Council Minutes | 10-19-26

Attendees

Andy Rash, Bill Eslick, Dave Lemasters, Connie Nichols, Tim Payne, Kathy Nutt, Barry Robinson, Sandy McCready, Doug Crumrine. ~14 others in attendance.

Meeting Minutes recorded by Tim Payne

Called to order with prayer by Connie Nichols

Pastor's Report: Barry Robinson

•       Thank you for pastor appreciation day!

•       All Saints Day coming. Celebration of those who've passed is coming up.

•       Christmas planning in progress

•       Table talk – CS Lewis series ongoing

•       Staff attended good conference in Houston - "Resilience"

August Minutes approved by email

Education

•       Fantastic report & plans from Jansen Monk. He’s established expectations for parents and kids, written policies and standard operating procedures, and taken other actions to create a living program now and for the next person in the position.

•       Adult Sunday Schools are feeding Wed. night youth.15 kids last week.

•       Dec 6 - Christmas Play

•       Fall festival on Oct 31

•       Kim Schultz continues supporting college kids. Stitching Angels making scarves in school colors. Want to remind them that church family knows them and loves them.

•       Holly Riney working well with committee

•       Young Adult class starting soon 18-40

Missions - Doug Crumrine

•       Thank you for finding ways to fund the requested budget.

•       Appreciate church support of all mission work - local and abroad.

•       Showed 2 videos on Africa mission trips - Home Dedication and Medical support (500 served)

•       Rancho Brazos Gala on Oct. 22.

Finance - Dave Lemasters

•       Year to date ~$1036k vs Expenses ~882k

• •       Sept. Income ~$215k vs Expenses ~$115k.

  ◦   Large difference due to 110K donation in Sept. Allocated $10k to Rancho Brazos, $100k to general fund.

  •       2027 budget ready for Nov. approval.

  •       Mercy Manor insurance issues resolved. Will cancel our policy.

  •       Created $4,000 account for 130th anniversary planning.

  •       Sandy Beach soon ready for saleTrustees - No report

SPR - Sandi McCready

• •       1 yr of service for Stacy & Shannon

  •       Report from Jansen Monk: New SOP, policies, expectations. Very pleased with his first weeks.

  •       Kitchen Mgr - Looking

  •       Praise & Worship - Looking

  •       Staff appreciation lunch Oct. 21

  •       Several staff attended Strategic Renewal Conference on “Resilience” in Houston

  •       Increase Aiden's hours to support increased use of Youth Bldg.

  •       Christmas love offering for staff: Messages go out Nov. 30

Trustees - Bill Eslick

•       3 golf carts overhauled.

•       Landscaping improvements in progress

•       Trustee room moved to CLC 207

•       Working to dispose of some trailers

•       Created tracking sheet for Maint. Requests

•       CLC sinks to be done by in time for Lord’s Acre

•       See Holly or Bill for work requests

Other Business

• Connie presented 3 proposed changes to the Council’s “Operational Procedures” (attached below) and answered questions. 

  ·         Change #1 permits the Council to change its Operational Procedures by a 2/3 vote instead of requiring a church wide vote.

  ·         Change #2 incorporates the new Director of Operations position. It also clarifies that the Finance committee may approve movement of funds between accounts for routine business and that movements of $10,000 or more shall be reported to the Council. It was noted that this is limited to “moving” funds between accounts, not “approving” spending.

  ·         Change #3 adds Missions and Education committees to the Nominations committee’s responsibilities.

  Nominating Committee

  Reviewed Nominating Committee’s report and slate of candidates for Nov. 8 vote.

  ·         Connie Nichols noted that the official church rolls show ~ 700 members and quorum will be 10% of the official count the week before the vote.

  ·         Tim Payne commented that per the Council’s Operational Procedures and the church bylaws, the Nominating committee fills open Council seats but the Council selects its President. After reviewing the operational procedures and bylaws and considerable discussion, a motion passed to amend the nominee slate to reflect this. See below.    

