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News ADULT CLASS A HEALING WORD BETHANNE NELSON IN VICTORIA REINCARNATED BOOK GROUP IN OCTOBER CESS COMMITTEE SEPT UPDATE COMING TO THE EDGE OF CANAAN: THERE ARE “GIANTS” IN THE LAND DEAD SEA SCROLLS AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM DISHES, SACRAMENT AND COFFEE JOIN A SING-IN OF CELEBRATION AND SUPPORT! LAST FAMILIES MOVING FORWARD OCTOBER LYNDAILY DEADLINE OVERFLOW PARKING PASTOR’S COLUMN REJOICE AND CELEBRATE SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS SEPTEMBER CALENDAR SIMPSON SHELTER TALES OF HOFFMANN SIMPSON SHELTER DATES FOR 2011 MINISTRY COVENANT September 12 the Adult Class returns to (Sunday) School at 9:15 a.m. beginning in the gallery pit with “recess”. Don Portwood and Janet Skidmore will lead some interplay forms (verbal and movement) to catch people up on what we did on our summer vacation. The class returns to the front room of the Egg and I restaurant, next door to Intermedia Arts for a September 19 – October 3 series on Giving and Receiving Hospitality. It’s based on the new UCC Faith Practices on line curriculum. It’s quite an important issue. Think mosque debate in NYC, immigration debate, welcoming all people at our own table. New Adult Ed guidelines: 1) when you enter, order at the cash register or counter. They’ll bring it back to you. 2) Take your ticket and pay at the cash register when leaving. 3) Please buy your coffee from them. (Adult Ed. could buy a pot if enough people want coffee. 4) Remember to tip. The servers are leaving other tables to serve us. 5) Invite someone you think might want to share in our good discussions. By Larry Pray (Larry Pray has a blog called Praytell at larrypray.com. Larry thinks and writes so poetically, beautifully. I asked him if we could use his August 7th entry in our September Lyndaily. He graciously said yes. Enjoy. dbp Saturday, August 7, 2010 Minneapolis, Minnesota It was a hard sermon. Had to be. Talk about money always is. “Fool,” Jesus said to the man whose aim was to build up his estate. “Today your life will be taken. Where your heart is, there your treasure is as well.” We wonder, are we greedy? Perhaps we aren’t, but our times certainly look that way. How could 2 percent of the people own 98 percent of the nation’s wealth? Why are the wages of CEOs so far removed from those of their employees? What is the human cost of a pair of jeans or an Apple computer made in the modern version of a slave labor plant in which suicide is not uncommon? Too high. It was a hard sermon. Books written about the hard sayings of Jesus are not best sellers. They require something out of us we may not want to give. If you ask a person people making $20,000 how much they need to feel safe, they’ll say, “If I had $30, I’d be okay.” But then ask someone making $30,000 what they need, and the answer might be, “You know, $50,000 would let me do what I’d really like to do, and feel safe.” And so on. The person making $100,000 is quite sure that he needs $150,000″ to feel secure. It never ends. Such is the subtle power of greed and a culture of more. When Jesus says, “Enough!” we know it is going to be a hard teaching for both us and our times. It makes for hard sermons. Has to. Should. Does. Those with little feel a sense of shame. What are we to do when it takes a quarter million dollars to refurbish our church? Preach about money and you can’t help but touch on voices of greed, shame, and fear. If we do not save? What then? The nursing home does not care what my parents believe. It wants to be paid. Hard sermon. Had to be. Should have been. But something happens in our church on the first Sunday of each month. In its own way it was just as hard to fathom. Communion Sunday. Such a simple thing. A table. A loaf of bread. A cup of wine. A candle on the table. Flowers on the table. A prayer. A preparation. “All is ready, the feast of God for the people of God.” Music filters through the air. The 30 or so of us that are there on an August morning, move forward. The line effortlessly forms like quiet still waters that know where they must go, and take their time getting there. There are no tests. Have you placed your heart in the wrong place? Are you part of the two percent? Have your heard? Are you one kind of “ist” or another? Do you realize the cost of this remembrance? Do you realize your calling? No. None of this. There are no tests. Instead, beauty. “The body of Christ, broken for you.” “Thank you.” “The cup of blessing, poured for you.” Thank you. The music thins out. We leave the stream and rejoin the pool of congregation, somehow forgiven, loved, and blessed. Such is the image of grace. We leave. Hard headlines do their best to frame the week. But in the end, this tiny piece of bread so extravagantly given renews trust, hope, and perhaps even courage to take the head teachings to heart. BETHANNE NELSON IN VICTORIA REINCARNATED Hey, it's BethAnne here. Just wanted to pass on information about a play/staged reading I will be in, coming up in September. Polly Mann cordially invites you to enjoy a staged reading of her original drama “Victoria Reincarnated” Featuring: Sara Olson as Victoria Woodhull; BethAnne Nelson as Victoria’s sister, Tennesee; Susu Jeffrey as Victoria’s mother, Roxanna. Directed by Ed Felien it will be at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage 711 W. Franklin Ave. (corner Lyndale & Franklin) 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 Donation: cash or check (payable to “Polly Mann”) in the amount that appeals to you to offset legal expenses incurred by Three Appealing Women: Sarah Martin, Sue Ann Martinson, Lucia Wilkes Smith Questions? 612-871-2229 or luciaws@usiwireless.com Join Salem friends for a book discussion on Monday, October 4, 7pm. Sarah Kunze will get us talking about A. J. Jacobs’ book entitled The Year of Living Biblically. Sarah describes this book as an entertaining and informative account of one man’s attempt to follow all the rules of the Bible for a year. Through Jacobs’ year, he struggled to figure out how to translate these laws and their meaning into everyday current use. Grab a copy of the book from the library or find one at your local bookstore or Amazon. Talk with Sarah Kunze if questions. Location TBA. Reminder: Book Group is an ever-evolving group. If you’ve got a book title you’d like to discuss, let us know. We’ll publicize it, folks can grab a copy and start reading, and you lead the discussion. Thanks, Sarah! by Kathy Hayden Sunday School 2010/11: There is a loving exciting energy surrounding our Sunday school program this year. We have had more individuals coming forward and expressing interest in exploring, discovering, sharing and continuing their spiritual journeys with our children. Our theme this year is "living as family". It is amazing to witness the opening and growing of our faith community family. Our teachers this year will be Betty Schraeder and Kathy Hayden for 3-5 year olds in Conf Room, Sandy Block and Antone Melton-Meaux for 6-7 year olds in Media Lab Room, and Vicki Keck, Kathy Sievwright, and Mary Vanderford for 8-12 year olds in Aldrich Conf Room. We will continue to use the Sparks Bibles and the rotational model. Rally Sunday will be Sept 12 with a joint worship service celebrating our children. We will have a picnic celebration. We ask you to bring a meat/vegetable to grill and dish to share. We encourage families and friends to bring your own plates and silverware to save on waste products. We will have Rally Sunday volunteer opportunities listed on a poster. Other dates to remember are: Oct 3 Apple Picking @ Deardorff Orchards after service. Bring your own picnic lunch. Oct 31 We encourage the children to wear Halloween dress and collect for UNCEF during coffee and juice time. Dec 5th Salem Christmas Caroling. Dec 12th Christmas pageant practice and pizza party after worship service. This is a good time for parents to Christmas shop without children. Possible a Christmas cookie bake sale for the children to raise money for malaria nets. Dec 19th Christmas Pageant. Please bring Christmas cookies, bars, and treats to share. NO SS Dec 26, Jan 2, and Jan 30 Jan will be the Polar Bear Picnic. Date to be determined yet for Feed My Starving Children in Feb or March. NO SS April 24. May 22 will be the End of SS Picnic Celebration. The Biblical family trees we will explore are the following: 1. Abraham and Sarah: Sept 19 and 26, Oct 3 and 10 2. Isaac and Rebekah: Oct 17, 24, 31 and Nov 7 3. Joseph and Pharach: Nov 14, 21, and Jan 9, 16 4. Wandering in the Wilderness: Jan 23 and Feb 6, 13, 20 5. Mary and Martha: Feb 27 and March 6, 13, 20 6. The Prodigal Son: March 27, and April 3, 10, 17 7. The Good Samaritan: May 1, 8, 15, and 22 COMING TO THE EDGE OF CANAAN: THERE ARE “GIANTS” IN THE LAND By Michael Vanderford Friday late afternoon, August 20th. I get a call from the Board’s owners representative Paul Livdahl. We can’t wait till September 5th to sign a contract with the asbestos abatement contractor. The MN Pollution Control Agency requires a signed contract with in order to apply for a permit, which will take two weeks for the State agency to process and approve, and for which there is a $1,300 application fee. So what? What’s the rush? What difference does two weeks make in our schedule of renovation work? If we’re just working to get a little lead time before winter sets in? By now you likely know that the Stewardship Council, via a round of phone calls on Saturday, August 21st, called an emergency Congregational meeting for the next day, Sunday, August 22nd, to vote on a motion explicitly committing Lyndale UCC to the partnership Ministry Center project with Salem. Don put out an e-mail blast to announce it. Of course the worship service bulletin for August 22nd included a call for a Congregational meeting two weeks later for this same purpose. The Congregational meeting did happen. The motion to commit to the project passed unanimously. The meeting was done in 10 minutes. We had an action and document that our lawyer advised that we had overlooked previously, and were absolutely necessary for us to sign contracts for Ministry Center renovation work. But that only gets us back to the question of why it was really critical that we sign an asbestos abatement contract on Monday, August 23rd. I’ll try to make this long story short. We are coming to the edge of Canaan Land, and there are now many necessary actions coming together if we are to be able to cross over the border and actually begin the work of renovating the Ministry Center. This September (2010) is a critical time for the plan to sell much of the Salem lot at 28th and Lyndale to Brighton Corporation, and for the start of the Salem-Lyndale partnership project to renovate the Ministry. Brighton has informed us that their major financial backer (U.S. Bank) has made it clear that we will only have one shot at closing this fall, and that all of the wagons, livestock, people, and passports (paperwork) need to be in line, and in order, by closing day for the closing to happen. A new part of the “in order” however, is that Brighton apparently needs to be ready to start on their project’s demolition work the day after closing for the Bank to consider them ready for closing. So what does that have to do with our asbestos abatement permit timing, and our need for an emergency Congregational meeting on August 22nd? As part of the chain of events for Brighton to be ready for demolition, the asbestos abatement needs to be complete, and the north wall needs to be stabilized by the closing date. (Vibrations from Brighton’s demolition stirring up the asbestos in our Ministry Center, and putting our north wall at risk.) Oh!? And of course, as of the time of this article, the City of Minneapolis still has not voted on the necessary Tax Increment Financing (TIF) provision for Brighton’s part of the project? New deadlines we didn’t know existed a week ago. Giants in the Land that none of our scouts had seen. Maybe it is enough to say that the Salem and Lyndale leadership boards and committees, our lawyers, and our owners’ representative, Paul Livdahl, are all moving at high speeds to get a lot of preparation work completed, for a closing date that we still don’t know, but are hoping for in October. If you would like weekly updates about who’s wagon needs to be where, and which livestock still needs to be gathered, let us know. But you’d actually have to commit to sitting and listening each week of the next few months for 20 to 30 minutes after worship service. That many things are happening that quickly. (Or you could join in Salem’s regular Congregational briefings in the cafe space before 10:30 worship service.) And this is just about preparing for our hoped for closing! There are several other parts of the preparation for crossing into the Land of Canaan upon which the Lyndale Council and the Salem-Lyndale Ministry Center Board are working. Keep watch. DEAD SEA SCROLLS AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM Are you interested in seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota? Friends of Salem, Lyndale UCC, and First Congregational will go as a group on Sunday, October 17th, for a 3pm ticket time. Group discounts enjoy $6 off adult tickets. If you’d like to participate, sign up at church. You’ll need to choose between two ticket options: The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit + Museum Admission + Omni-theater (discounted adult price is $28; discounted child (4-12) or senior (60+) price is $24) The Dead Sea Scrolls + Museum Admission (discounted adult price is $22; discounted child (4-12) or senior (60+) price is $18) Note: Museum members can see the Dead Sea scroll exhibit for $12 for adults and $10 for children and seniors. The omni-theater show is Arabia - to learn more about this 45 minute long show, visit http://www.smm.org/arabia/. Please sign up now for this group offer, realizing that this commits you to pay for your ticket at a later date. Larry Pray Dear friends, Bear with me a bit. Our experiment with coffee hour is coming to a close as a new church year begins. The Church Life Committee did it, the Visioning Team did it, the Women’s group did it, but now we’re out of groups and almost out of gas. Perhaps the only thing we know for sure is that after the service, we kind of hope there will be coffee, juice for the kids, grapes, strawberries, apples and maybe even pumpkins come November. Our challenge has been trying to organize this in a coherent and useful way. And so that brings me to the title of this note: Dishes, Sacrament, and Coffee. Whenever I lead retreats, I do my very best to not let the staff do the dishes. “Please let us do them,” I say. “You don’t really know people until you do the dishes with them.” There is something about sweeping floors, washing cups, cleaning the counters and seems to spark a conversation, a memory, a sense that strangers suddenly know each other a bit better. Most of the people I serve with at Simpson Shelter I did not know until there we were making huge pots of Stroganoff, slicing onions, and serving meals together. In this way I came to know people in the congregation I would not have known were it not for the preparing of a meal, and the doing of dishes. And so, this “serving” idea is about both sharing bread, and the sharing of fellowship. We think coffee hour can do much the same thing. It has been “fun” to wonder who’s bringing what, will there be enough, and all the “I didn’t know you were going to bring that” moments of kindness. Coffee hour need not be a lonely experience, a burden for one. Instead, we can do this together. We can connect. We can find again that many hands make light work. Okay. End of sermon. Sacrament. Hospitality is a form of worship. Breaking bread. Sharing juice. A memorable communion experience I had in Montana, the kids didn’t have wine, so they used a grape soda for communion wine. Worked just fine. We work with what we have, and share it. Coffee. We originally thought that our church has plenty enough groups to cover the year. Just think of all the groups! Women’s group! Choir! Visioning Team! Adult Ed! Sunday School! Volleyball Team! Stewardship! Church Life! Simpson! Family’s Moving Forward! Yikes! All these groups. Maybe if each group took a month we’d have something going. But the truth is we don’t need a whole group.We need about six people per month. On Sunday mornings at least three of them are “there.” They plug in the coffee. Find the juice cups. And then, when their month is “over” they’re done for the whole year. They served their term. They might have even done some horse-trading. (I apologize for Montana imagry here in a land without horses). “I signed up for the third Sunday in February but we’ll be gone, could we switch?” “Sure.” And even some good-natured competition. “We’ve done better than “they” did last month. Whoever came up with elk saussage always won the prize back home. But you get the idea. Mostly, is it possible for coffee hour to not be the burden of one. Can it be shared? Can we get folks to sign up for a whole month instead of a single Sunday? This morning, the 22nd of August, Diane was there, Scott was there, Elly was there, and I was there and it was fun. And so. . . . We do not ask you to sign up. We do ask you to join a team. Hopefully, you won’t know several of the other members all that well. But sharing dishes with someone always has the potential to be a powerful experience. So, here we go. Not as individuals, but as a congreagtion. Let’s see what happens when Dishes, Sacrament and Coffee bless us all. JOIN A SING-IN OF CELEBRATION AND SUPPORT! Jeanine Dorfman and Teri Homan are expecting their second child...! Instead of a traditional baby shower, let's gather to surround and support them with our musical energy of heart! Sunday, September 19th 3-5ish Open House, everyone's invited: come as you can, go as you please! at Kayla Collins' home (1 West Lake Street #320)Bring your voices, and a CD to pass on, of favorite music you think children ought to be exposed to!(anything from lullabyes to your favorite country western tunes!) We'll have some food, some hymn books, and some music leaders, too! Questions? Call Kayla, 612.821.8537. Join us for the final week. After ten years of serving homeless families in our community through Families Moving Forward, the Social Justice Committee decided last year that this would be our last host week. It’s been a big part of our ministry together. Sunday, September 5th – Sunday, September 12th Lyndale Church, along with our partner Faith Mennonite Church, will host 3 or 4 homeless families at Union UCC in St. Louis Park. Lyndale volunteers will be responsible for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of that week; Faith Mennonite will provide volunteers for the Friday and Saturday evenings. So – what does this entail? We need volunteers to prepare the evening meal, serve and cleanup afterwards, plan children’s activities and be the overnight host. This requires about 25 Lyndale members offering their time and talent for this program to succeed. Check with Darla Baker to see if there are any spaces still available to volunteer. Monday, September 20th We received an invitation from Trustone Financial, across Lyndale Avenue from IA, that if we need to use their parking lot on Sundays it is available; as long as everyone is out by Monday morning. Don Portwood Beginning Our Last Year at Intermedia Arts Been away for much of the summer? Or even longer? September is a great month to find your way back to Lyndale UCC. New things are happening. “The development seems to be happening”, he said confidently and cautiously in the same sentence. (I’ve had it drilled into me, “It doesn’t close till it closes.”, but all things look good... see below.) If we get too many people in the gallery regularly, we’ll ask to use the theater exclusively. There’s new life happening in every corner of every team, from visioning to CE, social justice to design and ministry center board and it’s running across the floor from the communion table, to the congregation and out for the leaves of the trees and the healing of the earth and the nations. (From a spontaneous Aug 22nd benediction by Larry Pray as an overwatered flower pot from the grief ritual leaked water. We need your presence, your gifts, your stories and dreams. I’m guessing you need us too: a community of hope and restoration, playfulness and prayfulness, laughter and tears, action and reflection. Been away for much of the summer? Or even longer? Admit it, you’re not going to get less busy. Or find the time. September is a great month to find your way back to Lyndale UCC. We’ll be glad you did. You’ll be glad you did. I mean how often will you get to worship at Intermedia Arts. It looks like, just one more year. Here’s why. The Congregation voted unanimously at an emergency congregational meeting on August 22 the following motion: Lyndale United Church of Christ commits its intent and resources per the "Salem Lyndale Ministry Covenant" to equal partnering in the development, operation, and maintenance of a renovated Ministry Center at West 28th Street and Garfield Avenue South, Minneapolis. The financial resources committed are $1.4 million, derived from the sale of our former building, from proceeds of a pending capital development campaign, and possibly from bridge-loans needed to cover time gaps between billings and pledges to the capital campaign. That decision begins officially the redevelopment dream of a restored old sanctuary for a ministry center for Lyndale and Salem Churches. (We continue in discussion with 1st Christian Church, but they may not decide until the first of the year.) With a signed contract on August 23rd, the asbestos abatement company applies to the city for a permit to begin abatement. Approximately 10 days later they begin. Hopefully, at some point in September, Watson-Forsberg can begin shoring up the north wall and one of the south towers so that at closing sometime in late September or early October, demolition on the newer part of the building can begin. The bank has Brighton Development on a very tight schedule for building the affordable housing. If all goes as planned, Lyndale and Salem Churches could occupy the building by September of next year. So stay tuned, as the ducks continue to line up. Elly Wagner We ask for many prayers this month. Bethany Snyder is on modified bed rest because of symptoms of preeclampsia, which meant we had to postpone the shower for her, Kris Maul, and their baby, so we are praying for the good health of all of them and an on time and normal delivery close to her due date on Oct. 3rd. We also keep Jeanine Dorfman, Teri Homan, Joshua, and Jeanine Dorfman’s mother Carrie Dorfman in our prayers as Carrie struggles with severe arthritis symptoms. We pray for strength and healing and calmer times as they expect their new baby in October also. Because the baby is growing so quickly, though, the arrival date may need to be moved up. We hold all of them in continuing prayer. Doug Malchow is at home now recuperating from his back surgery, and we send prayers for new strength and freedom from pain to him and Joyce Battcher Malchow as she cares for him and continues to build her strength also. We pray for Karn Anderson and her family as they grieve the death of her grandmother, who was 100 years old and died following an ambulance accident on her way to the hospital. She must have been a remarkable woman, and we celebrate her life but are saddened by such difficult circumstances at the end of her life. May the memories of her living take prominence for those who remember her. Larry Pray wrote on August 16th about the surgeries his family has been going through this year. "A new knee, and new foot for two of our sons. And now Andy, who on August 25th will have the fourth surgery on his foot in New York City. Over time the others have not been successful, making pain an inescapable part of his life, as it is with his brothers, sister and mother. Andy will be in the hospital for four days or so and then in a wheelchair for a month as we wait to see what did and didn’t, happen. I will be going to New York to be with him after the surgery. These days of waiting. So much a part of life. So much hinges on this surgery, this new attempt, this new set of trusts and hopes. Success being as fickle as it is, we pray that he will be surrounded by love and that his walk will not be through a lonesome valley." Larry added some words of wisdom that apply to the prayers we offer for all of those we hold dear. "Sometimes this matter of prayer seems so unlikely, so impossible, it can only summon a measure of unlikely and almost impossible faith. With the pain in Pakistan, two wars, glaciers drifting in the sea, and all those beyond the realm of medical care, asking God to care for a particular family, or a particular church, requires a leap. And yet we take that leap to hold others in the light. And we do so not just on our own, but together." Thank you Larry, and we do hold your family in the light. We celebrate with Janet Skidmore on the closing on her new home. It is at 3029 3rd Ave. South in Minneapolis, and she says she has a five year plan for getting it into shape and moving into Minneapolis. It does need a lot of work, and she says she is planning a "demolition party" soon, to which we will all be invited, not to demolish the whole house but just to do what is needed to start the renovation. Another situation where lots of strength will be called for. We join in Don and Barb Portwood’s celebration of their twin grandchildren’ second birthday. Don says Matt and Jaina were with Asata and Aima on a birthday drive around the Blue Ridge Parkway outside Asheville, NC on the girls birthday when 40 yellow butterflies descended on their car. What a birthday celebration! We are happy for all of the family and wish Don and Barb a wonderful trip out east to see them. We rejoice with Claire Klein at the arrival of her nephew Rowan James Klein, who was born on August 11 to Claire’s brother, Nick, and his wife Amanda. Rowan weighed in at 8 pounds, was 21 ½ inches long, and everyone is hoping he will be a redhead! We wish everyone well as they begin their new adventures with Rowan. There are several performances to celebrate. I know some Lyndalians were able to get to Mindy Eschedor’s Fringe show, "Finding a Fit" at Theatre in the Round Players, and I understand it was really good. Way to go, Mindy! If you missed that, you still have other opportunities, though. BethAnne Nelson is performing in a staged reading of Polly Mann’s orginal drama "Victoria Reincarnated" featuring Sara Olson as Victoria Woodhull, BethAnne Nelson as Victoria’s sister, Tennesee, and Susu Jeffrey as Victoria’s mother, Roxanna. It will be at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage at 711 Franklin Ave.at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, September 12th, and it is a benefit to raise money to offset legal expenses incurred by Three Appealing Women: Sarah Martin, Sue Ann Martinson, and Lucia Wilkes Smith. I think I read that the three women are members of Grandmothers for Peace and were arrested in a peace demonstration. There are also multiple performances of a production that Janet Skidmore is performing in, Jadues Offenbach’s master work, Tales of Hoffman, about a globetrotting poet following his romantic whims across Europe, encountering fantastical adventures with robots, evil magicians, and ghosts. Janet describes it as "a delicious opera growing in a garden," as the audience members get to "eat their way through the story, savoring a 5 course sampling menu created by collaborating chef Nick Schneider of La Tavola Fresca and Café Brenda." Performances take place in various community gardens on Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. Check with Janet for more information. Remember to share what’s happening with you, so others at Lyndale can share in your special times. Let me know in person, by email at ellyrw@aol.com or by phone at 952-922-7703. 9/2 Luke Luna 9/3 Marlene Jahnke 9/6 Sam Orbovich 9/9 Sarah Farley 9/16 Luis Luna 9/17 Elly Wagner 9/19 Sarah Kuhnen 9/28 Glenda Rooney Wednesday, September 1 6:00 p.m. Simpson Shelter 7:00 p.m. Design Team at IA Thursday, September 2 9:00 a.m. Faith & Fellowship-Audrey’s Sunday, September 5 10:30 a.m. Worship in the gallery with communion 5 p.m. Begin hosting families through Families Moving Forward Wednesday, September 8 7:00 p.m. Meeting with 1st Christian for more discussion at IA Sunday, September 12 9:15 a.m. C. E. for all ages. 10:30 Joint Worship with Salem in the theater. Tuesday, September 14 7:00 p.m. Salem/Lyndale Ministry Center Board at IA Wednesday, September 15 7:00 p.m. Fund Raising Team at Vanderford’s. Thursday, September 16 9:00 a.m. Faith and Fellowship- Audrey’s. Sunday, September 19 9:15 a.m. C. E. for all ages 10:30 a.m. Worship in the gallery Monday, September 20 September LYNDAILY deadline 7:00 p.m. Visioning Team at Ann’s. Saturday, September 25 9:00 a.m. Ministry Center Board retreat. Sunday, September 26 9:15 a.m. C. E. for all ages 10:30 a.m. Worship in the gallery Monday, September 27 6:30 p.m. Stewardship Council Robert Frame Refining as we go: More guests, more food Service for men and women guests at Simpson Housing Service's homeless shelter on Thursday, August 5 when grandly. (I never get tired of being able to repeat that. Because, think of what the alternative would be - oy!) This was our second month serving men and women guests along with staff and volunteers for both groups, plus any returning formerly-homeless folks, who are always welcome to come share a meal. You can see why it remains an ongoing project to refine how much food to prepare. August was a great experience: we came very close to "empty" on everything but actually ran out of nothing. (I remind myself, frequently, of what former meal coordinator for SHS Barbara Glaser said: "Everyone needs to eat dinner; they don't have to be stuffed.") As you may recall if you follow the running report on combining the shelters, dinner service time was moved up from 7:30 to 7:00. For a group like Lyndale, which makes all but the dessert on site, this was a gulp-inducing change. Last month, we shaved a few minutes off prep time. Theresa thought if she and one other person arrived at 5:30 to get meat cooking and carrots being chopped, we could serve at 7 p.m. Dan and Donna Limback Reyelts volunteered and showed up earlier, and they brought their daughter Jean (thanks!). Plus, Theresa arrived at 4:30 - such dedication! Result: we served dinner at 7. A quiet accomplishment behind the scenes for us. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. Besides Theresa, Dan, Donna, and Jean, those who arrived at 6 p.m. would be Glenn Crown, Sarah Hanna (brought beverages), Kathy Hayden (slipping in one last Lyndale-related bit of service that week before she hit the road at 2 a.m. for a vacation road trip - more dedication), BethAnne Nelson, Scott Peterson, and Larry Pray. Further update on the combined service: Theresa has bought and transported all groceries except the beverages and dessert for, literally, years at this point. As the numbers have increased, she would appreciate getting a little more help with the shopping now. We have already identified the rolls as something we will be asking a volunteer to bring; before September we will see how else to make this work for her (and the shelter guests). Personally, I say "thank you, thank you, thank you" to Theresa for that task for so many months. You, too, can share in these responsibilities and accomplishments: Lyndale's service dates for the rest of 2010 are: Wed September 1 Thurs. October 7 Wed. November 3 (our post-election-day roundup). Respond to the call for volunteers each month - don't miss your chance! And if you are all scheduled up for 2010, don't fear: just last week we confirmed January to November service dates for 2011. Janet Skidmore I am so totally honored to be in this production, and I hope you will be able to see it. Following is a list of all performance locations and dates. All shows are on Saturday or Sunday at 4 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. There's a delicious opera growing in the garden..... In Jacques Offenbach master work, Tales of Hoffmann, our hero is a globetrotting poet following his romantic whims across Europe encountering fantastical adventures with robots, evil magicians and ghosts. From Paris to Athens audience members eat their way through the story, savoring a five course sampling menu created by collaborating chef Nick Schneider of La Tavola Fresca and Cafe Brenda. Our production brings together the live dining experience with classical music and horticulture as the audience enjoys our opera in a community garden. Our unique opera production is perfect for gardeners, families and foodies! Seating is limited, reservations strongly encouraged. 612.619.2112 Voluntary donations collected at the conclusion of the performances. $10 to $20 suggested or pay as you're able. There's more information on our brand new web-site: www.mixedprecipitation.org Here is a listing of remaining performance dates: All performances are at 4:00 p.m. September 4 Soo Line Community Garden, Garfield Ave and the Greenway, Minneapolis September 5 Midway Greenspirit Community Garden, Taylor and Hamline Ave, St. Paul September 11 Urban Farming Community Garden, 12th and Morgan Ave North, Minneapolis September 12 Gateway Trail Community Garden, 300 Arlington Ave at Mississippi Street, St. Paul September 18 Swede Hollow Park East Beaumont Street and Payne Ave, St. Paul September 19 Bronx Park Community Garden, 2500 Georgia Avenue and Cedar Lake Trail, St. Louis Park **Audio Description Provided September 25 Augsburg Community Garden, 20th Avenue South and S. 6th Street, Minneapolis September 26 Cornercopia Student Organic Farm West Dudley Avenue and Lindig Street, U of M St. Paul Campus SIMPSON SHELTER DATES FOR 2011 Wednesday, January 5 Thursday, February 3 Wednesday, March 2 Thursday, April 7 Wednesday, May 4 Thursday, June 2 Wednesday, July 6 Thursday, August 4 Wednesday, September 7 Thursday, October 6 Wednesday, November 2 of SALEM ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH and LYNDALE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST June 7, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I - PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS ....................... 1 1.1PURPOSE...............................................1 1.2DEFINITIONS...........................................1 ARTICLE II - OWNERSHIP OF THE MINISTRY CENTER............2 2.1 JOINT OWNERSHIP .....................................2 2.2 RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER OF INTEREST .................2 2.3 WITHDRAWAL OF CHURCH.................................2 2.4 ADDITION OF CHURCHES.................................................3 ARTICLE III - MINISTRY CENTER BOARD......................3 3.1 POWERS...............................................3 3.2 SPECIFIC POWERS .....................................3 3.3 NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS, QUALIFICATIONS..............4 3.4 TERM; REMOVAL........................................5 3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS ...................................5 3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS ....................................5 3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS ....................................5 3.8 QUORUM AND VOTING REQUIREMENTS.......................5 3.9 PARTICIPATION BY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS...........5 3.10 COMMITTEES..........................................6 ARTICLE IV – MINISTRY CENTER BOARD OFFICERS .............6 4.1 NUMBER AND DESIGNATION ..............................6 4.2 CO-CHAIRS........................................... 6 4.3 SECRETARY ...........................................7 4.4 TREASURER ...........................................7 4.5 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES.................................7 4.6 TERM.....................................................7 ARTICLE V - JOINT MEETINGS OF THE CONGREGATIONS..........8 5.1 PURPOSES ............................................8 5.2 VOTING ..............................................8 5.3 PLACE OF MEETINGS ...................................8 5.4 ANNUAL AND OTHER REGULAR MEETINGS....................8 5.5 SPECIAL MEETINGS ....................................8 5.6 ADJOURNMENTS ........................................8 5.7 NOTICE OF MEETINGS ..................................8 5.8 QUORUM ..............................................9 ARTICLE VI - FINANCIAL MATTERS...........................9 6.1 BUDGETS..............................................9 6.2 CAPITAL .............................................9 6.3 OPERATING COSTS .....................................9 6.4 BANK ACCOUNT........................................10 6.5 LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTIONS ..........................10 6.6 ACCOUNTING DECISIONS................................10 ARTICLE VII - POWERS RESERVED TO CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS...........................................10 7.1 MATTERS RESERVED TO EACH CHURCH.....................10 7.2 POWERS RESERVED TO THE CONGREGATIONS................10 ARTICLE VIII - DISPUTE RESOLUTION ......................11 8.1 ISSUES REGARDING BUILDING USE.......................11 8.2 ISSUES BETWEEN THE CHURCHES ........................11 8.3 ISSUES BETWEEN THE PASTORS .........................11 ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION............................11 9.1 INDEMNIFICATION ....................................11 ARTICLE X - MISCELLANEOUS; AMENDMENTS ..................11 10.1 EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS ..........................11 10.2 CONSTRUCTION ......................................11 10.3 AMENDMENTS ........................................12 SIGNATURE PAGE ………………………………………………………….………………….