News

Members Present:
Most Reverend William Shawn McKnight, Bishop 
Reverend Monsignor Robert A. Kurwicki, Vicar General 
Mr. Benjamin H. Roodhouse, Chancellor 
Mr. Gary Wilbers, Chairperson 
Mr. Michael Kelly, Vice Chairperson 
Mr. Bob Hackman, Executive Secretary 
Mr. Rich Anderson 
Ms. Barbara Reichart 
Mr. Matthias Tolksdorf 
Ms. Arlene Vogel 

Present by Invitation:
Mr. Joseph Braddock, Diocesan Financial Ombudsman 
Ms. Patricia Lutz, Associate Director of Stewardship 
Mr. Jake Seifert, Senior Director of Development 
Mr. Phil Macias, Chief Financial Officer 
Mrs. Kathy Smith, recording secretary 

I. OPENING PRAYER
Bishop McKnight opened the meeting with a prayer.
A. Bishop McKnight introduced Mr. Phil Macias, CPA as the new diocesan Chief Financial Officer.

II. ROLL CALL
The recording secretary took roll.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. April 27, 2023 meeting
B. June 9, 2023 meeting 
MOTION: Mr. Anderson motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Hackman provided the second. Minutes approved as submitted. 

IV. APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES
Mr. Wilbers noted that Ms. Reichart, Ms. Vogel and Mr. Hackman received updated appointment letters. Mr. Hackman appointed Executive Secretary.
ACTION: Bishop McKnight asked members to make recommendation of other parishioners to appoint to the board for the next meeting. 

V. FINAL BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2024
Mr. Macias asked Mr. Braddock to present the final fiscal year 2024 budget. Discussion followed.
MOTION: Mr. Hackman motioned to recommend approval of the budget to Bishop McKnight as presented. Ms. Vogel provided the second. Motion approved. Bishop McKnight approved the budget as presented.
ACTION: During discussion, council members requested a meeting for board development and orientation in order to understand the structure of the diocese. 

VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Finance Council held discussion in executive session.

VII. REQUEST FOR CANONICAL CONSENT FOR HELIAS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
Tabled until next meeting.

VIII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
A. Building and Properties: Mr. Roodhouse led discussion on the major projects within the diocese.

B. Catholic Stewardship Renewal (CSR): Mrs. Lutz, Associate Director of Stewardship for the Diocese, gave an update on CSR. All parishes have now started the tithing model of stewardship. Discussion followed. 

C. Development: Mr. Seifert updated the council on special collections and reported that the Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA) ended 6/30/23. The CSA goal for 2023 was $1.1 million and total pledges were approximately $1,089,000. 

D. Finance: Mr. Macias requested Mr. Braddock present the financial reports for period end June 30, 2023 for the Diocese of Jefferson City. A copy is part of these minutes: 

• Statement of Financial Position
• Statement of Net Assets
• Statement of Activities
• Statement of Functional Expenses

Discussion followed.
ACTION: A discrepancy noted in the statements. Mr. Braddock asked to send a corrected statement of activities and statements of financial position to members. 

Financial Statements other entities: Financial reports for My Community Our Mission (MCOM), Diocesan Excellence in Education Fund (DEEF), Priest Mutual Benefit Society (PMBS) and the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City Fund were distributed prior to the meeting and are part of these minutes. Discussion followed. 

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Audit Sub-Committee: Ms. Vogel requested an update from Mr. Braddock about the audit deficiencies. Mr. Braddock reported there are investment policies for all the funds invested in the pooled investments now that sub-accounts were established with Central Invest. Documentation for restricted funds: Mr. Braddock reported he is working with the diocesan legal counsel to establish documents for any restricted funds that do not have the required information. 

B. Policy & Procedures Sub-Committee: Mr. Wilbers requested an update from Mr. Braddock. Mr. Braddock reported that the Finance Manual would be presented to Finance Councils and Bookkeepers as the next phase of the rollout. 

C. Fraud Hotline: Mr. Roodhouse distributed a flowchart for the Whistleblower Hotline Screening Process. Discussion followed. The council had no objection to the process as outlined. 

X. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Finance Council Statutes: Mr. Roodhouse presented a copy of the Statutes of the Finance Council of the Diocese of Jefferson City. A copy is part of these minutes. The Council had no objections to the statutes. 

B. Fundraising Policy: Mr. Roodhouse reported that the policy will be rolled out to the parishes soon. 

C. Communication meeting: Mr. Wilbers reported that he had a meeting at the diocese to discuss ways to better promote the good works of the diocese and share our message. He noted one of the ways to communicate this was to run a regular column in the Catholic Missourian and provide information, such as who is on this council and other topics. 

D. Proposed meeting dates for 2024: Mr. Wilbers asked that all members make note of the dates of the proposed meetings for 2024 as distributed; a copy is part of these minutes. 

E. Nomination Committee: Discussion held about the need for a committee chair to assist with adding new members to the council. Vice Chair, Mr. Kelly, accepted this responsibility. 

XI. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 11 am at the Catholic Center.

XIV. CLOSING PRAYER AND ADJORNMENT
Bishop McKnight offered the closing prayer. Mr. Wilbers adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Truesdale
Recording Secretary