  Motions and Votes

  1. Open Council Position:

     1. Motion passed by email to appoint Bill Eslick to Trustee chair to complete the 2026 term of John McArtor, who has resigned.

  2.  Finance:

     1. Passed a motion by Dave Lemasters, second by Bill Eslick to approve the following actions:

                                            i.    Cash the CD maturing on Oct. 30

                                          ii.    Get an new $100k CD for 12 months

                                         iii.    Move $105k to ICA mutual fund investment to get us up to $1 million and get rid of fees

  3. Nominations:

     1. Motion by Tim Payne, second by Kathy Nutt to accept the slate of candidates except that per the bylaws, the 2027 Council shall select its President from the 2027 council membership. Approved 8-1.

  ACTON METHODIST CHURCH

  PROPOSED CHANGES TO OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

  OCTOBER 19, 2026

  #1 Under OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, last page under AMENDMENTS 

  AMENDMENTS  (Original) 

  Any amendment for changes to the Doctrinal Discipline or Operational Procedures shall be  submitted to the Church Council for review and further recommendation and vote at the annual  or a special called meeting. A two-thirds majority of the votes cast including monitored and  verified absentee votes and the votes cast by those present and the annual meeting or special called meeting will be required to amend this document. 

  AMENDMENTS  (Proposed Change) 

  Any amendment for changes to the Operational Procedures shall be submitted to the Church Council for review and must be approved by a two-thirds majority.   Any amendment for changes to the Doctrinal Documents shall be submitted to the Church Council for review and further recommendation and shall require approval by vote at the annual or special called meeting. A two-thirds majority of the votes cast including monitored and verified absentee votes and the votes cast by those present and the annual meeting or special called meeting will be required to amend this document.

   #2  Under OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, first page under FINANCE 

  FINANCE (Original) 

  The Finance committee will coordinate with the business administrator to ensure cash flow is sufficient to meet the needs of the Church. Any request for movement of non-budgetary funds or investments, exceeding $9,999.00 will come as a recommendation to the Church Council for approval. 

  FINANCE (Proposed Change) The Finance Committee will coordinate with the Director of Operations to ensure cash flow is sufficient to meet the needs of the Church. Any movement of funds or investments from one account to another consisting of at least $10,000 will require the voting approval of the Finance Committee. That account movement will then be reported to the Church Council at the next meeting. 

  #3 Under OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, third page under NOMINATIONS

  NOMINATIONS (Original) 

  The Nominating committee will be responsible for recommendations of any open positions on the Church Council, Finance, Trustees, Nominations, and Staff Pastor Relations committees. The committee shall include a diverse representation of church membership, and the members will be confirmed by vote during the annual church meeting. The senior pastor along with a co-chair will oversee the nominations process. The committee should recommend members for leadership who have a heart for God, for service, and who will honor the interests of Acton Methodist Church. Any nominee for committee membership must have been a church member for a minimum of one (1) year. As professed through the vows of membership, a candidate must support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. All nominees will be voted on by the Church in a single motion or individually. A member may not serve consecutive terms on the Nominations committee and must wait two years before being selected to serve a subsequent term. 

  
  NOMINATIONS (Proposed Change) 

  The Nominating committee will be responsible for recommendations of any open positions on the Church Council, Finance, Trustees, Nominations, Staff Pastor Relations, Missions, and Education committees. The committee shall include a diverse representation of church membership, and the members will be confirmed by vote during the annual church meeting. The senior pastor along with a co-chair will oversee the nominations process. The committee should recommend members for leadership who have a heart for God, for service, and who will honor the interests of Acton Methodist Church. Any nominee for committee membership must have been a church member for a minimum of one (1) year. As professed through the vows of membership, a candidate must support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. All nominees will be voted on by the Church in a single motion or individually. A member may not serve consecutive terms on the Nominations committee and must wait two years before being selected to serve a subsequent term.