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The Congregation Council met on April 21, 2026.

President Martina Longoria chaired the meeting which included:

Electing Federico Salas-Isandri, to join Maureen Sahualla and Terri Koehler, as a delegate to the May 2026 ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Assembly, replacing Susan Myres Uri who is unable to attend.

Tasked the Property Management Committee and the Technology Committee to engage Johnny Longoria in safety/threat prevention-assessments of the congregation’s properties. The council expressed its gratitude to Johnny Longoria for his recent Active Attack Training.

Appointed a Task Force, with members Beverly Palmer, Anna Christensen, and Cheryl Gaspard, to review, consider, and recommend to the council an Archival and Records Retention Policy.

Reviewed the Property Maintenance Committee's recommendations of contractor bids for replacing four roofs at our Memorial Drive campus at a total cost of $78,000 and authorized this work to be completed as soon as possible and authorized replacement of lift pumps in the basement ($12,000) and replace the failed Air Handling Unit - 2nd floor ($45,000) at our Rice Village campus.

Accepted the recommendation of the Finance Committee to borrow $135,000 from the parsonage fund to cover these costs, and, after discussion, amended this internal borrowing recommendation by adding $94,000 from the parsonage fund to completely repay the line of credit we have with the ELCA's Mission Investment Fund saving the congregation 7% interest.

Authorized Treasurer Christopher Bryant and the Finance Committee to establish two separate accounts with the Mission Investment Fund: (1) Parsonage Fund Account with the remaining sale proceeds; and (2) a separate Capital Fund Account with funds currently available.

The council committed to repaying with interest the funds borrowed from the Parsonage Fund over the next several years.

The next meeting of the Congregation Council is Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.