Wednesday, April 10, 2002
St. Agnes' Episcopal Church, Little Falls, New Jersey
Approved Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting
Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger; President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer;
Mr. Dean Weber, Chancellor; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary
Elected by Districts: The Rev. Martin Bagay, Ms. Kathleen Ballard, The Rev. Kim
Capwell, The Rev. Randall Day, Ms. Ann Hirsch, Ms. Naomi Horsky, The Rev. Briggett
J. Keith, Mr. Nat Nelson, Mr. Jack Reade, The Rev. William Riker, The Rev. E.
Bevan Stanley, The Rev. John F. Stanton, Mr. Larry Taber, The Rev. Paul Walker,
Ms. Pat Yankus.
Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Steven Boston, Mr. Sidney King
Absent: Mr. Daniel deRonde, Mr. Don Roberts, The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Schiesler
Others Present: Mrs. Doris Mardirosian
Staff: The Rev. Canon Paul Hunt, Ms. Susan Robinson
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Bishop Croneberger and opened
with prayer.
AGENDA
It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda with the deletion of the Jersey
City/St. Augustine's Report (see Bishop's comments). The motion was adopted.
MINUTES
It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of March 13,
2002. The motion to accept the minutes was adopted.
EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS
- THE RT. REV. JOHN P. CRONEBERGER
Reported on the recent diocesan confirmation services at St. James', Upper Montclair
and St. Mary's, Belvidere.
Asked for the removal and postponement of the agenda item, Jersey City/St. Augustine's,
at this time. The matter will return to the agenda for discussion and deliberation
at a later date, when it was expected that additional information and a proposal
will be available. (The agenda item was removed for consideration.)
Reported that the bishop of Los Angeles, The Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno, was making a
cross country trip with young people from the diocese to raise awareness about
domestic violence as it particularly relates to the urban environment. Bishop
Croneberger requested that bishop and young people include our diocese on their
schedule, which they did. Bishop Bruno and the youths will be in Newark on Tuesday,
May 21. Several activities were being planned for clergy and laity with the traveling
group.
Announced several upcoming events: the lay professionals/volunteers
service on April 11 at the Cathedral, that will feature Canon Carter
Echols as the preacher; the April 13 ordinations of Laurie Matarazzo
and Jim Petroccione; the conference sponsored by the Mission to Dismantle
Racism, called "Sharing the Power",
scheduled for Saturday, May 4 with The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle and The Rt. Rev.
Paul Moore, as keynoters; and the September 11 service of Peace and Remembrance
at the cathedral.
Reported that the Standing Committee approved for ordination to the priesthood
on Saturday, June 1: Ms. Ellen Sloan, Ms. Margie Tuttle, Ms. Margaret Otterburn,
Ms. Helen Harper and Mr. Dean Weber.
Announced the resignation of The Rev. Sue Sharples as rector of All Saints',
Leonia.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mr. John Zinn reported on the financial statement. Belated pledges continued
to be received and were expected to be received throughout the year. As with
current pledges, 25% of the amounts received would be sent to the national church.
The expense lines were satisfactory, at this time. The Outreach Committee hearings
were scheduled for Saturday, April 20.
It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion
was adopted.
CANTERBURY VILLAGE BOARD
ELECTIONS (Class of 2005)
The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley, Canterbury Village Board member, moved the following
names for election to the Canterbury Village Board of Trustees, Class of 2005:
Ms. Hope Lampe, Mr. Jay Powell, Ms. Diane Rhodes, The Rev. Don Shearer and Ms.
Jessie Wilkerson. Replacements in the Classes of 2003 and 2004: Ms. April Johnson
and Ms. Patty Dreher, respectively. The motion was seconded and adopted.
The other classes were: Class of 2003: Ms. Leslie Barnes, Ms. Marge Christie,
Ms. April Johnson, The Rev. Al Joussett and Mr. Larry Taber. Class of 2004: Mr.
Tim Carpenter, Ms. Patty Dreher, Mr. Richard Haines, The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley,
and The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton.
The officers were: Mr. Tim Carpenter, president; Ms. Patty Dreher, vice-president;
Ms. Hope Lampe, secretary; and Mr. Larry Taber, treasurer.
DIOCESAN COUNCIL MEETINGS'
SCHEDULE - Ad Hoc Committee
The Rev. Jack Stanton, the Rev. Bill Riker, Ms. Pat Yankus, and the Rev. Briggett
Keith reported that the committee met on March 19, 2002, and presented the following
report.
1. The Committee agreed that the number of meetings of the DC is directly related
to its job description.
The description of Diocesan Council appears in Diocesan Canon 5, as follows:
CANON 5 THE DIOCESAN
COUNCIL
1. COMPOSITION
There shall be a Diocesan Council consisting of the Bishops; The Secretary
of the Convention, who shall also be a Secretary of the Diocesan Council; The
Treasurer of the Convention, who shall also be Treasurer of the Diocesan Council;
and up to twenty-six (26) additional members. The Chancellor as legal advisor
to the Council shall be afforded seat and voice at all meetings of the Council.
Of the additional members, up to twenty-two (22) Council members shall be elected
by the District Convocation, the number of such members to be set by Diocesan
Council. Each District Convocation shall elect an equal number of representatives
to the Council, half of whom shall be clergy persons and half lay persons,
who shall take office upon adjournment of the Annual Convention. Each District
Convocation may fill vacancies among its representatives to the Council. The
remaining number shall be appointed by the Bishop.
The term of any additional member shall be two (2) years, and no person shall
be reelected or reappointed at the expiration of two (2) consecutive complete
terms. The Council shall have the authority to establish classes so that a
representative from each district and half of the membership in each order
will be elected each year.
2. PURPOSE
The Diocesan Council shall
act for the Convention in the interim between meetings,
and working with the Bishops and staff, shall be responsible
for long-range planning and determining program priorities,
presenting them clearly to the Convention for consideration.
The Council acting for the Convention, shall from time
to time review and evaluate the program approved by
the Convention. (Emphasis from the committee.) The
Council shall have all power necessary to carry out
its functions and duties subject to law, the Constitution
and Canons of the General Church, and the Constitution
and Canons of this Diocese.
3. ORGANIZATION
The President of the Convention shall preside over the Council, and the Council
shall have power to enact By-laws and Regulations for the performance of its
duties not inconsistent with the Constitution and Canons of General Convention
and of this Diocese.
4. DUTIES
a. Analyze needs, determine primary concerns and program priorities, and develop
goals and policy for the Diocese.
b. Review and evaluate the program of the Diocese, set standards, gather and
analyze data, and compare results with goals and policy.
c. Establish such planning groups as the Council may deem appropriate to carry
out its purposes and duties.
d. Engage consultants and utilize resources sufficient to accomplish the planning
process.
e. Supervise the financial affairs of the Convention, including budgetary matters.
f. Submit annually to the Convention a unified budget for the ensuing year
to provide for the total operation of the Diocese.
g. Adopt a working budget annually.
h. Provide for the maintenance of sound and accepted business practices in
the affairs of the Diocese, its institutions, organizations, and agencies,
and its Parishes, Aided Parishes, Incorporated Missions, and Missions. To accomplish
this duty the Council shall be empowered to make regulations concerning the
investment of trust funds, the bonding of treasurers and custodians, methods
of keeping books of account, provisions for auditing and reporting thereof,
maintenance of insurance, and such other matters consistent with this Canon,
provided that all such regulations shall be subject to review, alteration,
or amendment by Convention.
i. Give recognition to accredited organizations,
institutions, and other activities of the Diocese and provide regulations whereby
such recognition can be given. No such organization, institution, or other
activity shall receive financial support from the budget for the program of
the Diocese or shall be permitted to use in its title any designation indicating
it to be affiliated with the Diocese or in any other way hold itself out as
a Diocesan organization, institution, or agency without first having received
recognition from the Diocesan Council. The Diocesan Council shall have the
further power of establishing standards, requiring reports, and the like in
connection with all such organizations, institutions, and activities. (Emphasis from the committee.)
In past years, when representatives were elected by Convention, the office
description read:
Candidate requirements: attendance at ten monthly meetings (no meetings in
July and August); second Wednesday of the month; 6 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Evening
Prayer and Dinner; 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. - business session. Meetings held
in churches and institutions around the diocese. Committee assignments: Budget,
Congregational Development, Insurance, Planning, Outreach and Steering. Desirable,
but not essential, experience: service on vestry/executive committee, diocesan
groups
2. The description in the Diocesan Canons envisions a proactive Diocesan Council.
This means that the DC should be involved in setting the agenda for meetings
together with the bishop and the diocesan staff, not receive the agenda from
the diocesan staff. The diocesan staff as ex-officio members can provide the
Minutes, the Treasurer's Report, valuable information and matters for DC action
such as election of members of various boards of directors.
3. If the DC is to continue to meet with the current agenda, we should meet
less frequently. If the DC is to be proactive, if we are going to do what we
are supposed to be doing, we should meet according to the current meeting schedule.
4. The style of the meetings of the DC may have led to the suggestion that
we meet less frequently. We recommend the formation of subcommittees based
on the responsibilities required by diocesan canon. (In this regard, we are
preparing draft of a proposed set of by-laws for the DC.) These subcommittee
meetings could be held during the dinner hour followed by reports for discussion
and action by the DC.
5. The committee recommends that the Conveners of the District Convocations
be elected by the members of the Convocations.
6. The committee believes that the DC is an important and vital hub for communication
between the districts.
It was the consensus of the committee that either the Council act as described
in sections (a) to (e) or change and modify the canons.
A full and lively discussion ensued. Comments made during the discussion included:
• Council members might already be doing the work described in the Canons, but
just not named as such
• Council doesn't seem to have actually analyzed any needs, nor developed goals
or priorities, as described in the Canons.
• Council seemed to only rubber stamp decisions already made, maybe presented
some helpful suggestions, but little of substance has been generated by the council.
• Council might be divided in groupings, not necessarily traditional committees,
and perhaps to provide staff support.
• Council pro-activity would be best (a general consensus), but required authority
for planning.
• Canonical paragraphs A & B presented both a threat and an opportunity,
if implemented.
• Long range planning should be a high priority was the response to the question
posed if long range planning should be part of the Council's work.
• Another review should be made of the materials and results from the Visioning
Convocation.
• Appreciative Inquiry (AI) should be used in discussions and deliberations of
the Council. What will the diocese look like in five or ten years? can be asked
using AI.
• Long range planning could be an exciting task for the Council. Such questions
might be asked as What is the diocesan strategy? What are our core values in
making judgements when resources are limited? What do you mean by "Church"?
What kind of building is required? What are the roles for clergy?
• Substantive work not make work was important.
• Mere numbers do not reflect the vitality, strength or purpose of a church,
but the ministry undertaken.
• A retreat for council members led by Isaiah Team was suggested.
At the conclusion of the discussion, Bishop Croneberger asked the ad hoc committee
and the management team to discuss what they heard this evening.
An hour of the agenda at the May meeting will be devoted to continue the discussion,
as well. The ad hoc committee will prepare the Bible study for that meeting,
too.
Ms. Doris Mardirosian was appointed to the ad hoc committee.
DISTRICT REPORTS
Several people commented on the content of the monthly reports and questioned
the relevance of them. It was the consensus that two districts would report
each month. In May, reports will be received from districts 1 and 10.
District 3: The Rev. William Riker reported planning for a retreat with the
Rev. Diedre Goode on October 27. A clean up day at St. Mark's West Orange was
reported on and there will be another one.
District 4: The Rev. E. Bevan Stanley reported on the workshop led by Dr. Horace
Boyer in February. While attendance was not as high as it could have been,
the concept was understood and more would like to see additional.
District 5: Ms. Kathleen Ballard reported a recent meeting was well attended
and discussing corporate outreach efforts.
District 10: The Rev. Briggett Keith reported that the Easter address of Bp
Ria was on the internet and was a powerful witness of what the church ecumenically
was trying to do.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Ms. Doris Mardirosian reported on the upcoming events
including the April 27 "World
of Women" luncheon at Our Saviour, Denville.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Steve Boston announced the web workshop scheduled for April 27.
Ms. Kathleen Ballard reminded members about the fourth annual "Celebrating
Creative Congregations" conference scheduled for June 4.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. with prayer by the Rev. E. Bevan Stanley..
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary
The next meeting dates are May 8 and June 12,
2002. (All dates are Wednesdays at St. Agnes'
Episcopal Church, Little Falls.)
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