People's Church of Chicago

Trustees Informal Discussion (No Quorum)
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
5:13 PM – 6:21 PM CST

Note: No quorum was present, so this was a discussion-only meeting. No formal votes or actions were taken.

Attendance

Present: Jason, Elizabeth, Grace, Larry
Non-voting: Jake

General Notes

• Next formal meeting to start at 6:00 PM (proposed change).
• Jake unavailable to print bulletins on March 8 and March 15 due to election duty.

Finance Committee Discussion

Jake presented several budget items and changes being considered for the upcoming year:

• Pastoral Expense: QuickBooks incorrectly deducting taxes → needs correction
• Phone expenses: Up to $3,000/year
• Guest sermon speakers: Up to $1,500
• Musician fees: Up to $2,000
• UUA contribution: Up to $900
• Labor Day picnic: Increase expected
• Facility fees: Up to > $4,000
• Special Events / Church Growth: Proposed increase to $1,000 (special events allocation ~$5,850)
• Suggestion: Move Zoom, cell phone, hardline phone, etc. into a new Administrative: Communication category
• Laptop Ministry: Suggested new line item of $360/year for supplies (hard disks, cleaning, maintenance) under ministries.

Ati Memorial Service

• Saturday at 1:00 PM, Room 600
• Open invitation / commendation planned
• Suggested phrasing:

  “Lord, we send this body back to you; thank you for allowing Ati to be a part of our life…”

• Zoom link to be provided

Pastoral Search Committee

• Jason: Progress is good
• Grace: Approximately 90% of concerns alleviated
• Desire expressed to introduce the candidate at the upcoming annual meeting

Laptop Ministry

• Jason preparing list of out-of-pocket expenses paid to date
• Proposed $360/year budget for replacement parts and maintenance supplies

Phone

• Grace will create a standard text template for unrecognized / spam numbers:
  “This appears to be a wrong number”

Picnic

• Tentatively planned to remain in March

Annual Meeting

• Tentative date: Week after Easter → April 12, 2026 (to be voted on)
• Jason to read minutes (in place of Ati)
• Planned reports:
  • Grace: Pastoral search update (Dan to provide info)
  • Jason: Laptop Ministry
  • Larry: Elevate Care (with Joseph)
  • Grace: Aldi Gift Card program
  • Jake: Fundraising / website report
• Charles appears to feel more included now that he can play music during additional parts of the service

Website Improvements

• Grace: Enhance donation capability, email-from-site functionality, and overall usability

Open Studio Project (Art and Wellness)

• Currently in third session
• No request received for additional donation
• Grace to contact Rob for status update

Class of 2029 Leadership

• Grace and Elizabeth continuing
• Jimmy removed due to non-response (pending any reply)

Other Business

SNAP / Volunteer Hours Issue (Charles)

• Charles is on SNAP and must complete 80 hours of volunteer work
• Currently signed up to care for his mother (registered as “friend of the church”)
• Question: Can People’s Church officially sign off on volunteer hours for Charles (and potentially others in similar situations) caring for family members?

Discussion points:

• Jake: Could be interpreted as fraud territory despite good intent
• Consensus: Need proper documentation / process
• Action: Grace to consult lawyers and determine the safest, legal approach (paper form signed by mother, online submission, etc.)

Adjourned: 6:21 PM

Notes compiled by:

Jason Page
Trustee Secretary