June 18, 2026 | Deacon Meeting Minutes
Attendance: Mark Oldenberg, Chuck Falch, Bruce Winkler, Aaron Libner, James Martin, Adam Urberg, Denny Denk, Gail Graese
Pastors: Ethan Luhman, Mark Schulz, David Forke
Guests: Tonya Ida
Recording Secretary: Sue Gumz
Absent: John Genskow, Stan Norman
Mark Oldenberg opened the meeting at 6:36 pm.
Bruce Winkler led the board with a devotion on Philippians 2 and Psalm 133 as it applied to his term on the deacon board.
Consent Agenda: (Mark Oldenberg)
A motion was made by Aaron Libner to approve the June Pastoral Report and the May 21, 2026 deacon meeting minutes. Bruce Winkler seconded. Motion carried.
Financial Report: (Gail Graese)
$53,202 from Celebrate the Journey went to the Endowment Fund
Denny Denk madea motion to approve the May 2026 financial report. Chuck Falch seconded. Motion carried.
Financial Report Update: The financial review was sent out. There were mainly procedural and documentation things to correct which we had already started putting into place. We did a great job considering it’s been three years since the last review. The final report will be shared with the congregation. Aaron Libner made a motion that the deacons will accept the agreed upon procedures following the report. Chuck Falch seconded. Motion carried.
Standing and Ad Hoc Committee Updates
• Operations/Building (Chuck Falch)
New projects in Budget Discussion below
• Policy (Bruce Winkler)
We will need to assign a new committee chair in July.
We are looking to use an AI agent to help with knowing policies.
• Personnel (Denny Denk)
Nothing to report
• Mission (Pastor Ethan Luhman)
Mission Survey Update (Pastor Ethan) – 90 responses out of 360 emails. The main intent was to get more ownership of what missions we would like to sponsor. All the mission organizations we currently support were voted in.
We will need to assign new committee chair in July.
• Audit (Mark Oldenberg)
Independent Accountants’ Report was discussed with the financial reports.
Follow-Up Items
Independent Accountants’ Report (Mark Oldenberg)
Independent Accountants’ Report was discussed with the financial reports
Visioning Process Update (Pastor Ethan)
Pastor Ethan Luhman will be presenting the celebrate the journey survey and the vision frame at the Annual Meeting. The vision goals for Peace need to make sure these align with our mission/vision statements. Pastor Ethan was asking for measures to track to see if we are reaching our goals. Suggestions were to track engagement, first time attenders, volunteers, and children’s ministry numbers. A consultant, Jeff Myers, will meet with the deacons and staff during the program year. Aaron Libner volunteered to take the lead with missions until someone else is appointed. Peace’s theme for next year is “Go as You Grow.” This theme will focus on local outreach, mission partners and testimonies.
Nominating Committee Update (Adam Urberg)
Shared the names on the ballot. The three highest votes will get the positions for deacon at large. Congregation will vote for 3. Aaron Libner withdrew his name from the nomination of Chair-Elect and will take the mission chair position. Gail Graese made a motion to accept the nominations for the Board of Deacons. Chuck Falch seconded. Motion carried.
CD Renewal (Mark Oldenberg)
The CD renewal was signed on June 18, 2026 for 1 year at 4%.
2026-27 Annual Budget (Pastor Ethan)
Briefly reviewed the budget. We added stronger descriptions to the line items. Denny Denk made a motion to approve the preliminary budget to go to the congregation for final approval. Chuck Falch seconded. Motion carried.
New Items
Annual Congregational Meeting Agenda (Mark Oldenberg)
Briefly looked over the agenda for the congregational meeting.
Additional Comments:
Mark Oldenberg expressed much gratitude and thanks to the outgoing deacons – Bruce Winkler, Gail Graese, John Genskow and Pastor Mark Schulz.
Adam Urberg closed the meeting with prayer.
Mark Oldenberg made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Chuck Falch seconded. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm.
Next meeting – July 16, 2026, at 6:30 pm.
