District 4 Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 22, 2005, 7:00 p.m.

Calvary Church, Summit

Present:  Anne Davidson, Bill Kinnaman, St. Paul’s, Chatham; Constance Bizer, The Reverend Lauren Ackland, Larry Taber, Hester Wharton, Grace, Madison; Beth Rauen Sciaino, St. George’s, Maplewood; The Reverend J. Carr Holland, Edward Onaodowan, Grace, Newark; The Reverend Judy Baldwin, Doug Eldridge, Dolores Macauley, Stella Morris, House of Prayer, Newark; Edith Gallimore, John L Smith, Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, Newark; Joan Mebane, The Reverend Dr. E. Bevan Stanley, Christ, Short Hills; Crystal Brown, Faith Gideon Brown, Marilyn Lehren, Janice Teetsell, St. Andrew & Holy Communion, South Orange; The Reverend Chris Brdlik, Calvary, Summit; Carla Lerman, Episcopal Community Development; The Reverend Oscar Mockridge, Senior Ministries/Bethsaida

The minutes from the December 7, 2004, meeting were approved with the addition of Larry Taber from Grace, Madison, under those present. 

The District 4 Confirmation is scheduled for Sunday, May 1, at 3:00 p.m.  All District 4 parishes are asked to submit their anticipated number of confirmands to a Co-Convenor, Lauren Ackland or Carr Holland.  The Diocese will determine the location of the Confirmation by the size of the group to be confirmed.   (A small number of confirmands in the district would allow for a smaller church to host this service.)  An alternative Confirmation date for those who need it is set for Sunday, June 12, at Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, Newark.  All youth who intend to be confirmed in May or June are required to attend an overnight retreat from Friday to Saturday, March 18-19.

Carr Holland announced Newark’s downtown churches’ Good Friday Way of the Cross procession.  On March 25 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. all are welcome to participate in some or all of the procession, which stops at all three Episcopal Churches on Broad St., House of Prayer, Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral, and Grace Church.  The other churches involved are North Reform Church, Peddie Memorial Baptist Church, St. John’s Church, and Old First Church.  Flyers were distributed.  Carr suggested that parishioners who work in Newark might be interested in participating.  Grace, Newark, also holds a Good Friday Liturgy at 6:30 p.m.

Judy Baldwin handed out information about the Abbott Leadership Institute, which will come work in urban parishes as a part of its Parent Child Learning Center network.  This child/family development program mentors both parents and children.  Members of suburban parishes could also be involved as tutors/mentors, as are top Rutgers University students.  Mentors will be trained to work with a family.  So far there are six PCLC churches in Newark, and House of Prayer also intends to participate.  Carla Lerman provided some background on the Abbott court case which requires that children in urban areas get the same quality of education, as is available elsewhere.  A huge amount of money was made available to build new schools in urban areas.  The Abbott Leadership Institute was created to help parents learn how to be involved in their children’s education.  Carr said that this organization hopes to empower urban parents to engage in the educational system the way suburban families know they have the option to do.  Judy said that parents are trained to provide an educational environment in the home since they are often not available to volunteer in schools during the day.

Feedback and evaluation was requested regarding the recent Diocesan Convention.  Both Diocesan Council representatives from District 4 were in attendance, Faith Gideon Brown and Chris Brdlik. 

·         Hester Wharton complimented the exhibits. 

·         Carr had heard positive feedback about the workshops.  Janice Teetsell said the rooms used for the workshops were too small.  She attended Benedictine Spirituality which was very good and very packed.  Janice felt Arrangements had underestimated the popularity of workshops.

·         Hester said that the same presenter is doing a program on Benedictine Spirituality at Episcopal House on Thursday, March 10, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. 

·         Marilyn Lehren said this was the first Diocesan Convention she had attended and the exhibits gave her insight into the scope of ministry and activity in the diocese.  She would like more time for workshops and less meeting. 

·         Chris would like Diocesan Convention to move away from the time spent on voting and toward more workshops and opportunities for people to come together.  The bishop of Northern Michigan’s workshop maxed out the room by 40%.  Should be able to ascertain in advance which workshops will be popular and run twice.  Janice said that the bishop probably attracted people after his moving sermon, so this might be hard to anticipate. 

·         Bevan Stanley appreciated that there were fewer, worthwhile resolutions.  Larry Taber believes that we should get the resolutions down to what can actually be accomplished and paid for.  Carr said that it is a democratic process and anyone can submit one.

·         Chris said that the hotel wait-staff was unprepared for Convention, with only three waiters on duty in the restaurant for Friday lunch and only one person in the bar on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. after Convention. 

·         Bevan reported that District 4 is well represented among the General Convention 2006 deputies, six out of eight.

Carla Lerman provided an update on the Clinton Ave. School Reading Volunteers Program. The reading volunteers will read one on one with a child at Clinton Ave. School in Newark, a K-3 elementary school.  The Bank Street College of Education has been involved in Clinton Ave. School for ten years.  The Clinton Ave. School is also a part of the Dodge Foundation’s literacy initiative that teaches teachers to teach literacy.  So far Carla has eight volunteers for whom she is setting up an orientation in the next two weeks with the principal and the literacy liaison.  The reading volunteers can come read with students on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday afternoons between 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  For an hour a week volunteers will be able to take two or three students out of the classroom for one on one reading.  Kindergarteners were chosen as the first grade to receive reading volunteers.  The school has a lot of books, or volunteers can bring their own.  Carla will send out the flyer again to see if there is any additional interest.  Currently volunteers are from Calvary, Summit; Christ, Short Hills; and Grace, Madison.  This spring volunteering term will serve as an experiment for the program and any bumps will be smoothed out before the program starts again in the fall.  Carla is currently serving as the volunteer program’s liaison, but is interested in finding someone else to eventually take over this responsibility.

