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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 St. Agnes' Church, Little Falls NJ
Present: The Rt. Rev. John P. Croneberger; President; The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, Assistant Bishop; Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer; Mr. Michael Francaviglia, Secretary; Diane Sammons, Esq., Chancellor. Elected by Districts: Mr. Steven Boston, The Rev. Christopher Brdlik, The Rev. Janet Broderick, Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, Mr. Henry Faulkner, The Rev. David Gable, The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Ms. Lois Gray, Mr. Robert Harwood, The Rev. George Kaswarra, The Rev. Kathryn King, Ms. Susan Kynor, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Mr. Andrew Piccirillo, The Rev. William Potter, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Patty Watts, The Rev. Fain Webb. Bishop's Appointments: Mr. Sidney King, The Rev. Prince Singh, Ms. Carol Taylor. Absent: Ms. Glenda DeKruif, The Rev. Gray Lesesne. ECW: Ms. Doris Mardirosian Others: The Rev. Nancy Read, Deacon, for the Congregational Vitality working group time. Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols; Ms. Kai Alston, Ms. Lyn Headley-Deavours, and Ms. Kitty Kawecki (for the working group time). COUNCIL WORKING GROUP MEETINGS The working groups met separately for Bible study (John 12:20-33) and discussions. The meeting was opened at 8:00 p.m. with prayer by the Rev. Fain Webb. AGENDA The agenda was adopted as prepared. MINUTES Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes for the meeting of March 8, 2006 with the correction to the Jersey City Area Ministry request approved by Council that the audit for Incarnation, Jersey City would be provided within one year of receiving the grant from the Jersey City funds. The motion was adopted. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Croneberger's comments included: . Extended an invitation to the members to a dinner with the Presiding Bishop (PB), The Most Rev. Frank Griswold, on Wednesday, May 24 at the Robert Treat Hotel. The PB will meet with the clergy during the day, and in the evening, he will be the celebrant and preacher at an Ascension Eve service in the Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. The elected leadership of the diocese had been invited to the dinner. . Reported on the recent House of Bishops' (HOB) meeting in Kanuagu that was experienced with less rancor and more willingness to dialogue openly during Bible study and conversations covering a variety of topics, including the relationship of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. . Explained that discussions would begin shortly on the response from the diocese in preparation for an expected decision by the NJ Supreme Court on gay marriage. Bishop Gallagher's comments included: . Described the HOB's conversations regarding the PB election process. The seven candidates made presentations during a Q&A session. TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer, presented the report. The pledge income was close to budget for the second consecutive month. Year to date pledges were less than one month behind budget; a positive sign. Disbursements were funded as requested. The deficit was manageable and better than usual. Several churches have notified his office about potential problems with pledge commitments. While a matter for concern, conversations will be held with the congregations involved. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted. PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS FOR GENERAL CONVENTION The Rev. Janet Broderick, convener of the Inclusion Working Group, presented the following resolution on Gender Identity Protection for support by Diocesan Council in preparation for the summer's General Convention. The resolution was submitted to the working group by the Oasis who was represented by Ms. Lyn Headley-Deavours, Justice Missioner. Motion: It was moved by The Rev. Janet Broderick and seconded by Mr. Robert Harwood that Diocesan Council support the resolution and encourage our deputies to submit the resolution for General Convention action. The motion was adopted. RESOLVED, That the Diocese of Newark submit the following resolution and accompanying explanation to the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church: Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That no person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of gender identity or expression of gender identity, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established. Explanation (to be attached to Resolution) Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church states that "No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established." This resolution would revise this canon by adding "gender identity or expression of gender identity" to this list of protected categories. This revision is based upon our Diocesan Convention approval of Resolution 2004-10 (text on reverse side), our commitment to our Baptismal Covenant and the increased understanding of the need to respect the human dignity of transgender people: transsexuals and others who are seen to differ from societal gender norms. Gender identity, in and of itself, should not be a basis for exclusion from, consideration for, or participation in, the ministries of the Church. DIOCESAN COUNCIL OUTREACH GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, chair, moved and it was seconded that the recommendations as presented by the committee last month be ratified. The motion was adopted. There were $19,500 available for international outreach grants and $81,000 for domestic outreach grants. International Outreach In the international category the committee received eight requests totaling $57,420. The requests and the committee's recommendations are as follows: 1. Fundacion Aire Fresco - a request for $5,000 for children's summer camps and leadership programs for under privileged Mexican children Recommended funding - no funding is recommended 2. Christ Church Academy, Panama - a request for $5,000 to purchase materials and hire contractors for repairs to the infrastructure at Christ Church Academy in Panama. Recommended funding - $2,500 3. United Nations Commission on the Status of Women - a request for $5,000 to underwrite the costs of delegates from overseas Anglican Provinces attending the 2006 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Recommended funding - $1,000 4. Casa Ave Maria, Managua, Nicaragua - a request for $2,500 to fund an individual internship at Casa Ave Maria in Managua, Nicaragua. Recommended funding - no funding is recommended 5. Kakaasi Maize Milling Project for Widows and Orphans, Uganda - a request for $4,920 for the construction of a structure to house a milling machine. Recommended funding - $4,000 6. Mapanza Women's Centre, Zambia - a request for $10,000 towards the cost of establishing a women's training and retreat center in southern Zambia and a hostel for girls attending St. Mark's secondary school in Mapanza, Zambia Recommended funding - $4,000 7. Good Shepherd Home for Children, Cameroon - a request for $15,000 towards the construction of a school at Good Shepherd Home for Children. Recommended funding - $4,000 8. Kothapallimitta Companionship School Bus Project, South India - a request for $10,000 towards one half of the cost of a new school vehicle for this school for Dalit ("untouchable") children. The local diocese has committed to provide the other half of the funding. Recommended funding - $4,000 Domestic Outreach In the domestic category the committee received 23 requests totaling $217,720. The requests and the recommendations are as follows: 1. The Care Closet, Christ Church, Belleville - a request for $6,000 to purchase household and personal hygiene products for distribution to those in need. Recommended funding - $3,500 2. Good Shepherd Community Services, Ft. Lee - a request for $15,000 to support the organization's programs for people and families living with HIV/AIDS. Recommended funding - $5,000 3. LISC - a request for $5,000 for general operating support for this organization which supports community development efforts in Jersey City and the greater Newark area. Recommended funding - $3,000, Mr. Zinn was not present for the discussion and vote on this request. 4. St. Paul's Church, Paterson - a request for $10,000 to support the church's CityServe Summer Program for youth in Paterson. Recommended funding - $5,000, Mr. Zinn was not present for the discussion and vote on this request. 5. Center for Food Action - a request for $7,000 to support this organization's initiative to provide emergency food and other support to low-income Korean-Americans living in northern New Jersey Recommended funding - $4,000 6. St. John's CDC, Boonton - a request for $8,000 to support this CDC's after school and summer programs as well as its parenting assistance efforts. Recommended funding - $5,500 7. St. James I Urban Renewal - a request for $7,500 to assist this affordable housing project to make a successful transition for problems encountered in the initial rent up of the project. The organization hopes that this is a one time request and at the very least there will not be additional requests beyond 2007. Recommended funding - $4,000, Mr. Zinn was not present for the discussion and vote on this request. 8. Apostles' House - a request for $15,000 in general operating support for this organization which provides shelter and other services for families in need in the greater Newark area. Recommended funding - $10,500, Mr. Zinn was not present for the discussion and vote on this request. 9. Camp Unity, St. John's, Union City - a request for $3,600 for start up expenses and scholarships for this summer day camp. Recommended funding - $3,500 10. St. James ESL program, St. James Church, Hackettstown - a request for $4,500 for this ESL program that serves the non-English speaking population of the Hackettstown area. Recommended funding - $2,500 11. Community of St. John the Baptist/St. John's Dover - a request for $10,500 for a start up church-based outreach program to the homeless/marginalized population of Dover. Recommended funding - No funding is recommended. 12. St. John's Dover Prescription Drug Program - a request for $4,000 for this program to provide funding for prescription medicines for indigent people of all ages. Recommended funding - $3,400 13. Haven of Hope, St. Luke's, Hope - a request for $8,000 for the operating expenses of this country retreat for urban lower income New Jersey children with life-limiting illnesses and for their caregivers. Recommended funding - $2,000 14. Church of the Epiphany Food Pantry, Orange - a request for $4,500 to support the continuing operation and expansion of the food pantry. Recommended funding - $4,000, Ms. Taylor was not present for the discussion and vote on this request. 