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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 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: Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, The Rev. Canon Gervais Clarke, The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, Ms. Lois Gray, Mr. Robert Harwood, The Rev. Janet Kraft, Ms. Susan Kynor, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, The Rev. William Potter, Mr. Don Roberts, The Rev. Elton Smith, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Lynn Tyler, The Rev. Fain Webb, Ms. Pat Yankus. Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Sidney King, Ms. Carol Taylor, The Rev. Paul Williams. Absent: The Rev. Christopher Brdlik, Ms. Glenda DeKruif, The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo The Rev. Prince Singh. ECW: Ms. Doris Mardirosian Others: The Rev. Kim Capwell (District 1 convener) Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols, The Rev. Canon Paul Hunt; Ms. Kai Alston and Ms. Kitty Kawecki (for the Working Group time). EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Croneberger shared his thoughts about this past week since his announcement to call for the process to elect the tenth bishop of Newark. The transition will be orderly, properly conducted, and in a tight time frame of twenty-two months. The schedule includes the June 18 special convention, the agenda for which will include the announcement of the call for the election and a process of election for adoption by the deputies recommended by the Standing Committee. The electing convention will be held in September 2006. Following the electing convention, the consents would be collected and the new bishop would start in November for several months of working together. The Standing Committee will meet next week with Bishop Clay Matthews to review the process to elect a bishop. "While we have time, let us do good for the faithful." There are still things that need to get done and business that he wants to encourage to get done. The work of Council needs to continue growing and expanding. This diocese will elect its next bishop based on values of character and integrity, rather than on the basis of a category such as gender, race or sexual identity. This is part of the strongly held values within the diocese. They are the values held by the council members and working groups. The importance to continue the relational work by the council is utmost for the good of the diocese. Throughout the diocese, we hold respect and give thanks for the ministry of the baptized. We know that God has called each of us to ministry. The sense of mutual ministry is important - discovering the strengths in each of us. Convinced that strong leadership comes from everyone, not just from the top down. We have learned the costs of telling the truths and the benefits of telling the truths, those that are truths for us as individuals, and truths that need to be shared. We speak the truth and love to each other rather than behind each other. Taking care of ourselves and each other is another value. It's important for clergy and lay people to take care of themselves. There's much work to do over the next twenty-two months and it is his attention to see that it happens. The election process should not be so consuming for so many people that the work gets side-tracked. COUNCIL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS The working groups met separately for Bible study (Luke 24:13-35) and discussions. AGENDA Motion: It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda with the addition of consideration of the DREAM Act statement of support and an item from the Coalition of Religious Leaders. The motion was adopted. MINUTES Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of March 9, 2005. The motion to accept the corrected minutes was adopted. TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. John Zinn reported that pledge income was slightly behind budget for March; generally pledge income was a month behind budget, and improves after Easter. Outreach, mission and program lines were funded to the extent requested. Staff category was slightly over budget, but was expected to come within balance. The annual convention expenses exceeded income by almost $4,000. At the end of March the council had an operating deficit of $229,000. The year of 2003 was close to being closed out, and might close at a small deficit. Once completed, the year of 2004 will be analyzed for completion. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted. CDC CONSOLIDATION Mr. John Zinn presented a status report on the discussions among the diocesan community development corporations - St. James' CDC, AIDS Resource Center, Apostles' House and Episcopal Community Development Corporation - towards consolidation. The task force of CDC representatives met recently again and the conclusions were while it was desirable to have one CDC, it was not prudent to do so. The task force recommendation to the CDC boards will be to reorganize into two organizations determined by function. Those functions were human services (Apostles' House) and housing development (ECD). The boards of the individual agencies will meet over the next several months to decide about the recommendation. DISTRICT SHARING The bishop asked for comments from the representatives about conversations, events and comments happening in the districts. District 1: Mr. Andrew Piccirillo reported on this year's Lenten program of the Stations of the Cross. District 2: Ms. Lynn Tyler reported the meeting recently discussed year-round stewardship. District 5: The Rev. Paul Williams reported that the district would meet soon and there was new emphasis on clergy collegiality under the leadership of The Rev. John Negrotto, district convener. There was also a retreat planned for visioning. DIOCESAN COUNCIL PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTION PLANNING PROCESS The Rev. William Potter shared the discussion that took place during the Discipleship Working Group time about the role and participation by the Diocesan Council in the planning process for the election of a bishop. A full and lively discussion followed. Members expressed the concern that the planning process would incorporate the work of the working groups of the Council, something that should not be overlooked during the election and transition to a new bishop. It was felt that a representative from each of the four working groups (Discipleship, Outreach, Inclusion and Congregational Vitality) should join the Standing Committee for the discussions on the planning process for the election that will be recommended at the special convention. Additionally, the priorities of the Council need to be articulated clearly in the profile of diocese, and early participation will insure the continued connectedness. Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted that the Diocesan Council requests the bishop to work to insure that a representative from each of the four working groups of Council actively participates in the development of the planning process for the election of a bishop so that priorities of Council will be incorporated in the entire electing process. DISTRICT SPENDING REVISED GUIDELINES The Rev. Lu-Anne Connor, Steering Committee member, presented the revised guidelines. Motion: The Rev. Lu-Anne Connor moved the guidelines. The motion was seconded by Ms. Pat Yankus. Discussion followed. (The revised text in bold; original text in italics.) Budget is approved by Convention at the end of January. The budgeted amount is equally divided upon adoption of the diocesan annual budget among the districts for the purpose of district programming and congregational development. Funding requests are submitted in writing by districts conveners approved at a district meeting to the Office of the Bishop and to the Diocesan Council. The written request should include: • the date of the district meeting at which a vote was taken to approve the application for the request • the amount needed • and, an explanation on how the funding will be used for programming and development work within the district. By December 31st, all districts that receive funding must submit a financial accounting accompanied by a narrative evaluating how the funding was used. Funds not disbursed during the calendar year are subject to the financial policies of the diocese, that is, carry over is possible, but is dependent on the overall financial situation. The funds provided through the diocesan budget are intended to foster and promote collegiality and ministry among the congregations in the districts. The funds are not intended to be used for: • underwriting advertising costs (newspapers, magazines, publication inserts, cinema ads and such) • subsidizing congregational staff salaries During discussion several concerns were raised along with support. How do you prevent a convener from delaying or withholding a request? Do we want to administer the funds for district use? Should there be any restriction on the use of the funds. It was thought that the council should place constraints on the use of the funds. The money was not an entitlement; there needed to be accountability for its spending. The council responsibility was to administer the budget that included district spending. The district convener cannot delay or withhold or obstruct a request. The motion was adopted with two opposed. (correction made to minutes) DISTRICTS SPENDING REQUESTS District 2: A letter was received from Mr. Scott Bennett, convener of District 2. The district held a Lenten Quiet Day at Christ Church, Pompton Lakes on February 26, 2005. The Reverends David DeSmith and Ronnie Stout-Kopp organized the event; the leader was The Rev. Dr. Jane Tomaine. Twenty people attended. The district requested funding of $200 for an honorarium to The Rev. Dr. Tomaine. The purpose of the event was to help people in the district and from elsewhere enter into Lent. It also served as a means to further interaction between congregations and people of the district. Motion: It was moved and seconded to approve an expenditure of $200 for the honoraria payment. The motion was adopted. District 9: District 9 sent a request asking that the Council permit a redirection of previously allotted funds. The original request was for an Easter advertising in The Record and in The Suburbanite/Twin Boro News that was funded at $1000. However, there was insufficient time to produce the two-sided insert and raise the additional funds from the congregations. The district asked that authorization be given for the funds to be used for a September advertising effort. Motion: It was moved and seconded to table the request. The motion was adopted. JERSEY CITY WORKING GROUP Canon R. Carter Echols reported that the Jersey City Working Group of Diocesan Council met on April 6 for its continuing discussion on strategy development. The membership included: The Rev. Janet Kraft, Mr. Sidney King, The Rev. Prince Singh (all of these were current Council members; Singh was not at the April 6 meeting), and former Council members, The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley and The Rev. Nancy Read, along with Canon Echols, Bishop Croneberger and Mr. Jim Caputo. The resources in Jersey City included: the three Episcopal congregations of Grace Church Van Vorst, Church of the Incarnation and St. Paul's; Christ Hospital; Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation; the property of St. John's Church on Summit Avenue; the Cator Avenue property; and the Jersey City funds. Two proposals were received for use and development of the Summit Avenue property and were under review. In addition to the review of the proposals, the next steps for the committee were to inspect the conditions of the church property and continue the strategy development. As and when appropriate, reports will be presented to Diocesan Council. The President called to order the Annual Meeting of the Canterbury Village Corporation. CANTERBURY VILLAGE TRUSTEES' ELECTIONS Mr. Michael Francaviglia moved the following resolutions: Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted that the following be elected to the Canterbury Village Board of Trustees, Class of 2007: Ms. Barbara Keller and Dr. T. Felder Dorn; and Class of 2008: Ms. Hope Lampe, Mr. Junius (Jay) Powell, Ms. Diane Rhodes, The Rev. Donald Shearer, and Ms. Jessie Wilkerson. The other trustees were: ; Ms. Leslie Barnes, Class of 2006; Mr. Gerry Lavner, Class of 2006 Mr. Laurence Taber, Class of 2006; Mr. William (Tim) Carpenter, Class of 2007, and The Rev. Dr. E. Bevan Stanley, Class of 2007. Honorary Trustees were Ms. Gladys Stumpf and Ms. Edith Wilson. The officers are: Mr. Tim Carpenter (2007), president; Ms. Patricia Dreher (2007), vice-president; Ms. Hope Lampe (2008), secretary; and Mr. Larry Taber (2006), treasurer. Motion: It was moved and seconded to adjourn the Annual Meeting of the Canterbury Village Corporation. The motion was adopted. A written report from the Canterbury Village Board of Trustees read: Since the Canterbury Village report to the Diocesan Council at the May 2004 meeting, we have been very fortunate to add two trustees to our board. They are: Barbara Keller from Short Hills and Dr. T. Felder Dorn from Millburn, and are presented for the Class of 2007. Both are members of St. Stephen's Church in Millburn and both are faithful volunteers at Canterbury Village on a weekly basis. The residents are enormously receptive to them and grateful for their caring and concern. In June 2004, Canterbury Village received a license to operate all 38 units as Assisted Living which has helped the census. The board of trustees is currently exploring ways to pay down the mortgage. The President reconvened the meeting of the Diocesan Council. DREAM ACT STATEMENT OF SUPPORT Ms. Susan Kynor introduced the DREAM Act and its principles for consideration of Diocesan Council support. The diocesan Jubilee committee was supporting the act and was encouraging the same from the Council. First introduced in 2001, the DREAM Act permits high school graduates who immigrated to the US as minors and lived in the US for at least five years, to apply for legal status. The DREAM Act also eliminates a federal provision that discourages states from providing in-state tuition to immigrant students. The spirit of the DREAM Act is founded on the following two core principles: 1. Individuals who were brought to this country as children, stay out of trouble, and meet the universal requirements for high school graduation deserve the right to be judged according to their own character and merit, regardless of their country of birth or immigrant status. They should have equal opportunity to pursue post-secondary education, obtain legal status, and become citizens of the country they call home, the United States. 2. The federal government should not compel states to discriminate in the allocation of their own educational resources. Rather, states should be free to provide in-state tuition at their institutions of higher education, and otherwise facilitate equitable access to higher education for immigrant students. After discussion it was agreed that the Diocesan Council would urge Congress to pass legislation as soon as possible that encompasses these two principles. Motion: It was moved and seconded that the Diocesan Council support the principles underlying the DREAM Act as described above, and that this support be communicated to the National Immigration Law Center and the Center's contact, Mr. Luis Campillo. The motion was adopted. SUDAN Bishop Croneberger reported on his meeting this week with the New Jersey Coalition of Religious Leaders. The guests included Senators John Corzine and Frank Lautenberg and Acting Governor Richard Codey. The senators and governors addressed the deep concern over the genocide occuring in the Sudan, where over 200,000 people have been summarily murdered. Senator Corzine asked the religious leaders for their help in a crusade of moral outrage expressed to our political leaders in Washington calling for action on the Darfur Act. The Coalition decided to call for a Darfur Sabbath and sponsor a weekend of prayer during May 6,7 and 8. During the week prior on May 2 the Coalition will schedule a news conference to highlight the concerns for the grave situation. The bishop requested that the Council and our congregations support the Darfur Sabbath and focus on the issue in the Sudan. Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted that the Diocesan Council support a statement of concern on behalf of the diocese to be issued by the bishop and encourage all individuals and congregations to participate in the weekend of prayer. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Sidney King announced the Newark chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians were hosting the northeast regional conference on April 23 at Christ Church, East Orange, starting at 8 a.m. The conference will include the national president of the UBE as the keynoter; several workshop sessions; a business meeting; and a closing Eucharist. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. with prayer by The Rev. Paul Olsson. Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |