Towards 80 Years
By the end of the year 2005, Bethany had been facing a substantial deficit. Generosity and the Christmas spirit that year combined to clear our financial slate by year’s end. Louis Eckert’s Treasurer’s Report to the first council meeting of 2006 was exuberant:
“Good News! Response to our plea for deficit reduction was more than anticipated. Inflow for December was astounding.”
Not often has the Finance Committee been faced with a surplus. The additional unexpected rental income from the Y.M.C.A’s Day Care allowed our revenue to exceed March and April expenses. The ‘Y’ no longer required our facilities after the end of April.
In May we were pricing projection material, now installed in the chapel and also in May we at Bethany were accorded the honour of a “Benny Award”, presented by the Eastern Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Technically, the wording reads:
“In appreciation for having met and exceeding your 2005 congregational benevolence commitment.”
The Silent Auction and Dinnerfest had been a final step in that fulfillment.
For many months a controversy had been brewing throughout the ecclesiastical society and delegates to the Eleventh Biennial Assembly of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada might have experienced some trepidation over expected debates. Barb Mason, Bethany’s delegate to the conference later filed this report:
“The only business that was controversial was the Same Sex Blessings. The following motion was presented to the Assembly:
‘That the Eastern synod of the ELCIC recognizes that the blessing of same-gender couples who want to make a life-long commitment to one another in the presence of God and their community of faith is a matter of pastoral and congregational discretion. Authorization to perform such blessings shall require the consent of the pastor and the consent of the congregation or calling agency, and in consultation with the bishop. The motion passed, 197—75.”
Not unexpectedly, the resolution has not satisfied all members of Bethany and continues to be a matter of discussion and debate.
Since the early 1960s Bethany had encumbered and gradually financed the acquisition of several lots on the Springbank site with a view to enhancing the present church, expanding the building to meet progressing needs or even creating another building on the adjacent property. The Wish List formulated at the Edgewood Retreat may have re-awakened some of these thoughts. In any case the Council Meeting of Aug. 12, 2007 resolved to re-establish a Building Use Committee to ascertain Bethany’s current needs and also to call a congregational meeting to inform the membership of their findings, probably to ask for expansion and/or upgrading of the washroom and the pastor’s study. That congregational meeting, which took place on Sept. 6, 2007 presented three plans, A, B, and C.
Plan A -expand and upgrade present washrooms, include a family washroom and re-design the pastor’s office at a rough estimate of $10,000. cost.
Plan B -build an addition onto the north side of the church, include plan A and add 100 sq. ft. to the existing building. The estimated cost--$140,000 to $150,000.
Plan C -leave the building structure as is.
There was discussion as well over the condition of the existing boiler. Property Committee had reported receiving estimates from $60,000. to consider geo-thermal installations to $28,000. for conventional replacement.
The resolution which was Carried requested that committees get more information and report again.
In the midst of this continuing deliberation, the Church Council of Bethany Lutheran Church received a single sentence document. It read:
“I hereby tender my resignation as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, Woodstock,effective midnight, January 31, 2008.”
It was signed, “Richard E. C. Holm”
Bethany and its congregation needed a new pastor and the search began anew. Pastor Phil Heinze, Assistant to the Bishop provided the December, 2007 council meeting with names of willing interim pastors and after subsequent communications and interviews, the Council hired Pastor Ed Bastian from Trinity Lutheran Church, Windsor as an interim pastor to commence a 1-year contract on February 17, 2008. Woodstock Lutherans would be making another Change. Holy Cow!
The transition from Pastor Holm to Interim Pastor Bastian was probably facilitated by the hiring of Cindy Doering as part-time secretary and by the fact that Pastor Dick made himself available to both persons as he assumed his new roles as guide, church renovation manager and congregation member. The wearing of name tags might also have helped Pastor Bastian as he began his official duties on February 16th, 2008.
Those-who-are-Astute once again saw the opportunity to blend necessary innovations with cost-saving measures. The council meeting of May 8 explained:
“We had the Energy Auditor in the building...investigating the various ways we have or are doing toward conserving heat, etc. in our building. ...This was done to be submitted for our use in getting Trillium Funding.”
At the same meeting Treasurer Eckert would also
“Move that a Building Fund be established to receive monies for future building or capital projects. All projects shall be approved by the congregation and monies will be disbursed only as directed by Church Council. Any funds deemed surplus to building or capital project requirements may be reallocated by congregational approval.”
In the meantime, business as usual.
Is it a fact that all planned events are greatly successful or is it just human nature to report them that way? The June 10, 2009 Church Picnic may have added another variable; the minutes read:
“We asked Pastor Ed to put in a good word so we may have nice weather for our picnic.”
Whatever the case, the relaxing lawn chair environment, music by Pastor Holm’s Country Mishaps, burgers, salads, desserts or divine intervention, the picnic was declared to have been a great success.
Pastor Bastian’s name was installed in the outdoor sign, the decision to budget $1,000. towards the Yukon Youth Event, the signing of a contract with Rick’s Heating for a new furnace and water heater and painting of the furnace room before their installation were events current for council interest. October planning of the Novemberfest was another focal point and the profit of $810.57 is sufficient evidence of another success. Again food was involved; one begins to wonder if there might be a connection...
Attention now focussed on the ELCICs Congregational Mission Profile which was to be completed and then sent to Synod office. An explanation was forwarded to the congregation; it read:
“This document is used to help with selecting a new pastor to fill the vacancy left when Pastor Dick retired. This gives an incoming pastor insight into the Bethany congregation’s history and plans for the future.”
Yet another initiative from Synod would send two representatives, Pastors Rick Pryce and Janet Weber to Bethany to speak to the council on The Renewed Vision for Mission. Specifically the presentation was purposed to encourage us to up our benevolence giving from 7 percent to 10 percent.
Pastor Ed Bastian had now fulfilled most of his mandate but had volunteered to attend the summer Confirmation camp and represent Bethany if we did not have a pastor. In leaving, he requested permission to purchase the puppet theatre...”
Pastor David Hammer was introduced to the congregation as our Intentional Interim Minister starting on February 1st, 2009. His name was installed on the outdoor sign even as Council deliberated over joining with one or two other Lutheran churches and sharing the services of a pastor.
By April, retired Dick Holm and his band of merry volunteers had commenced the insulating of the chapel; their efforts were completed at a much-reduced cost of under $5,000 for the installation, drywall and paint. A new roof had been completed by June 14.
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