From the Senior Pastor – January 2020

Nearly a year ago, we voted to pilot a revised governance structure at Our Savior’s that both empowers and engages living out the mission we share at OSL to proclaim Christ and nurture faith that connects with everyday life. We anticipated giving the new structure at least a year to prove itself an effective improvement over our former structure. The time has come for us to evaluate whether that trial period was sufficient to give us the information we need to vote to ratify the Interim Bylaws, or if we need additional time.

As a way of preparing for that conversation, I offer this month a very brief summary of the governance structure we’ve been trying out for the last year or so.

Governing Board Replaces Congregation Council. The Governing Board is comprised of the president, vice president, immediate past president, secretary, treasurer, one at-large member, and the senior pastor. Members are elected by the congregation at the annual meeting, except the immediate past president and the senior pastor, who serve by virtue of their respective positions.

Previously, the congregation council included four officers, four at-large members, and 12 board representatives, all elected by the congregation. The pastors and the president of the Women of the ELCA attended council meetings as non-voting members.

Standing Committees. Three standing committees appointed by the Governing Board assist the board.

• Finance. Chaired by the treasurer and comprised of three to five members including the senior pastor, the Finance Committee prepares an annual ministry plan (budget), reviews and monitors monthly financials, provides for annual reviews or audits, develops and oversees debt and risk management strategies, and provides leadership and oversight in other aspects related to the financial management of the congregation.

• Policy and Leadership Development. Comprised of three to five members including a member of the Governing Board and the senior pastor, this committee identifies and trains future leaders, reviews and recommends changes to existing policies and governing documents, and recommends new policies related to governance.

• Stewardship Development. Comprised of five to seven members including a member of the Governing Board and the senior pastor, this committee is responsible for developing a culture of stewardship and relationship development that creates an ongoing spirit of giving and generosity, coordinates and conducts the annual stewardship appeal, provides ongoing stewardship education to the congregation, and centralizes all church appeals, financial and in-kind, for awareness and coordination.

Baptisms
November 30
George Daniel DeBerg, whose parents are Matthew and Elizabeth DeBerg. Sponsors are Emily Rieck and Ella Wesenberg.

Jacob Earl Rieck, whose parents are Seth Rieck and Rebecca Carnicle. Sponsors are Emily Rieck and Ella Wesenberg.

December 21
Jordan Jon Cook, whose parents are Jacob and Betsy Cook. Sponsors are Clint and Crystal Pulk.

Flowers
November 10
Celebrate Center flowers are given in loving memory of Stella Curry, whose birthday is November 11, by Steve and Jane Sahly

Telecasts
November 24
Sponsored by Margaret Novak, in memory of and thankfulness for family and friends.

December 1
Sponsored by Bryan Peters and Safe-N-Secure Security Equipment, in memory of Marilyn Peters.

Memorials and Honoraria,
November–December 2019
In Memory of Lois Ahrendt
Mary Child
Ron Hybertson
Fran Kilen
Margaret Novak
Scott and Juli Peterson
Betty Pfeifle and Walt Leyse

In Memory of Phil Miedema
Mike Castle
Ron Hybertson
Karen Kratochvil
Roger White
Glenn and Cindy Wika

In Memory of Ed Sessler
Harold and Grace Farrand
Ken Iseminger
Jan Sherman
Julie Simpko