……........12 SCHEDULE A -STANDING COMMITTEES.........................13 MINISTRY COVENANT of Salem English Lutheran Church and Lyndale United Church of Christ June 7, 2010 ARTICLE I PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS 1.1 Purpose. Salem English Lutheran Church (“Salem”) and Lyndale Congregational United Church of Christ (“Lyndale”) propose to jointly develop, own and operate a Christian Ministry Center, as defined in this Covenant so that together the Churches can pursue: * living faithfully, stewarding wisely the financial resources of our congregations, the earth's resources, and our ministry for the common good. * building a ministry that values the diversity within our congregations, community and denominations. * creating a ministry that uplifts our mutual call, while not compromising convictions, our unique history and identity, our particular ways of worship, membership, and use of the sacraments. The purpose of this Ministry Covenant is to establish the agreement between Salem and Lyndale regarding the relationship between the Churches and the acquisition, maintenance and operations of the Ministry Center. 1.2 Definitions. The following terms used in this Agreement will have the following meanings: “Board Members” mean members of the Ministry Center Board. “Church” means Salem or Lyndale, as a corporate entity. “Churches” means Salem and Lyndale, as corporate entities “Congregation” refers to the individual members of each Church. “Joint Meeting of the Congregations” means a joint meeting (duly called, in accordance with each Church’s constitution and bylaws) of the individual members of both Churches, as long as enough members of each Church are present to constitute a quorum under such Church’s constitution and bylaws. “Governing Council(s)” – means the governing council of Lyndale or the governing Council of Salem, or both of them. “Ministry Center” means the original portion of Salem’s Church building located at 28th Street and Garfield Avenue South, as renovated to provide a place for worship and ministry for both Churches. “Ministry Center Board” or “Board” means the board established under this Covenant to have responsibility for the maintenance, operation and management of the Ministry Center. ARTICLE II OWNERSHIP OF THE MINISTRY CENTER 2.1 Joint Ownership. The Churches have each contributed, or will each contribute, 50% of the cost of developing the Ministry Center. The Churches will each own one half of the Ministry Center as tenants-in-common and will each own one half of any personal property brought to the covenant or acquired jointly. However, personal property, such as the concert grand piano, the baby grand piano and the Möeller organ, or artifacts that uniquely identify an individual Church’s history, identity, particular way of worship, membership, or celebrations of the sacraments, shall remain the property of the individual Churches. 2.2 Restriction on Transfer of Interest. Neither Church may sell, assign, convey, pledge, use as security for a loan, mortgage, or otherwise transfer its interest in the Ministry Center without the approval of the other Church. If one Church does any of these things without the consent of the other Church, a court may undo the action, rather than just awarding damages to the non-defaulting Church. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with the dissolution of either Church, its interest may be assigned, without the consent of the other Church, to the Minneapolis Synod of the ELCA (the “Synod”), in the case of Salem, and to the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ (the “Conference”), in the case of Lyndale. The Synod and the Conference, as successors in interest to Salem or Lyndale, will be subject to the provisions of section 2.3. 2.3 Withdrawal of Church. If either Church outgrows, closes or is otherwise unable to meet its financial obligations with respect to the Ministry Center pursuant to this Covenant, then: (a) The other Church shall have an option to acquire the withdrawing Church’s interest in the Ministry Center for an amount equal to 1/2 of the value of the Ministry Center. Value may be determined by appraisal. The appraiser may be jointly selected by the Governing Councils, or at the option of either Governing Council, each Church may designate an appraiser, and request that the two appraisers select a third independent appraiser to perform the appraisal. (b) The non-withdrawing Church shall have sixty (60) days after value has been established to elect to exercise its option to acquire the withdrawing Church's interest in the Ministry Center, and one hundred twenty (120) days after value has been established to obtain any financing needed to fund the acquisition. In the event that the non-withdrawing Church chooses not to acquire the interest of the withdrawing Church, then the Churches will work together to find an acceptable replacement member. (c) In the event that an acceptable replacement member is not agreed to, then the non-withdrawing Church may continue to use the Ministry Center and the Churches, with the assistance of the Bishop of the Minneapolis Synod and the Conference Minister of the Minnesota Conference, if appropriate, will negotiate the terms of an arrangement for the non-withdrawing Church to acquire the interest of the withdrawing church for fair value over a period acceptable to both Churches. 2.4 Addition of Churches. Decisions whether to convey a portion of each Church’s interest in the Ministry Center to provide for part-ownership by an additional church will initially be considered by the Ministry Center Board (either at the proposal of a Governing Council or on its own initiative) which will make a recommendation to the Governing Councils. If the Governing Councils recommend such a conveyance to the Congregations, the proposal will be presented for discussion at a Joint Meeting of the Congregations. Any such conveyance must be approved (whether at the Joint Meeting of the Congregations or at a subsequent meeting of a Congregation) by each Church in the manner required by its constitution. In the event an additional church is added as an owner, this Covenant will be amended as necessary. ARTICLE III MINISTRY CENTER BOARD 3.1 Powers. Except as otherwise provided herein, and except as to matters expressly reserved to the Churches and Congregations, decisions regarding the management, operation, maintenance and improvement of the Ministry Center will be made by the Ministry Center Board, provided, however, that all actions and deliberations of the Ministry Center Board are subject to revision by agreement of the Churches, acting pursuant to their respectiveconstitutions. 3.2 Specific Powers. Without limiting the general powers of the Ministry Center Board described above, the Ministry Center Board will have the following specific powers: Subdivision 1. Use of Ministry Center. The Board will establish guidelines for the use of the Ministry Center by the Churches, including a system for determining the use by each Church of specific spaces at specific times. The Board shall also establish rules for the use of the Ministry Center by third parties. The Board will be ultimately responsible for decisions regarding specific uses of the Ministry Center, but may delegate such responsibilities to the Building Committee, Church Administrator(s) or Pastors. Subd. 2. Budgets. The Board will prepare annual budgets for the Ministry Center as provided in Section 6.1. Subd. 3. Maintenance, Repair and Improvements. The Board will be responsible for the maintenance, repair and improvement of the Ministry Center. The Co-Chairs are authorized to execute, each on behalf of his or her own Church, contracts regarding the operation (not including employment contracts), and maintenance of the Ministry Center in budgeted amounts up to $15,000 per Church. Expenditures exceeding the budget shall be recommended by the Board to the respective Governing Councils, and approved on behalf of each Church pursuant to its procedures, constitution and governing documents. Neither Church may individually make improvements to the Ministry Center without the recommendation of the Board to the Governing Councils, the Recommendation of the Governing Council to the Congregations for their consideration, and the approval of both Churches, as required by their respective constitutions and governing documents. Subd. 4. Extraordinary Expenses, Budget Amendments. The Board will submit for approval by the Governing Councils proposed unbudgeted expenditures or amendments to the budget that will cause total expenditures to exceed the total budgeted expenditures for the calendar year. The Governing Councils, following consideration of such expenditures subject to procedures and requirements of their respective constitutions and governing documents, may authorize the Board to make such unbudgeted expenditures and approve any budget amendments. Subd. 5. Personnel. The Board will have oversight of personnel engaged to serve both Churches (which may include, without limitation, Christian education staff, a secretary, administrator, custodian and maintenance staff), including decisions regarding terms of employment, hiring and termination of employment. Such personnel may be employees of one Church or of both Churches, however in either case, the Churches will pay the cost of such employees jointly. Costs will be divided between the Churches on a 50-50 basis, or such other basis that the Board determines is fair. (For example, the Board may choose to charge overtime for any employee to the Church that requested the services requiring the overtime.) Employment agreements for joint personnel must be executed by the officers of the Church designated as the employer which are authorized to execute such contracts on behalf of such Church. Subd. 6. Borrowing. The Board will not have authority to borrow money. Decisions regarding the source of funds to pay expenses of the Ministry Center will be made by the respective Governing Councils in accordance with their Church’s respective constitutions and governing documents, however any pledge, mortgage or lien of a Church’s interest in the Ministry Center is subject to the restrictions in section 2.2 above. Subd. 7. Shared Ministry. The Board will oversee any ministries shared between the Congregations, with the ultimate oversight resting with the Governing Councils. These ministries may include, but not be limited to, Christian Education, Youth Ministry, shared work for justice, and other endeavors that enrich our life together. 