Wednesday, December 9, 1998
Episcopal House, Newark, New Jersey
Approved Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting

Present: The Rt. Rev. John S. Spong, President; The Rt. Rev. Jack M. McKelvey, Vice President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; Mr. Michael F. Rehill, Chancellor; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary

Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Steven Boston; The Rev. Scott Hoogerhyde; Mr. Michael James; Ms. Diane Kaczmarek; The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Schiesler; The Rev. Dr. Franklin Vilas

Elected by Convention: Mr. E. Kim Byham; The Rev. Emory Byrum; Ms. Dorothy Gould; Ms. Lynn Tyler

Elected by Districts: The Rev. Susan Butler; The Rev. William Coats; The Rev. Kevin P.J. Coffey; Mr. Richard Fifield; The Rev. Margaret Hodgkins; The Rev. William Lantz; The Rev. Mark Lewis; Ms. Pamela Lindquist; The Rev. Kenneth Near; The Rev. William Parnell; Mr. Junius Powell; Mr. Robert Simmons; The Rev. Steven Steele; Ms. Mary Sunden; Mrs. Virginia Whitehouse

Absent: Mr. Scott Helsel; The Rev. Scott Kallstrom; Ms. Dagi Murphy; Mr. Christopher Neglia; The Rev. Isaac Persaud; Ms. Susan Schink; The Rev. Harry Smith; Ms. Nancy Weidbrauk; The Rev. Fain Webb. On leave of absence: The Rev. Lawrence Falkowski

Others present: The Rev. Fletcher Harper; Ms. Martha Gardner; Ms. Clara Horsley; The Rev. Carolyn Lumbard; Mr. Laurence Taber.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Bishop Spong.

AGENDA

It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda. The motion was adopted.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the November 11, 1998, meeting. The motion to accept the minutes was adopted.

EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS: THE RT. REV. JOHN S. SPONG

Welcomed The Rev. Fletcher Harper and Ms. Martha Gardner.

Reported on the ordinations of Lucy Ann Dure and Michael Delaney.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Mr. Zinn presented the Treasurer's Report. In summary, it was anticipated that the expense negatives would be offset by positive variances; there had been no concern with incoming current pledge payments. The treasurer's report for next month will be distributed at the meeting rather than mailed. For the second year in a row, 90% of the pledges were received either by the canonical date or at the evensong service. It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted.

A SABBATH FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM

The Rev. Fletcher Harper, Task Force Chair, presented the report of the task force which would be proposed to the Diocesan Convention. The task force was asked by Bishop Spong to report on ways that the congregations of the diocese could strengthen their educational ministries. The core question that the task force members began their study with was: What is the purpose of a Christian congregation? The answer discovered was: to help provide worshippers with faith maturity and that the pathway to this goal was Christian education. Participation in well planned Christian education insured the growth of faith and spirituality. Research findings suggested that education was the single most important factor toward helping grow to spiritual maturity. At convention, the task force will propose the creation of an endowment to support teacher training and curricula. The details were still being developed.

Bishop Spong commented that EFM and the DOCC programs were effective Christian education programs.

PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Rev. Dr. Franklin Vilas, chair, reported the committee met recently and reviewed the goals for 1998 to 1999 which the committee affirmed and supported. The committee also reviewed Canon 5 which pertained to planning. The committee felt that the direction of diocesan leadership through the vision of Bishop Spong had been an inspiration to the Church of God and to those who wished to live as Christians in the 21^st Century. The committee noted that other dioceses that involved churches in a visioning and planning process new vitality had been brought into diocesan life. The committee suggested that such an effort might be appropriate to the Diocese of Newark in the year 2000. The committee recommended that sometime in 1999 a retreat of the council be held under the leadership of Bishop Croneberger to engage members deeply with the mission statement and goals of the diocese, and to seek to discern a way to involve the diocese as a whole in the future mission of the church.

JPIC/JUBILEE REPORT

Ms. Martha Gardner, Diocesan Jubilee Officer and member of JPIC, presented a history of JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) which was created in 1995 as an organizing tool by the Executive Council of the National Church to work on the issues of economic justice, anti-racism, environment, global peace and justice. She suggested a comparative tracking of the diocesan mission statement and goals with the goals of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. She described the Jubilee Ministry program which was available for all congregations to join and be a part of. Jubilee was a witness to who we are in the church. Direct service, empowerment and advocacy were often the program components in the congregations that were defined as Jubilee churches. Five hundred jubilee programs were underway in the country. St. Paul's, Paterson, was a jubilee congregation in the Diocese of Newark. She urged that more congregations consider becoming jubilee centers, a process less difficult than many think. She explained the Jubilee 2000 campaign domestically. Public Policy Network was established in Washington to communicate and notify its members of political issues that needed attention; issues such as welfare reform, living wage.

DEPARTMENT OF MISSIONS

The Rev. Carolyn Lumbard and Mr. Laurence Taber, members of the DOM Executive Committee, along with Bishop McKelvey, presented the annual report on the status of the DOM. There were 38 mission congregations and the AIDS Resource Center at St. Barnabas under the DOM. The largest amount of the DOM budget was for debt service, which was really a diocesan debt but managed by the DOM. It was explained that the missions entered into a covenant with the DOM which listed the goals that were established annually. The results of the covenant process were positive for mission growth and stability. The programmatic support for individual congregations decreased yearly because of the goal setting undertaken by the congregations themselves and the fact that other diocesan resources were being used. The 1999 DOM budget request included seed money for a CDC at Ringwood/West Milford and the position of a paid administrator. The DOM and the Ward J. Herbert Board may work together on a needs assessment survey of the mission congregations. Loans continued to be refinanced through the DIT, a less expensive method of financing.

ACTS/VIM BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

It was moved by Ms. Diane Kaczmarek and seconded that the recommendations presented last month be ratified. The motion was adopted.

AV-98-13 Companion Diocese Relationship - Living Water for Libombos, $4,000
AV-98-14 Newark, Grace Church - Grace Choir Boys After School Program, $9,000
AV-98-15 Paterson, St. Paul's CDC - Emergency Shelter for Homeless Men, $10,000
AV-98-16 Hoboken, All Saints' - Hoboken Helping Hands, $10,000
AV-98-17 West Milford, Incarnation - The Work Room: Highlands CDC, no funding
AV-98-18 Washington, St. Peter's - Youth Area Recreational Development Yard, $6,000
AV-98-19 Episcopal Church Women - North Porch Facility at St. John's, Dover, $5,000
AV-98-20 Belleville, Christ Church - Care Closet, $3,000
AV-98-21 DOM/North Bergen, Transfiguration Computer Awareness Program, no funding
AV-98-22 Diocese of Newark - Food For Friends, $2,800
AV-98-23 Newark, St. James CDC - Housing Resource Center, $5,000
AV-98-24 Hackensack, Christ Church - Peter's Place Advocacy and Referral Service, $9,500
AV-98-25 Hope, St. Luke's - St. Luke's House: Caring For Children, no funding
AV-98-26 Commission on Aging - Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation Training Project, no funding
AV-98-27 Diocese of Newark - Congregational Reporting & Statistical Analysis, no funding
AV-98-28 Phillipsburg, St. Luke's - Luke's Pantry, $5,000
AV-98-29 Newark, Apostles' House - Emergency Shelter for Families Program, $9,500

Total Recommendation to Diocesan Council $78,800

WARD J. HERBERT FUND RECOMMENDATIONS

It was moved by Ms. Diane Kaczmarek and seconded that the recommendations presented last month be ratified. The motion was adopted. The motion was adopted.

WJH-98-11 Bloomfield/Glen Ridge, Christ Church - Boiler Replacement, $1,700
WJH-98-12 Bayonne, Calvary - Boiler Replacement, $3,200
WJH-98-13 Washington, St. Peter's - Rectory Renovation, $5,000
WJH-98-14 Jersey City, Grace Van Vorst - Roof Repairs, Fire Alarm, Wiring, $2,000
WJH-98-15 West Orange, St. Mark's - Rectory Repairs, no funding
WJH-98-16 Teaneck, St. Mark's - Roof Replacements, $8,200
WJH-98-17 Montclair, Trinity - Church & Parish Hall Repairs, $3,750
WJH-98-18 Bergenfield, All Saints' - Handicapped Access, $1,580
WJH-98-19 Belleville, Christ Church - Church Repairs, $10,000
WJH-98-20 Oradell, Annunciation (withdrawn)
WJH-98-21 East Orange, Christ Church - Handicapped Restroom Facility, $2,500
WJH-98-22 Ringwood, Good Shepherd - Electrical and Plumbing Work, $2,131
WJH-98-23 Irvington, Trinity - Church Boiler, $2,850
WJH-98-24 Union City, St. John's - Church and Parish Hall Roofs, $6,400
WJH-98-25 Mendham, St. Mark's - Rectory Rehabilitation, $7,789
WJH-98-26 Montclair, St. Luke's - Boiler Replacement, Window Repairs, Gutter Work, $5,000
WJH-98-27 So. Orange, St. Andrew&Holy Communion - Church Repairs & Restoration,$10,000
WJH-98-28 Sparta, St. Mary's - Roof & Boiler Replacements, $5,200
WJH-98-29 Hackensack, Christ Church - Rectory Windows and Painting, no funding
WJH-98-30 Hope, St. Luke's - Church Roof Replacement, $ 2,250
WJH-98-31 Kearny, Trinity - Retaining Wall & Parish Hall Skylights, $2,500
WJH-98-32 Dover, St. John's - Thrift Shop Repairs, $1,000
WJH-98-33 Nutley, Grace - Roof Repair, Tower Stonework, $4,250

Total Recommendation to Diocesan Council: $87,300

The motion was seconded and adopted.

EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS - THE RT. REV. JOHN P. CRONEBERGER

Reported that in the few weeks since his consecration, he had done a series of firsts as bishop coadjutor: presiding at an ordination, confirming twelve persons, making a church visitation and parking in a reserved space when at a church service. He looked forward to more of these activities and to being with the Diocesan Council.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

Mrs. Clara Horsley thanked the people of the diocese who assisted in financing the crozier for the bishop coadjutor and for providing food for the reception. The ECW will solicit financial support for the its programs of outreach from the congregations through a written appeal. A donation was made to the PBFWR for the Hurricane Mitch relief efforts.

STEERING COMMITTEE - VESTRY/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VISITS

Ms. Diane Kaczmarek reminded members to return the evaluation forms from the visits. Some comments shared: the planning for the visits should be done earlier in the year; the visits were well received; team assignments should be made earlier; publishing the evaluations and feedback would be helpful; expand the role of district representatives to Council by having them participate in the conversations with the churches.

STEERING COMMITTEE - PARSONAGE ALLOWANCE RESOLUTION

Ms. Diane Kaczmarek moved the following resolutions:

RESOLVED, that of the compensation paid to The Right Reverend John Shelby Spong in the calendar year 1999, the sum of $40,000 be designated as parsonage allowance.

RESOLVED, that of the compensation paid to The Right Reverend Jack Marston McKelvey in the calendar year of 1999, the sum of $40,000 be designated as parsonage allowance.

RESOLVED, that of the compensation paid to The Right Reverend John Palmer Croneberger in the calendar year of 1999, the sum of $40,000 be designated as parsonage allowance.

The motion was seconded and the resolutions were adopted.

STEERING COMMITTEE - DIOCESAN CONVENTION WORSHIP OFFERING RESOLUTION

Ms. Diane Kaczmarek moved the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the offerings from the two Convention Worship Services be divided equally between the Hurricane Mitch relief efforts in Central America and the diocesan youth ministry programs.

Supporting Information:

The devastation and destruction in Honduras and the other areas in Central America are well known following Hurricane Mitch in late October. Many hundreds were killed, over 1½ million people were left homeless, the infrastructure was badly damaged or destroyed, and crop lands were flooded. While the storms have ended, the need for humanitarian aid continues to be critical.

Our youth ministries programs have experienced tremendous growth in attendance by young people. WOODY, Happening and the camp programs have all seen increased participation. Besides the traditional programs, new programs were added over the last two years; they included an Introduction to Rite 13 and J2A conference, National Vocare Weekend, Youth Advisor Conference for the Diocese, a return to a Diocesan Acolyte Festival, and publication of a Youth Ministries's Booklet. The number of Happening weekends were doubled. Youth Ministries in the Diocese of Newark increasingly attracts those young men and women who are searching for meaning and their place in the world. It is in Youth Ministry that we are able to help them in their search.

STEERING COMMITTEE - ARE YOU A CONVENTION DEPUTY?

Ms. Diane Kaczmarek requested that Council members who were not elected deputies from their churches to the Annual Convention tell the Secretary of Convention so that packages of convention information could be mailed to them.

JERSEY CITY STRATEGY

Bishop McKelvey reported that the planning session will meet in January and the Jersey City Strategy Group will meet in February for the last time, since the Jersey City Area Council will take on the full responsibility.

EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS - THE RT. REV. JACK M. MCKELVEY

Reported on the November conference held to study the issues of capital punishment; all denominations in New Jersey were represented. A pastoral statement was developed at the conference and was shared with the clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. Every church in the New Jersey Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish organizations in the state all had policies in opposition to capital punishment. It was hoped that the letter sent to the churches would begin a dialogue on the topic.

Reported that a letter was mailed to clergy and wardens about the anti-racism dialogue which was being used by a number of congregations successfully, urging participation in the program.

The Rev. Susan Butler reported on her call to Trinity Church, Solebury, PA. The Rev. Peggy Hodgkins shared that the father of Chris Brdlik was gravely ill. Bishop Spong reported on the progress of Larry Falkowski and Harry Smith, following their surgeries. The Rev. William Parnell reported that Denis Singulane, bishop of Lebombo, and his family were involved in a traffic accident and his wife, Berthe, was killed. It was moved and seconded that a letter of condolences be mailed to the bishop.

The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. William Coats.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary

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