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November 8, 2007 - Congregational Reports
Present
Schedule
Communication Audits
Present
Barb Anderson,
Hosanna, Rochester
Cindy Cordes-Eversole, Bethlehem, Lanesboro
Connie Larson, Central, Winona
Marge Maetzold, First, LeSueur
Joanne Hamilton, Our Savior’s, Rochester
Schedule
Don't forget about the 2008 retreat! The retreat
is 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 24 to 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 25 at
Good Earth Village, Spring
Valley, MN. Cost is $30 for the whole event (includes lodging and meals) or $20
for only Thursday or Friday. This will be a very casual retreat with the
opportunity to share about jobs, share ideas, ask questions, get to know one
another, relax, and worship. Click here for more
information.
The plan is to have another communication workshop
this year, but to hold it at a church (not somewhere with access to a computer
lab). This may involve asking people to bring laptops and/or focusing on topics
that don't require the use of a computer for each participant (projection of a
computer screen to demonstrate is still possible). Some topics for this type of
workshop were gathered.
The idea of alternating between the above workshop
and another workshop using computers (every other year) was discussed.
Meeting topics for 2008 were discussed including:
color copying/printing, church management software, PowerPoint in worship (what
works/doesn't). Katie Livingood with additional ideas and/or if you would like to host
a meeting in 2008.
We will probably not have a "Communicators'
Meeting" on the topic of Congregational Reports next year, but we do hope to
have some session and/or other education on the issue.
Congregational Reports
- Presented by Cheryse Brenno-Sloan, Synod Staff
The website for congregational reports is
http://www.elca.org/ScriptLib/OS/FormAC/facLogin.asp
In a letter to pastors in
2006, Bishop Usgaard wrote regarding congregational reports:
"Every congregation is expected to return the form annually, and the pastor is
responsible to see that it is completed. It is more than just being in
partnership with the ELCA...it is a responsibility that is listed in the
constitution for the office of pastor. It is a task that pastors need to do! We
are expecting 100% completion. Thanks for your hard work!"
You will need to know your congregation's number,
which can be found in the synod handbook and/or your treasurer should have it
Congregation passwords should be sent out in
December; the synod also receives them
If the congregation doesn't have internet access,
the synod can mail a hard copy
DO NOT MAIL YOUR REPORT TO CHURCHWIDE - It is
preferred that you fill the report out online, but if you must mail a hard copy,
mail it to the synod office (1001 14th St. NW, Suite 300, Rochester, MN 55901)
Call the synod with ANY questions (507-280-9457 or
800-426-6376 in Minnesota)
Last year's report is online as is a trend report
for your congregation (statistics from the last 8 years)
Make sure to indicate any address or other contact
information change if applicable, especially as many rural congregations
recently changed to 911 addressing
Please do fill in all forms (A, B, and C) and fill
in as much as possible (ex. don't leave out offering income to be modest or
protective, these numbers are useful and are used appropriately)
Once logged in, there is a help button that brings
up a useful document with helpful instructions for filling out your
congregation's report
One page of the aforementioned instructions breaks
down giving into many different categories. Here are some things to note:
Money given to the Southeastern Minnesota Synod
Flood Relief fund should be put in 25.l. - Synod-related special benevolence
Pay attention to 25.n. - Other benevolence
(non-ELCA), don't confuse these with ELCA giving.
Any other questions, call the synod.
The synod's fiscal year-end is JANUARY 31. If your
congregation sends in benevolence in January, it gets counted towards the
previous year (ex. money sent in Jan. 2008 will be for 2007) unless otherwise
designated
Other comments on Form A:
2.g. and 5.e. are the appropriate places to
indicate changes in membership to to record clean-up (meaning, if the
congregation notified inactive members of a record clean-up and then removed
those who asked to be or who didn't respond, indicate it in 5.e.)
The total for 7 is BAPTIZED members, not
confirmed, though it physically aligns with confirmed. This should be the
BAPTIZED total from 6.
Some congregations don't keep track of those
taking communion, if so, it can be left blank
Question 24 should be the same as the blue form
sent to the president. Note that this is ONLY regular mission support to the
synod and does not include total budgeted giving, including other recipients.
This is very important for the synod budget, so please pay attention to this.
Part of the report the pastors fill out regarding
themselves (not the congregational report) includes a page on salary. Please
make sure this gets filled out correctly or the synod can't do an accurate
report. The purpose of this is for a synod-wide report to see how appropriate
the synod Minimum Compensation and Benefits Guidelines are. -
Top 10 Reasons Why Treasurers
Call the Synod Office (from the March 2006 Councils as Leaders of the Church
event)
Submitted by
Communications Director
Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA
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