3.3 Number of Board Members, Qualifications. The Ministry Center Board will be comprised of ten (10) Board Members. Each Church will appoint four (4) Board Members with full voting powers. At least two of such appointees shall be officers of their respective Governing Councils, and the other two may be from the respective Governing Councils or from the respective Congregations. In addition, one Pastor of each Church will serve as Board Members, but each will have voting powers only at such time as he or she is counted toward a quorum of the Ministry Center Board as provided below. 3.4 Term. Subdivision 1. Board Members shall serve for at least a one-year term, or until replaced by the appointing Church. Maximum term on the board is six (6) years. Each Board Member’s term will continue until the Secretary has been notified of a successor appointee or the board member has reached the end of his or her term limit. Subd. 2. A Board Member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Ministry Center Board and his or her respective Governing Council. Subd. 3. Vacancies on the Ministry Center Board resulting from the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of a Board Member will be filled by the Church that appointed the Board Member who died, resigned, was removed or became disqualified. Subd. 4. The Board may recommend to either Governing Council the removal of a Board Member for cause (which may include missing more than 3 meetings per year), in which case such Governing Council will appoint a successor board member. 3.5 Place of Meetings. Each meeting of the Ministry Center Board will be held at the Ministry Center or at such other place as may be designated from time to time by a majority of the Board Members or by the Co-Chairs. 3.6 Regular Meetings. Regular monthly meetings of the Ministry Center Board will be held in accordance with a schedule established from time to time by the Board. No notice is required to be given for regular meetings. 3.7 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Ministry Center Board may be called by either Co-Chair or by any two (2) Board Members. The Secretary will provide each Board Member with notice of the date, time and place of any special meeting of the Ministry Center Board at least three (3) days before the meeting, provided that notice may be shorter for meetings called to address emergency situations. 3.8 Quorum and Voting Requirements. The presence of six (6) or more Board Members, including at least three Board Members appointed by each Church, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the Board. An affirmative vote of at least five (5) Board Members (if no more than a quorum is present) or six (6) Board Members (if seven (7) or eight (8) voting Board Members are present) at any meeting at which a quorum is present will constitute an approved action of the Ministry Center Board. The Pastor from either Church may be counted toward a quorum if the required number of Board Members from such Church is not otherwise present, and in such case, the Pastor will have voting rights during such meeting. 3.9 Participation by Electronic Communications. A Board Member may participate in a Board meeting by any means of communication through which the Board Member, other Board Members so participating and all Board Members physically present at the meeting may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Board Member so participating will be deemed present in person at the meeting. 3.10 Committees. The standing committees described on Schedule A attached hereto will becreated and committee members will be appointed as provided in Schedule A. In addition, theMinistry Center Board may create ad hoc committees and appoint Board Members or other persons to serve on any such committees. Each ad hoc committee must have two (2) or more church members who serve at the pleasure of the Ministry Center Board for the term determined by the Ministry Center Board. Each ad hoc committee may exercise the specific authority which the Ministry Center Board confers upon the committee in the resolution creating the committee. ARTICLE IV MINISTRY CENTER BOARD OFFICERS 4.1 Number and Designation. Each Church will designate a Co-Chair from among the four Board Members appointed by it in each year, and together the Co-Chairs will exercise the functions of Co-Chairs as described herein. The Ministry Center Board each year will designate a Treasurer from one Church and a Secretary from the other Church, who will exercise the functions of treasurer and secretary as provided in the Act and herein. Any of the officers may also be an officer of one of the Church’s Councils. The Ministry Center Board may elect or appoint such other officers or agents as it deems necessary from time to time for the operation and management of the Ministry Center, for such terms and with such powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as may be determined by the Board. None of the positions of Co-Chair, Secretary or Treasurer may be held by the same person. The terms of the Co-chairs will be staggered to provide continuity. 4.2 Co-Chairs. The Co-Chairs will have equal authority and will coordinate the performance of their responsibilities with one another, and may perform certain functions for certain periods during the year, on an alternating basis, or such other basis approved by the Ministry Center Board. Unless the Board approves a different schedule, each of the Co-Chairs will preside at alternate meetings. The Co-Chairs (a) acting jointly will have general active management of the business of the Ministry Center Board, (b) will each have the authority to call Board meetings and will jointly prepare agendas; (c) when present, will preside at all meetings of the Ministry Center Board (and as between the 2 of them, on such periodic, alternating or other basis approved by the Board); (d) will jointly see that all resolutions of the Board are carried into effect; and (e) will jointly or individually perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board. The Ministry Center Board, by a vote of at least 6 members, may request that the responsible Governing Council replace a Co-Chair whom the Board concludes has failed his or her responsibilities as Co-Chair. If so requested, the applicable Governing Council will appoint a replacement. 4.3 Secretary. The Secretary will take minutes of Ministry Center Board meetings and joint meetings of the Congregations and the Governing Councils. The Secretary will (a) prepare minutes for distribution and provide minutes to Board Members within a week following a given meeting, or at such other time as agreed to by the Co-Chairs; and (b) maintain a set of accurate records of proceedings of the Board and certify proceedings of the Board. Except as otherwise required or permitted by law or by this Operating Agreement, the Secretary will give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the Board and all joint meetings of the Congregations and the Governing Councils. The Secretary may be replaced by a vote of at least six (6) Board Members. 4.4 Treasurer. The Treasurer will (a) keep accurate financial records; (b) deposit all monies, drafts and checks paid to either Church in connection with the use of the Ministry Center in the joint bank account or accounts established by the Governing Councils for Ministry Center expenses; (c) endorse for deposit all notes, checks and drafts received in connection with Ministry Center as ordered by the Board; (d) in coordination with the Church Administrator(s) and the Co-Chairs, disburse joint funds and issue checks and drafts from the joint bank account or accounts, as ordered by the Board, and manage such joint bank accounts; (e) provide to the Co-Chairs, upon request, an account of all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Ministry Center; (f) develop and track, in coordination with the Finance Committee, budgets for costs to be shared by the Churches; (g) regularly and cooperatively work with the Co-Chairs and the Finance Committee and with the Pastors, Administrator(s) and treasurers of the Churches; and (h) perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board or the Co-Chairs from time to time. The Treasurer may be replaced by a vote of at least 6 Board Members. 4.5 Authority and Duties. In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all Board Members will respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Ministry Center as may be designated from time to time by the Ministry Center Board. 4.6 Term. Subdivision 1. Each Officer will serve for at least a one-year term, but may hold office until his or her respective successor is chosen or until resignation or removal, or the end of his or her term as a Board Member per Section 3.4 above. Subd. 2. Officers may serve more than one term at the discretion of their appointing Church. Subd. 3. An Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Ministry Center Board and his or her respective Governing Council. Subd. 4. A vacancy in an office will be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the officer was selected. ARTICLE V JOINT MEETINGS OF THE CONGREGATIONS 5.1 Purposes. Joint Meetings of the Congregations may be held to (i) discuss expenditures and budgets for the operation and maintenance of and capital improvements to, the Ministry Center; (ii) decide whether to add another church as a joint owner of the Ministry Center; and (iii) consider any other matter designated by the person or persons calling the Joint Meeting of the Congregations. 5.2 Voting. Resolutions or other actions taken at a Joint Meeting of the Congregations must be approved by the affirmative vote of both Churches. Each Church’s vote will be determined in accordance with its respective constitution and governing documents. 5.3 Place of Meetings. Joint Meetings of the Congregations will be held at the Ministry Center or at such other place as may be designated by the Governing Councils. 5.4 Annual and Other Regular Meetings. There will be a regular annual Joint Meeting of the Congregations in the first quarter of each year, at a time set by the Governing Councils (which may coincide with the dates for each Congregation’s annual meeting). Additional regular Joint Meetings of the Congregations may be held at such intervals determined by the Ministry Board, with approval of the Governing Councils. The agenda for each annual Joint Meeting of the Congregations will be established jointly by the Governing Councils and will include matters suggested by either Governing Council. 5.5 Special Meetings. A special Joint Meeting of the Congregations may be called for any purpose or purposes at any time by either Co-Chair of the Ministry Center Board, by vote of the Ministry Center Board, or by the Governing Council of either Church. 5.6 Adjournments. Any Joint Meeting of the Congregations may be adjourned from time to time to another date, time and place. If any Joint Meeting of the Congregations is so adjourned, no notice as to such adjourned meeting need be given if the date, time and place at which the meeting will be reconvened are announced at the time of adjournment. 5.7 Notice of Meetings. Subdivision 1. Notice of each regular Joint Meeting of the Congregations, stating the date, time and place of the meeting, will be sent by U.S. Mail or electronic communication to the individual members of each Congregation at least 15 days before the meeting and will be posted at the Ministry Center at least 15 days before the meeting. Notice of each special Joint Meeting of the Congregations, stating the date, time, place and purpose of the special meeting, will be sent by U.S. Mail or electronic communication to the individual members of each Congregation at least 10 days prior to the meeting and will be included in the respective bulletins of the Congregations for at least 2 Sundays before the meeting. To the extent the constitution of either Church requires longer or additional forms of notice of a congregational meeting, such requirements shall be followed by that Church. Subd. 2. The business transacted at a special Joint Meeting of Congregations is limited to the purposes stated in the notice of the meeting. 5.8 Quorum. The presence of a quorum of each of the Congregations, as determined by each Congregation’s constitution and governing documents, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at a Joint Meeting of the Congregations. ARTICLE VI FINANCIAL MATTERS 6.1 Budgets. The Ministry Center Board will prepare annual budgets for the Ministry Center and recommend the same to the respective Governing Councils for their review. The Governing Councils will review each annual budget and either return it to the Board for revision or recommend it for approval of the Congregations. Each annual budget will be presented to the Congregations for discussion at a joint meeting, and must be approved by both Congregations in accordance with their respective procedures and constitutions. Each annual budget shall be for the operation (including the cost of joint personnel), maintenance, repairs and improvements to the Ministry Center. The budget will include both operating and capital reserves for the Ministry Center. To the extent any modifications to thebudget are suggested by either Governing Council, or the Congregations, the Board will modify and resubmit the budget. Upon approval by the Governing Councils, the budget will besubmitted to the Congregations for approval at the annual Joint Meeting of the Congregations. The Ministry Center Board may amend an annual budget, subject to the restrictions in Section 3.2, Subd. 4. 6.2 Capital Costs. In addition to the initial capital contributions, over time each Church will make contributions to pay capital costs, such as replacement of a boiler or other mechanical system or significant improvements to the Ministry Center. The Churches on a 50-50 basis will pay for additional capital costs. 6.3 Operating Costs. Operating costs relating to the Ministry Center, including, but not limited to, costs relating to the maintenance of the Ministry Center, jointly used supplies and personnel costs for joint employees of the Churches, net of rental or other income generated by the use of the Ministry Center by third parties, will be paid for in a timely manner by the Churches on a 50-50 basis, provided, however, that the Ministry Center Board may recommend to the Governing Councils for approval by the Churches that certain measurable costs which are deemed to be fairly allocated to one Church will be paid for by such Church. Both Churches must approve any allocation of costs on other than a 50-50 basis. 6.4 Bank Account. The Churches will establish a joint checking account from which capital or operating costs relating to the Ministry Center will be paid. 6.5 Liquidating Distributions. If the Ministry Center or any property owned jointly by the Churches is sold, the proceeds, net of all joint costs, will be distributed to the Churches in equal amounts. 6.6 Accounting Decisions. All decisions as to accounting matters shall be made by the Ministry Center Board. ARTICLE VII POWERS RESERVED TO CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS 7.1 Matters Reserved to each Church. Subdivision 1. Nothing in this Ministry Covenant gives either Church any control over the other Church’s: (i) religious services or sacraments; (ii) confirmation and admission of new members of such Church; (iii) affiliation with area and national organizations; and (iv) selection and calling of a Pastor or other employee or staff member, other than employees and staff expressly hired on behalf of Churches. (v) theological or justice positions or other unique church ministries Subd. 2. Although calling pastors is the sole responsibility of each Congregation, in the spirit of this Covenant, the Pastor(s) of the other Congregation may serve on pastoral search committees, at the discretion of the searching Congregation, having voice but not vote in the search process. If the Pastor(s) of the other Congregation is not part of the search committee, the Pastor(s) of the other Congregation will have timely meetings with each of the final pastoral candidates, and provide the search committee her/his/their evaluation of compatibility. The purpose of this provision is to assure, to the extent possible, that the Pastors of the two Congregations can work constructively together. 7.2 Powers Reserved to the Congregations. Nothing in this Covenant shall give to the Ministry Center Board or either Governing Councils, any powers reserved to a Congregation pursuant to its constitution and governing documents, including, without limitation, any power to revise any decision of a Governing Council. ARTICLE VIII DISPUTE RESOLUTION 8.1 Issues Regarding Building Use. In the event of a conflict arising between Congregations or individual members of Churches regarding the use of the Ministry Center, the parties in conflict will work through the following persons in the following order until the conflict is resolved, first,the Church Administrator(s), second the Co-Chairs, third either or both Pastors, and finally, if there is no resolution, the issue will be addressed by the Ministry Center Board under section 3.2 subd. 1. 8.2 Issues Between the Churches. In the event of a conflict between the Congregations not involving use of the Ministry Center, the issue will be addressed by the following persons or groups in the following order until the conflict is resolved: first, the Co-Chairs and the Pastors, second, the Ministry Center Board, and finally, if there is no resolution, the Bishop of the Minneapolis Synod of the ELCA, or designee, and the UCC’s Minnesota Conference Minister, or designee, will be asked to mediate a resolution. 8.3 Issues Between the Pastors. In the event of a conflict between the Pastors of the Churches, the Pastors and/or the Co-Chairs will have the authority to request mediation from the Bishop of the Minneapolis Synod of the ELCA, or designee and the UCC’s Minnesota Conference Minister, or designee. ARTICLE IX INDEMNIFICATION 9.1 Indemnification. To the extent of proceeds of any insurance policy maintained by either Church, such Church will indemnify members of its Governing Council and the Board Members appointed by it for such expenses and liabilities incurred by such person in or arising from his or her actions or responsibilities taken in accordance with this Agreement. ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS; AMENDMENTS 10.1 Execution of Instruments. All checks authorized to be paid from a joint bank account established by the Governing Councils for the payment of joint costs of the Ministry Center, will be signed by the Treasurer and/or either of the Co-Chairs, subject to such rules and procedures as may be established by the Ministry Center Board or the Governing Councils. 10.2 Constitutional Authority. The provisions of this Ministry Covenant are subject, as to each Church, to its constitution and governing documents from time to time in effect, and to the extent inconsistent, the Church’s constitution and governing documents shall be controlling as to decisions made and actions taken on its behalf. 10.3 Amendments. Subdivision 1. The Ministry Center Board may adopt amendments to Schedule A to this Ministry Covenant by affirmative vote of at least six (6) members, subject to review and approval by both Governing Councils. Subd. 2. Other than as provided in Subdivision 1, this Ministry Covenant may be amended only by approval of both Churches taken at or after a Joint Meeting of the Congregations. Amendments may be proposed either by the Ministry Center Board, either Governing Council, or by at least 20 individual voting members of the Congregations. The Governing Councils will each notify the members of its Congregation of the proposed amendment, together with any recommendation of the Ministry Center Board or the Governing Councils, at least 30 days prior to a regular or special Joint Meeting of the Congregations. Approved by Salem English Lutheran Church on ____________ . SALEM ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH by ________________________________________________ Congregation President Approved by Lyndale Congregational United Church of Christ on ____________ . LYNDALE CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST by _________________________________________________ Moderator SCHEDULE A STANDING COMMITTEES A. Building Committee 1. Responsibilities. There shall be a Building Committee that shall be responsible for decisions on the normal uses of the Ministry Center, and for normal maintenance and repairs of the Ministry Center. The Building Committee shall report to the Ministry Center Board and shall (i) provide periodic reports to the Ministry Center Board, as requested from time to time by the Board and (ii) work in coordination with the Church Administrator(s) and the Pastors of the two churches. The Co-Chairs of the Building Committee will consult with the Church Administrator(s) and the Pastors regarding routine scheduling of space within the Ministry Center (other than the use of the sanctuaries by the Churches, which shall be addressed by the Pastors and the Ministry Center Board). The Church Administrator will have day-to-day responsibility for scheduling, subject to such consultation. The Building Committee will provide guidance to the custodian regarding routine and extraordinary maintenance of the Ministry Center. The Building Committee shall be the first level supervisor of the custodian, and share oversight of the custodian with the Pastors and the Ministry Center Board. 2. Membership. The members of the Building Committee, including one Co-Chair from each Church, shall be nominated by the Governing Councils and appointed by the Ministry Center Board. Efforts will be made to appoint an equal number of committee members from each Church. Co-Chairs and members of the committee shall serve for at least a one-year term,or until replaced by the appointing Church. Co-Chairs and members of the committee may serve more than one term at the pleasure of their appointing Church. The terms of the Co-chairs will be staggered to provide continuity. The Co-Chairs will have equal authority and will coordinate the performance of their responsibilities with each other. The Co-Chairs may assume certain functions and/or duties for certain periods of the year, as mutually agreed upon by them and the Committee. Also, during the year, one or the other of the Co-Chairs, as appropriate, may make routine Co-Chair decisions. B. Finance Committee 1. Responsibilities. There shall be a Finance Committee that shall be responsible for: a. Oversight of the accounting and financial responsibilities of owning and maintaining the Ministry Center, b. Oversight of financial responsibilities for other shared costs of the Ministry Center, c. Long-term financial planning, and recommendations for long-term financialcommitments, and d. Development of the annual budget for the Ministry Center’s shared costs. The Finance Committee shall report to the Ministry Center Board and shall (i) provide periodic reports to the Ministry Center Board, as requested by the Ministry Center Board, and (ii) work in consultation with the Ministry Center Board Treasurer, the Ministry Center Board, the Pastors and the Treasurers of the two Congregations. 2. Membership. The members of the Finance Committee, including one Co-Chair from each Church, shall be nominated by the Governing Council of each Church and appointed by the Ministry Center Board. Co-Chairs and members of the committee shall serve for at least a one-year term, or until replaced by the appointing Church. Co-Chairs and members of the committee may serve more than one term at the pleasure of their appointing Church. Efforts will be made to appoint an equal number of committee members from each Church. The terms of the Co-chairs will be staggered to provide continuity. The Co-Chairs will have equal authority and will coordinate the performance of their responsibilities with each other. The Co-Chairs may assume certain functions and/or duties for certain periods of the year, as mutually agreed upon by them and the Committee. Also, during the year, one or the other of the Co-Chairs, as appropriate, may make routine Co-Chair decisions. C. Audit Committee 1. Responsibilities. There shall be an Audit Committee which shall be responsible for (a) auditing the financial records of the Ministry Center at least annually and (b) delivering a report to the Ministry Center Board for annual meeting purposes on the integrity of the financial records, citing findings of inappropriate financial accounting or transactions, providing recommendations on corrective actions for audit findings, and providing recommendations to improve the financial accounting of the Ministry Center. The Audit Committee shall report to the Ministry Center Board and shall (i) provide periodic reports to the Ministry Center Board, as requested from time to time by the Board and (ii) work in consultation with the Treasurer, Ministry Center Board, Pastors and treasures of the two Churches. 2. Membership. The members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Governing Councils and shall include at least one member from each Church. Members of the Finance Committee cannot also be members of the Audit Committee. Efforts will be made to appoint an equal number of committee members from each Church. Co-Chairs and members of the committee shall serve for at least a one-year term, or until replaced by the appointing Church. Co-Chairs and members of the committee may serve more than one term at the pleasure of their appointing Church. The terms of the Co-chairs will be staggered to provide continuity. The Co-Chairs will have equal authority and will coordinate the performance of their responsibilities with each other. The Co-Chairs may assume certain functions and/or duties for certain periods of the year, as mutually agreed upon by them and the Committee. Also, during the year, one or the other of the Co-Chairs, as appropriate, may make routine Co-Chair decisions. D. Joint Ministry Committee 1. Responsibilities. The Joint Ministry Committee shall be responsible for ministry opportunities jointly shared by the Congregations, with the role of encouraging and assisting these joint ministries. Joint ministry may include in-reach and outreach programs such as Christian Education, Youth Ministry, Social Justice, Education Forums, etc. Sub-committees of the Joint Ministry Committee will be formed to further joint ministry programs approved by the Ministry Center Board. The Joint Ministry Committee shall report to the Ministry Center Board and shall (i) provide periodic reports, as requested by the Board and (ii) work in coordination with the Pastors of the Churches and the Board. 2. Membership of the Joint Ministry Committee. The members of the Joint Ministry Committee, including one Co-Chair from each Church, shall be nominated by the Governing Council of each Church, and appointed by the Ministry Center Board. Co-Chairs and members of the committee shall serve for at least a one-year term, or until replaced by the appointing Church. The Co-Chairs will have equal authority and will coordinate the performance of their responsibilities with each other. Co-Chairs and members of the committee may serve more than one term at the pleasure of their appointing Church. Efforts will be made to appoint an equal number of committee members from each Church. The terms of the Co-chairs will be staggered to provide continuity. 3. Joint Ministry Sub-Committees. Sub-committees of the Joint Ministry Committee willbe charged with planning, managing and promoting a specific joint ministry for the Churches. These sub-committees should have comparable representation from each Congregation, with members appointed by their respective Councils. Where practical, the joint ministry subcommittees should have a co-chair from each Congregation. Such sub-committees may beformed as need arises, by the Joint Ministry Committee or the Ministry Center Board, with theguidance of the Pastors of each Congregation. The form and procedures of the sub-committeesmay be self-directed, unless specifically defined by the Ministry Center Board. |
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