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DIOCESE OF NEWARK - DIOCESAN COUNCIL

Wednesday, June 9, 2004
St. Agnes' Church, Little Falls
Adopted Minutes of the Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 2004
St. Agnes', Little Falls

Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger; President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary; Diane Sammons, Esq., Chancellor.

Elected by Districts: Mr. Donald Cairns, The Rev. Canon Gervais Clarke, The Rev. Lu-Ann Conner, The Rev. Randall Day, The Rev. Janet Kraft, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, The Rev. William Potter, The Rev. Nancy Read, Mr. Don Roberts, The Rev. Elton Smith, The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley, Ms. Lynn Tyler, Ms. Pat Yankus.

Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Sidney King, The Rev. Prince Singh, Ms. Carol Taylor, The Rev. Paul Williams.

Absent: Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, Ms. Glenda DeKruif, The Rev. Hank Dwyer, Ms. Susan Kynor, The Rev. Fain Webb.

ECW: Mrs. Doris Mardirosian.

Others Present:: Ms. Naomi Horsky

Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols; The Rev. Canon Paul Hunt, The Rt. Rev. Martin G. Townsend, Ms. Kai Alston, Ms. Kitty Kawecki, Ms. Lyn Headley-Moore.

COUNCIL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS

Prior to the start of the business section, the working groups met separately for Bible study and discussions.

The full Council meeting was opened at 7:55 p.m. with prayer by The Rev. Canon Gervais Clarke.

AGENDA
Motion: It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda as prepared. The motion was adopted.

MINUTES

Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of May 12, 2004. The motion to accept the minutes was adopted.

EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATION

The bishop commented on the following:

- ordinations to the diaconate on June 5 which included Nancy Read, member of Diocesan Council; ordinations to the transitional diaconate on June 12.
- diocesan confirmations had been held in several locations over the past several weeks;
- dedication of homes in Jersey City which were part of the homeowner-buyer program of Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation and named in honor of Ms. Eugenia Suthern;
- installations conducted by Bishop Townsend included Isaac Ihiasota (Succasunna), Sandye Wilson (South Orange), John Edward (Holy Trinity, WO), David Hermanson (Lyndhurst);
- Oasis 15th Anniversary celebration at Christ Church, Ridgewood, with Bishop Robinson as the preacher, held on June 1;
- new rector called to Christ Church, Budd Lake
- The Rev. Kim Haag was married recently; Ms. Lyn Headley-Moore will marry on June 19.
- The Rev. Robert Mason died in late May and the bishop was the celebrant;
- Sr. Linda Claire will take her first vows on Friday, and Bishop Townsend will preside over the liturgy at the Convent of St. John Baptist;
- pastoral conversations were held with the clergy and leadership of St. Anthony of Padua, Hackensack by Bishop Croneberger and the canons and the time spent was very positive;
- the annual service for the elderly sponsored by the Commission on Aging was held this past weekend and was well attended and well executed.

CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY WORKING GROUP REPORT

The Rev. Randall Day reported on the current work of the working group on Congregational Vitality. Part of their strategy was to review available data and one source available were the data from the parochial reports. Using that data, a comparison of average Sunday attendance for the years of 2000 vs 2002 was researched. (A copy of the chart was distributed.) The data indicated that on Sunday mornings approximately 9700 people were in our churches. Earlier in the day the Trustees approved a Congregational Growth and Development Fund request for Percept survey information to become available for all our congregations. The information provided a very useful tool for ministry and growth development.

The Rev. Bevan Stanley posed a modest proposal on behalf of the working group. The group was contemplating asking the representatives at district meetings the question, If a goal was to establish eight to ten new worshiping communities, where would you locate a new church in your district and how would the purpose of the new church be defined?

During discussion, it was posited that such a question had the possibility of raising fears that the intent was to build new churches at the expense of the existing churches and by closing those congregations deemed to be struggling for survival.

Alternate questions were then posed and included: What does the church in the 21st Century look like to you? What will the Diocese of Newark look like in the 21st Century? If your district was given $30,000, what new ministry would you consider starting? What would fill the gap so that your church membership was larger? (It's generally understood that growth from 70 ASA to 100 ASA is difficult.) What would it take to make you feel less anxious about your congregation?

TREASURER'S REPORT

Mr. John Zinn presented the treasurer's report. May pledge income was behind budget by almost $35,000 and year to date pledge income continued to run one month behind budget.

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

BUDGET REVISION

Mr. John Zinn presented on behalf of the bishops and senior staff the recommended revised budget in light of the current deficit situation that totaled $90,000. The deficit was caused, in part, by a significant increase in the cost of fidelity bond insurance; unexpected increased operating costs that included effects from severe winter weather; and the inclusion of financial provision for legal expenses. It was important for the diocesan budget to model for the congregations, and the diocese cannot operate with a deficit, but must have a sound and real budget.

The revisions presented were described as being consistent with diocesan strategic priorities, consistent with our practice of stewardship and a fair sharing of the reductions among all the funded groups. The revisions would bring the budget into balance for the moment. However, as a cautionary point, it was noted that the reality of congregations continuing to operate with deficit budgets had the potential to create difficulty for the next budget year.

Some specifics included the elimination of the position of the director for the Commission on Aging, retaining the position of thee director of the Anand Center as parttime rather than full time as planned; and a cost sharing of 10% for employee medical insurance.

Regarding the medical cost sharing resolution, Mr. John Zinn reported that a resolution passed by the 1998 Diocesan Convention made the Diocese of Newark's group medical insurance program a contributory plan. The resolution also gave the Diocesan Council the authority to change the amount of the contribution. The proposed contribution for 2004 will apply only to the Diocesan staff, both lay and clergy, but it will not apply to parochial clergy. Historically the Diocesan Council has approved changes in employee benefits.

Today almost all organizations, either for profit or not for profit, require that employees pay a portion of the cost of their medical insurance coverage. In addition to the financial benefit to the employer, cost sharing also gives employees some investment in the overall cost of medical insurance. The 10% is well below standard cost sharing arrangements that might typically be 25% of the cost of the employee and 50% of the cost of dependents. The 2004 budget assumes this level of cost sharing and approval of this resolution is part of the overall strategy of the budget approved by convention.

Motion: It was moved and seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

Resolved, that beginning July 1, 2004 the employee contribution of the members of the diocesan staff for medical insurance will be 10% of the cost of the insurance coverage chosen by the employee.

The motion was adopted.

Motion: It was moved and seconded that the revised budget recommendations be adopted.

The motion was adopted.

JERSEY CITY JCAM FUNDS REPORT

Mr. John Zinn reminded members of Diocesan Council's action at the June 12, 2002 meeting when JCAM Representatives from the three Jersey City churches, Grace Church Van Vorst, Church of the Incarnation and St. Paul's appeared before Council seeking the release of the interest income from the JCAM endowment for fiscal 2002-2003 that totaled $45,000, and to be shared equally among the three Jersey City churches to support parish growth initiatives and employed for JCAM Board-sanctioned projects.

The plan was to establish a local, multi-signatory account and applications for these funds – up to $15,000 per parish – would be made to JCAM. Monies will be issued only as reimbursement for actual expenses.

Preliminary proposals had been received, at that time. St. Paul's: enhance and facilitate youth ministry in the parish and the community and would hire a seminarian. Incarnation: will hire a part-time youth minister. Grace Church Van Vorst: develop a program of community awareness.

Reports had been received during the past several weeks and were provided with the Council materials for tonight's meeting. The reports included the following information.

St. Paul's reported that their portion of $15,000 remained on deposit in JCAM's Hudson City Savings Account 0500208577, and that a request was made for $6000 in support of its summer program for children (part of director's salary and need-based scholarships). The balance was in reserve for possible summer program expenditures and similar youth outreach projects.

Grace Church Van Vorst reported an overall expenditure totaling $11,199.03 for welcome signage, security system, telephone upgrade and computer hardware and assistance.

Incarnation reported that it received a check from JCAM in the amount of $11,800 for the replacement of the church heating system (boiler, pipes and radiators) to a gas boiler and baseboard heating. The current estimate was $12,500 and a contractor had agreed to perform the work and complete the project in July 2004.

The staff recommended that the Council's Jersey City's subcommittee work with JCAM. A full and lively discussion ensued.

The funds were released for the expressed purpose to support parish growth initiatives in the three congregations; they were not allocated for building repairs or structural work. Council has an obligation to set correct that which was intended when the funds were allocated. It was reported that JCAM issued the check when the news of the boiler problem was reported to JCAM at the start of winter season and financial assistance was provided with the proviso that Incarnation would seek emergency relief from the Ward J. Herbert Fund. The funds amounting to $11,800 were given with the intent of being a temporary loan to correct a serious problem. To date, there had been no attempt to replace the funds through a grant application or an emergency appeal to the Ward J. Herbert Fund. The terms of the original resolution releasing the funds were not followed. Recent correspondence dated June 1, 2004 from The Rev. Isaac Persuad indicated that the church intended on spending the money next month on a new gas boiler, and made no reference to repayment to the JCAM account.

Motion: The Rev. Bevan Stanley, member of the Council subcommittee on Jersey City, moved that Diocesan Council write to the Church of the Incarnation reminding them that the funds were released for the expressed purpose to support parish growth initiatives and that since the terms of that release had not been met, the Council requests that Incarnation returns to JCAM the $11,800 within thirty days of receipt of the letter and works to determine what program the money will be used for. The motion was seconded.

The motion was adopted.

ACTS/VIM BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Motion: It was moved and seconded that the recommendations made at last month's meeting be ratified. The motion was adopted.

AV-04-01: Denville, Church of The Saviour - Youth Ministry Program, $4,500
AV-04-03: Boonton, St. John's CDC - Community Summer Program, $5,525
AV-04-04: Montvale, St. Paul's - Computer Outreach, $2,000
AV-04-05: Kearny, Trinity - Project Serve: Plant the Seeds, Reap the Vision, $7,000
AV-04-07: Hackettstown, St. James' - St. James' Church Deaf Outreach, $9,625
AV-04-09: Newark, Newark School of Theology, $5,462
AV-04-10: Newark, Grace Church - Homework Club, $5,525
AV-04-11: Fort Lee, Good Shepherd - Friends for Life, $5,525
AV-04-12: Hasbrouck Heights, St. John the Divine - Care on the Corner, $5,525
AV-04-13: Newark, Prison Ministry - Campership Program, $2,500
AV-04-14: Newark, AIDS Resource Center - Project for Dependent Children, $5,600
AV-04-15: Madison, Grace Church - Episcopal Campus Ministry at Drew University, $4,000
AV-04-16: Belleville, Christ Church - Mary and Martha Soup Kitchen, $4,800
AV-04-17: Chatham, St. Paul's - Vacation Bible School, $3,313
AV-04-18: Hackensack, Christ Church CDC - Next Steps Initiative, $5,600

Total recommendation to Diocesan Council: $76,500

WARD J. HERBERT FUND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Motion: It was moved and seconded that the recommendations made at last month's meeting be ratified. The motion was adopted.

WJH-04-01: Oradell, Annunciation - Repair & renovation of the rectory, $3,000
WJH-04-02: Kearny, Trinity - Parish house roof repair; termite damage repair, $1,000
WJH-04-03: Orange, All Saints' - Parish hall roof, basement asbestos, mold, $0
WJH-04-04: Washington, St. Peter's - Rectory repairs, church boiler replacement, $9,000
WJH-04-05: Montclair, St. John's - Sanctuary roof replacement, $4,000
WJH-04-06: Secaucus, Our Saviour - Parish hall roof repair, window repairs, held over
WJH-04-07: Union City, St. John's - Parish hall window leaks, $1,000
WJH-04-08: Teaneck, Christ Church - Heating system update, minor repairs - referred to EC
WJH-04-09: Paramus, St. Matthew's - Repair church wooden laminate arches, $15,000
WJH-04-10: Newark, St. Andrew's - Kitchen roof & exterior wall repairs, $6,000
WJH-04-11: Tenafly, Atonement - Sanctuary and organ chamber repairs, $4,000
WJH-04-12: Teaneck, St. Mark's - Fire detection system, $3,900
WJH-04-13: Succasunna, St. Dunstan's - Church roof replacement, $4,000
WJH-04-14: Nutley, Grace - Rectory and church roof repairs, $0
WJH-04-15: Lincoln Park, St. Andrew's - Parish hall furnaces, $3,000
WJH-04-16: Bergenfield, All Saints' - Rectory exterior repairs, $2,000

Total recommendation to Diocesan Council: $59,500

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

HILLSDALE SENIOR HOUSING CORPORATION

The President called to order the Annual Meeting of the Hillsdale Senior Housing Corporation.

Hillsdale Trustees (Terms expire May 11, 2005): Mrs. Barbara Blinn, Mr. Bruce M. Bloch, Mr. James Davidson, Mrs. Nancy DeNoble, Mr. William Hafemann, Mrs. Mary Hampton, Mrs. Barbara Hasse, Ms. Collette Killian, Ms. Gean Kling, Ms. Chessie Kouba, Mr. George Norman, and Ms. Angela Williamson.

Motion: It was moved and seconded to adjourn the Annual Meeting of the Hillsdale Senior Housing Corporation. The motion was adopted.

The President reconvened the meeting of the Diocesan Council.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

Mrs. Doris Mardirosian reported that the ECW Board voted to donate $1000 for camper scholarships, and $500 to Episcopal Relief and Development Fund for relief work in Haiti.

DISTRICT SHARING

District 2: Ms. Lynn Tyler reported the district was in the process of redefining itself with the focus on mutual assistance.

District 4: The Rev. Bevan Stanley reported the district met on the topic of youth ministries.

District 5: The Rev. Paul Williams reported the meetings were restructured to provide time for reports on parish activities and Council work. The theme of strengthening our parishes was selected and future programming throughout the year had been scheduled.

District 7: The Rev. Nancy Read reported that programs were scheduled through the end of year.

District 8: The Rev. Randall Day reported on a successful conference with Andrew Weeks. The May conference had 121 participants; 81 of whom came from District 8 churches. For Weeks it was the largest attendance for his conferences in the state. Christ, Teaneck was installing solar panels to supply half of its electrical requirements. Construction at St. Mark's, Teaneck continued. The Rev. Denny Bennett was hired as youth missioner for St. Mark's and funded in part by a grant from the Congregational Growth and Development Fund..

District 10: The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner reported that twenty youths will return to Maine for a second year for a summer work trip. The next meeting will focus on communication issues with Susan Robinson and Donna Frischknecht.

THE VOICE AND COMMUNICATIONS

Ms. Susan Robinson reported the editor and board were working on creative ways to get the news out despite consolidated issues and budget constraints. The Voice was awarded recently two Polly Bond Awards; one to Donna Frischknecht for a headline, Donut for Fido, in the November 2003 issue and a second to Bishop Croneberger for his theological reflection in the April 2003 issue.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Mr. Don Cairns announced upcoming events at Cross Roads Outdoor Ministries.
• The Rev. Bevan Stanley encouraged registrations for CDI.
• The Rev. Prince Singh announced that Oakland breaks ground this weekend for its building expansion project.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. with prayer by The Rev. Janet Kraft.

Respectfully submitted,


Michael Francaviglia, Secretary


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