|
|
| |
 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Latest
Headlines
from
The VOICE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The
Diocese of Newark Online |
|
DIOCESE
OF NEWARK - DIOCESAN COUNCIL
|
|
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
St. Agnes' Episcopal Church, Little Falls
Approved Minutes of the Meeting
The next meeting will be held on
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
St. Agnes' Church, Little Falls
Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger;
President; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; Mr. Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary; The Rev. Dean Weber, Chancellor.
Elected by Districts: Mr. Donald Cairns, The Rev. Kim Capwell, The Rev. Lu-Ann
Conner, The Rev. Randall Day, Ms. Naomi Horsky, Ms. Susan Kynor, The Rev. Thomas
Laws, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, Ms. Nancy Read, Mr. Don Roberts, The Rev. Dr. Robert
A. Schiesler, The Rev. Dr. E. Bevan Stanley, The Rev. John F. Stanton, The Rev.
Paul Walker, Ms. Valda Wright, Ms. Pat Yankus.
Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Steven Boston, Mr. Sidney King, The Rev. Prince Singh.
Absent: Ms. Glenda deKruif, The Rev. Abigail Hamilton, The Rev. Margaret Swetman,
Mr. Larry Taber, The Rev. Paul Williams.
ECW: Mrs. Doris Mardirosian.
Others Present: The Rev. Janet Kraft, Ms. Karen Hansen, Ms. Carol Guerette, Grace
Church Van Vorst, Jersey City
Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols, The Rev. Canon Paul S. Hunt, The Rt. Rev. Rufus
T. Brome, Mrs. Marva Brome
AGENDA
Motion:
It was moved and seconded to adopt the agenda as prepared.
The motion was adopted.
MINUTES
Motion:
It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the
meeting of November 12, 2003. The motion to accept the
minutes was adopted.
EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS
- THE RT. REV. JOHN P. CRONEBERGER
Events and activities held during the past month were
shared: a two-day ordination retreat was led by Cathy
Deats and Jim Warnke at St. John Baptist Convent; 80
wardens attended the Warden's Conference on November
15; the annual staff anniversary luncheon this year celebrated
the 20th service anniversary of John Zinn, and the 5th
anniversaries of Bishop Croneberger, Kitty Kawecki and
Susan Robinson; new clergy installed were The Rev. Paul
Olssen at St. Paul's, Morris Plains and The Rev. Dewey
Brown at St. Luke's, Haworth; a fall diocesan confirmation
service was celebrated on November 23; Bishop Croneberger
attended the fall meeting of the Coalition of Religious
Leaders; a memorial service will be held for Margaret
Giammarino on Sunday, January 4, 2004; The Rev. George Kyle, retired priest of
our diocese, died suddenly on December 16; The Rev. Terry Matthews had surgery
and was recuperating at home; The Rev. Mabel Katahweire would soon undergo surgery;
The Rev. Robert Schiesler was called as dean to the cathedral in Des Moines;
ordinations to the priesthood included Denise Bennet, Melissa Hall, Tom Mathews,
Peter DeFrance, Tay Moss, Anne Koehler, John P. Mitchell, Edgar Gutierrez-Duarte
and Susan Schink; St. Dunstan's, Succasunna has called a new rector, but a letter
of agreement was signed yet; St. Peter's, Essex Fells has called a new rector,
but a letter of agreement also was not signed; St. Andrew & Holy Communion,
South Orange called The Rev. Sandye Wilson; preconvention meetings begin on Monday,
January 5; baby born to Laurie Wurm, candidate for Holy Orders.
The Rev. Canon Paul Hunt reported that retreat reservations were being taken
at Cross Roads. The board was actively engaged in a process to determine by the
end of January if a summer camping program will be scheduled. Ministry will continue
at Cross Roads and the current fundraising appeal was to help support ongoing
ministry.
Bishop Croneberger commented on the compliance results with the canons regarding
the submission of the pledge cards by December 1. During the fall, he and John
Zinn visited with the clergy at five district meetings to talk about the pledge
cards and the need to meet the deadline. This year while there were more congregations
that met the deadline, there were still 30 whose pledge cards were outstanding
by December 1. He described the situation as frustrating.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mr. John Zinn reported that 2003 was a problematic year financially. The reality
was that the end result wouldn't be known until mid-2004. A preliminary closing
of the books was scheduled for January 9.
Motion:
It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject
to audit. The motion was adopted.
BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT
Mr. John Zinn presented the proposed budget on behalf of the Budget Committee.
