|
THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
Present: The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, President; Mr. Richard Graham, Treasurer; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary; Ms. Diane Sammons, Chancellor. Elected by Districts: The Rev. David Gable, Ms. Edith Gallimore, Mr. Robert Harwood, Mr. Bert Jones, The Rev. Victoria Geer (Vicki) McGrath, The Rev. Thomas Mathews, Jr., Ms. Terrie McColl, Mr. John Niles, Ms. Alice Palmer, The Rev. Gregory Perez, The Rev. Stuart Smith, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Patty Watts, The Rev. Fain Webb, The Rev. Lynne Bleich Weber. Bishop's Appointments: Ms. Gail Barkely, The Rev. Joseph Harmon, The Rev. Gray Lesesne. Absent: The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Ms. Lois Gray, Ms. Doris Mardirosian, Ms. Barbara Piccirillo, The Rev. Sandye Wilson. Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols and Mr. Richard Graham. The Bible study was held after dinner and was based on John 3:1-17. WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS Bishop Beckwith welcomed the new and returning members of Diocesan Council. UPDATING THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL HANDBOOKS Revisions to the handbooks were distributed to returning members and Canon Echols explained the differences from previous editions. The new members of council were provided handbooks. (Handbook materials available at http://dioceseofnewark.org/clergy-wardens/.) ROLE OF COUNCIL & EXPECTATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS Ms. Mary Sunden, Mr. Richard Graham, Canon Carter Echols, Ms. Diane Sammons and Mr. Michael Francaviglia reviewed the role of council, the expectations for its members and other matters. The areas reviewed were: • Canonical Responsibilities & Job Descriptions of Members • How Council Functions • Diocesan Council Protocols • Financial Oversight • Diocesan Budget Responsibilities - Funding: • ACTS/VIM (A Commitment To Serve/Venture In Mission) • Ward J. Herbert Fund • Outreach Funds • Jersey City Funds • Senior Housing Boards • Community Development Corporations The business session was opened with prayer by Bishop Beckwith. MINUTES Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of January 9, 2008. The motion was adopted. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Beckwith's comments included: • Work group conveners were appointed: The Rev. Gray Lesesne, Congregational Vitality; The Rev. Stuart Smith, Discipleship; The Rev. Joseph Harmon, Inclusion; and Ms. Mary Sunden, Outreach. The conveners will form the Steering Committee of Council. • Suggested that the council members gather for an overnight retreat in September to review issues, policies and strategies. Proposed the dates of September 5 & 6 or September 12 & 13, for a period of 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday. The dates may be determined by the availability of a retreat center. • Shared his thoughts about the potential involvement of the council with congregations which either self-identified or were identified by council as possibly benefitting from an intervention or some type of guidance for a defined period of time. This would involve the leadership of the congregations and council members. • Recognized that stewardship may need to be an intentional part of council life, including planned giving. The reconciliation reporting system for congregational pledges to the diocese needed revision. • The convention adopted resolution encouraging the appointment of an immigration study commission could become part of the efforts by the Inclusion work group. • Diocesan staff job descriptions were being reviewed and revised and staff performance evaluations were being conducted over the next two weeks. The bishop will be evaluated as well and was working with an outside consultant on setting up the review process. • An interview with Channel 13's Inside Trenton was broadcast this weekend that was taped in October. It was an experience from which much was learned. STEERING COMMITTEE Convention 2008 Actions A list of actions decided by the convention was distributed to the members of Council. There were several matters for council consideration and follow up. They included: • Resolution 2008-02: Inclusive Language in All Communications requested Diocesan Council to identify and disseminate information concerning available resources to help educate all ages about the influence of inclusive language. • Resolution 2008-07: Provision of Interpreters for the Deaf at Diocesan Programs and Events called for Diocesan Council to review regularly the per event ceiling for interpreters at least every three years (those being, 50% of the cost up to $125 from the diocesan budget for the event with remaining cost by the sponsoring organization). Outreach Grant Committee Ms. Mary Sunden requested that those who were interested in being considered for appointment by the bishop to the Outreach Grant Committee complete the form of interest and return to the secretary by the conclusion of the meeting. Episcopal Capital Loan Fund The Rev. Gray Lesesne, Ward J. Herbert Fund executive committee member, presented and moved for ratification ECLF minutes that approved a loan of $25,000 to Trinity Parish, Bayonne. Motion: It was seconded and adopted to ratify the minutes from the Ward J. Herbert Fund Executive Committee which approved an ECLF loan of $25,000 to Trinity Parish, Bayonne on February 11, 2008. The loan will finance the renovation of the sanctuary. The project will include wall construction, relocation of the altar, organ, lectern, choir area, and make the communion rails portable. The purchase of chapel chairs and repainting will also be undertaken. It was projected that the loan would be repaid by January 2023 (fifteen year term). The interest rate was 5%. The motion was adopted. The meeting was temporarily adjourned into the working group time. WORK GROUP MEETINGS The work groups met separately for discussions and planning. There was sharing of history, the focus of the past year as reported in the mutual ministry review from January, and the scope of work for the coming year. WORK GROUP REPORTS The work groups reported on their discussions and plans for the coming year. Congregational Vitality: The Rev. Gray Lesesne reported the group spent time reviewing the congregational assessment tools that had been successfully used by several congregations. The group will explore next steps to increase the number of congregations utilizing the resource tools and to help build connections between those congregations. Inclusion: The Rev. Joseph Harmon reported the group reviewed the mutual ministry notes and the accomplishments of the past year. The new group members were oriented about the work of the group and discussed definitions of inclusion. Issues were identified where passion and vision exist Outreach: Ms. Mary Sunden reported on the discussion regarding the current Outreach Grant process and changes that may be needed for this year and future years. Discipleship: The Rev. Stuart Smith reported on several areas of discussion, starting with defining discipleship and including areas of interest for work group concentration (inclusive language and stewardship). Our discipleship is to make the "Gate of Spiritual Formation" a visible and physical part of the ethos of Diocesan life and ministry. Our discipleship is to develop and have direct connection with the Commission and Groups doing Discipleship and Formation programing and to attend their events as liaisons with and for the Council. We can strive to help spread word of how and where successful Discipleship & Formation ministry is happening in the Diocese. A focus should be to have direct connection and concern for Budget Line Items addressing Discipleship & Formation ministries. We request that Diocesan Resolution #2 [Education & Use of Inclusive Language] be assigned to us. We ask that the Bishop consider Stewardship as a Discipleship Ministry, including the facilitation of Council's consideration of the Diocesan Pledge System. MEETING EVALUATION Remarks included that the orientation portion was helpful and useful; appreciated that the working group time came later in the evening which helped to concentrate the energy. The opening exercise of speaking with someone not well known to you was enjoyable and should be repeated at other times. The meeting was closed with prayer by Bishop Beckwith. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |