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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 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: The Rev. Christopher Brdlik, Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, The Rev. Canon Gervais Clarke, The Rev. Lu-Ann Conner, The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Ms. Lois Gray, Ms. Glenda DeKruif, Mr. Robert Harwood, Ms. Susan Kynor, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, The Rev. Paul Olsson, The Rev. Elton Smith, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Lynn Tyler, The Rev. Fain Webb, Ms. Pat Yankus. Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Sidney King, The Rev. Prince Singh, Ms. Carol Taylor, The Rev. Paul Williams. Absent: The Rev. Hank Dwyer, The Rev. Janet Kraft, The Rev. William Potter, Mr. Don Roberts ECW: Mrs. Doris Mardirosian. Others Present: Mr. Gordon Nelson, District 5 convener. Staff: Ms. Kaileen Alston, Canon R. Carter Echols, Ms. Lyn Headley-Deavours, The Rev. Canon Paul Hunt, Ms. Kitty Kawecki COUNCIL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS The working groups met separately for Bible study (John 3:1-17) and discussions on goals and expectations for 2005. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Bishop Croneberger introduced the staff members who resourced the working groups: Ms. Kai Alston, youth ministries, and Ms. Kitty Kawecki, Bishop Anand resource center who worked with the Discipleship working group; Ms. Lyn Headley-Deavours, justice ministries, who assisted the Inclusion working group. (Canon Echols worked with the Congregational Vitality working group and Canon Hunt and Mr. Francaviglia assisted the Outreach working group.) He welcomed the returning members of Council and the new members: Ms. Lois Gray (district 3), The Rev. Christopher Brdlik (district 4), Mr. Robert Harewood (district 7), Ms. Mary Sunden (district 9), and The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo (district 8). Members were asked for any comments on the recent diocesan convention: appreciated the traditional liturgies; the flow of business went well; Bishop Kelsey provided a good sermon; concerned that there were few references to the tsunamis disaster; disappointed that the names of young people serving in the military weren't included in the prayers. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS • Newark Regional Ministry sponsored a successful Mardi Gras party at Cathedral House. • Five deacons were scheduled for ordination in the spring. • Absalom Jones service was well attended and The Rev. Sandye Wilson provided a powerful sermon. • Beginning next Wednesday and through Saturday, the National Episcopal Urban Caucus was taking place in our diocese. A series of events were planned throughout the city. • The Rev. James Williams resigned as rector, St. John's, Ramsey. • Ms. Patricia (Patty) Leonard begins as the bishop's executive secretary on February 22. Dream for the council is to see the working groups continue to develop and grow. There was good preliminary work started and gave hopeful signs. ORIENTATION The Diocesan Council handbook was distributed to the new members and was updated for returning members. ROLE OF COUNCIL Ms. Pat Yankus reviewed the canonical responsibilities of Diocesan Council and the expectations (job description) for council members. When council was reorganized several years ago, representation came almost solely from the districts with a few bishop's appointments, rather than elections at large from convention. At that time, The Rev. Jack Stanton started asking questions about the "role of Council" as described under Canon 5. This led to discussions and meetings with council members, staff, and the bishop that studied the work being done in the diocese, what other work might be needed and reviewed the threads for ministry identified from the Visioning Convocation. Council became a working body, and one that discussed the issues as envisioned in the canons. Hence, the expectation that members would speak up and share ideas. Council provided accreditation for groups working in the diocese. District representatives were responsible to help communicate news and requirements between council and congregations, such as when parochial reports and pledge cards were due. Additionally, responsibilities were: attend the monthly meetings, read the information before the meeting, report back to the districts, report to the council news from the districts and congregations, and participation in the working groups. WORKING GROUPS: DESCRIPTIONS & ASSIGNMENTS Ms. Faith Gideon Brown reported that the Congregational Vitality working group would like to implement an educational opportunity about the eight characteristics of healthy congregations; and to review the definitions of status for parishes, aided parishes, missions and incorporated missions. Ms. Doris Mardirosian reported that the Inclusion working group survey distributed at convention was in the process of being collated. The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner reported that Discipleship was concerned with the issue of Christian formation for every age level. This year the working group would direct its attention to the confirmation curriculum for the diocese. A further matter of interest was how parents could be helped in having faith conversations with their children and supporting parents on talking about faith. The Rev. Paul Olsson reported that Outreach was discussing ways to make the process simpler for congregations to engage in outreach ministries. The survey information from the convention was collated and being studied by the working groups. An "outreach fair" was a possibility for sometime early next year. Members of the working groups included: • Inclusion: Janet Kraft, Mariano Gargiulo, Robert Harwood, Sidney King, Doris Mardirosian, Don Roberts, Elton Smith • Congregational Vitality: Prince Singh, Carol Taylor, Fain Webb, Andrew Piccirillo, Faith Gideon Brown, non-Council members: Gray Lesesne, Randall Day • Outreach (Apostolate): Pat Yankus, Gervais Clarke, Paul Olsson, Paul Williams, Hank Dwyer, Suzanne Kynor, Mary Sunden • Discipleship: Lu-Anne Conner, Christopher Brdlik, William Potter, Lynn Tyler, Glenda DeKruif, Lois Gray COUNCIL'S FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT Diocesan Council oversight for financial matters were reviewed by members of the Steering Committee and staff. The budget responsibility was reviewed by Lu-Anne Connor. Other funding sources requiring oversight included ACTS/VIM (Michael Francaviglia), Ward J. Herbert Fund (Mary Sunden), Outreach Funds (Pat Yankus), and Jersey City funds (Carter Echols). In addition, council's participation with the senior housing corporations and community development corporations were described - the members of Diocesan Council were the membership of the corporations (Michael Francaviglia and John Zinn, respectively). JERSEY CITY AREA MINISTRY SPENDING REPORT A spending report was received from St. Paul's Episcopal Church on its use of JCAM funds for the year 2004. The church had $15,000 in escrow from a council grant. This past summer, $7,500 were used to help fund an outstanding summer program for city children. The total cost was $25,000 and St. Paul's made up the balance. DIOCESAN OUTREACH COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Ms. Pat Yankus, Committee Chair, presented the recommendations on behalf of the committee. Since 1999, the committee has received requests in two categories; international outreach and domestic outreach. For 2005 there were $20,100 available for international outreach and $77,380 for domestic outreach. In the international category, the committee received five requests. The requests and the committee's recommendations were as follows: 1. St. Nicholas Theological Seminary, Ghana – a request for $20,000 to help fund the final construction phase for the library at the seminary. Recommended funding - $3,000 2. Bocas del Toro Rebuilding Effort – a request for $12,000 for aid to the Bocas del region in Panama that suffered from severe flooding in January, 2005. Recommended funding - $6,300 3. Kakaasi Maize Milling Project Uganda – a request for $4,800 to purchase and install a milling machine that will provide economic support for widows and orphans in this area of Uganda Recommended funding - $4,800 4. The Potter's Wheel, Chittoor, India – a request for $10,000 to finish the construction of housing for low caste potters and their families. Recommended funding - $3,000 5. Anglican Delegations to the UN Commission on the Status of Women – a request for $5,000 to underwrite travel and living expenses for Anglican global womeN to attend this two week event at the United Nations. Recommended funding - $3,000 In the domestic category, the committee received 18 requests totaling $187,600. The requests and the recommendations were as follows: 1. The Care Closet, Christ Church, Belleville – a request for $6,000 to purchase household and personal hygiene products for distribution to those in need. Recommended funding - $3,000 2. St. Paul's CDC, Paterson – A request for $40,000 towards the cost of the staff positions of case manager and food pantry manager. Recommended funding - $9,280 3. St. Paul's Church, Paterson – a request for $10,000 towards the expenses of a summer youth program. Recommended funding - $5,000 4. Haven of Hope, St. Luke's, Hope – A request for $7,500 for a pilot program for a respite and caring program for ten urban lower income children with life limiting illnesses and for their care givers Recommended funding - $2,500 for expenses other than the compensation of the Project Director. 5. Christ Church CDC, Hackensack - $12,000 towards the expenses of the CDC's Next Step Initiative, a life improvement program. Recommended funding – $6,000. 6. Jersey City Episcopal CDC – a request for $25,000 for general operating support for the organization's programs in Jersey City. Recommended funding - $9,000 7. Apostles' House, Newark – a request for $15,000 for general operating support for the organization's programs to help those in need in the City of Newark. Recommended funding - $9,000 8. St. Peter's Haven, Clifton – a request for $10,000 for the operating expenses of this organization's homeless shelter, food pantry and family services center. Recommended funding - $5,000 9. Grace Church, Newark – a request for $10,500 for the church's outreach program to youth living in public housing in Newark. Recommended funding - $4,000 10. Camp Unity, St. John's, Union City – a request for $5,000 for scholarship/startup funds for the second year of the church's summer day camp. Recommended funding - $2,500 11. Positive Connection Group Expansion – a request for $8,000 to support the expansion of this group counseling program from Union City to Newark. Recommended funding - $3,500 . 12. St. John's, CDC, Boonton – a request for $10,000 to support this organization's after school, summer and parenting assistance programs. Recommended funding – $5,000 13. Sussex County IHN – a request for $10,000 to continue and expand the organization's Supported Housing Program. Recommended funding – $4,000 14. St. Andrew's Church, Newark – a request for $2,000 to purchase food and supplies for the church's soup kitchen. Recommended funding - $1,000 15. St. Peter's Church, Mt. Arlington – a request for $1,500 to purchase food for the church's food pantry. Recommended funding – $1,000 16. Helping Hands Food Pantry, Hillsdale – a request for $3,600 to purchase food for this ecumenical food pantry. Recommended funding - $1,000 17. Good Shepherd Community Services, Ft. Lee – a request for $9,900 to support the organization's programs for people and families living with HIV. Recommended funding - $4,000 18. Church of the Good Shepherd, Wantage – a request for $1,600 to support the church's feeding program. Recommended funding - $1,600 It was recommended that on all domestic requests from churches that the release of funding be contingent on the church's 2003 audit being on file at the diocese. The members of the Outreach Committee were: Ms. Pat Yankus, Chair; The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner; Mr. Sidney King; The Rev. Hank Dwyer; The Rev. Fain Webb ; Mr. John Zinn DISTRICT SPENDING REQUEST A district spending request was submitted from District 9 for newspaper advertising in the Record on Maundy Thursday. The cost to print and distribute a two-sided insert in approximately 28,000 issues would be $2,212. During discussion, concern was expressed with the amount requested at this time of the year when available funds were only $6,000. It wasn't known if a lower amount would affect the viability of the plan. It was noted that perhaps the district funds would be better spent on district programming rather than publicity in newspapers. Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted to allocate $1,000 to District 9 for the Easter advertising. MINUTES Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of January 19, 2005 with a correction to indicate the presence of Ms. Lois Gray, District 3 representative. The motion to accept the minutes was adopted. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. with prayer by Bishop Croneberger Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |