Staff Announcements

Pastor Candee Moser will conclude her interim ministry at SOTV effective July 29, 2015. She will preach at all services July 25, 26 & 27, and you are invited to greet and thank her in between services. It is hard to believe Candee has been with us since March! We are grateful for the time we have had to work with Candee in worship, fellowship and the care ministries of SOTV. 

Following the Congregational Meeting held on June 7, 2015, we are moving forward to manage staff structures related to the budget, and the vision and mission of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.

Effective August 1, 2015, our pastoral structure will reflect our mission of Worship, Learn, Care, and Connect. While all the pastors will have a shared emphasis on general pastoral duties such as preaching, teaching, and pastoral care, each pastor will now have a specific area of responsibility and accountability.

Pastor Randy Brandt

The role of Executive Pastor is eliminated, effective 8/1/2015, and Pastor Randy Brandt is transitioning to the role of Learn Pastor, effective immediately. This includes management and supervisory responsibilities of the Children, Youth & Family (CYF) ministry.

Mim Campbell

Therefore, the role of Director of CYF is also eliminated, effective 8/1/2015. Mim Campbell will conclude her employment on July 29, 2015.

We are grateful to Mim for her leadership in ministry! Mim has impacted the lives of many families over the years and we are blessed by her partnership. 

Please join us for Mim's last weekend at worship Sunday, July 26th where you will be able to greet her between services.

If you have questions regarding staff structure please contact Jennifer.maxwell@sotv.org.

2015 Annual Meeting Recap

On Sunday, June 7, 2015, the congregation gathered together with enthusiasm to learn about the current state of the church and its continued success in the future. Approximately 180 people packed rooms 20-22 following a lunch in the Great Hall. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Leaders presented updates on our vision, mission, and initiatives, three new council members were unanimously elected, and motions were passed on our 2015-16 budget, expenditure limit, and endowment charter.

A summary of the meeting in detail is below. Official minutes will be made available on our website, following the June Council meeting. Please direct any questions to Council@sotv.org.

Opening Prayer - Pastor Duane Paetznick 

 

Welcome - President Jenny Buckley 

• A word of gratitude to everyone in attendance for valuing this church and its governance 
• Thank you to our leaders on Council, Leadership Teams, and Staff for another year of service 
• Approval of minutes from 2014 meeting

 

Brief Summary of Our Vision - Pastor Chris Smith 

 

Introducing Our Mission and Initiatives - President Jenny Buckley 

• Presented to the congregation in early March 2015
• Approved by Council at its March 19, 2015 meeting

 

How We Live Out Our Vision 

 

Our Volunteers 

Volunteers make our ministry happen. Our staff structure must support their work.

Our Staff 

• Our eventual goal is to have five pastors on staff: Senior Pastor, and pastors in Worship, Learn, Connect, and Care.
• Update on Pastoral Call Process - Presentation by Chair Ellen De Vries
• We are in the process of aligning program staff with Worship, Learn, Connect, and Care initiatives. 
• All staff are being encouraged to focus their time and energy on programming that helps us live out Vision, Mission, and Initiatives 

Our Lay Leaders

• Leadership Teams 
• Highlights from first year
• Emphasis on Welcome Team, and Year of Welcome (2015-16) 

• Council 
• Steve Mueller, Angie Zielinski, and Ann Boekhoff have concluded their time on council, and were thanked for their years of service. 
• William (Bill) Bosch, Chad Dahlke, and Michael Kelly were presented as new candidates for council and were unanimously elected. 

Our Finances 

• Capital Campaign Update and strategy moving forward - Presentation by Scott Erickson, Campaign co-chair
• General and Building/Capital Budget - Presentation by Treasurer Troy Nelson
• Delegation of Expenditure Authority to Properties Team - Presentation by Ken Syverson
• Endowment Charter - Presentation by Chair David Kuhnau

Congregation votes on the budget, expenditure limit, and Endowment Charter all passed.

Treasurer Troy Nelson noted that although the 2015-16 budget is a deficit budget, the resolve of the Finance Committee is that next year’s budget (2016-17) will be balanced.


A motion was made to adjourn, and was seconded. 

SOTV Financials

Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting: Part 5 of 5

Balance

Paul Keller
Council Vice President

From a financial standpoint, SOTV isn’t that different from our own households. The Church relies on Giving to cover administrative expenses with the vision that the remaining dollars can be used to fund benevolence. Similarly, we have jobs that provide income to support our families and we have regular expenses like mortgage, car payments, gas, utilities, and just like SOTV gives back… we give to others in need. And at the end of the day, it’s all about balance – does the amount of income exceed the amount we spend? If it doesn’t, then we may be faced with tough choices. Can we afford the new phone or the new car? Should we cut the cord on cable or should we cancel the family vacation?

We don’t always think about it, but SOTV has tremendous financial obligations necessary to support a large, dynamic congregation. In fact, did you know that SOTV is one of the TOP 10 ECLA churches nationwide? This is why it is so critical for council to have a solid understanding of the giving we are blessed to receive to ensure we are being good financial stewards. Did you know that it costs about $2.5 million dollars in costs to support the worship and programs provided? These costs include our pastors, the support staff (finance, HR, facilities, communications), our adult and children’s education programs, administrative costs for mailings and so many others.

The past several years have been challenging for most congregations nationwide and SOTV has not been immune. As times have changed and family schedules have filled, the frequency of attendance… and therefore Giving… has fallen proportionately.

Unfortunately, the weekly bulletin doesn’t always tell the entire story of our financial picture. Although we are doing very well to our current budget (an approved deficit budget), we are still behind the prior year. Thankfully, our giving has been ahead of plan and so we have been fortunate to see only a small reduction in our general fund balance [see full year chart below]. We are preparing again for our annual congregational meeting this Sunday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m., where we will propose the new fiscal year budget. Please know that you are all invited, welcome and encouraged to attend this important event.

	Last Year	Budget	Actual+Forecast
Starting Balance	$953,788	$647,290	$647,290
Giving	$2,479,206	$2,340,899	$2,444,267
Fund Balance Transfer	$43,840	$30,000	$30,000
Expenses	($2,829,544)	($2,563,438)	($2,514,839)
Fund Balance Change	($306,498)	($192,539)	($40,572)
Ending Balance	$647,290	$454,751	$606,718

SOTV is a place that is always there for us. It is there for our major life celebrations like baptisms, communions, confirmations and weddings. It is there for the special holiday events like Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. It is there for the times when we need care and support for health issues, relationship issues and helping provide funeral services. No matter what, SOTV is there.

I will fully admit that our family doesn’t attend Church every week. We have crazy, busy lives with four active kids and we find ourselves sprinting from one thing to the next. But one thing we have done as a personal choice is to enroll in Simply Giving as a way to ensure that our Giving continues even when we are not there. SOTV has always been there for us… this is how we can be there for SOTV.
Blessings!

Paul Keller
Council Vice President

Endowment Fund at SOTV

Endowment Fund at SOTV

Did you know that SOTV has an Endowment Fund?  About 15 years ago the congregation established such a fund to support establishing new ministries at SOTV.  The idea was to create a fund that would provide interest income to support such activities, yet allowing the capital to increase for the future. Initially the effort experienced some success raising funds and making grants. Over the past 10 years there has been very little activity, but a balance of about $125,000 remains and is waiting to go to work!

Endowment Fund Now?
You might be thinking why are we talking about an endowment fund now, when we are in the middle of a capital campaign? An endowment fund is actually complementary to both our annual giving and a capital campaign. The idea for the endowment fund is to provide a tool for members to make bequests to the church in their wills, which can provide income to support SOTV far into the future. Current giving remains directed at the annual and capital campaigns, but when members are planning their legacy giving, the Endowment Fund is available to assist.

What Changes in the current Endowment Fund are needed?
A group of volunteers with an interest in legacy giving was appointed by the Church Council to review the current endowment fund and make recommendations to reestablish the fund. This new Endowment Committee has developed a number of recommendations which include making these changes to the charter of the Endowment Fund:

• Change the purpose of the fund to support current mission activities of SOTV

• The current charter provides that the fund only establish new missions.  By changing the mission of the fund to support current missions, the Fund can now support ongoing activities of SOTV.

• Change the charter of the fund to simplify management

• These changes include having Church Council appoint the Endowment Committee and make any future changes to the charter; reduce the number of members needed on the committee, and also changes to simplify managing assets and making grants.

•  Provide specific mission areas for donors to designate gifts

• Proposed changes provide for donors to designate gifts to three mission areas: general mission (worship, music, facilities); education (youth, adult, bible camp); and; outreach (local, domestic and foreign)

You can also read the proposed amended and restated resolutions by clicking here.
 
What needs to happen? A Congregational Vote
The original charter adopted by the SOTV Congregation requires that the Congregation make any changes to the Endowment Fund at its annual meeting. The new Endowment Committee has proposed new amended and restated resolutions re-establishing the Endowment Fund with a new charter, which will make all the changes listed above. Church Council has reviewed the changes and recommends that the Congregation vote in favor of the changes at the Congregational Meeting on June 7.
 
Questions about the Endowment Fund
Please feel free to contact me about the Endowment Fund and the work of the Endowment Committee.

Dave Kuhnau
dbkuhnau@gmail.com
952-891-1825 (home)

50

Jenny Buckley
Council President

Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting: Part 4 of 5

Capital Campaign 

 50. That’s how many people have volunteered to be trained and visit all the members of our congregation during our capital campaign. And the capital campaign is going strong. As of May 19, we are just a little over one-third of the way to reaching our goal for the campaign. That is, over 3.3 million dollars have already been pledged--more than any other previous capital campaign in our history. And the impact of those pledges on the future of SOTV will extend beyond our walls to our local community as well as places as far away as Haiti and Tanzania. Wow--together, we ARE doing more!

One of the reasons church leadership chose to work with J.D. Klote, the firm that helped conduct the capital campaign, was their personalized approach. Unlike other organizations, Klote values personal visits to every member of the congregation, not just a select few. Our consultant, Carl Graber, repeatedly emphasized the awesome opportunity these visits provided us to grow and strengthen relationships at Shepherd of the Valley. Our goal for this campaign is not just to raise money, but to unite as a congregation to support the ministry and priorities of our church.

There are three components to the campaign: debt reduction, facility needs, and benevolence. These three areas align directly with the results of the CAT survey, which over 900 of you took in 2013. Every time I make a visit, and start talking about what it would mean for SOTV if we eliminated debt, took care of our building, and were able to give even more money away, I find myself getting excited. Every time. And the reason is simple: I truly believe that God is at the heart of what we are currently doing and what we want to do at SOTV. I believe He has a plan for the future of our congregation and that the capital campaign is part of that. And mostly, I really believe that “Together, we can do more.”

This campaign is about ALL of us: it is about making SOTV a place that feels welcoming to those that have been here for 30+ years, those who joined us last month, and those who will be joining us in the future. It is about growing deeper in our faith and developing meaningful relationships with one another. It is about the Great Commission--sharing the love of Christ with our neighbors and inviting others to share in community with us. And it will take all of us working together for the next 5 years to achieve these goals.

And so, the campaign continues. Those 50 visitors are making dozens of phone calls and meetings each month to help draw us together as one church. And they will keep calling, and keep visiting, until we have reached everyone. This will take a few more months, but it will be worth it--for our children, for our neighbors, and for ourselves.

If you haven’t already, please consider scheduling a visit and prayfully consider in what ways you might participate in the campaign (being informed, visiting, making a pledge, etc).

To hear more about the Capital Campaign, and the state of our church, join us at the Annual Congregational meeting on June 7 at 12:30 p.m. In the meantime, please direct questions and comments to the council at council@sotv.org

Blessings,
Jenny Buckley--Church Council President

God is Calling, Who Will Answer?

Jenny Buckley
Council President

Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting: Part 3 of 5

Call Committee and Process

I love that life in the church is different than what we experience in the rest of our lives. Of course there are similarities: budgets, human resources, staff meetings, maintenance, initiatives, etc. But the traditions and beliefs that guide many of our habits at church, such as the liturgy, music, common prayers, offering, and sacraments, are part of what sets our “company” apart from those in the corporate world. Similarly, the hiring process for a new pastor is very different from what most of us have experienced when hiring new leadership in our places of employment.

In the Lutheran church, we don’t “hire” a new pastor, we “call” a new pastor. This term may be something you have heard, but perhaps don’t fully understand. 

“The Lutheran process of call is unique because it is an effort to discern what God wants for the local church and the whole church in order that the Gospel may be proclaimed and the Sacraments may be administered in accordance with the Gospel” (Call Committee Charter). 

Part of the call process is to form a committee of staff, council, and congregation members to actively participate in the discernment and hiring process. On the other side, individuals who are rostered leaders in the church, pastors and associates in ministry, continually pray for discernment from the Holy Spirit asking questions about where, when, and how God is calling them to serve. The Saint Paul Area Synod (the regional administration of the ELCA) partners with the committee to help identify possible candidates for the church, and in turn, contacts candidates to determine if God is calling them to be open to a new placement.

When Pastor Diane Sponheim heard and accepted her new call to Faith Lutheran Church, the church council requested members of the congregation be recruited to form a call committee. As the nominations team worked on forming a committee, the needs of the church were assessed in light of our mission and a new job description for Pastor of Connect was created.

The Pastor of Connect job description includes many familiar components: preaching, teaching, providing pastoral care, collaborating with and managing staff, etc. However, this role is unique because we are searching for a person who will intentionally focus on strengthening relationships within our congregation and growing/creating new partnerships locally, regionally, and globally. This person will need to be innovative, engaging, and have a heart for building meaningful relationships in and outside of the walls of SOTV.

The call committee has met several times to review feedback received from the congregation about the type of pastor they are looking for and compared that feedback to the job description. The priority of the committee is to find the person God has planned for our church; so, we will take our time, being deliberate in our discussions and interviews, and praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The church leadership also asks you to take an active role in this process by praying for the church, the committee, and our next pastor.

If you have suggestions for candidates, or ideas about the type of person you would like to see fill the role of Connect Pastor, please contact the call committee chair, Ellen DeVries, at call@sotv.org.

Next week’s blog with provide an update on the Capital Campaign. Between now and then please feel free to contact the council with feedback and questions at council@sotv.org.

Blessings,
Jenny Buckley-Church Council President

How the Mission Reshapes Our Pastoral Staff

Jenny Buckley
Council President

Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting: Part 2 of 5

Structure and Pastoral Staffing 

With the departures of Pastors Diane and Mary, many people have been asking, when are we calling a new pastor and who that will be? First, let me remind you that a Pastoral Call Committee is in place and working hard as it goes about the task of calling a new pastor. As the committee does its work, the question that the council, leadership teams, and staff have been discussing is, “How can we support the vision and mission with our pastors, staff, and programs?”

As explained last week, the mission of Shepherd of the Valley (SOTV) is, “we exist as a community to discover, grow, and live into our individual relationships with Jesus Christ.” The four core ministries of worship, learn, connect, and care have been identified to support this mission.

Council and staff are beginning the process of evaluating everything we do as a church to determine where we are aligned with our mission and where there are currently gaps. Our resources, whether they be time, manpower, or money, will be best spent when they are invested in the priorities identified by our church.

Another area of discussion has been the pastoral staff model that our mission suggests. Council and staff agree that in order to implement our mission with fidelity, we need five full-time pastors at SOTV. In this structure, there would be a senior pastor that carries the vision and mission forward and then there would be one pastor assigned to each of the four core ministries of our mission.

This means that in addition to the senior pastor, we would have a pastor of worship, a pastor of learning, a pastor of connect (fellowship and service), and a pastor of care. Of course, all SOTV pastors would continue to collaborate in all areas of our mission. However, by aligning one pastor with each of the four core pillars of our mission, we will ensure that our resources are being used in the best ways and we are living our vision and mission with integrity.

Currently, we have three full-time pastors and a part-time interim pastor. Our priority is to call the Pastor of Connect first while also investigating the process for calling a Pastor of Worship.

Next week, I’ll explain the call process and update you on the work of the call committee. As always, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact me via the council e-mail: council@sotv.org. 

Blessings,
Jenny Buckley-Church Council President

Four Core Ministries Have Emerged

Jenny Buckley
Council President

Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting: Part 1 of 5

In this day and age we often hear churches and businesses use words like vision and mission, often interchangeably. At Shepherd of the Valley, we use the term vision as “what we aspire to be” and the word mission as “why we exist.”

WHAT: Our Vision 

As a congregation, we aspire to be a church that invites “...all people to experience the welcome, transformation, and sending of Jesus Christ.” Over the last few months, several pastors, staff, and lay leaders have considered what each part of the vision actually means:

• Welcome: We invite people in all stages of their faith journey to experience Jesus through our ministries in Christian community.
• Transform: We are changed as we experience Jesus through our relationships and ministries.
• Send: We are inspired to apply our faith daily by loving others and sharing the Good News of Jesus. 

The Year of Welcome: Beginning this fall, we will embark on a three-year cycle of “welcome, transform, and send” where one component of our vision will receive special emphasis and targeted initiatives each year. A leadership team began meeting last fall to prepare for the first year of “Welcome” and a new team focusing on the following year of “Transform” is currently being assembled.

WHY: Our Mission 

As with the vision, several people have met to discuss and develop a clear mission for our church. Their discussions led to the conclusion that as a community we exist to “discover, grow, and live into our individual relationships with Jesus Christ.”

With a strong vision and mission in place, it is only natural to consider how the programs and ministries at our church can best support our mission. As a result, four core ministries have emerged as ways to support faith formation:

1. Worship: We praise God, and are spiritually fed, through God’s Word, music, prayer, and sacraments.
2. Learn: We grow our Biblical knowledge, enrich our understanding, and apply our faith to daily life. 
3. Connect: We develop and strengthen relationships in our congregation, local community, and global community through invitation and service. 
4. Care: We offer compassion, companionship, and faith affirmation throughout life’s journey. 

The goal of the church leadership in the coming months is to take these words from the page and let them breath life into the decisions we make. We will consider how programs and staff can be aligned to these four core ministries and create a meaningful experience for all. One example of this already occurring is the call for a new pastor.

Next week, I’ll explain how we are adapting our structure, including our ideal pastoral structure, to align with these four core areas of ministry. 

In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Post questions and comments below or e-mail us at council@sotv.org.

Blessings,
Jenny Buckley-Church Council President

Getting Ready for Our Annual Meeting

He is Risen! What a glorious time of year! Each day as the sun shines longer and the temperatures begin to rise, I feel a bounce return to my step and a lightness in my spirit. There is such hope and promise with the return of spring.

Over the past year, I have been privileged to be a part of many meetings focusing on the life and mission of Shepherd of the Valley. After each gathering, my heart soars with excitement about all the great things God is doing right here in Apple Valley.  

Our Annual Congregational Meeting will occur on Sunday, June 7th at 12:30 pm. All are invited to attend. A free lunch will be served from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - please RSVP for lunch. Between now and then we will be writing a blog series about the state of our church. There has been a lot going on at SOTV and we want to take a little time each week to give you an update.  

Here is a list of topics we will cover before June 7th. Please follow along each week and then join us on June 7th to hear more about how God is working in and through us at Shepherd of the Valley.   

May 7:   Our Vision and Mission

May 14: Structure and Pastoral Staffing

May 21: Call Committee

May 28: Capital Campaign
June 1:  Endowment Fund

June 5:  Finances

Thank you for partnering with us as we live our vision of inviting all people to experience the welcome, transformation, and sending of Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Jenny Buckley - Church Council President

Paul Keller - Church Council Vice President

Annual Meeting Summary

Please take a moment to review a summary of the content of our Annual Meeting. Formal Minutes to follow and will be posted via SOTV Council approval. Watch our website for details. There were approximately 162 in attendance. Please direct questions to Council@sotv.org

Presenters

• Steve Mueller, Council President
• Troy Nelson, Treasurer
• Jenny Buckley, Council Vice President
• Lynn Askew, Council Member & Past President

Introduction – Steve Mueller

• Gratitude expressed for our many volunteers who make ministry possible all year long
• Acknowledgment of a great year of ministry at SOTV
• Indication that the meeting will address some financial issues but acknowledge we are a congregation of generous financial supporters
• Thank you and round of applause to Dannelle Bautista, Kitchen Manager and Volunteers for today’s lunch

Call to Order – Steve Mueller

Devotion – Pastor Chris Smith

• Video with SOTV Pastors What is Your Favorite Bible Verse and Why?  With Discussion
• Prayer
• Hymn 641

Approval of 2013 Annual Meeting Minutes

Motion moved to approve by Linda Nelson

Motion second by Gordon Bentley

State of the Church – Steve Mueller
 “We are a congregation of transformation.”

