Wednesday, October 13, 1999
St. John's Church, Ramsey, New Jersey
Approved Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting
Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger;
Acting President; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary;
Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer;
Bishop's Appointments: The Rev. Geoffrey Curtiss; Ms. Diane Kaczmarek; The Rev.
Dr. Robert A. Schiesler
Elected by Convention: The Rev. Emory Byrum; Mr. Leonard Glenn; Ms. Lynn Tyler;
The Rev. Dr. Franklin Vilas;The Rev. Richard Wrede
Elected by Districts: T The Rev. Kevin P.J. Coffey; he Rev. David Badgley; Mr.
Steven Boston; Mr. Richard Fifield; Ms. Kathy Ganim; The Rev. Scott Hoogerhyde;
Ms. Naomi Horsky; Mr. Michael James; Mrs. Doris Mardirosian; Mr. Christopher
Neglia; The Rev. William Parnell; Mr. Junius Powell; Ms. Susan Schink; Mr. Robert
Simmons; Ms. Joyce Skipper; The Rev. Steven Steele; Ms. Mary Sunden; Mrs. Virginia
Whitehouse
Absent: The Rev. Martin Bagay; The Rev. Margaret Hodgkins; The Rev. William Lantz;
The Rev. Mark Lewis; The Rev. Kenneth Near; Mr. Michael F. Rehill; The Rev. Harry
Smith; The Rev. Mildred J. Solomon
Others present: The Rev. Isaac Persaud; Ms. Martha Gardner; Ms. Bonnie Magnuson;
Ms. Judith Seelbach; Ms. Hope Lampe
Staff: The Rev. Paul Hunt, Ms. Susan Robinson
The Rev. Richard Louis, Rector, welcomed the members of Council. The church was
at the site since 1906 where newcomers were always welcomed. Outreach was an
important part of the church's ministry -- an early supporter of YCS Holly House
in Hackensack and the Apostles' House in Newark. Recently $24,000 were given
to a lead abatement program of ECD. Adult education classes were part of the
ongoing life of the parish. The Council demonstrated its appreciation by applause
for the hospitality.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Bishop Croneberger.
AGENDA
It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda with the following additions: a
report from the Diocesan Jubilee Officer, Ms. Martha Gardner, and an announcement
by The Rev. Skip Vilas. The motion was adopted.
MINUTES
It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the September 8, 1999, meeting.
The motion to accept the minutes was adopted.
EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS:
THE RT. REV. JOHN P. CRONEBERGER
Welcomed Martha Gardner, Bonnie Magnuson, Isaac Persaud, Judith Seelbach and
Hope Lampe to the Council meeting.
Reported that the Standing Committee approved the ordination of Maylin Biggadike
to the priesthood; and approved the candidacies of Phil Dougherty, Tanya Wallace
and Lily DeYoung.
Reported that he will be meeting with the clergy at a November conference at
which over 100 clergy persons have signed up; has been working closely with the
COM and will be meeting with the boards of the Voice and the DOM shortly.
By year's end there would have been thirty "listening events." It was
clear that there were concerns about ministries that needed attention and response.
Suggested caution in our next moves. Wanted to raise questions on how best to
proceed and possibly use the year of 2000 to analyze the style of leadership,
organization and structure. Wanted to look carefully at additions to staff and
programs; and, possibly hiring a consultant to assist in the analysis.
Reported that The Rev. Richard Chasse resigned as chaplain at Christ Hospital,
Jersey City, and accepted a position outside the diocese.
The Rev. David Badgely reported that the recent fund raiser held at Christ, Totowa,
raised over $38,000 and would be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mr. Zinn presented the Treasurer's Report. He reported that expenses were within
budget, and the major issue on income was how the pledges would fair by year's
end. Hopefully, the October cash flow would allow payments to the national church
to become current. It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to
audit. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Zinn reported that budget request forms were mailed recently. Groups were
asked to limit new initiatives during the next year. The budget process will
be moved up which should get the budget to the deputies earlier than in previous
years. The Council will receive the budget for adoption at the December meeting
rather than the January meeting.
