Congregational Meeting Minutes
Congregational Business Meeting
October 8, 2017
The Fall Congregational Business meeting was called to order by Moderater, Tony Brenneman at 10:35 AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tony Brenneman, Church Moderator
Congregational Business Meeting
April 9, 2017
The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Diane Funk.
The only agenda item for this meeting was to vote on calling new pastors Karen Martens Zimmerly and Terry Zimmerly.
Congregational Business Meeting
September 18, 2016
The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Diane Funk.
1. The first order of business was approval of the 2016-17 Spending Plan. Stewardship commission chair, Steve Ropp gave an overview of the spending plan, answered questions and made a motion that the plan be accepted. The motion was seconded. Cheryl Martin Miller then offered an amendment to the motion to add a line to the spending plan for Iowa City Compassion. The motion was seconded. Bryson Dean provided information about IC Compassion. A vote on the amendment was taken by show of hands. The motion carried by an overwhelming majority. A vote was then taken on the first motion with new amendment added. The motion carried.
2. Steve Ropp presented a proposal from the Stewardship Commission to increase the scholarship level to support Mennonite colleges beginning in the 2017-18 school year. Steve gave an historical overview of the FMC scholarship fund and projection about the health of the fund given the proposal to increase the yearly scholarship support to $3,000 for a student attending a Mennonite college. A motion was made and seconded. The vote by show of hands indicated that the motion carried.
3. Diane asked for comments or questions on the Annual report that was provided to members via email and by printed copies available at the church. There was no discussion. There was a motion from the floor to accept the annual report and the motion was seconded. The vote showed the motion carried.
Submitted by Diane Funk, Moderator
October 8, 2017
The Fall Congregational Business meeting was called to order by Moderater, Tony Brenneman at 10:35 AM.
- Paper copies of the projected budget plan for 2017-2018 were distributed. Steve Ropp, Stewardship chairman, offered points of explanation. The projected budget plan was reviewed and offered for discussion. There was none.
- Jim Brenneman called the vote, Roger Schrock seconded. A count by raised hands: all supported. No negative or abstention votes.
- The Annual Report was then reviewed. No discussion.
- Kevin Kummer called the vote, Larry Swartzendruber seconded. All supported by raised hand of accepting the report as written. No negative or abstention votes.
- There was a call for any new business – none.
Respectfully submitted,
Tony Brenneman, Church Moderator
Congregational Business Meeting
April 9, 2017
The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Diane Funk.
The only agenda item for this meeting was to vote on calling new pastors Karen Martens Zimmerly and Terry Zimmerly.
- Diane opened the meeting by explaining the voting process. In keeping with the Bylaws, only members or associate members are allowed to vote, no email voting was allowed, members or associate members were allowed to request an early ballot (paper) and submit it for consideration. Members and associate members were encouraged (but not required) to have met the candidates or otherwise familiarized themselves with them in order to cast an informed vote.
- Bill Hochstetler, representing Elders and Cindi Schrock, representing the Search Committee gave brief presentations about the search process, the candidating weekend and the candidates themselves. Both communicated a strong endorsement for the candidates on behalf of their respective committees.
- Diane asked the people present to decide whether or not to accept the 12 early ballots as legitimate votes. A motion to accept the votes was made and seconded. A vote was taken by show of hands and passed unanimously.
- Next, Diane explained that it was necessary for those present to decide on the percentage of yes votes it would take to hire Karen and Terry. A motion was made and seconded to require an 80% approval threshold. A vote was taken by show of hands and it passed with only three “no” votes.
- Paper ballots were distributed to those present and collected as people left the meeting.
- There were 146 votes cast, 140 yes and 6 no votes for 96% approval.
- Ballots were counted by Diane Funk and Bill Hochstetler.
Congregational Business Meeting
September 18, 2016
The meeting was called to order by Moderator, Diane Funk.
1. The first order of business was approval of the 2016-17 Spending Plan. Stewardship commission chair, Steve Ropp gave an overview of the spending plan, answered questions and made a motion that the plan be accepted. The motion was seconded. Cheryl Martin Miller then offered an amendment to the motion to add a line to the spending plan for Iowa City Compassion. The motion was seconded. Bryson Dean provided information about IC Compassion. A vote on the amendment was taken by show of hands. The motion carried by an overwhelming majority. A vote was then taken on the first motion with new amendment added. The motion carried.
2. Steve Ropp presented a proposal from the Stewardship Commission to increase the scholarship level to support Mennonite colleges beginning in the 2017-18 school year. Steve gave an historical overview of the FMC scholarship fund and projection about the health of the fund given the proposal to increase the yearly scholarship support to $3,000 for a student attending a Mennonite college. A motion was made and seconded. The vote by show of hands indicated that the motion carried.
3. Diane asked for comments or questions on the Annual report that was provided to members via email and by printed copies available at the church. There was no discussion. There was a motion from the floor to accept the annual report and the motion was seconded. The vote showed the motion carried.
Submitted by Diane Funk, Moderator