334 SE Tecumseh Road  P.O. Box 5  Tecumseh, Kansas 66542  (785) 379-5005  Fax - (785) 379-5061                                                                                                               Josh Gooding, Pastor                                                                                               Contact Us: | E-mail | Map & Directions

THE TECUMSEH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COUNCIL   Administrative Council of the Tecumseh United Methodist Church met at 7:15 p.m. on Dec, 6, 2009. Those present were Nelta Hennessey, Virginia Martinson, Kathy Griffith, Jan Kieffer, Neva Martin, Ernestine Adams, Rita Halderman, Steve Hennessey, Larry McCammon, Pastor Josh and Sarah Gooding, and Willa Norwood. Nelta opened the meeting with a prayer. Jan remarked that we should enjoy each day as it comes. The October minutes were approved as printed. Pastor Josh informed us that in the future we are going to have one Bishop to represent the Kansas East and West Conference as well as the Nebraska Conference. Jan said that she had no report tonight but would have a full report ready to present at the Annual Charge Conference. She mentioned that the review of the Pastor’s residence has been completed. The people who did the floor in the Conference room will put the baseboard down after the closet area is completed. Virginia asked that the Pastor’s salary package be accepted by the board as it had been accepted by the Finance Committee. It reflects a 2% salary increase which is mandatory and PPR increased his salary another 3%. The health insurance was $13,548.00, utility expense was increased from $1,500.00 to $2,500.00, and travel expense was increased from $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 which makes the total package $55,146.00 which is $3,760.00 more than last year. This package will be presented at Charge Conference. Virginia made the motion to accept the package as presented and Kathy 2nd the motion. The motion carried. Virginia also reported that she had invited the staff to the last part of the PPR meeting and Ralph Nelson, Ernestine Adams, Shirley Atteberry, Fran Helms, and Jayne and Hannah Desch all attended. Virginia told each one how much we appreciated their dedication and service to our church this past year. Rita stated that she is having a lot of fun working with all of the children on the Christmas Program. Neva will be starting a new class in January. Kathy reported that the Worship Committee met and had set the time for the Hanging of the Greens and of the Christmas Eve Service. Betty Waller has asked to be replaced as of Jan 1 as Acolyte coordinator. Jan Mason and Olga Hennessey have agreed to take her place. Kathy also suggested that she would like to see a 12 step support group formed for spiritual growth. Neva and Kathy will work with Rita and try to form a 12 step Spiritual Growth Group using the book “Hunger for Healing.” Larry reported that we have paid all of our bills up to date and are still solvent. He also told us that pledges for this year are down about $1,000.00 from last year. Ernestine will be teaching a Child Certification class on Jan. 18th at 6:30 p.m. at the church. Anyone needing certification or recertification is welcome. Sarah asked for ideas about child care during our council meetings as she has been asked to chair the Evangelism Committee and she does not wish to give it less then her all. She asked about a sign up sheet for persons to care for the children during meetings or do like this evening and try to have them entertained on the other side of the dividers. She said paying a sitter was not an option. Larry suggested that ideally if someone would watch the children in the home there would only need to be one person. She wanted to thank Olga and the girls for watching the children the past few months. The consensus was that we would try the present system if a sitter was not available. Ernestine suggested that we get written reports from the various committees so they could be placed in our packet each month. This would not only save time but those who could not hear the report given would have one to read. Pastor Josh will be attending an L-5 Incubator program which is for clergy and is focused on spiritual growth. Later on he hopes to start such a program in our church. From Feb. 29 to March 3 he will be attending meetings in Washington DC. There are only 2 young pastors going from Kansas. They will be trying to find out from our congress what part faith and politics plays in their decisions. Pastor Josh paid his registration fee and everything else was paid for by the conference. Later he and Sarah will be attending a continuing education seminar in Arkansas about new church leadership. He is presently filling out forms and getting them sent in, in preparation for the annual Church Charge Conference which is to be held on the Dec. 14th. There will be 4 churches included in this conference. Pastor Josh gave us a very thorough description of the agenda at the conference. He is to give one blessing in his report, several were mentioned. Ideas included having so many children practicing for the Christmas program, UMW, Health Program, and Discovery Club. Each church is to have 2 but not less than 1 thing as a goal for next year. A suggestion was small group ministries. The offering this year will go to the Washburn Campus Ministry. Ernestine suggested that we pick up persons attending as the Scouts are having their Christmas party and there will be no parking at the church so we need to car pool. Pastor Josh closed the meeting with a prayer. Respectfully submitted by Willa Norwood, Acting Secretary