Council Meeting Highlights + February 19, 2026

Trinity's Congregation Council meets each 3rd Thursday at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to attend and observe. To speak at a meeting, or with other comments or questions, email the council: council2526@tlcs.church.

Greetings from the Congregation Council!

Highlights from February 19, 2026 Council Meeting

We opened with devotions and prayer.

• TLCS LNC (Lynnwood Neighborhood Center) Engagement Team Final Report and Recommendation: Larry Pennings joined as guest. He and council members Mary Denny and Mike Schultz shared highlights from their report and recommendations. The Council thanked the team for their work, reflection, and intentionality, and is in full support of the recommendations. The team pointed out how the work of the TLCS-LNC Joint Operating Committee (JOC) is concluding, and how valuable it will be to continue formal connections between TLCS and LNC. They highlighted the importance of TLCS shepherding this relationship, with formal means of maintaining the vision of LNC. The group plans to continue the work of inviting service providers to connect with the congregation. The team has broken their recommendations into three main areas: governance, operations, and ministry. The Council is committed to following-up, and will start implementing some of them already. The report will be available to the congregation, and updates will be shared during the April Congregational meeting.

• Updates on new positions. Progress is being made on the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) required for us calling the part-time pastoral care position. Next steps include seeking a reference from someone connected to TLCS, and options were discussed to be pursued.

• Pr. Hector sabbatical. Staff, Council, and Pr. Hector’s Mutual Ministry Committee are working on an application to the Lilly Foundation that can support Pr. Hector taking a sabbatical in 2027. The application is quite detailed, and reflects on how we embrace this sabbatical in support of the life of the congregation. The Council discussed representatives to shepherd the various elements of the application, as we define and affirm plans that can make this opportunity for Pr. Hector and the Congregation a reality.

• Deacon possibility. The Council discussed possible dates for forums in April so that we can have the congregation’s voice on the process.

• Proposed Position Descriptions development & Positions search Process Gratitude was shared for the teams that have worked thoughtfully on position descriptions for the Youth Ministry Coordinator and Relational Ministries Coordinator positions. Team members for the Relational position were Sofia Garfias-Yi, Beth Cook, and Sue Carlson. Committee members for the Youth position were Lori Schmidt, Theresa Larson, Lane Amador, and Laura Maier. Additionally, Kim Palmer and Wayne MacGuire represented the Personnel Committee. The positions will continue to be refined. For example, wording may be added to the Relational description as a reflection of recommendations from the TLCS-LNC engagement team that coincide.

• Diversity and Inclusion Ministry (DIM). The Council reviewed a letter from the DIM which provided background on Reconciling in Christ (historical ELCA designation) and Reconciling Works (non-profit), related to our vision for the LGBTQIA+ community. The DIM aims for diversity and inclusion work that embraces all people and diversity even more expansively then RIC work, so we are exploring and learning on what supports are available since RW is more limited in their aims through their formal designation. This is a strong value of TLCS, so more information will be forthcoming as we learn.

• Winter Council Retreat. The Council retreat was moved from February and is now March 14th.

Humbly,

Your Congregation Council (Submitted by Jenny Louch, Secretary)