oldenberg made a motion to Nominate Pastor Jeff Cloeter to be on the synodical presidential ballot. Chuck Falch seconded. Motion carried.

Peace Ministry Overview – Mid Year

• Pastor Ethan: Planning for building updates in children’s wing and refuge. Where do we want to be heading in our vision. Social media use has increased by 100 viewers. Transitions keep happening between Mark and Ethan.

• Pastor David: Life Group participation is up by 20%. Men’s Retreat participants up 75%. Men’s ministry is an important area for Pastor David. Excited about completing a full program year with Caleb Haack and Anna Reineke.

• Lynette: Teaching on the book of Matthew on Tuesdays

• Caleb: acquired benches for large group teaching, launched faith journey milestone classes for each grade, excited after the family service on Christmas Eve, Fam Jam Podcast, VBS

• Mark: Celebrate the Journey package, paying of mortgage was a huge blessing. Looking forward to preaching series (Revelation and Deuteronomy). He has 2 volunteers to help him go through his history and getting items digitized, also excited about online teaching.

• Celebrate the Journey: Chili Cookoff on Jan. 31, 4-6 pm, worship after, 35 people registered. Eleven people are bringing chili. Need more people to eat and judge the chili. Trivia teams of 6 will be put together.

Additional items:

March meeting: Caleb will be visiting us. Bruce, Gail, John and Erika’s terms will be up June 30, 2026. We will need to know if you wish to run again for another 3-year term.

Chuck Falch closed the meeting in prayer.

Bruce Winkler made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Adam Urberg seconded. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.