District 4 Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, June 22, 2005 – St. Paul’s, Chatham
Present: the Reverend Elizabeth Kaeton, Bill Kinnaman, St. Paul’s, Chatham; the Reverend Lauren Ackland, Larry Taber, Hester B. Wharton, Grace, Madison; Ulysses Dietz, the Reverend Bernie Poppe, Beth Rauen Sciaino, Chris West, St. George’s, Maplewood; the Reverend Herb Tinning, St. Stephen’s, Millburn; Louie Crew, Kate Halm-Lutterodt, the Reverend John Hamilton, the Reverend Carr Holland, Edward Onaodowan, Grace, Newark; Edith Gallimore, John L Smith, the Very Reverend C. David Williams, Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, Newark; Sam McKeown, the Reverend Mary Frances Schjonberg, Christ, Short Hills; Crystal Brown, Faith Gideon Brown, Marilyn Lehren, Patrice M. Henderson, the Reverend Sandye Wilson, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; the Reverend Chris Brdlik, Noanie Kirkland, the Reverend Laurie Matarazzo, Charles Rall, Calvary, Summit
Thanks were extended to the St. Paul’s, Chatham, parishioners who provided dinner, Charlie Foster, Steve San Filippo, Bill Kinnaman, Barbara Conroy, and Leslie Morgan.
Committee Elections
The election was held for the two District 4 positions on the Search/Nominating Committee. Six lay and four clergy put their names forward. The lay candidates were Louie Crew, Grace, Newark; Edith Gallimore, Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, Newark; James R. Greene, Grace, Madison; John D. Herrmann, Calvary, Summit; Ross C. Mangina, Grace, Madison; Jabez Van Cleef, Grace, Madison. The clergy candidates were Laura R. Matarazzo, Calvary, Summit; Bernard Poppe, St. George’s, Maplewood; Herbert P. Tinning, St. Stephen’s, Millburn; and Sandye Wilson, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange. Candidates who are not District 4 representatives were invited to attend the meeting; Jim Greene, Grace, Madison, and John Herrmann, Calvary, Summit, were able to be present. Chris Brdlik and Larry Taber tallied the votes. It was agreed that a majority would be needed to win election. Louie Crew was elected on the third ballot fill the lay position and Sandye Wilson was elected on the fourth ballot for the clergy position on the Search/Nominating Committee.
Only two people from District 4 submitted their names for the Transition Committee, Chris Brdlik and Hester B. Wharton, and two others were considering it, so these forms will be forwarded to the diocese for our three Transition Committee spots. The nomination forms of those who were not elected to the Search/Nominating Committee will also be forwarded to the diocese in order for the Standing Committee to fill in both committees.
District 4 Confirmations
Diocesan Confirmation preparation dates have been scheduled for the coming year and will be held on the following Fridays and Saturdays: November 4 and 5, 2005; March 3 and 4, 2006; March 31 and April 1, 2006; and May 5 and 6, 2006.
District 4 congregations expect approximately 73 confirmands next year. In order to accommodate the large numbers and allow for congregations who have not recently held a District Confirmation to do so, it was agreed to hold two District 4 confirmations next year. Both will be scheduled in May 2006, and will be held at St. Paul’s, Chatham, and St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange. The first weekend in May does not work for St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange.
Clinton Ave. School Reading Volunteers
Carla Lerman, Episcopal Community Development’s retiring executing director, updated everyone on the Clinton Ave. School reading volunteer project. With her retirement, Carla will be able to serve as the coordinator and point person for this project next year. This project has been in the works for the past four years, and this year began in pilot form, providing academic support to kindergarteners in this Newark K-3 elementary school. Clinton Ave. School has a longstanding relationship with Bank Street College of Education.
Parishioners from St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; Christ Church, Short Hills; and Calvary, Summit, participated this year. Volunteers are asked to give one hour a week from 1:30-2:30 p.m. to read one on one to kindergarteners. Carla discussed some of the highlights and challenges encountered in the pilot run of the project. Marilyn Lehren had a very good experience volunteering.
The school provides books as well as a booklet on how to read to kids. Some volunteers plan to partner with each other so that someone is present each week, yet each partner comes every other week rather than weekly. With her retirement Carla will be able to give more attention to this project, particularly in the area of communication with teachers.
This District 4 service project will start up again in October. Carla encouraged all congregations to publicize this project so that members from both suburban and urban District 4 congregations engage in this effort. Carla will submit an item to all District 4 congregations that can be included in September parish newsletters and announcements.
District 4 Liaisons
Our district was asked to provide liaisons to two diocesan commissions, Senior Ministries and the Christian Formation Commission. Hester B. Wharton, Grace, Madison, agreed to be the District 4 liaison to Senior Ministries.
Congregations are encouraged to think about a parishioner or clergyperson who would serve well as the District 4 liaison to the Christian Formation Commission. According to the webpage for the diocesan Christian Formation Commission, it serves children, youth, and adults of all ages in “all the ways we are formed as Christians.” The webpage also defines Christian Formation as
· “Christ-centered and spirit-filled.
· Wholistic and lifelong.
· Sharing our experiences, traditions, gifts and faith.
· Development of individual formation in reciprocal relationship with community formation.
· Process that encourages discipleship and bears good fruit.”
The Christian Formation Commission meets on the second Thursday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. James, Upper Montclair.
District 4 Special Event
Congregations were asked to check with their parish calendar, town/city calendar, and church musician’s availability to see if Saturday, October 15, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. would work for the District 4 talent and choral showcase. Beth Rauen Sciaino agreed to email District 4 clergy reminding them to check their congregation’s availability and to pass on this information to Edward Onaodowan via email at edwona@msn.com. The Ad Hoc Committee planning this district social event is also looking for a congregation that is willing and able to host the event; contact Edward if you would welcome this opportunity. The Committee requested that each congregation assist by providing refreshments for the event. There was some discussion as to whether there should be a nominal fee, a free will offering, or no fee to attend the event. It was agreed that the Committee would be empowered to make that decision. The Ad Hoc Committee sought additional members and Sandye Wilson volunteered.
Event for Bishop Croneberger
At the district convenors’ meeting it was recommended that each district do something for Bishop Croneberger before he retires to celebrate his episcopal ministry in our diocese. It was agreed that we could build on our experience of the talent showcase planned for this fall, and hold a second annual event which would provide opportunities to celebrate and socialize with the people of District 4 as well celebrate Bishop Croneberger. Laurie Matarazzo suggested that a piece of music could be composed specifically for Bishop Croneberger and this occasion. The manuscript of this piece of music could be framed and give to the bishop as a gift.
Grant approved
A grant of $750 from diocesan district funds was approved for the Newark Regional Ministries trip to the Acolyte Festival in Washington, DC. Suburban District 4 parishes can also participate. A similar grant two years ago allowed Newark young acolytes to go to this festival at the national cathedral. The cost involved is the bus, bus driver, and hotel accommodation for the bus driver.
Addenda
1) District 4 2005-2006 tentative meeting dates:
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Tuesday, December 6, 2005*
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
*The November and December meetings are combined due to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The January meeting is cancelled due to Diocesan Convention.
2) In early July, the Standing Committee announced the membership of the Search/Nominating Committee and Transition Committee for the Tenth Bishop of Newark.
Search/Nominating Committee:
The Reverend Victoria McGrath, Co-Chair
Dr. Louie Crew, Co-Chair
Mr. John S. Bertrand
The Reverend Dewey Brown
The Reverend Cooper Conway
The Reverend Jacob David
The Reverend Randall Day
The Reverend David DeSmith
Ms. Barbara Djimopoulos
Ms. Edith Gallimore
Ms. Skye Howell Henley
Mr. Mark Harrison
Ms. Naomi Horsky
The Reverend Isaac Ihiasota
The Reverend Rosemary Lillis
Mr. Bill McColl
Mr. Rodrigo Perez-Vega
Mr. Jay Powell, Jr.
The Reverend Nancy Read
Mr. Donald B. Roberts
Mr. Paul Shackford
The Reverend Stuart H. Smith
The Reverend Paul Williams
The Reverend Sandye Wilson
Ms. Patricia Yankus
Transition Committee:
The Reverend Chris Brdlik, Co-Chair
Ms. Marge Christie, Co-Chair
The Reverend Whitney Altopp
The Reverend MayLin Biggadike
The Reverend Geoff Curtiss
Mr. Bert Jones
Ms. Doris Madirosian
Ms. Elizabeth Moss
Mr. Matthew Piermatti
The Reverend Bernard Poppe
The Reverend Susan Sica
Mr. Aubrey Thompson
