The conference meeting of the Santa Clara Valley Lutheran Parish
was held the afternoon of October 11, 2014 following the Special
Synod Assembly held at the Sierra Pacific Synod at Grace Lutheran
Church in Palo Alto.

Conference dean Pastor Anne Carlson presided at the meeting.
Conference secretary Randy Presuhn recorded the minutes.

Pastor Carol Been reported on the work of the conference's
"outside the box" task force, and facilitated a spirited
discussion.  A partial list of concerns/dreams discussed:
   * resources & organizational health
     - living out of fear/scarcity rather than God's abundance
     - rather see chaos than malaise
     - time to do something shocking
   * the importance of relationships
     - importance of trust and safe environments
     - strength of working together
     - being present with people
     - bringing the Gospel to all ages
     - diversity as a consequence of obedience to Jesus
     - less paternalistic, needs to empower people
     - supportive community
   * spiritual depth
     - living the Gospel message is more important than
       filling pews
     - cheap grace
     - shallow / indefensible
   * the relevance of our work in the world
     - poverty
     - peace
     - outreach, social justice
     - relevant caring

The discussion wrapped up with a straw poll of how the task
force should procede.  The sense of the room appeared in favor
of having the team work with congregations' councils.

Nominations were requested for the position of District D
lay female Synod Council member.  Glenda Voss of New Creation
Lutheran Church in San Jose was the only nominee.

Nominations were also requested for voting members to serve
at the August 8-13 2016 Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans,
Lousiana.  The names surfaced were:
  * Lay female:
    - Amelia Johnson of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran
      Church in San Jose
    - Cindy Arnett of Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino
  * Lay male:
    - Jim White of St. John's Lutheran Church in Sunnyvale
    - Randy Presuhn of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran 
      Church in San Jose
    - Jay Everson of New Creation Lutheran Church in San Jose
    - Marco Buitrago of Pueblo de Dios in San Jose
    - Jim Carlson of New Creation Lutheran Church in San Jose
  * Clergy:
    - Pastor Manda Truchinski of Christ the Good Shepherd
      Lutheran Church in San Jose
    - Pastor Anne Carlson of New Creation Lutheran Church
      in San Jose
    - Pastor Eduardo Trejo of Pueblo de Dios in San Jose
    - Pastor John Goldstein of Grace Church of Evergreen in
      San Jose

Jim Clark-Moore presented a proposal for the Encompass
Homeless Ministry.  Key points from the presentation
included:
   * planning to eventually become a separate 501(c)3,
     but initially operating under the auspices of Hope
     Lutheran Church of Santa Clara
   * looking for financial commitments from other congregations
     amounting to roughly $41,150 per year
   * the "pledge" forms recognize that most congregations'
     budgets won't be voted on for some months
   * Interested congregations include New Creation Lutheran Church
     of San Jose, St. Francis Lutheran Church of San Francisco,
     and Hope Lutheran Church of Santa Clara.

Jim White, conference treasurer, provided a review of the
history of the conference's funding of other ministries
in the past.  It was noted that there may also be foundations
interested in supporting this ministry.  Jim Clark-Moore
stated that he is available to speak at congregations
considering this proposal.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned.