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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger; President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary; Diane Sammons, Esq., Chancellor. Elected by Districts: Mr. Steven Boston, The Rev. Janet Broderick, Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, Ms. Glenda deKruif, Mr. Henry Faulkner, The Rev. David Gable, Ms. Lois Gray, The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Mr. Robert Harwood, The Rev. Kathryn King, Ms. Susan Kynor, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, The Rev. William Potter, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Patty Watts, The Rev. Fain Webb. Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Sidney King, The Rev. Prince Singh, Ms. Carol Taylor. Absent: The Rt. Rev. Carol J. Gallagher, The Rev. Christopher Brdlik, The Rev. George Kaswarra, The Rev. Gray Lesesne Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols; Ms. Kai Alston and Ms. Kitty Kawecki (for the work group time) COUNCIL WORK GROUP MEETINGS The work groups met separately for Bible study (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) and discussions on a year-end review and mutual ministry review. Each group participated in a mutual ministry review based on the following questions: What has our work group accomplished in the last year? What gifts have we seen exhibited in this group in the last year? What needs doing or doing differently in the next year? What do members need to know to function well in this work group? The meeting was opened at 8:00 p.m. with prayer by The Rev. Fain Webb. AGENDA The agenda was adopted as prepared with the addition of a personal comment by Ms. Susan Kynor. MINUTES Motion: It was moved to accept the minutes for the meeting of December 20 with a correction to indicate that Ms. Doris Mardirosian, ECW President, was present. The motion was seconded and adopted. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Croneberger's comments included: . Ms. Josephine Ciak, retired secretary to Bishop George Rath, died recently. . Trinity, Montclair scheduled a final service of worship for Thursday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. Bishop Beckwith will officiate. The Rev. George Kaswarra and Canon Echols will also participate. Many members of the congregation will join the parish of Christ Church, Bloomfield/Glen Ridge. . Expressed his thoughts and feelings about the Council's claim to leadership in sharing responsibilities. An early issue that he handled soon after assuming the office of bishop dealt with clergy honoring boundaries at the time of changing cures. His time in the diocese had been a love affair and his time with Diocesan Council was joy-filled. There was a richness to our lives by being able to hear the different voices that are at the table. He expressed his gratefulness for their leadership. The Rev. Mark Beckwith's comments included: . Thanks for the warm welcome he has received from many people in the diocese. From tonight's meeting he witnessed the energy, passion and integrity brought to Council's work. TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer, presented the preliminary report; preliminary because the meeting was held so early in the month. (The report was distributed at the meeting.) The major income issue was the pledge income. The pledge income was $60,000 below budget. Total income included an accrual of $385,000 in pledge income not received to date, and the total of all estimated dollar figures outstanding. The disbursement accruals included an accrual of $250,000 still due to the national church. This was a lower balance than in prior years and would be paid as 2006 pledges were received. The statement reflected an operating surplus of $16,300. Of that amount $5,400 was the excess of convention fees over expenses. The surplus was about $11,000. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted. WORK GROUP REPORT BACK ON MUTUAL MINISTRY REVIEW The work groups reported back on their discussions about the mutual ministry review based on four questions. What has our work group accomplished in the last year? What gifts have we seen exhibited in our groupl in the last year? What needs doing or doing differently in the next year? What do people need to know to function well in this work group? Outreach - Mr. Steven Boston reported the group focused on what needed to be done differently - evaluate grant criteria, interaction of funding groups, and a common granting application. Get to know the funding groups more closely for a deeper understanding. Worked on continuation of the Belleville housing application. A mission statement was needed. Cataloging the organizations and their relationship with the diocese. Review the outreach survey taken at convention several years ago. Inclusion - The Rev. Janet Broderick reported the work group was engrossed in a discussion on ways they could help various groups at the convention and didn't get to the review. Congregational Vitality - Ms. Faith Gideon Brown and other members reported that the group realized how well it worked together and the work it took to get to that level of a relationship. Accomplished assessment tools for the congregations and their dissemination. Opening of dialogues about the subject of ministry capacity with people in congregations that were comfortable. Needed to continue use of the eight quality characteristics by churches. Goals were set on furthering he conversation to gather the corporate wisdom from those congregations that had held talks with other congregations about joint ministry efforts; demystify the power of those failed joint ministry ventures so that conversations could be held - burst the bubble of "we tried that and it failed." The diocese was diverse and new members joining the group needed to understand the diversity that existed in the diocese. Discipleship - Mr. Henry Faulkner reported that an accomplishment was crafting policy regarding the use of "Safeguarding God's Children" with a review of the program, studying and researching the actions of other dioceses and checking the legalities. Still working on mission statement and boundaries. New members need to take a joke. A greater understanding of the picture of the diocese. For instance, where did confirmation classes end and the work of Christian formation begin for the work group? Willingness to listen before responding. Many differences of opinions, but willing to listen and work through those differences reaching common ground. The diocesan staff liaisons must have the same paperwork the work groups have. COUNCIL MUTUAL MINISTRY REVIEW Canon Carter Echols led the council members through a mutual ministry review of the work of the whole Council. The discussion was based on the following questions: What has Council accomplished in the last year? What gifts have we seen exhibited in Council in the last year? What needs doing or doing differently in the next year? What do people need to know to function well on Diocesan Council? Accomplishments: Worked well into the new structure of work groups. Trusting the groups and accepting the work produced by the groups. Dealt well with troubles and evaluated why the happened and what could be done to prevent them in the future (wacky things, but developed correctives). Critically affirm our best, such as the Belleville housing project. Gifts exhibited: Emergence of new leadership within council, the work groups and the Steering Committee; leadership development. Work with chancellor on legal issues, understanding and implementing and legal awareness. Individual empowerment through the work groups. A welcoming and encouraging group that urges actions. A true sense of collegiality to speak honestly and get work completed. A commitment to look forward and not complaining or "kvetching." Needs doing or doing differently: Getting materials to the resource staff members. Learning more about the non-council groups with whom we work. Different locations for the meetings other than one spot. Members should read the materials before the meeting night; do our homework. Need focus for creating budgets and reviewing how money gets spent; more inclusive, more time, more ongoing and more originality; financial oversight. Generating income and resource development. Creation of a budgetary committee of council. Diocesan strategy related with the budget process. Anti-racism training as a council. As work groups get more active, a review of how the time is used at monthly meetings, or possible council retreat. Review the district structure and how it can be made more effective. Revise district by-laws. Include sacrament of the Eucharist at meetings. End meetings with Compline. Feedback on programs that get launched. The role of stewardship in our corporate life. Need to know to function well: Sense of humor. Come with a willingness to listen. Ability to want to learn and be ready to gain knowledge. Distribute to district conveners the expectations for council members. Include in the by-laws the job description of council members. Table signs for member names. The council handbook should be larger for all the paper received; hole punch the materials for the meetings. Few opportunities to speak with other council members not in your work group. Get the packet emailed. SAFE CHURCH GUIDELINES The Rev. Lu-Anne Connor reported the guidelines, Making Church A Safe Place For All God's Children, were mailed and emailed recently to all members. The discipleship work group welcomed responses. The concept of the guidelines will be introduced at the convention by Bishop Gallagher. The manual produced in 2000, Manual of Policies and Procedures for the Care and Protection of Children, will be an attachment to the new guidelines. STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT District 10 Update Ms. Mary Sunden reported the work group feedback comments about the St. Mary's New Life Ministries: A Proposal for Companionship in Mission for District 10 were forwarded to District 10 leadership. Answers to the specific questions and concerns raised by the work groups would be provided and shared with council when they were received. Board Member Background Information Ms. Mary Sunden commented that the Diocesan Council elected and ratified the board membership of several organizations of which the council was the corporate membership. These organizations included Episcopal Community Development Corporation, The Apostles' House, and the three current senior housing boards of Hillsdale Senior Manor, Nutley Episcopal Senior Manor, and Rutherford Senior Manor. At various times during the year, slates of names were presented for council approval. Generally the information about the individuals was simply a name and parish affiliation. The Steering Committee requested comments from council members on what information they thought would be important to make an informed decision when electing the new board members. Specifically, what would be useful beyond knowing a person's name and parish affiliation? (Members were asked to complete a form and submit to the secretary.) Things That Needed Attention (A Council To-Do List) Ms. Mary Sunden reported that the Steering Committee had several matters that needed to be addressed during the coming months. They included: revision of the district by-laws, diocesan personnel policies and procedures review, management of administrative details, information update on ministries associated with the diocese, and criteria to review Congregational Growth and Development Fund recommendations. Belleville Senior Housing Update Ms. Mary Sunden presented and moved the following resolution on the recommendation of the Belleville Episcopal Senior Housing Task Force and the Outreach WorkGroup and the Steering Committee of Council. Motion: Resolved, That the Diocesan Council: 1) renew its approval for sponsorship of the proposed Belleville Episcopal Senior Housing project in Belleville, New Jersey, 2) authorize the Task Force to proceed with preparation of the application, reporting regularly to the WorkGroup and to Council, 3) agree in principle to execute or renew such resolutions and actions as the application process may require when brought to Council action. Supporting Information At the December, 2005 meeting Diocesan Council approved the sponsorship of the proposed Belleville Episcopal Senior Housing project in Belleville, New Jersey and executed the following four resolutions: (1) a resolution authorizing the creation of Belleville Episcopal Senior Housing, Inc.; (2) a resolution authorizing the execution of an option to purchase the property from the Township of Belleville; (3) a HUD form resolution, "Sponsor's Resolution for Commitment to the Project"; and (4) HUD form resolution, "Sponsor's Conflict of Interest Resolution"; and that the funding required of $10,000 be provided through the Council endowment fund. The motion was seconded and adopted. Outreach Grant Committee Membership Ms. Mary Sunden reported that members were sought for the Diocesan Outreach Committee. Following the model for the composition of the Budget Committee, each work group was asked to assign two people to the Outreach Committee. The deadline for proposals was February 1. Hearings would be held several weeks later. DISTRICT SHARING District 6: Mr. Sidney King reported that the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) will host its annual Abasalom Jones service on Sunday, February 11 at Trinity + St. Philip's Cathedral with Bishop Beckwith as celebrant and The Very Rev. Petero Sabune at preacher. District 9: The Rev. Kathryn King reported Ms. Mary Sunden was re-elected to Diocesan Council. Six of the 11 congregations in the district were in transition, and the co-conveners raised at the meeting the use of the Ministry Capacity Area questions that will be discussed over the next few meetings. A meeting of the wardens from the transition churches will be scheduled. RECOGNITION OF SERVICE Certificates of thanksgiving were presented to members who were completing their terms of office, either their first two-year term or their second and final term. Completing a first two-year term were: The Rev. Chris Brdlik, The Rev. Mariano, Gargiulo, Ms. Lois Gray, Mr. Robert Harwood, The Rev. Janet Broderick, Ms. Mary Sunden, The Rev. Fain Webb. Completing their second two-year term and not returning were: The Rev. Lu-Anne Connor, Ms. Susan Kynor, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, Mr. Sidney King, and The Rev. Prince Singh. RESOLUTION OF THANKSGIVING FOR BISHOP CRONEBERGER Motion: The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner moved the following resolution on behalf of all the members of Council: Whereas, The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger will soon take his leave from our diocese of Newark as our ninth bishop, and Whereas, Bishop Croneberger has been a faithful and committed minister to the people of the diocese, and Whereas, Bishop Croneberger has guided the diocese and the diocesan council into new ways of understanding our congregations' individual capacities for expanding their ministry, and Whereas Bishop Croneberger has challenged and supported the Diocesan Council in understanding and implementing its canonical responsibilities to the fullest, and Whereas, Bishop Croneberger has set a vision with action and not merely words through the establishment of the Congregational Growth and Development Fund, and Whereas, Bishop Croneberger has been a inspirational and compassionate leader, and Whereas, Bishop Croneberger has made our meetings memorable through his humor and lightness of heart, Be it Therefore resolved, that the members of the Diocesan Council express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for his work among us these past seven years, praising God for his life and ministry, and wishing him and Marilyn all the best for their future. The motion was seconded and adopted with a standing ovation. The meeting was closed with prayer by Mr. Andrew Piccirillo and a Blessing by Bishop Croneberger. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |