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THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK
Present: The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith; 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, Ms. Faith Gideon Brown, Ms. Glenda deKruif, Mr. Henry Faulkner, The Rev. Mariano Gargiulo, Mr. Robert Harwood, Mr. Bert Jones, The Rev. George Kaswarra, The Rev. Paul Olsson, Ms. Catherine Potter, The Rev. William Potter, The Rev. Stuart Smith, Ms. Mary Sunden, Ms. Patty Watts, The Rev. Fain Webb. Bishop's Appointments: Ms. Gail Barkely, The Rev. Joseph Harmon, Ms. Carol Taylor. Absent: The Rev. Janet Broderick; The Rev. David Gable, Ms. Lois Gray, The Rev. Kathryn King, The Rev. Gray Lesesne, The Rev. Sandye Wilson. Staff: Canon R. Carter Echols, Ms. Lyn Headley-Deavours, Ms. Kitty Kawecki (for the work group time) Others: Ms. Doris Mardirosian, ECW President; The Rt. Rev. Andrew Smith, Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut COUNCIL WORK GROUP MEETINGS The work groups met separately for Bible study (John 20:19-31) and discussion. The meeting was opened at 8:00 p.m. with prayer and reflection on the meaning of Easter by Bishop Beckwith. The Rt. Rev. Andrew Smith, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, was introduced to the Council. Bishop Smith was visiting with Bishop Beckwith and was the assigned bishop's coach for him. Council members individually introduced themselves and reported the number of years they served on the Council. AGENDA The agenda was adopted with the addition of a report on outstanding 2006 parochial reports. MINUTES Motion: It was moved to accept the minutes for the meeting of March 14, 2007. The motion was seconded and adopted. EPISCOPAL COMMUNICATIONS Bishop Beckwith's comments included: . Expressed his continued appreciation for the witness and ministry of groups and individuals within the diocese that "bring light into the darkness." Two examples were the Bethsaida Team and the Newark School of Theology. . Will be offering a planned giving program for the congregations in the coming weeks. . Appointments have been completed for the Role Clarification Committee that help delineate the roles and functions of Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and the Trustees. The committee will begin meeting shortly. . Will meet in the next month with the vicars of the 24 mission congregations. The Trustees have undertaken an inventory of the mission properties and indicated the priorities of building repairs. . Last week, he met with Newark Mayor Corey Booker and several of his staff members responsible for housing. Accompanying him were Mr. John Zinn, Mr. Gerard Haizel, ECD Director, and Ms. Sandy Accomando, Apostles House Director. The mayor was well aware of and impressed with the solid work of ECD, Apostles House and St. Philip's Academy within the city. For instance, in the past 15 years, ECD had built 207 housing units. . Hopes to meet with the diocesan related organizations in Newark, St. Philip's, ECD, Apostles House and Newark School of Theology on ways they can help each other and marshal their resources. . The Rev. Robert Keaton retired in January as rector of St. Andrew's, Lincoln Park, and The Rev. David Hamilton will retire on May 6 as rector of St. Paul's, Jersey City. . Clergy Day was held on March 27 and featured The Rev. Barbara Crafton. The day included meditations and discussions on a variety of topics. As a result of a discussion regarding ministering to families of returning military service people, six clergy volunteered for training as chaplains to the returning soldiers and their families . Circulated a joint statement signed by him, Bishop Gallagher and Bishop Councell of New Jersey regarding the recent comments of radio host Don Imus about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. Bishop Gallagher's comments included: . Described the recent House of Bishops meeting (HOB) as one of the best; the leadership of the presiding bishop was clear, direct and exerted a positive effect on the sessions. Bishop Jack McKelvey invited a group to reflect on the primates' statement and proposed the document that was adopted by the HOB. The members of the HOB moved closer together than farther apart. Its work provided clarity for who we are as The Episcopal Church and a sense of collegiality and commitment to move the church forward. A lot of hard work with some play, including a bridal shower for Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island. TREASURER'S REPORT Mr. John Zinn, Treasurer, presented the report. Pledge income was slightly under budget for the month of March placing pledge income year to date less than on month below budget. Nearly $3,500 in belated pledge income was received in March. This amount represented 2005 pledge income receivable that was previously written off; it became 2007 income. Outreach, mission and program lines were funded to the extent requested. The mission and program category was over budget due to the full disbursal of the funding of the Commission on Ministry during February. The staff category came closer to budget at the end of the first quarter. The operating expense was below budget. The negative in the casualty insurance line came from reimbursement received for insurance coverage for the property of closed churches. A full reconciliation of the Episcopal Reserve line will be presented later in the year. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the report, subject to audit. The motion was adopted. BUDGET 2007 REVISION Mr. John Zinn proposed a revised 2007 diocesan budget. There were several positive adjustments since its adoption by convention that had enabled the revision. The revised budget honored the convention resolution that stated "half of any funds received by the Diocese of Newark in excess of the approved budgeted income be given to The Episcopal Church," and would eliminate the need for the $60,000 staff reduction that was included in the original 2007 budget. The positive adjustments were: - $10,000 in belated pledge income representing 2005 pledge income that was written off, but would be collected; - an increase of $21,000 in pledge income based upon responses to Bishop Beckwith's request that congregations revisit their 2007 diocesan pledge; - an increase of $13,500 in investment income; the original projection was underestimated; - a reduction of $25,500 in the cost of medical insurance for retired clergy; reduction based upon lower than anticipated premium increases, some retirees choosing lower cost plans and changes in the census of the group. The total of the positive adjustments was $70,000. Of that amount, $44,500 represented additional income. Following the convention resolution, 50% of that amount would go to The Episcopal Church. The remaining 50% plus the reduction in the cost of medical insurance totaled $47,750. The difference between the amount and the required total in staff cuts was made up from minor cuts in operating expense lines and an $8,000 reduction in the reserve for General Convention Deputies' Expenses. The $8,000 reduction would be replaced with an additional $4,000 in budget years 2008 and 2009. Ms. Mary Sunden expressed her discomfort with staff salary being included in the outreach section of the budget. The Rev. Bill Potter agreed with her concern, noting that the line for outreach grants was reduced. Mr. Zinn replied that only $7,000 came from outreach grant line to fund the missioner's salary. The other $14,000 were taken from budget lines for ECD and the NJ Council of Churches. The budget lines to ECD, NJCC and Outreach were each cut by a third to fund the position. The budget lines 2 through 6 were for outreach and not just grant money. Motion: It was moved and seconded to accept the revised 2007 diocesan budget. The motion was adopted with two votes in opposition. WORK GROUP REPORTS Work groups reported on their respective missions and plans. Congregational Vitality - Ms. Faith Gideon Brown reported the work group supports the goals of congregations providing that the goals were life-giving. The work group was working in several areas: reviewing the 2007 convention action that called for a report on extinct parishes and the closing of Trinity in Montclair; how best to use data from parochial reports; and continued resourcing to congregations. There were 12 individual congregations and District 9 that were having the vitality conversation. Inclusion - Mr. Robert Harwood reported that in response to the diocesan convention the work group was reviewing the matter of undocumented aliens, continued efforts in anti-racism training and inclusion of youth and young people. Representatives from the Bethsaida Team will be invited to meet with the work group. Discussed ways to share individuals' faith stories. Discipleship - Mr. Henry Faulkner reported the goal to have as many people trained with the Safeguarding God's Children program as possible and to encourage congregations to take ownership. Reviewing possible workshops for Celebrating Creative Congregations (CCC) and how the CCC might better function - smaller and more often? This evening the group reviewed some of the issues raised at the recent communications summit. Next month, the members will take the Safeguarding God's Children training for the purpose of developing a script to help promote its usage within the congregations and the diocese. Outreach - Ms. Mary Sunden reported that a list of items were developed by the work group at the start of the year, and currently three were within focus: funding for the Belleville senior housing project, outreach grant priorities/post mortem, and direct contact with organizations. One of the first organization to be visited will be Apostles House. STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT Belleville Episcopal Senior Housing Update Ms. Mary Sunden provided an update on efforts to secure funding from HUD for the construction of the senior citizen building in Belleville. Past History Because of the Diocese of Newark history of HUD-sponsored senior housing projects in Hillsdale, Rutherford, and Nutley, the Township of Belleville chose to approach the Diocese as a sponsor for much-needed senior housing development in Belleville. Township representatives met with Bishop Croneberger, and the first steps in a long journey were taken. The Belleville Episcopal Senior Housing Project (BESH) was presented to Outreach Work Group of Diocesan Council (hereinafter, Council) for consideration in early 2005. After a lengthy process of discussion, deliberation, and education, Council agreed in December 2005 to endorse the project for application to HUD's 2006 funding cycle. A BESH Task Force was created to work on this project on behalf of the Diocese through the application and development processes. Its members include representation from Christ, Belleville (Mr. Michael Petti, The Rev. Paul Walker), Council (The Rev. Paul Olssen, Mary Sunden), the Diocesan Trustees (Mr. Peter Van Brunt), the Chancellor (Ms. Diane Sammons), Diocesan Staff (Mr. Michael Francaviglia), and a legal advisor (Constitutions and Canons member Mr. Tom Bisdale). Over the past several years, available HUD dollars and units have been shrinking, requirements have been increasing, and competition has become increasingly fierce. Although the Task Force came online several months into the HUD 2006 application process, we have worked to learned as much as possible, and have become thoroughly engaged in senior housing in general and the Belleville project in particular. When the 2006 application was not successful, the Task Force set to finding out why and what could be done for the future. Over the past months, we have met individually with general experts in working with HUD, with individual members of the Development Team, and with HUD for an application post-mortem. We learned that we, working with the appropriate Township and Development Team members, can have an positive impact on the application process, and recommended that an application be submitted to HUD's 2007 funding year. (The Development Team consists of the Mr. James DeBarbieri, architect; Mr. James O'Donnell of Bergen Engineering, the construction firm; Mr. Dean Boorman, the housing consultant; and Mr. Thomas DiBiasi, general counsel.) Recent History Council voted in January 2007 to renew sponsorship of the project and agreed to take all required actions. This included a number of resolutions approved at that time, and a form to be completed by each member of the new Council. The Task Force has met with most of the people who have a part in the project, both at the Township of Belleville and on the Development Team, to communicate the Council's re-commitment and our interest in working together toward a successful application. We've learned, read, marked, and inwardly digested several trees worth of HUD requirements in the general SuperNOFA, the Project NOFA, and the New Jersey addendum. Some of us have attended HUD's application-training Webinar (two hours of PowerPoint, coffee supplied by you). Two Task Forcers and the Housing Consultant attended HUD's 811 / 202 training session on Maundy Thursday (almost five hours of PowerPoint, no coffee). Next Steps Task Force: We meet next on Thursday, April 12, for a post-HUD-session review of the application process and all bits and pieces involved. We'll identify where and how members of the Task Force can best be involved in the process and the best approach to each item. Diocesan Council: Because BESH is a separate 501(c)(3) corporation with Council as its member, each member of Diocesan Council is required to submit a HUD conflict of interest form. These will be prepared for your signature at the next Council Meeting. You will need to sign your name and supply your Social Security number. All materials are kept confidential. If HUD 2007 requirement changes need any additional or different Council actions, they will need to be taken at the next Council meeting. Application due to HUD: 25 May 2007. As has been disclosed in the past, Mr. Michael Rehill, Trustee of the diocese, has a relationship to Emerald Management, the real estate management company that has managed the diocesan sponsored senior housing projects in Hillsdale, Nutley and Rutherford. Should the Belleville project be approved, we have been assured that he will not play any role in the management of the project on behalf of Emerald nor receive any fees related to the project. Outreach Grants Approval Modification Ms. Mary Sunden requested on behalf of the Outreach Grant Committee the adoption of a resolution that would permit for 2007 only one reading of the recommendations made by the Committee to be presented on May 9. In other years, the committee had met earlier, generally in the month of February, and presented the recommendations in March and April, with the latter month being the meeting of ratification. For 2007, the committee has scheduled hearings on Saturday, April 14 for the outreach grant requests; this is later than usual. The recommendations will be made at the May 9 meeting and the committee requests that they be adopted upon the one reading. Approval upon the single reading would permit the disbursement of the funds sooner. The recommendations will be published in advance of the May 9 meeting and included in the mailed meeting packet. Motion: Resolved, that for 2007 the outreach grant recommendations presented by the Diocesan Council Outreach Grant Committee be approved upon one reading at the May 9, 2007 meeting. The motion was adopted. Parochial Reports 2006 Outstanding Mr. Henry Faulkner reported the following 2006 parochial reports were outstanding as of the meeting date: Boonton, St. John's; East Orange, St. Agnes/St. Paul's; Hackensack, St. Anthony of Padua; Hackensack, St. Cyprian's; Harrington Park, St. Andrew's; Hawthorne, St. Clement's; Hoboken, All Saints'; Madison, Grace; Mendham, St. Mark's; Montclair, St. Luke's; Mountain Lakes, St. Peter'; Newark, St. Barnabas'; North Arlington, St. Paul's; Paramus, St. Matthew's; Paterson, Holy Communion; Ridgewood, Christ Church; Ridgewood, St. Elizabeth's; Secaucus, Church of the Saviour; Teaneck, St. Mark's; Washington, St. Peter's; and West Orange, Holy Trinity. DISTRICT SHARING District 1: The Rev. Bill Potter reported that the mayor and assistant mayor of Hope announced they would no longer perform marriages or civil unions. District 2: The Rev. Fain Webb reported next week's district meeting would focus on senior ministries. District 5: Mr. Bert Jones reported the district next meeting on April 19 will feature Mr. Andrew Molnar, director of Cross Roads Outdoor Ministries. MEETING EVALUATION Bishop Beckwith asked for reactions to the meeting; what worked well?, what could be improved? A response was given that taking a moment to reflect on Easter at the start was appreciated. The meeting was closed with prayer by Bishop Gallagher. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michael Francaviglia, Secretary  --Return to Diocese of Newark Home PageReturn to Top of Page |