Bevan Stanley introduced the topic of parish vitality in District 4.  Bevan acknowledged that there might be some anxiety or concern that people are making judgments about small parishes.  Faith Gideon Brown provided a handout on “Expanding Capacity for Ministry Using Eight Quality Characteristics of Healthy Growing Characteristics” which was distributed at Diocesan Convention as well as a version the Stewardship Commission adapted for stewardship.  These characteristics are tools for determining the health and vitality of a congregation without basing it on size or wealth.  Faith will speak more on this issue at the next meeting. 

Bevan said that while it is often easy to recognize differences among parishes, it’s important to recognize our commonalities.  He gave the example that all of the congregations in District 4 are in financial difficulty; it’s just a matter of scale as some parishes have more resources and bigger safety nets.  Bevan said that we might have more in common than we think.  He asked about anxieties, celebrations, and thoughts on parish vitality.  Larry Taber said that it would be beneficial if all clergy were in attendance at district meetings. 

Doug Eldridge said that he spoke with Louise Waiters from St. Barnabas who didn’t have transportation for tonight’s meeting.  The key members of St. Barnabas are not able to drive at night.  Despite being featured in a Star-Ledger article about possible church closings, Louise is not despondent about St. Barnabas and thinks that the church is surviving.  Doug said that it is important for meetings to be accessible to everyone. 

Lauren Ackland informed everyone that Trinity, Irvington, closed in December. The remaining members of Trinity decided to close the parish; its last service was the Sunday after Christmas.  Oscar Mockridge, a former vicar of Trinity, said that the closing wasn’t announced and he only learned of it through Lauren and Larry Taber, no other former clergy were in attendance.  The co-convenors of District 4 were not informed, which is indicative of how little Trinity was involved in the district, or the district with Trinity.  Chris Brdlik said that while bittersweet, these occasions do deserve to be observed and celebrated.  Judy Baldwin said that Trinity was engaged in a process to determine their own fate, chose their own closing date, as well as a service that was right for them, and requested the bishop be present.  Bevan observed that it is both good that the parish make the decision itself to close and that the bishop and staff prefer rent instead of sell the buildings.  There is hope that Episcopal ministry in Irvington is still a future possibility.  Edward Onaodowan said that the former St. Mark’s, West Orange, is now rented to another congregation.  Larry remarked that Trinity agreed to the closing whereas St. Mark’s did not.

            Edward remembered that at an earlier meeting in Maplewood it was suggested the district hold a program to bring parishes together once or twice a year.  Lauren Ackland suggested a district choral festival.  Larry Taber recommended a project that focuses District 4 members on the needs of the Cathedral.  Bevan remarked that we have a good amount of Cathedral Chapter members and Cathedral vestry members represented among our District 4 members.

            Edith Gallimore announced a concert of the Hampton University Choir at Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral on Sunday, April 17, at 4:00 p.m. for $15 a ticket.  Flyers should be at churches shortly.  This is a fundraiser for Cathedral building repair and attendance from District 4 parishes would be appreciated.

            Bevan followed up on Edward’s suggestion by asking what we can do to bind ourselves as a district.  Perhaps the elephant in the middle of the room is that because of the way we do economy in New Jersey the urban centers are impoverished with urban parishes on the edge.

Judy Baldwin said that the Episcopal Urban Caucus is meeting in Newark this week, with a Jazz Morning Prayer at House of Prayer on Thursday at 7:30 a.m.  A topic of this conference is how Newark has never recovered since the riots.  As one example of the vitality of urban parishes Judy spoke about House of Prayer.  New ministries are beginning, Dolores is in charge of the choir, 15 countries are represented in this very integrated parish, and eventually the parish will form a Community Development Corporation and apply for grants.  The question she asks is how do we as a group with very different living situations work together without having to feel guilty.  Parishioners at House of Prayer have a joyful, wonderful time, and are full of the Spirit.  Judy believes it’s important to share this vibrant picture of an urban parish.

Crystal Brown said she has heard that the District 4 youth services are wonderful, perhaps this could provide leverage for an adult event.

Doug said that it’s important to figure out what would have helped parishes that closed, such as early intervention.  He said there are certain skills that are needed in smaller congregations which do not have parishioners with these skills, such as lawyers, financial analysts or planners, or builders.  It would be nice to pick up the phone and be able to call someone for help.  Within this district there are many people with these gifts who might be willing to volunteer their services. 

Larry Taber said that if House of Prayer was a mission rather than a parish it would receive assistance from the mission board.  Judy responded that House of Prayer made a clear choice not to be a mission.

Carr Holland said that what Doug is asking for sounds like a talent bank, a source of help provided by equals rather than from above.  Chris Brdlik said that he think we’ve helped each other tonight by being honest, open, and straightforward.

Judy suggested that District 4 clergy get together to take the first step of identifying parish needs as well as resources to share from within each parish.  This should happen before contacting people to ask them consider being in the talent bank.  At the next District 4 meeting areas of need for the talent bank can be announced and a subcommittee of clergy and laity can be formed to help get this project off the ground.   A clergy meeting to work on the initial stage of the talent bank was set for Tuesday, March 1, at 3:00 p.m. at Calvary, Summit.

The next meeting of District 4 is Tuesday, April 26, at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church, Short Hills.  There is no March meeting due to Holy Week.