District 2 Meeting
April 29, 2008
St. John’s
Boonton, NJ
Present:
St. John's Boonton
Church of the Saviour Denville
St. Gabriel's Milton/Oak Ridge
Christ Church Pompton Lakes
St. Thomas’ Vernon
Absent:
St. David’s Kinnelon
St. Andrew’s Lincoln Park
Church of the Transfiguration Montville/Towaco
St. Peter’s Mountain Lakes
Christ Church Newton
St. Mary’s Sparta
Good Shepherd Wantage
I. Reports
a. Diocesan Council Report: Patty Watts reported on the activities of Diocesan Council since our last District 2 meeting:
i. Council was given the final draft for Safeguarding Our Children, the diocesan policy on protecting children and training for adults. This will be discussed in the May Council meeting.
ii. The Outreach Committee met in April and will present its recommendations in May.
b. Senior Ministries Report: Patty Watts discussed the following:
i. June 8: Senior Ministries Evensong and David P. Hegg, II, Awards, St. Michael's, Wayne. Names due within the next two weeks. The reception is 3:00 pm; Evensong is 4:00 pm.
ii. Senior Ministries’ inserts are available for Sunday services in May, downloadable from our diocesan site.
II. Business
a. Confirmation: May 18 at Trinity and St. Philip’s Cathedral.
b. Cross Roads Camp and Conference Center: Andrew Molnar and Marie Skweir, the directors of Cross Roads, were to be at the meeting, but could not attend due to Marie’s illness. Bob Solon, Vicar, St. Thomas’ and a member of the Cross Roads board spoke instead. His remarks included:
i. Strong recommendation for using the camp anytime for anyone.
ii. There are continual upgrades to the facilities.
iii. There is a capital fund drive in place.
iv. Eventually Cross Roads will have a retreat center. Currently they are dealing with issues with the Highland Act Board.
v. They have a large scholarship budget.
vi. Current camp rates are $380.00/week/camper with discounts for siblings. Leigh Abbott-Leaman pointed out that the Cross Roads costs are ½ of what most sleep away camps cost.
vii. Camp programs are offered for campers up through 8th grade.
viii. The brochure is available on the Web site.
ix. Check Cross Roads out on May 17, 9:00 am onward.
III. Open Forum
a. David DeSmith’s Memo: We discussed David’s proposal that we seek to find ways to make us more viable as a group.
i. It was observed that our two specific purposes each year are: the Pre-Convention meeting and the election of Council Deputies, representatives on the Nominating Committee and a Youth Deputy to Convention.
ii. We should offer more to the congregations in our district, e.g., we should invite congregations to do what they cannot do alone.
iii. We have to have a purpose for our meetings.
iv. Lack of attendance discourages speakers.
v. The District 2 clergy meeting provides mutual support for clergy.
vi. The district is a means for communications.
vii. We should revive the reports on what is happening with St. John’s CDC and/or Good Shepherd’s Jubilee Ministry.
viii. We agreed that the next meeting would be 6:00-8:00 pm, Friday, June 6, 2008, at St. Gabriel’s. We will start with a potluck; each person should bring a dish for 6 or more people. Laurie Wurm will lead a Bible study and facilitate discussion. Our main thrust will be to discern what our district should be doing.
IV. Next Meeting: 6:00-8:00 pm, Friday, June 6, 2008, at St. Gabriel’s