TRANSITION EXPENSES/EPISCOPAL
RESERVES
A written report by Mr. John Zinnwas distributed of expenses on the transition,
both actuals and a projected figure. The intent was to establish a reserve for
future elections and to set up method of funding.
Over the past few months there have been discussions between the Steering Committee
and the Trustees of the Episcopal Fund regarding the expenses of the Episcopal
transition and a reserve for future Episcopal transitions. The purpose of this
memo is to summarize the situation and the process for the future.
In November and December of 1996 a proposal was made to the Diocesan Council
and the Trustees regarding the funding for an Episcopal election and transition.
This was prior to the adoption of the diocesan profile and the call for the election
of a Bishop Coadjutor. On November 13, 1996, the Diocesan Council adopted the
following resolution:
Resolved that the Diocesan Council supports and recommends to the Trustees of
the Episcopal Fund and Diocesan Properties that the proceeds of the sale of the
Advent, Bloomfield property be used to fund a reserve for an Episcopal election
and transition expenses and, be it further, Resolved that the Diocesan Council
recommends to the Diocesan Convention that the diocese repay over a ten year
period to the Trustees the money used for the election and transitional expenses
of a new bishop.
On December 3, 1996, the Trustees of the Episcopal Fund passed the following
resolution:
It was moved, seconded and approved that the proceeds of the sale of the Church
of the Advent in Bloomfield, church portion, be used to set up a reserve to pay
the expenses involved in the nomination, election and transition for a new Bishop
subject to the Trustees approval of budgets for these items. Any funds not used
for this purpose will be applied to the mortgage on 31 Mulberry Street.
The transition runs through January 31, 2000. The total of actual and projected
expenses for the transition is as follows:
Nomination/Election $57,708
Consecration 34,230
Moving Expenses 7,852
Automobile and other equipment 29,041
Salaries and Benefits
Bishop 149,495
Administrative Assistant 45,581
Executive Assistant 31,000
Total 354,907
Please be aware that these figures can still change.
Over the summer the Steering Committee of the Council initiated discussions with
the Trustees regarding its resolution of November 1996. In these discussions
there was clear consensus that the first priority was the establishment and funding
of an Episcopal Reserve for the next time such a process takes place. In light
of these discussions, the Trustees adopted the following resolution on September
7, 1999:
Resolved that the Trustees will establish an Episcopal Election Transition Trust
Fund to be funded out of the budget of the Diocese commencing in the year 2000.
A projection of the amount needed and funding strategies will be prepared as
part of the 2000 budget process. It should be noted that the necessary level
of funding will not necessarily be based upon the actual amount of the current
transition. The costs of the nomination, election and consecration will be part
of any such process as will some expenses for equipment and moving. However,
the actual length of the transition has a great impact on the total cost and
this will need to be taken into account in projecting the future need.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMISSION
Ms. Bonnie Magnuson, chair of the Christian Education Commission, presented a
status report on the work of the commission. A lot of collaborative work gets
done with many of the other groups within the diocese. Training of certified
master teachers was undergoing for the "Godly Play" education curriculum.
Educational programs for church Sunday school teachers were held in the spring
and would be repeated next year. Future plans included a choir festival. The
annual Celebrating Congregational Excellence conferenence was scheduled for Saturday,
October 16. The Christian Education Commission was the board for the Bishop Anand
Resource Center and were pleased with the work of its director, Ms. Kitty Kawecki.
Representatives were sent to Minnesota to study faith development for youth and
adolescents. Their program focused on helping children to develop fully and helping
churches understand how they can be involved in the development of the individual.
Each church received a work packet for the planning of a "Children's Sabbath",
scheduled for October 17. Along with Youth Ministries and the Women's Commission,
the commission will work on establishing policies and procedures regarding children
similar to those written by the diocese for the European churches.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Ms. Clara Horsley, ECW President, reminded members about the Prayer Pilgrimage
at the National Cathedral scheduled for Thursday, November 4. The ECW was short
of funds to send the full complement of four deputies to the ECW Triennial in
Denver next July.