15. Sussex County IHN - a request for $10,000 to continue and support the organization's supported housing program. Recommended funding - $4,500 16. St. Agnes/St.Paul's Church, East Orange - a request for $3,500 for the church's program which supports families of the incarcerated. Recommended funding - $2,500 17. Christ Church, East Orange - a request for $7,500 to purchase food supplies for the church's soup kitchen and food pantry. Recommended funding - $5,000 18. House of Prayer, Newark - a request for $35,000 for the salary and benefits of a one half time priest to be the church's outreach minister. Recommended funding - No funding is recommended 19. Supporting Achievement Gap Elimination - a request for $15,620 to implement an academic tutoring program for African-American students in Plainfield, New Jersey. Recommended funding - No funding is recommended 20. Math Adventures and Word Play - a request for $2,100 to purchase books for students who participate in this tutoring program at St. Mark's Church in Teaneck. Recommended funding - $2,100 21. Arts Unbound - a request for $10,000 to support this program which provides vocational and educational opportunities for disabled adults in the area of the visual arts. Recommended funding - $5,000 22. Korean-American Outreach Program - a request for 10,000 to support this initiative of St. Peter's Korean Church in North Bergen to reach out to the Korean-American youth of Bergen County. Recommended funding - a one time grant of $1,000 to help this program get started while it pursues other diocesan funding opportunities more applicable to this program. 23. Toni's Kitchen Improvement Project - a request for $15,500 towards the cost of constructing lavatory facilities for this feeding program at St. Luke's Church in Montclair. Recommended funding - $5,000 The members of the committee were The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, Ms. Mary Sunden, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Ms. Carol Taylor and Mr. John Zinn. DISTRICT 10 SPENDING REQUEST Mr. Steven Boston and The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner, District 10 representatives, presented the spending request from the district. The request was for $600 to help offset the costs of the 2006 confirmation. Last year, there were costs totaling $1,500 for parking, supplies and other items and they were divided among the parishes. Motion: It was moved and seconded to approve the request from District 10 for the allocation of $600 to offset the costs for the district confirmation. The motion was adopted. PERSONAL COMMENT The Rev. William Potter expressed a personal concern that critical issues were brought to council with little notice and that decisions were being made on ad hoc basis and under fire. He shared a review he made of parochial report statistics from 2004 and found disturbing trends with deficits and the use of endowment funds among the congregations. Sixty-five or 59% of the total had operating deficits amounting to $4.3 million dollars, a figure larger than the diocesan budget. Levels of current spending and endowments would seem to indicate that 32 will be insolvent in less than 10 years. This situation could be classified as a crisis that required Council action and an approach with open minds and hearts. If the trends were allowed to continue the diocesan budget, clergy compensation, and the number of full time clergy positions will all be affected. This work could not be left to the bishop and canon. The Rev. Prince Singh responded that the bishop and the canon have been naming the problem for several years. During this time, steps have been taken to address the issue and develop a variety of congregational growth and vitality resources. Resources and tools have been made available to congregations in several ways. The Congregational Vitality working group continued to work creatively with the issue. DISTRICT SHARING District 2: Ms Patty Watts reported a recent meeting of the district included a guest presenter who worked with the Lutheran/Episcopal disaster relief efforts in Mississippi and requested the district provide a tractor trailer filled with supplies. The request was under study. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Steve Boston expressed his appreciation for this year's "Celebrating Creative Congregations" event. It was moved, seconded and adopted that a letter of thanks be sent to Ms. Kitty Kawecki for management of the conference. Canon Echols reminded members about the annual Senior Ministries Evensong service scheduled for Sunday, May 21 at Christ Church, Ridgewood, for the David Hegg Lifetime Achievement Awards. Ms. Patty Watts corrected her email address as classimg@optonline.net Ms. Susan Kynor announced the April 10th immigration rally at Liberty State Park in Jersey City from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting was closed with prayer by Ms. Carol Taylor and adjourned at 9 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |