Announced he will appoint a committee at the January meeting of Diocesan Council to begin the work on the designation of a companion diocese relationship. Final membership will be balanced to reflect the diocese as a whole.

Reported that unlike previous years, the Diocesan Council will meet in February, 2003 for the purpose of focusing on the work that will face the Council in the new year.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Mr. John Zinn reported on the financial statement for the month of November. The financial issue for year end was the level of pledge income received by December 31. Currently, pledges were more than a month behind. In January the report will be distributed at the meeting rather than being mailed in advance.

Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted.

BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr. John Zinn commented on the lack of compliance with the canons regarding the submission of pledge cards by December 1. He suggested the diocesan pledge be on the agenda for vestries and executive committees no later than the November meeting and the treasurer should estimate the dollar amount. This year, fifty churches did not submit their pledges by the required submission date. Of the 21 churches represented on the council, 11 were late. He explained the difficulty that tardiness presented in formulating an accurate budget.

Mr. John Zinn presented the proposed budget on behalf of the Budget Committee. Forty churches increased their income giving to the diocese; only five were contemplating a decrease. Some churches actively live within the guidelines of the 50/50 system and some approach it from their own view. The prior year's surplus (2001) was reflected in this year's budget, which came from pledge payments that exceeded budget, net the 25% giving to the national church and the 7.5% to other outreach. The proposed 2003 budget continued the commitment of 25% to the national church and 8% to other outreach (an increase of one-half of one percent). In 2002 and in prior years, the outreach line funded some money for the Oasis. In 2003 the Oasis position will become a justice missioner with a broad focus and some of that work will be focused beyond the diocese and the Episcopal Church. The budget assumed a hire date of February 1. For 2003, a portion of $20,000 was set as the amount for the outreach work by the missioner.

Mr. Zinn explained several of the other lines within the budget. Mission to Dismantle Racism did not appear in the 2002 budget because of carry over funds. There will be additional carry over into 2003 and the request was funded at a level to permit the work they wanted to accomplish. The carry over from 2002 for Planned Giving would give that ministry sufficient funding.

Administrative support for program groups were pooled this year. One administrative support position was eliminated due to financial constraints. In terms of positions, there will be the same number of positions in 2003 as in 2002. Staff salaries were frozen and no increases were budgeted; it was hoped that if funds became available the increases could be restored, especially for the lower salaried employees.

Motion: Mr. Zinn moved the proposed budget recommendation for presentation to the Convention. The motion was seconded and adopted.

Mr. Steve Boston moved the following resolution:

Motion: Resolved, that the Budget Committee of the Diocesan Council is authorized to make changes in the proposed 2003 Diocesan Budget between the January Council meeting and the Diocesan Convention.

Supporting Information: The proposed 2003 has been prepared so that Convention Deputies might have the budget at an earlier date which necessitates using somewhat incomplete data. As a result the budget committee will make a final review of the budget the week before convention when all of the data are available. Since the convention approves the budget, this resolution simply gives the committee authorization to modify the proposals made to convention.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

THE ROLE OF COUNCIL

The Rev. Jack Stanton gave thanks to the committee members and Canon Echols for their work with the committee. The other committee members – Ms. Pat Yankus, The Rev. William Riker, Ms. Doris Mardirosian -- took the council members through the "World Café" planning exercise on districts and parish partnerships.

• Bishop's Priorities

A sign up sheet was distributed for members to sign up for an assignment to one of the priorities: mission strategy; role of council; district assistance; parish partnerships; and, companion diocese relationship.

• Diocesan Council 2003 ("The best that we can be in 2003."

What did the members think they needed to know to be an effective Council? Responses included:

• A mission/vision statement for the council and for the working groups, that included a sense of its relationship with other governing bodies.
• Covenants/expectations that have been agreed to in the past.
• Statement of member expectations.
• Statistics about the diocese, including population, size, budget, finances.
• Copy of the constitution and canons; overview of the budget.
• Discussion on norms of behavior for meetings.
• Handout describing the ministries and programs within the diocese.
• Map of the diocese with districts and congregations.
• What are the connections to Council by other organizations, groups, etc.
• What business falls to Diocesan Council, Standing Committee, Trustees.
• Staff resources; organizational staff chart.
• A statement of how the council expected to accomplish canonical responsibilities.
• Addressing racism -- beyond current anti-racism training.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

Mrs. Doris Mardirosian reported that plans were underway for the program year of 2003.

ACTS/VIM BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Motion: It was moved and seconded that the recommendations presented last month be ratified along with the change in wording to the application. The motion was adopted.

At last month's meeting, it was reported by The Rev. Margaret Gat, chair of the A/V Board, that an additional change to the wording was made on the application form that currently requests the applicant "to submit the operating budget for the current and past year." The new wording was "costs of the current project and the costs incurred the previous year. In addition, the budget for the sponsoring organization must be submitted."

AV-02-13: Boonton, St. John's - Mentor Program, $4,500
AV-02-14: Newark, Apostles' House - Assessment Program, no funding
AV-02-15: Jersey City, Jersey City Episcopal CDC - After School Kids, $4,000
AV-02-16: Newark, St. James CDC - Community Organizing, $4,000
AV-02-17: Belleville, Christ Church - Care Closet, $2,000
AV-02-18: Hillsdale, Trinity - Center for Help in Time of Loss, $5,000
AV-02-19: Fort Lee, Good Shepherd - Friends for Life, $ 4,500
AV-02-20: Newark, Domestic Violence Committee - Training Costs, no funding
AV-02-21: East Orange, Christ Church -Learning Information & Access Center, $4,500
AV-02-22: Dover, St. John's - Kidsavers, $2,600
AV-02-23: Newark, Grace - Youth@Home, $4,500
AV-02-24: Newark, Diocese of Newark - Bethsaida Team Project, $3,000
AV-02-25: Hackensack, Christ Church CDC - Peter's Place Expanded Services, $5,000
AV-02-26: Paterson, St. Paul's - Next Steps< $4,500
AV-02-27: Jersey City, Grace Van Vorst - Performing Arts Series, $4,500
AV-02-28: Hoboken, All Saints' - Jubilee Youth, $5,000
AV-02-29: Hasbrouck Heights, St. John the Divine - Care on the Corner, $9,500
AV-02-30: Newark, Trinity + St. Philip's - Senior Healthy Living, $5,000

WARD J. HERBERT FUND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Motion: It was moved by Mr. Steve Boston and seconded that the recommendations presented last month be ratified. The motion was adopted.

WJH-02-29: Cliffside Park, Trinity: Leaks - Damaged Walls Repairs, no funding
WJH-02-30: Bloomfield/Glen Ridge, Christ Church - Church Furnace, $6,335
WJH-02-31: Oradell, Annunciation - Boiler Replacement, $7,997
WJH-02-32: Orange, Epiphany - Parking Lot Drainage & Re-paving, $7,500
WJH-02-33: Maplewood, St. George's - Boiler Replacement, Egress Imprvmnt, $10,000 (Fund 1); $5,000 (Fund 2)
WJH-02-34: Fort Lee, Good Shepherd - Fire Alarm System, $6,268
WJH-02-35: Jersey City, Grace Church Van Vorst , $8,262 (Fund 1); $15,000 (Fund 2 conditionally)
Fund 1: It was determined to fund the following:
Emergency plumbing: $2,166 of $4,337.
Sanctuary electrical work: $4,076 of $8,153.
Furnace repair: $2,020 of $4,040.
Fund 2: It was voted to commit $15,000 from Fund 2 for the roof work, provided that the necessary bids be received, reviewed and approved by Mr. Tim Russo within 30 days.
WJH-02-36: Newark, Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral - Church Boiler Replacement, $16,000
WJH-02-37: Montclair, Trinity - Roof, furnace, sidewalk replacements, $13,000 (Fund 1); $10,000 (Fund 2)

PARSONAGE ALLOWANCE RESOLUTIONS

It was moved by Mr. Steve Boston and seconded that the following resolutions be adopted:

Motion: Resolved, That of the compensation paid to The Right Reverend John Palmer Croneberger in the calendar year of 2003, the sum of $40,000 be designated as parsonage allowance.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

Motion: Resolved, That of the compensation paid to The Reverend Canon Paul Hunt in the calendar year 2003, the sum of $47,000 be designated as parsonage allowance.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

EPISCOPAL CAPITAL LOAN FUND

Mr. Larry Taber reported that the Ward J. Herbert Fund Executive Committee approved a $40,000 loan to Holy Trinity, West Orange on December 10, 2002. The loan will fund renovations to the rectory. It was projected that the loan would be repaid by December 2027. The interest rate was 6%.

Motion: It was moved by Mr. Larry Taber, seconded and adopted to ratify the minutes from the Ward J. Herbert Fund Executive Committee which approved an ECLF loan to Holy Trinity, West Orange.

Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted to temporarily adjourn the meeting of Council.

The President called the membership of the Apostles House Board to order.

APOSTLES HOUSE BOARD ELECTIONS

Mr. John Zinn moved the following resolution:

Motion: Resolved, the following be elected to the board of the Apostles House until the December 2003 meeting of the Diocesan Council: Ms. Sandra Accomando; Mr. Victor Albetta; Ms. Joanne Barone; Ms. Sharon Babb; Ms. Susan Blount; Ms. Gloria Grosso; Ms. Jeanne Hill; Mr. Ross Mangina; Mr. Tom McCrann; Ms. Jamillah Muhammad; Mr. Arnold Natali; Mr. Okey Okuzu; Ms. Aliya Onquie; The Rev. John Ryan; Mr. Cesar Torres; Mr. Gil Towers; Mr. David Weiner; The Rev. Denise Yarbrough; Mr. John Zinn.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted to adjourn the meeting of the membership of Apostles House Board.

The President called the membership of the Episcopal Community Development Corporation to order.

EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. ELECTIONS

Mr. John Zinn moved the following resolution:

Motion: Resolved, that the following be elected to the Board of Episcopal Community Development Corporation until the December 2003 meeting of the Diocesan Council: Mr. James Grimstead, Christ Church, East Orange; Ms. Antoinette Neal, Incarnation, Jersey City; Ms. Joan Mebane, Christ Church, Short Hills; Ms. Jennifer Hauge, Grace, Madison; The Rev. David Wolf, St. Paul's, Paterson; Ms. Mary Sunden, Grace, Westwood; Mr. John Webb, Good Shepherd, Wantage; Ms. Allison Davis, St. Mark's, Teaneck; Mr. Michael James, Trinity + St. Philip's Cathedral, Newark; Ms. Kris Retlin, Christ Church, Short Hills; Mr. Frank Failla, St. Peter's, Morristown; Mr. Stuart Christie, St. Luke's, Montclair; The Rev. William Parnell, Christ Church, Hackensack; Mr. Peter Van Brunt, Messiah, Chester; Mr Ron Hermance, St. Elizabeth's, Ridgewood; Mr. George Reeves, St. Mary's, Sparta; Mr. John Zinn, Diocesan Staff and St. Paul's, Paterson.

The motion was seconded and adopted.

Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted to adjourn the meeting of the membership of Episcopal Community Development Corporation.

The Diocesan Council was called back into session.

DISTRICT REPORTS

District 1: The Rev. Kim Capwell reported that the Rev. Jeannette DeFriest was re-elected as convener and Mr. Andrew Picarillo, St. Dunstan's, Succasunna, was elected to Diocesan Council.

District 2: Ms. Naomi Horsky reported that Mr. Scott Bennett was elected as the convener, and the Rev. Denise Yarbrough elected to the Diocesan Council.

District 3: The Rev. William Riker reported that Mr. Casper Ewig, St. Paul's, Morris Plains, was elected as convener, and Mr. DanDderonde was re-elected to Diocesan Council.

District 5: Ms. Kathleen Ballard reported that Ms. Susan Kynor, Christ Church, East Orange, was elected to Diocesan Council, replacing Ms. Ballard. A convener had not been elected.

District 7: Ms. Nancy read reported that she was re-elected to Diocesan Council, and the Rev. Rose Hassan will co-convene with Mr. Robert Masiello, St. Peter's, Clifton.

District 10: Ms. Pat Yankus reported that the Rev. Lu-Ann Conner, St. Elizabeth's, Ridgewood, was elected to Diocesan Council, and Mr. Alan Bowen was re-elected as convener.

ARE YOU A DEPUTY TO CONVENTION?

Those members of Diocesan Council who not deputies would receive a pre-convention package.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT/COMMENTS

Bishop Croneberger announced the installation of the new officers for the diocesan chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, and Mr. Sidney King was the president-elect.

Mr. Steve Boston shared his concern with the recent comments by Sen. Trent Lott which demonstrated the great need for continued anti-racism training. He was hopeful that the Mission to Dismantle Racism might develop another round of training opportunities beyond the first curriculum, and that when the new materials are developed that the Diocesan Council would be the first body to take the training as a group.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. with prayer by the the Rev. Paul Williams.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary

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