Heard it at Council: August 2026

By Kate Silfen, Church Historian | August 11, 2026 Council Meeting Report

Council enjoyed gathering for a busy, in-person meeting in August. The Reverend Ashley Popperson opened our meeting with a prayer that justice and peace would reign in our world, and that Council always be aware of our larger purpose during our gatherings.

Treasurer Donna Matson provided an update on Old South’s financial picture. While we currently have a small budget surplus for the month due to a one-time gift, operating and maintenance expenses will continue to be a challenge for the foreseeable future. The 2025 audit was approved by the Board of Trustees and signed off on by Senior Minister John Edgerton and our accountant, Kathleen Steen.

Finance Committee Chair Paul Kuenstner provided Council members with an overview of the Church’s budget these past few years. While Congregational giving has increased by 7% and our building revenues have increased, expenses have grown by over 20% due to building repairs and expenses. This disparity represents the budget deficit over these past few years. Next year’s budget will need to take these conditions into account.

Tim Harbold offered an update on Roeshana Moore-Evans’ work with the BELONG Task Force. The Task Force has had a busy summer and has put together the Congregational Belonging Survey. Tim encouraged everyone to respond to the survey by August 31st so that the Task Force may gather the data to inform their work. Roeshana will join us at our next Council meeting and will help facilitate some Community Hour sessions in the coming months. Leadership Committee chair Randy Billings introduced a slate of nominees to serve on the search committee to hire our next associate pastor. The committee consulted Roeshana, who helped shape the qualities and experiences they were looking for in search committee members. Randy was pleased that so many people volunteered to be on the search committee and was moved by how much people care about Old South.

Randy introduced a motion that council approve the following members to serve on the search committee: Larry Bowers, Eric Brenner, Frankie Doolittle, Ashton Gregor, Eliette Hilaire, and Charles St. Amant. Council unanimously approved these nominees. Christian Service & Outreach Committee Chair Phil Dearing introduced a motion proposing that Old South serve as a fiscal agent for a young Palestinian man named Yazan Quidah who will be studying at the University of Limerick. The Reverend Rachel Barton expressed gratitude for this opportunity to be the church for a young man who has advocated for the rights of the LGBTQIA population in Palestine. Council unanimously approved this motion.

John closed our full meeting with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gifts that our members bring to the Old South Church.