From the Diocese of Newark

2
DISTRICT 2 MEETING: 11/19/2007
Posted by Scott Bennett, Secretary
Feb 20, 2008, 13:26

District 2 Meeting

November 19, 2007

Christ Church

Pompton Lakes, NJ

 

Present:

   Church of the Saviour              Denville

   St. Andrew’s                          Lincoln Park

   St. Gabriel's                           Milton/Oak Ridge

   Church of the Transfiguration   Montville/Towaco

   Christ Church                         Pompton Lakes

Absent:

   St. John's                               Boonton

   St. David’s                              Kinnelon

   St. Peter’s                              Mountain Lakes

   Christ Church                          Newton

   St. Mary’s                               Sparta

   St. Thomas’                             Vernon

   Good Shepherd                        Wantage

 

 

I.                   Reports

a.       Convener’s Report: 

                                                               i.      Naomi Horsky welcomed Liz Griffin Lannigan and Barbara Djimopoulos from our Bethsaida Team.

b.      Diocesan Council Report:  Patty Watts reported on the activities of Diocesan Council since our last District 2 meeting:

                                                               i.      Looked at ACTS/VIM and Ward J. Herbert Fund.

                                                             ii.      Met Rich Graham, our interim CFO.

                                                            iii.      Heard a report on Youth Ministries from Kai Alston.

                                                           iv.      The farewell for John Zinn will be 12/13.

                                                             v.      Our diocese has formed a Civil Unions Task Force and is developing a liturgy for civil unions.

                                                           vi.      Diocesan pledge ingathering will be held on 12/4, at the Church of the Saviour.

                                                          vii.      John Webb and the Rev. Cathy Deats presented the report of our diocesan Sexual Misconduct Task Force.

                                                        viii.      Work is going forward on a new revised employee handbook for our diocese.

c.       Senior Ministries Report:  Patty Watts discussed the following:

                                                               i.      Patty made a presentation on Senior Ministries at Good Shepherd, Wantage.    

II.                Bethsaida Team Presentation (Liz Griffin Lannigan and Barbara Djimopoulos)

a.       Resolution to our diocesan convention:  Our Bethsaida Team and our Diocesan Council want deaf interpreters at all diocesan events when needed.  The cost will be shared 50-50 with our diocese spending up to $150.00.  People who require such services must preregister.

b.      Resolution passed in 2005 requires access for all facilities in which diocesan sponsored events are held by 2010.  Our Bethsaida Team is available to consult with parishes and missions to get them to compliance.

                                                               i.      "Funding for Accessibility" conference, Spring, 2008: Accessibility Workshop for congregations which have plans to upgrade their facilities. 

                                                             ii.      To get on the Bethsaida accessible church list got to http://www.bethsaidateam.org/ and register.

                                                            iii.      Our Bethsaida Team is happy to walk through a facility.

                                                           iv.      Question:  Will Episcopal House be compliant by 2010?

c.       Upcoming Creative Congregations event co-sponsored by our Bethsaida Team, Anti-Racism and OASIS.

d.      Some churches are putting in bilingual disabled parking signs, either permanent or temporary. 

e.       Churches who want to put up temporary disabled parking signs should check with their municipalities.

f.        Churches are reacting positively to meeting the needs of people with autism, dyslexia, learning disabilities …

III.             New Business

a.       Elections

                                                               i.      Youth Deputy to Convention: 

                                                             ii.      Clergy, Nominations Committee: Tow Laws was reelected.

                                                            iii.      Lay, Diocesan Council: Patty Watts was reelected.

b.      Chaplains

                                                               i.      What is entailed is unclear.  Naomi will get clarification at the next conveners’ meeting.

c.       District Anti-Racism Training

                                                               i.      Is there interest in having anti-racism training for District 2?

IV.              Open Forum

a.       Feasibility Study

                                                               i.      This was tabled pending further discussion.

b.      Potluck

                                                               i.      The possibility of having a District 2 potluck supper on some Sunday afternoon was proposed and will be discussed further.

c.       Best Practices

                                                               i.      We will devote 10-15 minutes in each meeting to a discussion of best practices in topics of interest to those attending.

V.                 Next Meeting: 7:30 pm, February 21, 2008, St. Andrew’s, Lincoln Park.  Kai Alston will be the speaker.