Wednesday, April 4, 2001
St. Agnes' Episcopal Church, Little Falls, New Jersey
Approved Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting
Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger;
President; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary; Mr. John
Zinn, Treasurer
Elected by Districts: The Rev. Martin Bagay, Ms. Kathleen Ballard, The Rev. Michel
Belt, The Rev. Kim Capwell, The Rev. Randall Day, Ms. Ann Hirsch, The Rev. Briggett
J. Keith, Ms. Elizabeth Moss, Mr. Nat Nelson, Ms. Nancy Read, Mr. Jack Reade,
Mr. Don Roberts, The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley, The Rev. John F. Stanton, The Rev.
Gordon H. Tremaine, Ms. Margaret Tuttle, The Rev. Paul Walker, Ms. Patty Watts,
Ms. Pat Yankus.
Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Sidney King
Absent: Mr. Michael F. Rehill
Others: Mr. John E. Lynch; Ms. Doris Mardirosian; Mr. Dean Weber
Staff: The Rev. Canon Paul Hunt, Ms. Susan Robinson
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Bishop Croneberger.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Members were invited to introduce themselves, giving their names and congregational
affiliation and sharing what excited them about being on Council.
STRUCTURE/ORIENTATION AND
VISIONING CONVOCATION REVIEW
Bishop Croneberger reviewed the planning that led to the one-day convention and
the Visioning Convocation held in January. He outlined the activities since the
Visioning Convocation, some of which is part of a cultural change process for
our entire diocese.
The Visioning Convocation produced a mountain of paper that included the district
mind maps and baptismal covenant mind maps. The district maps were being given
to the district conveners for review. Staff members had already reviewed the
baptismal vow mind maps. That exercise revealed common threads in the responses:
spirituality, parish collaboration, youth work, concerns for and of the elderly,
lay education in a variety of interest areas, diversity and justice issues, and
community development and outreach. Based on those common threads, staff time
and resources would be deployed.
Shortly after the Convocation, the bishop and the canon to the ordinary began
their weekly Tuesday visits with clergy in the districts on a rotating basis.
The district conveners have met twice and will meet again on a regular basis.
It was hoped that the meetings would provide support, identify areas where resources
might be needed, and enhance communication.
The task was for districts to understand that direction will not come from the
diocesan offices. Rather the districts might identify ministries and missions
that were needed and the resources from the diocese would then be available from
31 Mulberry Street.
Staff reorganization work had begun at Episcopal House in an effort to better
resource and support the work of our congregations and districts. The first step
was to form a congregational development team with existing resource and program
staff. They included: Mabel Allen, Voice editor; Carla Lerman, ECD Executive
Director; Judith Seelbach, Commission on Aging Executive Director; Kitty Kawecki,
Bishop Anand Resource Center Director; Elizabeth Kaeton, Oasis Missioner; Rich
Bardusch, Youth Ministries Director; Johanna Young, Network Administrator; and
Tim Russo, diocesan property manager.
The success of the recently held Celebrating Creative Congregations 3 affirmed
that many resources were available within the diocese.
A review of the Employee Policies and Procedures was in process, and it was expected
that the thirty or so employees working at Episcopal House would all be covered
under the same policies. Additionally, staff members responsible for the management
of programs will become accountable to the bishop or the bishop's designee. Each
person working at Episcopal House will have clarity in the reporting lines and
accountability requirements. This , too, was a cultural change.
Regarding Diocesan Council committee assignments, the bishop viewed the primary
work of members to be with the districts. However, there needed to be several
committees established that included an executive committee, a finance/insurance
committee (previously the budget and insurance committees), and the outreach
committee which has already been appointed for its immediate work at the end
of the month.
AGENDA
It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda. The motion was adopted.
MINUTES
It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of January 10,
2001 The motion to accept the minutes was adopted.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mr. John Zinn presented the treasurer's report. As an orientation for the new
members, he described in detail the various lines in the approved budget.
It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion
was adopted.
DISTRICT REPORTS
District 1:
The Rev. Kim Capwell reported the district met twice
since the Visioning Convocation. Each time was marked
by good attendance and enthusiasm. Representatives to
Council were elected and a person volunteered to join
the Commission on Aging. Two communication issues were
addressed: establishing an e-group and identifying one
person within each congregation to receive and disseminate
district information. A five week district-wide Lenten
program was underway. A subcommittee for district youth
work was set up, as well. Other planned events included:
pulpit exchanges; a district wide picnic in July; and
joint bible study.
District 2:
Ms. Patty Watts reported on the active youth work by
young people within the district, that included a newly
established program called Y2D2 (youth to district 2;
youth to diocese too). The young people visit weekly
each church for joint worship and program. A member directory
was in the publication stage. Four interest groups were
set up: youth, outreach, Christian education, and worship
and liturgy. Additionally, a study was planned to review
the outreach work of each congregation to see what the
impact might be if the work was jointly undertaken.
District 3:
The Rev. Michel Belt reported that the district held
two meetings. He described the district as being stretched
geographically, since it reaches from Dover to West Orange.
The members were excited to work collectively. The group
had determined common interests were in outreach and
Christian education. Socializing played an important
role in their lives together.
District 4:
The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley reported the district met twice
and includes all Newark congregations and several others
in suburban Essex County. Meeting attendance had been
good. Currently, the strategy was to determine common
interests and dividing into interest groups. One such
interest group that had already started to work together
was a tutoring project for Weequahic High School in Newark.
Other expressed areas of interest included youth group
work; forum for more interaction; diversity dialogues;
and a youth summit to assemble youth directors for joint
calendar planning. Building relationships among the district
congregations was important, and to accomplish that pulpit
and congregation exchanges would be planned. It was recognized
that the district will struggle with the issues endemic
between the inner city and suburban churches and how
to cross those boundaries. Ms. Margie Tuttle added that
conversations for single ministries had begun, as well.
District 5:
Ms. Kathleen Ballard reported that activities which would
enable the member congregations to know one another were
identified, such as an exchange of newsletters. Also
planned were a resource directory; collaboration for
confirmation preparation; youth activities; evensong
services and craft fairs. Subcommittees for the resource
directory and collaborative confirmation preparation
were formed. A volunteer for the board of the Commission
on Aging was identified. The Rev. Gordon Tremaine remarked
that the meetings began with time spent looking at scripture
together.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Ms. Doris Mardirosian reported on the recent "World of Women" luncheon
at which 55 women were honored representing 29 parishes. The annual meeting and
ingathering was scheduled for Saturday, May 19 at Trinity + St. Philip's Cathedral.
It was hoped that a Saturday event would enable more women to attend the event.
CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER
Mr. John E. Lynch reviewed the history of the development of the relationship
between our diocese and the Lutheran Synod for the camp. He presented a status
report along with a request for the release of $200,000 from the Camp Endowment
Fund to fund both the ongoing Capital Projects requirements at Cross Roads and
to further reduce the current imbalance between the Diocese and the Lutheran
Synod. It was further requested that the Chief Financial Officer be authorized
to release these funds as requested by the Chair of the Cross Roads Board Finance
Committee and subject to both interim and final reports after the funds are utilized.
Sufficient funds remained in the endowment fund for emergency situations.
It was moved and seconded to release the funds as requested. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Lynch reported that the Camp and Conference Center Board planned to launch
a capital campaign project for the camp and conference center. A consultant had
been identified. The next step was to hold discussions with Bishops Croneberger
and Riley.
EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT
FUND
The Rev. Jack Stanton, Diocesan ERD co-coordinator, reported that he and co-coordinator
Ms. Pat Sisco were beginning to visit each district in the hopes of identifying
local congregational coordinators or district coordinators for the ERD Fund (formerly
the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief). One step toward greater visibility
would be a Sunday set aside for ERD and a special collection.
CANTERBURY BOARD ELECTIONS
The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley, Canterbury Village Board member, moved the following
names for election to the Canterbury Village Board of Trustees, Class of 2004:
The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley, Ms. Leslie Barnes, and Ms. Pat Dreher. The motion
was seconded and adopted.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* A pharmaceutical company was seeking volunteers for its Institutional Animal
Care and Use Committee. More information available from The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley.
* Diocesan-wide Anti-racism training was scheduled for May 11 and 12, Grace Episcopal
Church, Newark.
* The diocesan Commission on Music and Liturgy was to meet shortly to structure
the diocesan confirmation services.
* The UBE regional conference was scheduled for Saturday, April 28 at Church
of the Epiphany, Orange.
The benediction was pronounced by Bishop Croneberger.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary
 --Return to Diocese of Newark Home Page
Return to Top
of Page
|
