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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
Present: The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, President; Mr. Richard Graham, Treasurer. Elected by Districts: The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Ms. Lois Gray, 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, Ms. Barbara Piccirillo, The Rev. Stuart Smith, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Patty Watts, The Rev. Fain Webb, The Rev. Lynne Bleich Weber, The Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye A. Wilson. Bishop's Appointments: Ms. Gail Barkely, The Rev. Joseph Harmon. Absent: Ms. Edith Gallimore, Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Ms. Diane Sammons. Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols and Mr. Richard Graham; and Ms. Kitty Kawecki and Ms. Kai Alston (for the work group time). The Bible study was held after dinner and was based on John 10:1-10. AGENDA The agenda was adopted as prepared. MINUTES Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of March 12, 2008. The motion was adopted. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Beckwith's comments included: o Appointments to the Immigration Task Force were announced: Mr. Mark Arnowitz, Good Shepherd, Ringwood; The Rev. Mark Hansen, Jersey City; The Rev. Greg Perez, Trinity, Bayonne and the Inclusion Work Group; Ms. Laura Russell, All Saints', Hoboken; and The Rev. Pamela Bakal, Prison Ministries Committee. Motion: It was moved, seconded and adopted to ratify the bishop's appointments to the Immigration Task Force. o Building the Future Community: Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace, a group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in Newark, hosted a summit meeting of community leaders from Newark and the surrounding area to explore ways of engaging the gang culture and reducing youth violence. The meeting took place at Symphony Hall in Newark on April 3. Attendance included Mayor Cory Booker, Police Director Gary McCarthy, the deputy mayor and other city officials, gang members, and many community activists and organizers. The diocese was represented by the bishop and the Rev. Robert Morris. o Chicago Consultation second meeting next week, working to foster full inclusion at Lambeth Conference. The Diocese of Newark has engaged the subject of human sexuality in such ways that others might learn from our experiences. o A second annual reception for wardens was planned for June 3. The agenda will focus on diocesan ministry. o Mission church vicars and wardens were invited to a June 10 interactive session with Trustees of the Episcopal Fund and Diocesan Properties and other diocesan leaders, including Diocesan Council. o A Human Resources Committee was being appointed to begin work on May 13 to look at personnel, insurance and other matters relating to clergy and lay employees. o Clergy transitions include The Rev. Jim Petroccione to Holy Communion, Norwood; the Rev. Jane Tomaine from St. Peter's, Livingston to writing and retreat leading; the Rev. Paul Hunt from St. Dunstan's, Succasunna, to the Diocese of Pennsylvania; and, The Rev. Ken Near from St. Paul's, Englewood, to retirement. TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. Richard Graham presented the report. Pledge revenue had improved since last month, however there was an amount of $7,000 off from budget. Pledge income for 2007 was behind by $194,000. A payment of $152,000 to the national church was due. He noted that reconciliation pledge forms were outstanding and expressed concern that the current trend of late congregational pledge payments to the diocese impeded funding of diocesan programs on a regular and timely basis. The financial statement indicated an overage of $112,000, but that was because of late pledge payments. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted. STEERING COMMITTEE Congregational Pledge Receipt History Ms. Mary Sunden presented the history of congregational pledge receipts based on the years of giving averages between 2003 and 2007. The projected receipts for the year of 2008 were provided. The data indicated a trend of giving less than 10% each month until the end of the year when the percentage jumped to 25%. Ms. Sunden reported that this is a historical summary intended to be used for Council member information. The Finance Committee will be spending some time at its next meeting (before the May Council meeting) and thereafter reviewing issues around pledge receipt timing and patterns of giving. The Rev. Stuart Smith spoke about the financial challenges that this payment schedule created and opined that the historical pattern could not continue going forward. Reconciliation 2007 Pledge Forms Outstanding The Rev. Stuart Smith reported on the congregations for which their 2007 Reconciliation Pledge forms were outstanding. The forms were due at the end of the year. Members were asked to follow up with the church leadership in their districts. A list of congregations to be thanked and to be reminded of submitting their outstanding forms will be emailed to district council representatives for follow-up. He noted that the reporting of outstanding parochial reports would begin next month. Episcopal Capital Loan Fund (ECLF) - St. David's, Kinnelon Ms. Mary Sunden presented and moved for ratification ECLF minutes that approved a loan of $11,480 to St. David's in Kinnelon. Motion: It was seconded to ratify the minutes from the Ward J. Herbert Fund Executive Committee which approved an ECLF loan of $11,480 to St. David's, Kinnelon, on March 19, 2008 for the purpose of financing the replacement of hot air furnaces that heat the church and the parish hall. Van Varick and Sons Heating, Inc., was selected over two other vendor bid proposals to perform the work at a total cost of $15,480. The ECLF loan would repay the Ward J. Herbert Fund for an advance provided in August 2007. The work was completed in September 2007. It was projected that the loan would be repaid by 2018 (ten year term). The interest rate was 5%. The motion was adopted. The President called to order a Meeting of the Apostles' House Board. The Apostles' House Board Elections The Rev. Joseph Harmon presented a resolution to elect new board members to the Apostles' House Board. Motion: Resolved, That The Rev. Christopher Brdlik, Calvary, Summit; Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; Ms. Sandra Durrell, Grace, Newark; The Rev. J. Carr Holland, Grace, Newark; The Rev. Wade A. Renn, House of Prayer, Newark; and Ms. Evangeline W. Tross, United Way of Essex & Wet Hudson, be elected to the Board of the Apostles' House until the December 2010 meeting of the Diocesan Council. The motion was seconded and adopted. Motion: It was moved and seconded to adjourn the Meeting of the Apostles' House. The motion was adopted. The President reconvened the meeting of the Diocesan Council. Diocesan Council Retreat (September 12 & 13, 2008) The Rev. Stuart Smith reported that the retreat was scheduled for September 12 and 13 and would be held at the Carmel Retreat Center, 1071 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah NJ 07430; (http://www.carmelretreat.com/). Members were asked to participate in the cost of the event with a payment of $50 per person. Scholarships were available for those unable to pay and the request for assistance would be confidential. Scholarship requests were referred to Mr. Michael Francaviglia. Meeting Location Survey The Rev. Stuart Smith noted that the packet for the meeting included a survey on meeting locations. The survey was from the Steering Committee which was interested in knowing the thoughts of Council members in regard to the monthly locations of the meetings. The forms would be collected and tabulated by the Steering Committee. A report would be made to the council of the responses. WORK GROUP REPORTS Congregational Vitality: The Rev. Fain Webb reported that the group reviewed four grants recommended by the Jersey City Area Ministry (JCAM) for allocation of Jersey City Funds. Congregational Vitality expected to recommend some of the proposals at the May meeting. Discipleship: The Rev. Stuart Smith presented "Making Church a Safe Place for All God's Children", policies for the protection of children and youth from abuse. The policies were adapted from the model policies developed by the Church Pension Group (CPG) in partnership with the Nathan Network. These were presented for a first reading with the expectation that adoption would be occur at the next meeting on May 14. Adoption of these particular policies will enable the diocese to participate in the on-line versions of training in child abuse awareness that were developed by the CPG. Ms. Kitty Kawecki provided additional information about the history and purpose of this project and the need for a diocesan policy in this area. The Rev. Mr. Smith placed a motion on the floor to be voted on at the May Council meeting, which the Bishop designated as a Time Certain. It is recommended that a policy statement be presented at the May meeting before a vote is required of the Council. Work Group: Establishing Work Group members as liaisons with churches around the diocese who are doing work around discipleship; investigating creating a Spiritual Directors' directory; putting together a how-to-get-on-stuff summary; initiating work on a best-practices inclusive language handbook. Inclusion: The Rev. Joseph Harmon reported on the appointment of a task force on Immigration as encouraged by the deputies at the last convention. In January, 2008, deputies adopted a resolution (2008-06) that encouraged and supported the "bishop's appointment of a commission to study [the issue of immigration], represent the Diocese of Newark in coalitions working to protect and improve protections for immigrants and their families and to hold discussions, inform and educate, encourage and lead the people of this diocese in educational events and forums." The people appointed were: Mr. Mark Arnowitz, Good Shepherd, Ringwood; The Rev. Mark Hansen, Jersey City; The Rev. Greg Perez, Trinity, Bayonne and the Inclusion Work Group; Ms. Laura Russell, All Saints', Hoboken; and The Rev. Pamela Bakal, Prison Ministries Committee. The task force will be convened and the first meeting facilitated by Mr. Harmon. Work Group report: Reviewed churches' web-based inclusion faces by reviewing websites around the Diocese; considering holding up good inclusion work done around the Diocese as inspiration and example. Outreach: Reviewed Outreach Work Group process in preparation for Saturday, April 12's hearings meeting. DISTRICT SHARING District 1: Ms. Barbara Piccirillo reported that her daughter, Laurie, will be the rector of Vocare, a spiritual renewal event planned for young adults, and encouraged participation. District 2: Ms. Patty Watts reported on Kai Alston's presentation to the district. She reported that St. David's in Kinnelon will sponsor a fund raising biking event, the BRAKE the HUNGER CYCLE TOUR, on May 3, 2008 to benefit the United Nations Millennium Development Goals project to end world hunger. District 4: The Rev. Sandye Wilson noted that the clergy were meeting to discuss the National Council of Churches' call to use Trinity Sunday to preach on race responding. District 6: The Rev. Gregory Perez reported the district will next meet on April 10 and will discuss Pledge Reconciliation and Parochial Report completion. District 7: Mr. Robert Harwood reported that a furniture and household items give-away ministry in Union has a lot of inventory and needed to find homes for it. The website was www.furnitureassist.org. District 9: The Rev. Lynne Bleich Weber reported on a district-wide Rebuilding Together project on April 12 and April 19 with about 40 people from three or four congregations involved. District 10: Ms. Alice Palmer reported the district met to investigate ways in which the district could strengthen its support for St. Paul's, Paterson. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MEETING EVALUATION The Rev. Lynne Bleich Weber reported on Jersey City efforts around immigration supported by the Interfaith Brotherhood / Sisterhood of Hudson County and passed the information to the Rev. Joseph Harmon, Immigration Task Force facilitator. A question was posed about an Interim Dean for the Cathedral. The bishop reported that the Cathedral Chapter will meet next week for discussions about the interim period. The bishop noted how impressed he was with the level of work done by the Council. The meeting was closed with prayer by Bishop Beckwith. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary Sunden, Secretary pro tem  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |