FRLC Board Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

2:00 pm MDT/3 pm CDT/1:00 pm PDT/4:00 pm EDT

 

            Check In & Prayer Ed, Gary, Melanie and Tom were present. Gary opened in prayer.

 

The Minutes from July Meeting were approved.

 

Treasurer’s report was approved. Our balance is  $965.65. The observation was made that we need to get the newsletter out as that usually generates contributions.

 

            Coordinator’s report It was a typical month, with several inquiries about the Fellowship. There continue to be 2-6 people at Thursdays meeting, with an average of 4. Ed is continuing to work with the Synod on calling his former intern as an Associate Pastor for Mission Development. He is exploring whether there are some ELCA resources to help make it happen. There is a regular group attending the lecture series and Conscious Contact meeting at his church. He hopes to get a newsletter out in the next week or so. RACA, the group for Episcopalian clergy in recovery has a new director who has reached out to Ed. They are having email conversations about doing some things jointly.

Ed and Tom both spoke at longest running men’s recovery retreat—this was the 67^th annual retreat. It was held at Olivet College in Michigan.—Congregationalist background. Ed has been invited several times and has sent other pastors from our fellowship, but was able to go himself this time. The speakers mostly were clergy. It was a great experience! The group was very supportive of clergy. In retrospect, it would have been good to bring some copies of our book to sell. Maybe next time.

 

           

Old Business:

Speaker for lay retreat: Melanie sent an inquiry to Nadia’s agent, who reported back that Nadia “is good with giving a recovery talk. She cannot commit for the entire retreat, but can do one talk. An additional conversation ensued about her work. We think she would be a good option.

 

New Business:

2016 FRLC retreat ideas: Bohdan and Melanie had phone conversation about the possibility of doing a regular FRLC retreat next year as it looks like the lay retreat is still a ways off. They discussed possible locations, and Melanie emailed a couple of members about potential retreat centers in their areas and their willingness to give some “on the ground” assistance. She received a positive response from a member in Denver, who suggested the YMCA of the Rockies, Snow mass Monastery or Allens Park Presbyterian Camp. Ed affirmed that he was supportive of doing this retreat as long as Bohdan and Melanie handle all the arrangements, including registration. Ed would be willing to include any information in the e-blasts and newsletter. Bohdan and Melanie will be talking later this week.

 

Other new business: Ed asked which title we preferred for the lay fellowship: Lutherans Alive Again (LAA), Recovery Network, or Lutheran Recovery Network (LRN). The three members who were on the call each preferred a different name. Go figure!

Newsletter topics we welcome suggestions. Ed would like to include general information that we are working on a 2016 retreat. Melanie will send him something after talking with Bohdan.

Tom closed the meeting with prayer.

 

Next meeting: September 2, 2015 2:00 pm MDT/2 pm CDT/1:00 pm PDT/3:00 pm EDT 12:00 pm