July 27, 2008 Church Conference Minutes

MANCHACA BAPTIST CHURCH

Moderator J. P. Kirksey called the Conference to order.  The Minutes of the May Conference were approved with two changes:  in the second paragraph on page one, second line, the last figure should be $1,117.89 (not $1,117.898) and on the second page, second paragraph, Mr. Bill Gandy intended to convey that Mr. Watts has volunteered to assist when needed, not that he has been working on the New Wing since his medical absence.  The June Minutes were approved as printed.

Assistant Treasurer Jimmie Felps presented the Financial Report, but noted the last payroll of the month did not transfer from the Payroll Module to the Report, not reflecting about $10,000 more in  expenditures.  June was a five Sunday month with income of $81,000 and expenditures of $60,000 (about $70,000 is accurate.)  He moved the Financial Report be approved as printed, with the payroll problem noted.  His motion was seconded and approved.  Year to date, income will be about $2,000 more than expenditures.

Bill Gandy of the Long Range Planning Committee was asked to report on the New Wing.  In regard to a question about finances, he noted the Kitchen Fund is separate from the New Wing Fund.  Don Collins and Billy Gandy selected the new range ($4,000) and five-bay hot/cold serving table ($1,400).  Repair of the donated ice machine was under $300, and it is fully functional and operating beautifully now.  The dish washer is operational, and takes only four minutes per load (washing, rinsing and sanitizing.)  Since our last Conference, $5,500 to $5,600 has been expended of the almost $13,500 on hand in the Kitchen Fund.  We still must purchase a refrigerator, freezer, stainless work tables, etc.  The kitchen floor is complete:  sealed with a color stain and topped with a polyurethane coating, and the baseboards are all installed.  The 500-gallon propane tank was donated for $1 a year.  Its cost would have been about $1,500.  It has been delivered but is not yet connected.

              We are almost at the break-even point financially with probably between $2,000 to $4,000 worth of incidental items to come up.  Inspections are requiring small expenses each week.  We must complete the floors and door hardware for final inspections.  The Travis County Fire Marshal came Friday.  Tuesday, the hydro test will take place:  water will be sprayed for testing and several conditions must be met.  The Fire Marshal’s final inspection is possibly as early as next week.  Among items required is all doors must close and completely latch by themselves, the emergency lighting operate properly when tested, etc. 

Darrell Caldwell has many small things to finish this coming week and need many volunteers.    Mr. Gandy will have cataract surgery Tuesday and for two weeks will be unable to lift or do any physical labor.  Wayne Watts and Aubrey Southerland may be able to come and assist with some of the time-consuming items.  Curtis Gann has hired a gentleman he works with to finish the floors.  They have completed the kitchen and classroom on the first floor.  The striping of the gym is finished and that cost was donated by a church member.  The water-stained carpet in the Cornerstone classroom and adjoining hallway has been replaced.  Volunteers are needed to put carpet tiles down in several classrooms on the second floor.

The AC people are coming to charge up the new units with freon.  The plumbing is mostly complete and the painting is almost totally complete.  On the exterior, we are missing part of the stair rail going to the Youth Room.  The elevators will be operational but are not turned over to us because we are awaiting some fire inspection materials to be installed.  We are also waiting for the some contractors to return and finish their jobs.  Mr. Larry Foster persuaded several contractors to come complete their work by letting them know it had to be done before he could schedule their job inspections. 

Paul Beltran and Mr. Gandy had a brain storm that the church logo would look great in the middle of the gym floor.  Kara Wren took on the job and has only a little touch up painting remaining, but it looks great.  Carl Wren has also worked on the gym floors and they will be sealed after the gray painting is complete.  August 1, we will have gutters installed all around the New Wing, donated by Rocky Barnett, the son of MBC’ers Gene & Frankie.  His employees are volunteering their labor after regular work hours.  A member has also donated the cost of the lift required for the installation of the gutters.  Mr. Barnett also installed the gutters on our existing building, donating both the material and labor.  Several people have donated many things at a cost of $700-900 and up.  There has been a tremendous outpouring from the members who have supplied many needs toward the completion of the building, and McCoy’s has been very generous in giving us discounts.  

We will not have porches on the exterior at this time.  The man we would have hired to do this work volunteered to go ahead and construct them, being paid later, but we declined that generous offer.  Mr. Gandy said it would be impossible to mention everyone who has helped physically and financially, both contractors and church members.

              The New Wing will be dedicated on August 24, which is also Promotion Sunday, and we will have a covered dish luncheon in the New Wing.  When the Conference concludes, Mr. Gandy invited those present to tour the new addition to our building.    

              Mr. Wren praised the dedication of both Mr. Gandy and Mr. Caldwell in the construction of such a fine building. 

On behalf of the Deacon Body, Chair Lee Allen Corley reported the Nehemiah House Committee has come with a report this evening.  He made a motion to place the Nehemiah House on the market in early October unless the church designates another ministry to use it on or before the September Conference.  His motion was seconded. 

Two weeks ago, the Committee Chair met with Pastor Taylor, providing a letter from the Committee regarding the future of the House.  They recommended discontinuing the operation as of July 1.  Over the last year or so, it has been increasingly difficult to select men who are genuinely interested in establishing their new Christian lives.  They have used the House as a stepping stone to leave prison and then returned to their former life-styles.  The paper work the men submitted did not accurately reflect their intentions of living Christian lives and being gainfully employed.  Clarence, the resident manager, has moved, out leaving the house vacant.  There is now no income and the mortgage and utility payments must be made.  The house sitting empty invites vandalism or squatters.  James Josey reported a Bible study is held there weekly and the neighbors are aware of the current situation and are very good about keeping an eye on the house.  Discussion centered on waiting 60 days to put the house on the market to give other potential ministries an opportunity to firm up proposals.  Power and water must remain on to permit the Bible studies, and if they were disconnected, the property would be considered abandoned and insurance rates would increase.  The motion was approved with one dissention.

On behalf of the Deacon Body, Mr. Corley moved to activate Mike North as an active Deacon effective immediately.  He was previously ordained and has served as a Deacon in Wimberley.  The motion was seconded and approved.

Mr. Corley then reported the Deacons present a motion to publicize the following, to be voted on at the August Conference, to amend the Constitution and By-Laws:  “By-Laws Section VI.  Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.  Must be active deacon.”  be changed to “Either the treasurer or assistant treasurer must be an active deacon.”  This change is recommended because it is difficult to find both a treasurer and assistant treasurer who are active deacons.  Any change to the Constitution and By-Laws must be proposed in one Church Conference and voted on in the next Conference, with advance notice of not less than thirty days.  The motion was approved that this be publicized and acted on at the August Conference. 

There being no further business, the Conference adjourned with prayer voiced by Ken Bolton.  Those who wished to do so were invited to a guided tour of the new facility.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Kirksey, Church Clerk