COMMISSION ON AGING
Ms. Judith Seelbach, Executive Director, and Ms. Hope Lampe, Chair of the Commission,
addressed the Council. The focus of the commission's work had shifted from being
an informational resource to an educational vehicle for congregations. Ms. Seelbach
visted a number of churches to discuss aging issues, care givers and care giving,
retirement planning, and sexuality issues. A project on training for abuse and
neglect had been delayed until a funding source was identified to underwrite
the costs. Currently, there were nine members on the commission, but eighteen
were allowed. Additional members were sought. Developing a cadre of resource
volunteers was ongoing. The third annual evensong was held in the spring with
an attendance of over 300. The theme for the evensong in 2000 was planned to
be "inter-generational."
JUBILEE OFFICER/JPIC
Ms. Martha Gardner, Diocesan Jubilee Officer, distributed information about JPIC
(Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation), Jubilee Ministries and Jubilee 2000
and the Childrens' 2000 Campaign of the NJCC. National JPIC created a resource
guide for churches to live into the call of Jubilee 2000 (copies were available
through Parish Services). Seventy countries participated in the Jubilee 2000
debt forgiveness program. The Debt Relief for Poverty Reduction Act of 1999 was
introduced in the Senate by Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL). The reduction act had the
backing of the national church. It was hoped that additional congregations in
the diocese would become jubilee centers within the next year. The Hate Crimes
Prevention Act of 1999 had the support of the national church and was passed
by the US Senate as an amendment to an appropriations bill. The amendment was
now in a House-Senate conference. Senator Lautenberg was a member of the conference
committee and council members were urged to contact his office. To date, only
the United States and Somalia did not sign on to the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
ST. AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH,
JERSEY CITY
The Rev. Isaac Persaud, rector of Incarnation, Jersey City, presented a status
report on the St. Augustine's construction project. The recent storm caused some
basement flooding. A meeting with the architect was held recently along with
project executive committee. The community center would be slightly redesigned
to meet the requirements of the tenant, Head Start. An application for a community
block grant from Jersey City was underway. Other funding from a five million
dollar set aside by the city for a community center in the Greenville section
may provide $400,000+. Meetings with local community groups were planned to get
their support before the November Planning Board application. A lawyer had volunteered
time to the project. The ground breaking was still planned for the spring with
occupancy by December 2000.
STEERING COMMITTEE - HOUSING
COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
Ms. Diane Kaczmarek presented and moved the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Diocesan Council establish a committee to act as a liaison
between the Council and all not for profit corporations where the Council serves
as the membership of the corporation. This would include all of the Diocesan
sponsored CDC's and senior housing projects. The committee will report at least
annually to the Council on the status of each organization.
Supporting Information:
The Diocesan Council now serves as the membership of four CDC's, three senior
citizen housing projects and Canterbury Village. The primary reason for this
structure is to establish a connection between the Diocese and the specific entity.
The ministry of these not for profit corporations is an important part of our
Diocesan ministry. As such it is essential that the Council be knowledgeable
about their work in order to provide support and have appropriate responsibility.
The committee's first responsibility will be to develop its role and responsibilities
which will be proposed to the Diocesan Council for approval. As part of this
process the committee will consult with representatives of each corporation including
the relevant diocesan staff.
The motion was seconded. It was suggested by Richard Fifield that an ad hoc committee
be appointed to determine the responsibilities of the committee rather than appointing
a committee charged to set up its own mandate.
The motion was adopted with two abstentions.
STEERING COMMITTEE - VESTRY/EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE VISITS
Ms. Diane Kaczmarek reminded members that the visits should be completed by Thanksgiving.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Rev. Skip Vilas reported that a cooperative to purchase deregulated energy
was under study by the Partners for Environmental Quality. Recommended that switching
from current provider be delayed until PEQ completes its study and work.
The Rev. Skip Vilas reminded members about the upcoming Hines Lecture in November.
Mr. Francaviglia announced the liturgy sponsored by the Women's Commission to
commemorate the 25th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood.
The service was scheduled for Wednesday, October 20 at Holy Innocents', West
Orange.
The benediction was pronounced by Kathy Ganim.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary
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