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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
Present: The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith; President; The Rt. Rev. Carol J. Gallagher, Assistant Bishop; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary. Elected by Districts: Mr. Steven Boston, The Rev. Janet Broderick; Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, Ms. Glenda deKruif, Mr. Henry Faulkner, The Rev. David Gable, The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Ms. Lois Gray, Mr. Robert Harwood, Mr. Bert Jones, The Rev. Kathryn King, The Rev. Stuart Smith, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Patty Watts, The Rev. Sandye Wilson. Bishop's Appointments: The Rev. Joseph Harmon, The Rev. Gray Lesesne, Ms. Carol Taylor. Absent: Ms. Gail Barkely, Ms. Doris Mardirosian, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Ms. Catherine Potter, The Rev. William Potter, Ms. Diane Sammons, The Rev. Fain Webb, Mr. John Zinn, Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols; and Ms. Kai Alston, Ms. Lyn Headley-Deavours, Ms. Kitty Kawecki (for the work group time) Others: RUTHERFORD EPISCOPAL SENIOR MANOR A tour of the Rutherford Episcopal Senior Manor was conducted for members earlier in the evening. Prior to the start of the meeting, members of the Rutherford Senior Manor Board of Trustees were introduced to the council: Ms. Barbara Russell, Ms. Connie Keeler, Ms. Rachelle Bialek, Ms. Connie Keeler, Ms. Naomi Horsky, Ms. Denise Ross and Ms. Mary Anne Murray. Also present were Mr. Steven Cirillo and Ms. Val Hartman, president and vice president of Emerald Management, respectively, and Ms. Nancy Camiscoli, building manager who conducted tours of the building earlier in the evening. COUNCIL WORK GROUP MEETINGS The work groups met separately for Bible study (Luke 7:11-17) and discussion. The meeting was opened at 8:00 p.m. with silence and prayer. AGENDA The agenda was adopted as prepared. MINUTES Motion: It was moved to accept the minutes for the meeting of May 9, 2007. The motion was seconded and adopted. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Beckwith's comments included: . Expressed thanks to Carol Gallagher for her ministry while the diocese as assistant bishop. . A house was purchased for the bishop and his family with a move pending at month's end. . A clean up day was held in Episcopal House the day before and there were weekly all staff meetings. . On June 13, there will be a staff lunch to celebrate the ministry Bishop Gallagher, and on June 23, a diocesan Evensong service was scheduled at the Cathedral to celebrate her ministry among us. . With the announced retirement of Mr. John Zinn as chief financial officer, effective December 31, a search will be made for an interim person. . The Role Clarification Group will meet for its initial meeting on June 7. . The Civil Union Task Force had been meeting regularly in preparation for a report to the next convention. . Last week, he met with 22 of the 24 vicars along with several Trustees for a discussion about the roles and relationships between vicars and the bishop. . On June 2 four transitional deacons were ordained, Christian Carroll, Alexei Kamin, Thomas Murphy and Karen Resach. On June 9 Deborah Rucki Drake would be ordained as a vocational deacon. . A meeting was scheduled for June 28 regarding issues around communications within the diocese, including the publication of the Voice. A summer edition of the Voice will be circulated in mid-June. . George Rath Scholarship committee recommended 22 scholarships for 22 applicants; there were $22,000 available (each received $1,000). . Initial discussions on property development had begun and included the former governor, James McGreevey, and others including the Trustees. . In early July he will meet with Larry Goldman about ongoing development in Newark. . A June 14 meeting with the conveners will include discussion on district strategy. . All Saints', Orange was moving to become part of Holy Innocents, West Orange. At this time, the maintenance of the Orange property was burdensome. Assistance with the property management and oversight might be provided by the diocese in the short term. . Bishops Carol Gallagher and Jack Croneberger will attend the Friday funeral service for Bishop Jim Kelsey, whose death was a terrible loss to the church and to his colleagues in the House of Bishops. . Next week, the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church will be meeting in Parsippany. The Newark General Convention deputies will make a presentation on Monday evening highlighting the many creative ministries within our diocese. . Recent clergy changes included: The Rev. Gary Nicolosi from St. Peter', Morristown; The Rev. Robert Shearer, interim rector, St. Peter's, Morristown; The Rev. Leslie Smith as interim rector, Christ Church, Short Hills; The Rev. Edgar Gutiérrez-Duarte to Chelsea MA. Annunication in Oradell was close to issuing a call. Bishop Gallagher's comments included: . Identified the diocese as an amazing place for ministry that was complex, exciting, loud and sometimes silent. TREASURER'S REPORT In the absence of the treasurer, the written treasurer's report was received. Pledge income exceeded budget for the month of May and continued to run one month behind on a year to date basis. A second 2007 payment was made to The Episcopal Church during May and a payment was also sent to 25% of the 2006 pledge income that was collected in May. All other outreach and program lines were funded to the extent requested. The major negative variance was in the staff category of the bishop's office but was expected to balance as part of the final reconciliation of the Episcopal Reserve over the summer. Operating expenses continued to run within budget as a category; any heating line implications will be reviewed over the summer. There was a small deficit for May and a relatively small deficit of about $35,000 year to date. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted. STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT ACTS/VIM BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS Motion: It was moved by Ms. Mary Sunden and seconded that the recommendations made at last month's meeting be ratified. The motion was adopted. AV-07-01: Clifton, St. Peter's - St. Peter's Haven, $8,000 AV-07-02: Port Murray, Cross Roads Outdoor Ministries - Indoor Chapel, $8,500 AV-07-03: Union City, Grace Church - Jerusalem Market Place Vacation Bible Study, $1,000 AV-07-04: Orange, All Saints' - Opportunity House, $2,250 AV-07-05: Chester, Messiah - The Senior Resource Center, $5,000 AV-07-06: Hackettstown, St. James' - Deaf Outreach, $3,600 AV-07-07: Fort Lee, Good Shepherd - Friends for Life/Gd Shepherd Community Svcs, $10,000 AV-07-08: Hoboken, All Saints' - Jubilee Children's Program, $8,000 (parochial report not receieved, funds will not be disbursed) AV-07-09: Hackensack, Christ Church CDC, Next Step Program Plus Housing, $8,000 AV-07-10: Dover, St. John's - A Breathing Space for Mothers, $3,600 AV-07-11: Paterson, St. Paul's - CityServe Summer Program, $8,000 AV-07-12: Hasbrouck Heights, St. John - Care on the Corner Community Service, $6,850 AV-07-13: Paramus, St. Matthew's - Summer "Church Camp", $1,200 AV-07-14: Hope, St. Luke's - Haven of Hope for Kids, $5,000 AV-07-15: Newark, Newark School of Theology, no funding AV-07-16: Belleville, Christ Church - Mary & Martha Soup Kitchen, $5,000 AV-07-17: Boonton, St. John's - Cornerstone, $3,000 Total Recommendation to Diocesan Council: $87,000 Ms. Sunden noted that the board meeting minutes from May 17, 2007 reflected the work of the ACTS/VIM Board to broaden the appeal of ACTS/VIM funding through educational efforts and discussions on their funding policies. WARD J. HERBERT FUND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS Motion: It was moved by The Rev. Gray Lesesne and seconded that the recommendations made at last month's meeting be ratified. The motion was adopted. WJH-07-01: Parsippany, St. Gregory's - Vicarage windows replacement, no funding WJH-07-02: Mt. Arlington, St. Peter's - Parish hall flat roof replacement, $9,137 WJH-07-03: Lyndhurst, St. Thomas - Undercroft tile floor replacement, no funding WJH-07-04: Chester, Messiah - Water drainage around rectory, $3,140 WJH-07-05: Kearny, Trinity - Church roof repair, $1,395 WJH-07-06: Nutley, Grace Church - Church & hall boilers, hot water tank, $6,750 WJH-07-07: Hackettstown, St. James' - Church steeple roof replacement, $7,725 WJH-07-08: Kinnelon, St. David's - Church roof, rectory roof repairs, $2,050 WJH-07-09: Ho-Ho-Kus, St. Bartholomew's - Rectory painting, parking lot repaving, no WJH-07-10: Hawthorne, St. Clement's - Roof & window repairs/replacements, $18,325 WJH-07-11: Boonton, St. John's - Stained glass windows repairs, no funding WJH-07-12: Hope, St. Luke's - Church furnace replacement, $4,750 WJH-07-13: Belleville, Christ Church - Boiler replacement, oil tank abatement, $4,000 Total recommendation to Diocesan Council: $52,522 The Rev. Mr. Lesense noted that the May 21 minutes indicated some clarity regarding funding priorities was decided by the board. SUMMER AUTHORIZATION RESOLUTION Motion: It was moved by Mr. Henry Faulkner, seconded and adopted: RESOLVED, That the authority to act on behalf of the Diocesan Council from this meeting until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Diocesan Council be given to the elected officers (President, Treasurer and Secretary) and the members of the Steering Committee, in consultation with the Chancellor, in the event that a decision must be made during the summer recess. Any such actions will be reported to the Council at its September meeting or in email correspondence as is appropriate. [The officers are: The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; and Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary. The members of the Steering Committee are: The Rev. Janet Broderick, Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, Mr. Henry Faulkner, and Ms. Mary Sunden.] PAROCHIAL REPORTS 2006 OUTSTANDING Ms. Faith Gideon Brown reported the following 2006 parochial reports were outstanding as of the meeting date: Hackensack, St. Anthony of Padua; Hackensack, St. Cyprian's; Harrington Park, St. Andrew's (financials only received); Hoboken, All Saints' (ACTS/VIM funds will be held until completion); Mendham, St. Mark's; Mountain Lakes, St. Peter' (new treasurer started May 1); North Arlington, St. Paul's (statistics only received); Ridgewood, St. Elizabeth's. The members of Council will contact the churches within their districts. It was noted that perhaps the convention should consider action for tardy and outstanding reports beyond the current canonical restrictions. WORK GROUP REPORTS Work groups reported on their respective missions and plans and reactions from others were provided. Congregational Vitality - Ms. Faith Gideon Brown reported the group continued working on the report about the Trinity, Montclair closing for convention 2008. Part of the report will be based on interviews with people within the diocese. Additionally, a review was underway of the criteria for taking a mission congregation to parish status. An historical list of classifications of parish status will be prepared. The group will meet July 18 for a potluck dinner. Inclusion - The Rev. Janet Broderick reported the group was drafting a resolution regarding interpretive services for the deaf and hard of hearing at diocesan programs and events. The resolution would be introduced at the September meeting. Continuing to respond to the immigration concerns raised through convention resolution. A smaller group will work on the issue during the summer and the group will include The Rev. Maggie Gat, Ms. Susan Kynor and Ms. Edie Gallimore. The group will identify ways to educate congregations about the issue and methods of direct advocacy. Discipleship - Mr. Henry Faulkner reported an beta-test event will be organized during he summer for parents and others to do the training as an outreach effort and see who responds and takes advantage of the training opportunity. The responses will be taped and become part of a DVD for marketing the "Safe Guarding God's Children" curriculum to the churches an districts. Outreach - Ms. Mary Sunden reported the deadline for the Belleville senior housing project was Monday, June 11. During the summer work will continue on the outreach grant process with recommendations expected to come before Council in the fall. A visit to the Jersey City Community Development Corporation will be scheduled over the summer. DISTRICT SHARING District 2: Ms. Patty Watts reported the April meeting had presentations on senior ministries and Cross Roads Outdoor Ministries (CROM). District 3: Ms. Lois Gray reported there was a district confirmation service this past Sunday. The recent meeting included Mr. Alan Bowen from CROM. There was discussion on perceptions and realities about mission status and availability of funding sources. District 4: The Rev. Sandye Wilson reported the next district meeting will be telling the stories of their pasts in preparation for asset mapping exercise. District 6: Mr. Henry Faulkner reported the meetings were bi-monthly and there was nothing new to report. District 8: The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo reported there were no recent meetings. District 9: The Rev. Kathryn King reported there was no meeting in June. District 10: The Rev. Stuart Smith reported the district confirmation was scheduled for the next Sunday. MEETING EVALUATION Comments on the meeting were shared. Since it was useful to visit the senior building, it was asked if some of the sessions could meet in different locations around the diocese as had been the practice in the past. The responsibility for meeting logistics, such as the locations and the meals, would be shared by the council members. For three members being near a train station would be helpful. There were few feedback comments presented during the work group report time. The bishop asked if members could ponder how best to frame the report back time to be more useful. The meeting was closed with prayer by The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |