Pastor’s Report: November 2024

Our Leadership Board met this month to discuss and approve several important items as we continue to guide North Scottsdale United Methodist Church through the mission and goals we’ve established for 2025.

Leadership Board minutes can be found here: 2024 November Leadership Board Minutes.docx

Below are the highlights and decisions from our November meeting:

Key Updates and Decisions

• Mission and Goals for 2025
  I restated our church’s mission and 2025 goals as approved at the Church Conference, ensuring that our work continues to align with our vision for deeper spiritual connections, expanded engagement, and greater impact in our community and beyond.
• Policy and Financial Updates
  The Board approved all items requiring action from the Leadership Board Packet, including:
  • The final Safe Sanctuaries Policy.
  • A Music Ministries funding request to cover year-end expenses, with proceeds from the sale of a piano designated for the music restricted fund.
  • Facilities Team approval to proceed with a prayer garden project, including a new walkway installation by Lucero Concrete.
  • A change to the Guiding Principles, granting the Facilities Team oversight of the upkeep and sale of niches in the Columbarium.
• Stewardship Update
  Shellee Snoke reported that 55 pledges totaling $224,000 have been received for 2025. The Board approved sending reminder postcards in December and making phone calls to previous pledgers who have not yet submitted their pledges.
• Leadership Board Covenant
  The Board reviewed and approved the Leadership Board Covenant with minor revisions. Members were reminded to maintain a positive tone when speaking with the congregation and to direct questions or concerns to the appropriate person if unsure of the answer.
• Guiding Spiritual Sentence
  Each Board member was tasked with submitting a guiding spiritual sentence to me. These will be combined to create a unified Leadership Board sentence, reflecting our shared spiritual direction.
• Adult Discipleship Task Force
  Keith Sobraske will lead this task force, joined by Tom McPhee and Carey Johnson, to assess and enhance our adult discipleship offerings.
• Relationship with Ascension Lutheran Church (ALC)
  We began discussions about the future of our shared worship and partnership with ALC. The Conference has asked us to evaluate how the relationship is going and what its continuation might look like.

Looking Ahead
As we close out the year, the Leadership Board is focused on fostering stewardship, deepening discipleship, and planning for 2025. I remain deeply grateful for the dedication and thoughtful leadership of our Board as we continue this journey together.

Holiday Gathering
The Leadership Board Christmas party will be hosted by Steve and Carey Johnson on December 6 at 6:00 PM.