Meeting Minutes

Annual Meeting

May 16, 2021

UNAPPROVED DRAFT

Council of Elders Chair Mark Taylor welcomed the members to the 2021 annual meeting via the Zoom webinar at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Taylor comes to the end of his term as elder and chair and has enjoyed serving this way. Mr. Taylor read from Psalm 100 and opened the meeting in prayer.

A quorum of 266 (20% of regular members) was required, and 344 members were present. Mr. Taylor officially called the Annual Meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. [Additional members joined subsequent to the quorum sign-in.]

Mr. Taylor read aloud the following resolution for approval of minutes, and there were no questions.

Resolution to approve minutes of congregational meetings

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the following congregational meetings are approved as presented:

• Annual Meeting of May 17, 2020

• Congregational Meeting of June 28, 2020 to purchase properties at 319 and 323 E. Seminary Avenue

• Congregational Meeting of December 6, 2020 to approve capital expenditures in Crossings building for STARS Resale Shop

• Congregational Meeting of March 14, 2021 to determine whether to apply for forgiveness or repay PPP loan

• Congregational Meeting of April 18, 2021 to approve Baxter Helm as Senior High School Pastor and amend the CCIW Bylaws

The resolution was passed 359 yes; 1 no; 8 abstain

The annual report for 2021 was accepted. Pastor Moody made remarks about God’s faithfulness this past year.

Mr. Taylor read the following resolution from the Nominating Committee. No questions were asked.

RESOLVED: That the following groups of nominees, whose names have been printed on page 60 of the Annual Report, are hereby elected:

• Members of the Council of Elders for terms ending in 2025

• Members of the Board of Deacons, the Board of Deaconesses, and the Board of Missions for terms ending in 2024

• Members of various committees for terms as specified

• Elective positions for terms as specifiedThe resolution was passed 370 yes; 0 no; 11 abstain

Vice-chair of the Council, Dave Gieser prayed for the newly elected and current leadership

Regarding the election of members to the Nominating Committee for 2021-2022, Mr. Taylor explained the process of electing one man and three women. Members had been invited to submit names, and names of eight women and four men were submitted. Members had then been given an opportunity to vote online, and a total of 248 votes were cast in that process. Mr. Taylor further explained that the election of the Nominating Committee takes place at the Annual Meeting, but because the votes were cast prior to the meeting this year, members were now called to formally ratify the vote and affirm the election of the individuals to the 2021-22 Nominating Committee.

No questions were submitted about the resolution, Mr. Taylor read the resolution:

Resolution to approve elected members of Nominating Committee for 2021-22

WHEREAS: The Regular Members have gone through the prescribed process of nominating individuals to be elected as members of the Nominating Committee for 2021-22; and

WHEREAS: The Regular Members have had an opportunity prior to this meeting to vote on the nominees, and three women and one man have received the most votes in that prior process:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Regular Members hereby affirm the election of the following individuals to serve on the Nominating Committee for 2021-22: Karen Bagge, Susan Jahns, Penny Thrasher and Bruce Aulie.

The resolution was passed 357 yes; 4 no; 7 abstain

Director of Women’s Ministries, Mindy Rynbrandt prayed for the newly elected Nominating Committee.

Dave Sohmer, chair of the Board of Deacons, was invited to go through the financial report and present the budget for the new fiscal year that began on May 1, 2021. Actual giving tracked closely to budget, and the year ended with total Ministry/Missions giving at 97.8% of budget. (A large estate gift in March made this possible.) There was a $750,000 surplus of giving over expenditures from the just completed fiscal year, which the deacons determined to be spent on missions, facilities and renovations on the east end of the Crossings building.

There has been a gradual and significant decline in giving units (11% decrease in giving units) from 2012- 2013 to present; but a significant increase—62%—in the average size of gift of those who give in the same time period.

Spending/Expenditures details on pp 64-65 of the Annual Report. Spending was down partly because of COVID, as was giving. It was mentioned, though, that all regular missionaries and missionary partners received their assigned support in 2020-21 year.

The proposed Ministry/Missions budget of $4,864,019 represents a budget-to-budget change of $155,929 and an increase of 3.6% over last year’s budget.

Repayment of the PPP loan was not included in expenditures as it was held in a payable account pending the congregation’s decision. It is shown on the balance sheet on page 65 for the 2020 fiscal year.

Questions about the Crossings focused on plans and costs as well as timing of renovation to the east end. Questions were also asked about the congregation seeing and/or approving plans. Immediate plans for large meeting space are the minimal approach in the money spent now instead of later. A gift designated for renovation for the east end was received, and others can direct funds toward that purpose.

We’ve received an architect’s estimate on the east end construction of $500,000, but with the cost of building materials rising quickly, we don’t have a more specific estimate. The space is about 12,000 square feet, which can accommodate a number of different groups.

Mr. Taylor thanked the deacons and Nancy Singer for their work on the budget and read the resolution.

Resolution to approve the budget for 2021-22

WHEREAS: The Board of Deacons and the Council of Elders have evaluated numerous options as to how best to proceed in establishing the budget for 2021-22, and they have agreed together on the validity of the budget as presented:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Regular Members hereby approve of the budget as presented; and

FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Deacons is requested to report back to the congregation on at least a quarterly basis as to the status of actual financial operations compared to the budget.

The resolution was passed 385 yes; 10 no; 10 abstain

Pastor Moody gave a perspective on the budget and prayed as we move ahead on our rock-solid foundation.

Mr. Taylor read the resolution to approve CapinCrouse as auditor. A question was asked about the change in auditor. Nancy Singer explained that the deacons felt we had been with our current auditor, Mathieson, Moyski & Austin, for a number of years and perhaps a change would be in order. CapinCrouse was chosen for a

number of reasons, including the large number of churches they audit, and the large database of churches they maintain to which we can compare ourselves.

RESOLVED: That the firm of CapinCrouse LLP of Naperville, Illinois, be approved as the Church’s independent auditor for the fiscal year 2021-2022.

The resolution was passed 330 yes; 2 no; 1 abstainMr. Taylor read the final resolution:

Resolution to approve borrowing facilities

RESOLVED: That the Church is hereby authorized to borrow up to $500,000 through a line of credit at Wheaton Bank & Trust or through other loans to facilitate the Church’s cash-flow needs during the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

A brief history of the existence of the line of credit was provided by Nancy Singer.

The resolution was passed 359 yes; 20 no; 3 abstain

Mr. Taylor asked if there were other questions. A question was asked about discipleship and answered by John Seward. Questions about when church will be mask-free in view of CDC guidelines. Pastor Seward answered. Pastor Moody announced an all-church service on June 6 in the Commons parking lot at 10:30.

Mr. Taylor read the lyrics of the hymn, “To God Be the Glory,” and Pastor Moody closed in prayer. The meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Lorraine Triggs Acting Recording Secretary

College Church in Wheaton Congregational Meeting In-Person and Zoom

December 5, 2021

UNAPPROVED DRAFT

Council of Elders Chair Howard Costley began the congregational meeting by stating that this was the first hybrid (in-person/Zoom) congregational meeting the church has ever had. Mr. Costley thanked both those present in-person and those attending via Zoom. The first order of business was to determine that a quorum was present. 20% of the regular members (i.e.; 256 members) needed for quorum; actual members present: 154 in person, 169 via Zoom for a total of 323 (as verified by a physical count of hands raised for the in-person attenders, and via an online sign-in process for those on Zoom).

Mr. Costley asked Elder Tad Williams to open the meeting in prayer after which the meeting began at 5:29 p.m.

Mr. Costley thanked Tim Hollinger and his staff for capably managing the complicated technology needed to conduct a hybrid meeting. Mr. Costley also thanked Pastor Baxter Helm and Wil Triggs for monitoring questions/comments from the members on Zoom and thanked Pastor Dan Hiben for relaying those questions to the live meeting.

Mr. Costley then indicated the sole purpose of the meeting is for the Regular Members to vote on a motion from the Council of Elders: To approve Josh Maurer as Pastor of Discipleship.

Mr. Costley then read the resolution:

Resolution to approve josh maurer as pastor of discipleship

WHEREAS: The Bylaws provide that “The Senior Pastor shall recommend to the Council for its approval those of his choice to serve as members of the Pastoral Staff”; and WHEREAS: Senior Pastor Josh Moody has recommended Josh Maurer as Pastor of Discipleship;

WHEREAS: The Council of Elders has interviewed Josh Maurer on topics such as his sense of call to this position, his commitment to the Church’s Articles of Faith and Standards of the Christian Life, his personal habits of Christian maturity, and his views on key cultural issues, and the Council has recommended that he be approved as Pastor of Discipleship;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That Josh Maurer is hereby approved as Pastor of Discipleship beginning immediately.

After the resolution was read, Mr. Costley opened the meeting for questions. Since this was a meeting with both members in-person and on Zoom, Mr. Costley asked if there were any questions from those in-person members first. There were no questions, therefore, Mr. Costley asked if there were any questions from those members attending via Zoom. Pastor Hiben indicated there were no questions and only one comment from a member in enthusiastic support of Josh Maurer.

Hearing no further questions, Mr. Costley asked for members on Zoom to cast their vote thru an online process and a show of hands from the members inperson

voting for, against, and abstaining on the resolution to call Josh Maurer as Pastor of Discipleship.

During the wait for the votes to be counted and reported, Mr. Costley asked Dr. Singley to lead the congregation in singing Christmas carols.

After the votes were tallied for both the in-person and Zoom attenders, the vote was unanimous in favor of calling Josh Maurer as our Pastor of Discipleship with a total of 334 yes votes (156 in-person, 172 via Zoom, 6 absentee). There were no No’s or Abstains. (Several people joined Zoom after the count and 2 additional members joined in-person).

Mr. Costley asked Elder Mark Berg to close the meeting in prayer. The meeting concluded at 5:49 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Carol Schick Recording Secretary