Motion:
Mr. Zinn moved the proposed 2004 budget recommendation
for presentation to the Convention. The motion was seconded
and after discussion adopted.
The budget was brought before the Council in December so that a recommended budget
could be sent to the convention deputies as soon as possible for their review
and preparation for the pre-convention meetings. The budget was structured to
bring expenses into balance with the revenues, which accounted for those lines
that were reduced by what appeared to be small amounts.
Income was projected to increase by 2%. Only two churches decreased the amount,
not the percentage. Overall the pledges were flat. An accounting fee will be
paid directly by the Funds held by the Trustees; these were costs previously
charged to the budget.
Mr. Zinn pointed out the significant decline in the prior year's surplus line.
He reminded the Council of the Convention approved policy that operating surpluses
are used as income in the budget two years in the future. For example the prior
year's surplus line in the 2004 budget is the 2002 operating surplus. Mr. Zinn
then gave a history of this policy especially the fact that it was developed
under a very different system of diocesan giving. Although that system was called
a shares system it was in fact a system of taxation where churches were taxed
a percentage of their income. The idea behind the surplus policy was that if
the diocese had a surplus it should be returned to the tax payers through reduced
shares or taxes in a future budget. Under this system income seldom, if ever,
exceeded budget so that any surpluses were relatively small due to expenses being
under budget.
The current system of diocesan giving works in a very different way, the expectation
under this system is that churches and the diocese have a responsibility to give
a percentage of income. If income increases in a given year then there is the
responsibility to give more while if income is down, then less is given. Because
church estimates of diocesan giving are so conservative, under this system income
frequently exceeds budget. In addition, income is much more subject to fluctuations
in the economy. Both of these factors have led to dramatic fluctuations in surpluses
making financial planning and management more difficult.
The budget committee suggests that during 2004 a study be made of the current
surplus policy and some alternatives with recommendations to be made to the 2005
convention. Any action approved by that convention would take effect with the
2006 budget and we would continue to use the current system until then.
In addition the budget committee recommends that the significant decline in the
operating surplus from 2003 to 2004 be worked off gradually. In order to do this,
the committee proposes using $120,000 of retroactive total return income over
two years. Our diocese has used the total return approach for calculating investment
income since 1995. This is the state of the art approach to calculating investment
income and applies to investments in common stocks. Under this system actual
dividend income plus a percentage of market value is used as income. The percentage
is kept low to prevent any withdrawal of original principal. The proposal is
to use this approach retroactively for the period 1981-1995 on a slightly more
conservative basis to prevent any double counting of income. This will generate
$120,000 with the idea that $80,000 will be used in the 2004 budget and $40,000
in the 2005 budget.
Mr. Zinn reviewed the Income and Expense sections of the budget.
Staffing category: the budget included the position of youth missioner with a
start date of February 1; the Anand Center position becomes full time in July;
the property manager position was made half-time with responsibilities outside
Episcopal House. The budget assumes a 4% salary increase and a sharing of medical
insurance costs. The Diocesan Council will be asked to adopt the medial cost
sharing policy in January.
Some reserve categories that had not been funded this past year were planned
for funding this year.
Mr. John Zinn moved the following resolution:
Motion: Resolved, that the Budget Committee of the Diocesan Council is authorized
to make changes in the proposed 2004 Diocesan Budget between the January Council
meeting and the Diocesan Convention.
Supporting Information: The proposed 2004 has been prepared so that Convention
Deputies might have the budget at an earlier date which necessitates using somewhat
incomplete data. As a result the budget committee will make a final review of
the budget the week before convention when all of the data are available. Since
the convention approves the budget, this resolution simply gives the committee
authorization to modify the proposals made to convention.
BEQUESTS DESIGNATIONS
Motion:
Resolved, that two bequests received by the diocese totaling
$98,000 be used in the following manner:
1. $30,000 for the replacement of the file server and other upgrades on the Diocese
of Newark's computer system.
2. $68,000 as a contribution to the Diocese of Newark's lay pension plan.
Supporting Information: Over the past few months the diocese has received two
bequests that total just under a $100,000. Historically, such bequests are deposited
in the endowment that funds the diocesan budget. Two different recommendations
are being made for these funds which are consistent with the use of such bequests.
The computer system in Episcopal House is a major capital item. The current system
is old and very limited in capability. In recent months there have been a number
of times when the system was unavailable making it very difficult for the staff
to work properly. A new system can be purchased and installed for about $30,000.
Funding of capital items such as major building repairs is an appropriate use
of bequests and this would be of that nature.
The diocese maintains a pension plan for its employees similar to the clergy
pension plan that is provided on a national level. This is a defined benefit
plan whereby retirees receive a monthly pension based upon their salary and years
of service. Because of our funding and stock market performance the diocese has
not had to make a contribution to this plan for at least ten years. The pension
consultants recommend that a $58,000 contribution be made in 2004. Since the
pension plan functions like a permanent endowment fund, this use is simply using
the bequest for a designated endowment instead of past practice of putting the
funds in the Council endowment. The additional $10,000 are recommended as a first
step towards dealing with requirements for future years. This will be examined
again during the 2005 budget process along with investment performance.
The motion was adopted.
JERSEY CITY AREA MINISTRY
FUNDING REQUEST
Canon Carter Echols presented a funding request from Jersey City Area Ministry
for Grace Church Van Vorst. The Rev. Janet Kraft, priest-in-charge, Ms. Claire
Guerette and Ms. Karen Hansen, wardens, were present for the presentation of
the request. A year ago Jersey City Area Ministry (JCAM) requested $45,000 allocation
for the three churches in amounts of $15,000 each for programming. Canon Echols
had been meeting with the three churches over the last year. Churches are asked
to articulate their unique mission, state their goals as a congregation for growth,
and articulate the strategies to achieve their goals.
Motion:
Mr. Sidney King moved that the Diocesan Council approves
$58,000 from the Jersey City Funds for the year 2004
to support the congregational growth and development
of Grace Church Van Vorst as described in the proposal
unanimously approved by JCAM (Jersey City Area Ministry)
on November 23, 2003. The motion was seconded and adopted.
The Rev. Janet Kraft described the daily senior program and the Saturday feeding
program.
The request was described as follows:
Purpose: To grow the parish of Grace Church Van Vorst--doubling its present size
by the year 2006. At present, our average Sunday attendance is seventy adults
and our children's worship varies from five to fifteen children. By the year
2006 we would like to average at least 140 adults and have a steady Children's
worship attendance of twenty children and ten youth groupers.
The vestry has met over the last two years to develop a precise plan for growth
which will be effective in downtown Jersey City. We analyzed growth patterns
in the city, the needs of our newest members and the special skills our community
possesses.
Our areas of particular skill and potential for growth fall into three categories.
1) Inventive worship style utilizing technology which celebrates with music,
liturgical dance, theater and film solidly rooted in the Episcopal tradition
and intentionally inclusive. The technology will further open our community to
outsiders making full involvement in worship immediately accessible for those
who have never been exposed to organized religion. Example: On the feast of Christ
the King we invited our homeless men and women to join us on Sunday for a feast.
Over one hundred people came and we sang, prayed, preached, celebrated the Eucharist
and ate together. Seven homeless individuals have returned for worship in the
following weeks and two pledged.
2) Arts programming combining theatre, dance, painting and sculpture exhibitions,
pottery and clay work. The art programming is intended to impact all areas of
ministry. An art programming makes tangible the varied gifts of every individual
in our community. Example: A pottery studio has been built in the basement of
the rectory. Recently children formed masks, which described how they think God
sees them. The masks were fired and presented to the parish.
3) Social Justice Work including the expansion of our current feeding program
for the hungry, senior center, and summer arts program for inner-city children.
Example: In a survey done of new people entering the church 72% said that our
Social Justice work had an extremely important impact on their decision to join
the parish and support the parish financially.
The Social Justice Work has been helped financially by the founding of a new
501c3 called the Grace Van Vorst Community Service Corporation. In the past two
years they have received county block grants totaling $113,000 for capital repairs
and $24,000 for programming. Additional support has come from Acts/Vim in the
form of grants supporting the summer childrens arts program. At present we feed
over one hundred people a week at our Saturday breakfast, and our seniors program
operates Monday through Friday from 10 to 2:00. The labor for this programming
has been almost entirely done by volunteers and programming money has been used
for supplies and food.
Our Inventive worship style continues a legacy inherited from The Rev. Scott
Kallstrom during his 16-year tenure here. Fr. Kallstrom was a musician and led
worship using his guitar. He also led the weekly choir rehearsals and chose the
music. After his departure Grace was left with no organ and no movable sound
system. Additionally, the parish has no classrooms for children's Sunday school
and no children's furniture or supplies.
As Grace moves forward it has been important to raise awareness of our Anglican
heritage and liturgy while maintaining the creative and inclusive instincts of
the community. The wardens and Janet Kraft had repeated discussions with the
Bishop, Paul Hunt and Canon Echols about the introduction of both a common liturgical
language and the preservation of what is uniquely Grace Van Vorst. In 2001 when
the future and grown of Grace Van Vorst was being discussed the bishop suggested
the JCAM resource was the development fund Grace should be looking to in order
to bring the parish up to speed. Of particular concern was a 1) liturgical style
related to our Episcopal common prayer life 2) A healthy and viable Sunday school
for children of all ages 3) A musical program which would be self-sustaining
and celebratory.
Private donations have paid for three months of a new professional musician.
The vestry also voted to use some of our limited endowment money located with
the DIT to develop a Sunday school program. We are already seeing positive signs
of growth from these decisions, but we will not be able to continue paying without
help. Both programs need supplies and equipment in order to survive.
- Start up funding for a Music director and a Sunday school director, which will
be decreased as the parish builds in size.
-One-time funding for resources which will allow these ministries to thrive and
produce growth. This includes technology for music and supplies/furniture for
Sunday school.
The music director position is unique. Through a limited three-month contribution
we have hired Peter Moffitt who does the music for Night-Watch at the Cathedral
of St. John the Divine and was responsible for the healing music at St. Paul's
Cathedral at Trinity Wall street during 9/11. Peter is fully capable of training
music leaders, playing in a varied style including, Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Liturgical
Hymnody and Classical. Peter will be able to program our music on the computer
and train our technology guild to project the words and music for our Eucharist
onto newly installed retractable screens. The screens will be incorporated into
the design of our gothic-style church so that our aesthetic is maintained yet
everyone walking into our service for the first time will be able to fully participate.
Instead of a bulletin and a myriad of hymnals. Our people will be invited to
let-go their hands and look up to pray and sing! We will be able to use projected
images of paintings; news photos and cuts from film within our liturgy to bring
the world's needs and gifts into our common worship life.
GOAL: Paperless and flowing liturgy including a full range of technology which
does not call attention to itself but enables free and informed Anglican worship.
Perhaps to be a satellite for other small parishes to see what they can do with
technology in our diocese.
The Director of Children's Ministry is unique. With no program in place and no
area set aside for education, the Children's Director will be in charge of setting
up our new space. We will use the space vacated by our office administrator,
and carve out additional reserved spaces for children within our buildings. She
will train at leaders within the parish to sustain the children's program and
write a grant to Calvin College to be a local training site for inventive children's
ministry. She will also be looking at the possibility of setting up a charter
school for homeless children in the distant future.
GOAL: Use open-ended materials fostering a progressive approach to spiritual
growth for children and a clear experience of our common history and common story
as Christians and Anglicans. Double the size of the existing Sunday school, create
a youth group and provide an atmosphere which welcomes our homeless children
who may only be with us temporarily. Rise up and train leaders within the parish
to sustain the program.
PROPOSED USE OF FUNDS
Director of Music 2004-2005 $16,000
Director of Children's Ministry 2004-2005 $10,000
$26,000
Sunday school:
Nursery: (IKEA) this is for outfitting the backroom as a nursery
$160 2 cribs
$30 Bedding
$25 Changing table
$75 Table & chairs
$270 Furniture - pouf, swivel, cuddle, leaves
$200 Storage
$200 Carpet
$100 Bulletin Boards
$150 Rocking chair
$1,210
Children's Director
$150 Swivel Chair
$60 Office Supplie $210
Children's Worship: (Community Playthings) this is for a shared space type of
set up during the service and for the outreach time during the week to young
children.
$500 Drama Unit
$525 Hollow Blocks
$195 Utility Cart
$200 Easel
$300 Unit blocks
$200 Water table
$100 Meeting Rug
$200 Fabrics and props
$2220
$1200 Tables and Chairs for Children
$200 Carpet for the area where this happens in the gym.
$1,400
Arts & Worship (Middle School Group):
We will be restoring the room across from the pottery shop. We will need 3 to
4 tables, 16 chairs, an area rug so we could roll it up if we do messy stuff,
light fixtures, paint, bulletin boards, white board.
We will need to pour a cement floor.
925 Tables and chairs
200 Area rug
650 Cement (do-it-ourselves with rented mixer)
170 Light fixtures
70 Bulletin boards
120 Paint
$2,135
Youth Group:
3,000 Monthly activities (food, activity, travel/year)
2,400 Church Study/Lunch-Sundays 2,000 Retreats
$7,400
Basic supplies:
500 Books and Bibles and Music
600 Art materials
250 music and instruments
$1,350
Total Children's Ministry $16,325
Technology/Music
Two projectors: $6,310
Two motor-screens: $3,405
Mounting hardware, etc: $ 200 (do-it-ourselves)
Data cables, adapters, etc: $ 200 (do-it-ourselves)
Laptop $1,500
PowerPoint, or other multi media
streaming software $ 700
Projector management
software $370
Powered audio mixer $1,120
Mounting hardware for
speakers $ 210
6 wireless body-mics $1200
licensing $ 400
Insurance rider $160 $15,775
Total $58,100
COUNCIL TASK FORCE REPORTS
There were no reports presented.
DISTRICT UPDATES & THREADS
ACTIVITIES - District Representatives
District representatives reported on activities, programs and planning within
their districts.
District 2: Ms. Naomi Horsky reported on the recent elections: the new council
reps would be The Rev. Fain Webb and Ms. Lyn Tyler; The Rev. Thomas Laws to Convention
Nominations; and Aimee Materese as youth deputy to convention.
District 3: Ms. Valda Wright reported that the district was focusing on a bilingual
confirmation service for next year.
ACTS/VIM BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
Motion:
It was moved and seconded that the recommendations presented
last month be ratified along with the change in wording
to the application. The motion was adopted.
AV-03-26: Hillsdale, Holy Trinity - Center for Help in Time of Loss, $2,400
AV-03-15: Clifton, St. Peter's Haven - $4,500.
AV-03-16: Belleville, Christ - The Care Closet at Christ Church, $3,600.
AV-03-17: Paterson, St. Paul's - CityServe After School Program, $3,400.
AV-03-18: Summit, Calvary - Interweave Interfaith Dialogue Network, $2,500.
AV-03-19: Newark, North Porch - Dover Trial Referral Program, $3,000.
AV-03-20: Newark, Grace - Youth@Home,$5,800.
AV-03-21: Hackensack, Christ - CDC/Peter's Pl Expanded Svcs, $4,500.
AV-03-22: Chatham, St. Paul's - St. Paul's Wellness Project, $8,000.
AV-03-23: Hasbrouck Heights, St. John's - Care on the Corner Community Svcs,
$8,500.
AV-03-24: East Orange, Christ - Learning Info. & Access Center, $3,000.
AV-03-25: Hoboken, All Saints' - Homework Club & Teen Pgm, $5,800.
AV-03-27: Jersey City, Grace Van Vorst - "Arts At Grace", $4,500.
AV-03-28: Newark, Trinity + St. Philips - Senior Healthy Living, $4,500.
Total recommendation to Diocesan Council: $64,000
WARD J. HERBERT FUND RECOMMENDATIONS
Motion:
It was moved and seconded that the recommendations presented
last month be ratified along with the change in wording
to the application. The motion was adopted.
WJH-03-21: Glen Rock, All Saints' - Parish hall electrical upgrade, $7,027.
WJH-03-22: Lyndhurst, St. Thomas' - Roof replacements, $4,230
WJH-03-23: Phillipsburg, St. Luke's - Replacements of roof, windows, gutters,
tiles, $7,500
WJH-03-24; Hackettstown, St. James' - Stone chimney rebuilding, $9,460
WJH-03-25: Mountain Lakes, St. Peter's - Rectory stucco repairs, $5,000
WJH-03-26: Denville, Church of the Saviour - Church re-roofing, $18,000
WJH-03-27: Kinnelon, St. David's - Roof repairs - parish hall, classrooms, $4,210
WJH-03-28: Newark, St. Andrew's - Roof leak repairs, $1,900
WJH-03-29: Milton/Oak Ridge, St. Gabriel's - Vicarage furnace replacement, $2,090
Total Recommendation to Diocesan Council: $59,000
PARSONAGE ALLOWANCE RESOLUTIONS
It was moved and seconded that the following resolutions be adopted:
Motion:
Resolved, That of the compensation paid to The Right
Reverend John Palmer Croneberger in the calendar year
of 2004, the sum of $40,000 be designated as parsonage
allowance.
Motion:
Resolved, That of the compensation paid to The Reverend
Canon Paul Hunt in the calendar year 2004, the sum of
$47,000 be designated as parsonage allowance.
The motion was seconded and adopted.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Mrs. Doris Mardirosian reminded members about the Honoring Women's Conference
on May 1 with Canon Carter Echols.
ARE YOU A DEPUTY TO CONVENTION?
Those members of Diocesan Council who not deputies would receive a pre-convention
package.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Don Cairns announced that the Cross Roads Outdoor Ministry was searching
for a retreat director and a part-time camp director.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. with prayer by Bishop Croneberger.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Francaviglia,
Secretary
 --Return to Diocese of Newark Home Page
Return to Top
of Page
|
|
|
|
|