Dear OSC members & friends,
Last Sunday at the annual congregational meeting, the members present (in-person and online) unanimously voted to approve several important proposals, effective July 1, 2022. It has been an exceptionally good year at OSC and we want to share the decisions we made together and invite you to celebrate with us.
Two new Elders added to the Board
We are very excited to announce that the addition of Jen Zoutendyk and Andy Eaton to the Board of Elders. Jen and Andy fill the vacancies created by outgoing Board members Jordan Hathcock, who stepped off the Board early last year, and Tina Edwards, who is taking a break after finishing her second term. We are so grateful to Tina for serving on the Board for four years, two of which she served expertly as Chair during a time of significant and often difficult transitions when OSC was still First Christian Church.
Jen Zoutendyk has been a member at OSC for over four years and was involved in our homeless outreach programs until they were suspended during the COVID lockdown. She manages a business here in Oceanside and resides in Carlsbad with her husband David. Andy Eaton has been a member for about two years and serves on the Anti-Racism Team where he helps lead the No Greater Love anti-racism group. He and his wife Stephanie and their son Luke live in Carlsbad where Andy runs his own CPR training business. Both Jen and Andy brings a wealth of wisdom and experience to the Elder Board.
Budget approved for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
The congregation also approved the new fiscal year budget, which begins on July 1, 2022 and ends on June 30, 2023. Overall giving for 2021-2022 increased by roughly $116,000 over the prior year’s total of $199,000, for a projected total of $316,000, which reflects growth of 58% year-over-year. For 2022-2023, the congregation approved a budget of $338,000, projecting more modest growth of 7.5% overall.
The new budget includes cost-of-living increases for the staff as well as the addition of a part-time Operations Coordinator and a Sunday morning live-stream specialist. If you have any questions about the details of the new budget, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Board.
Jenell Coker officially becomes Co-Minister
Jenell Coker, our new Co-Minister
The biggest news from last Sunday is that the congregation unanimously voted to recognize Jenell Coker as Co-Minister alongside Jason. In doing so, the Board and congregation recognized two things:
Jenell has long been co-leading our church without title or pay: The reality is that Jenell has functionally served as co-minister of OSC for the last 5 years. She and Jason work collaboratively in every respect, and every year she works countless hours dreaming for the future, advancing the mission, checking-in with congregants, providing prayer and visitation, ministering communion, leading groups, and much more.
Jenell’s gifting and experience are evidence of her ministry calling: Jenell has been in ministry leadership for well over 20 years, including serving on staff at two churches prior to OSC where she oversaw large ministry operations. She is also a skilled manager who, before joining the OSC staff, was campus director for several years at a large retirement community, overseeing over 120 residents and over 20 staff members.
However, Jenell has never been properly recognized or compensated for the true scope of her ministry at OSC. Unfortunately, this is common in church cultures where women are often the un-acknowledged partner alongside their husband, yet relegated to “Pastor’s wife” status.
The Board feels now is the time to correct this inequity in our church. This is consistent with our current Mission Commitment, which lists “empowering women” as one of our highest stated priorities. We are proud to already have women serving on our Elder Board and as leaders in our ministry teams. Recognizing Jenell as our Co-Minister further solidifies our commitment to take this priority seriously by affirming and empowering Jenell in her leadership.
What will Co-Ministering look like?
As Co-Ministers, Jenell and Jason will lead as equal partners overseeing day-to-day operations. They will each continue to serve part-time, with their weekly hours and pay being combined (46 hours per week total) and split evenly (23 hours per week each) to ensure pay equity. They will also share the one seat (and one vote) on the OSC Board of Elders that accompanies the “lead minister” position, according to our bylaws.
Serving as bi-vocational Co-Ministers will also enable Jenell and Jason to pursue the continuing education that benefits our church: Jenell is currently halfway through her graduate program for Spiritual Direction at San Francisco Theological Seminary; this summer Jason is beginning a Ph.D in Intercultural Studies program at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Remaining focused on our Mission
We’ve come a long way since the turning point of our first Mission Commitment four and one-half years ago. We’ve grown healthier and more stable as a congregation. We’ve become more inclusive and impactful as a public witness to the scandalous grace of Christ. And, as COVID slowly subsides, we are growing closer in community.
In the midst of all this change, our task together remains the same:
To be a collective expression of inclusive, inspiring, and impactful Christian spirituality wherever it is needed, by growing together in the love, peace, and justice of Christ for the sake of our relationships, our cities, and our world.
Thank you for being part of our church community! We are excited about what lies ahead and we hope you are too.
Sincerely,
The OSC Board of Elders
Nathan Short, Lucy Salazar, Dan Omniewki, Tina Edwards, Marté Riley, & Jason Coker