Church Council Meeting Minutes
July 20, 2026
Opening and Attendance
● Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 8:01 pm by Kevin Bock.
● Present: Pastor Jon Wendt, Kevin Bock, Joel Schoer, Brittney Goche, Jared Zoller, Jeni Rudenick, and Tracie Fischer.
● Absent: Chris Christensen.
● Devotion: Pastor Jon led a devotion on Psalm 105:1-4 similar to "Hide N Seek." He shared a reflection on how we all search for God but can get tired of looking when we do not immediately see Him. However, God is always right in front of us. We are encouraged to take a step back and look for God in all the small things around us, realizing what we truly have.
Reports
● Pastor’s Report:
○ Conducted recent visitations.
○ Ordered additional copies of the large print Portals of Prayer.
○ Conducted the wedding of Katie and Austin, with another upcoming wedding scheduled for August 15th.
○ Met with the new Education Department. The fall kickoff is set for September 6th, featuring a new curriculum with materials available online. Bibles will be distributed, backpacks blessed, and a First Communion celebrated that same day. The first day of education classes will be September 9th. There will be two confirmands this coming year.
○ The Duluth Mission Trip takes place next week, starting July 26th.
○ "Roll Ins" have been going well, with the final one scheduled for July 28th.
○ Received a donation from the Wabasso Lions as the Youth Program served ice cream.
○ September 13th will mark the "God’s Work. Our Hands." celebration, and will also include the backpack program.
● Secretary’s Report: The minutes were emailed to the council ahead of time, and physical copies were distributed at the meeting.
● Treasurer’s Report: Current balances were presented as follows:
○ Checking: $18,809.78
○ Building & Repair: $2,964.52
○ Savings: $10,774.73
○ Memorial Savings: $13,280.24
○ Scholarship Savings: $1,704.52
○ CD (7-month at 3.55%): $32,000.00
○ Youth Group: $4,869.18
○ Scholarship CD: $10,300.00
○ Community Impact Fund: $6,311.04
○ Approval: A motion was made by Jan Arends and seconded by Joel Schoer to approve the Secretary and Treasurer reports. Motion carried.
Old Business
● Canopy Repairs: Discussion resumed regarding the wood issues under the canopy (previously tabled until spring). The ceiling will be updated to tin, and white was selected as the final color. Flush ceiling lights will also be installed. A work quote was received for $4,656.60. Chris Christensen has connected with Tim Iverson to schedule and complete these improvements in August.
● Internet Speed: The council continues to monitor slow internet speeds during services when all cameras and multiple personal devices are active on the network. If issues persist, the Wi-Fi password will be updated first before exploring other technical options.
● Weather Stripping: Updating the weather stripping on all doors is scheduled for August. Chris Christensen connected with Tim Iverson to complete this task.
● Electronic Sign Updates:
○ Redwood Nursery submitted a bid of approximately $1,235.00 for landscaping around the front signage area. The project will utilize river rock to remain continuous with the rest of the church grounds. A motion to accept this landscaping project was made by Chris Christensen and seconded by Jan Arends. Motion carried.
○ A St. Matthew nameplate featuring black trim on the sides will be installed above the electronic sign. This nameplate is being ordered in memory of the family who donated it.
○ The new sign will follow the exact same posting guidelines, permissions, and advertising rules currently established for the church website.
● Tree Treatment: The council discussed the treatment of property trees and voted to replace them if they die rather than paying for ongoing treatments.
New Business
● Software Update: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be usable starting in August. Currently reviewing replacement programs to use for church publications moving forward.
● Bank Signers: The approved bank signers for church youth account was reviewed and updated to Pastor Jon Wendt and Jan Remiger. A motion to approve was made by Tracie Fischer and seconded by Jared Zollner. Motion carried.
● Insurance: Notification was received that Brotherhood Insurance is increasing premium rates for the coverage of both the church building and the parsonage.
● Schedules: A new Communion Assistant and Usher list was compiled and reviewed by the council.
● Correspondence: A thank-you letter was received from the Synod expressing appreciation for St. Matthew’s recent donation.
● Parsonage Maintenance: The removal of old flooring and appliances at the parsonage is scheduled for Monday, June 27th, followed by the new flooring installation on June 28th. Items will be moved back into the home later that week.
● Conference Dues & Membership: The Conference will begin charging dues based on the number of baptized church members. In response, the council will review and update the current membership roles. This topic will be revisited together at the next meeting.
● Council Resignation: Brittney Goche will be stepping down from her position on the church council due to an upcoming family relocation. The council will begin looking for a replacement member.
Adjournment
● Close: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Jared Zollner and seconded by Jan Arends at 9:08 pm. Motion carried.
● The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
● Next Meeting: Scheduled for August 17th at 8:00 pm.