• Vision:  Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church will invite all people to experience the welcome, transformation and sending of Jesus Christ
• 2013-2014 At-a-Glance. We have done some great things!
• New Worship Leader Shawn Vaughan
• New Production Manager Omar Reyes
• Supported Brandon Newton's transition into pastoral ministry
• Invested in worship & technology
• United congregation by moving to one worship space
• Consistent display of American flag in Narthex/Atrium implemented
•  Hosted Congregation Dialogues throughout the year to gather feedback 
• Council authorizes pastors to officiate at same-gender marriages
• Celebrated our Tanzania Partnership with a visit from Pastor John Mhekwa
• Celebrated our Partnership with Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem with a visit from Pastor Mitri Raheb.
• Financial review introduction
• Letter shared from member of inspiration to increase personal giving.  

Leadership & Governance – Jenny Buckley

• Explanation of Ballot and Voting

1.     Approval of Council Officers 2014-2015:  Yes or No vote

• Jenny Buckley, Council President
• Paul Keller, Council Vice President
• Steve Mueller, Past President
  
  [Unanimously Passed]

2.    Approval of Council Member-at-Large (Electing TWO) (Candidate Information was provided)

• LaVon Dennistoun  [Elected]
• Michael Kelly
• Ken Syverson [Elected]

• Leadership Team Structures

• We learned from the CAT Survey that our congregation wants a broader representation in decision making at SOTV
• Review of current Leadership teams and an introduction of new Leadership Teams
• Members in attendance of the meeting for each Leadership Team were recognized
• Interested in serving on a Leadership Team contact council@sotv.org
• Leadership Teams

• Council
• Finance
• Capital Campaign Strategy
• Human Resources
• Benevolence
• Building & Grounds
• Kairos
• Stewardship
• Communications
• Welcome

2014-2015 Budget – Troy Nelson

• General Fund Budget

• Presentation and explanation of income, expenses and financial needs 
• Presented deficit budget of -$192,539 
• Expected use of General Fund Balance and minimum balance of $500,000 before implementation of staff reductions 
• Discussion and Q&A

• Building Fund Budget

• Presentation and explanation of income, expenses and financial needs
• Presented use of fund balance in the amount of $60,000 for expenses
• Current Building Fund debt $4,530,362 @ 4.375% Commercial Rate
• Proposal to enter a Capital Campaign 2014-2015
• Discussion and Q&A

• Organ Fund

• Presentation and explanation of income, remaining pledges, payments and financial needs
• Organ has been funded completely separate from general fund by supporters
• Remaining loan balance $144,077
• Funds still needed $121,000
• Discussion and Q&A

 Approval of 2014-2015 Budget

Motion to approve by Gordon Bentley

Motion second by Karen Piehler-Shaw

Capital Campaign – Lynn Askew 
"We don’t want to build more, we want to do more."

• Background

• Last Capital Campaign was 2004-2007 primarily for building of Sanctuary, Chapel, Narthex expansion, and classroom expansions 18- 22
• Capital Campaign Strategy Team formed in 2012

• Purpose of 2014-2015 Campaign

• Debt Reduction (Currently $4.5mm)
• Facility Improvements (Building & Parking Lot)
• Local, Regional, Global Outreach and Benevolence 

• Timeline

• May 2014:  Consultant Selected, James D. Klote
• Summer/ Fall 2014:  Preparation & Feasibility Focus Groups
• Fall/Early Winter 2014-15:  Initial visits with congregation
• January – March 2015:  Heart of the Campaign

Approval of Capital Campaign

Motion to approve by Kathy Larson

Motion second by Gordon Bentley

Adjourn

Motion to adjourn by Pat Buss

Motion second by Betty O’Leary