- The Ministry Council met Saturday and Sunday, August 24-25, 2013, at Fogelman Executive Conference Center, Memphis, TN, in both joint and concurrent sessions with the Ministry Teams. An Orientation was held on Friday afternoon, August 23, for new Ministry Council and Elected Ministry Team Members.
- Participated in a fellowship dinner for Ministry Council Members Friday evening. Ministry Team Leaders hosted evening meals for their respective Teams as team-building events.
- Joint sessions included Saturday morning devotional, Saturday lunch and dinner at the conference center and Sunday morning worship “Telling Our Stories.” Additionally, the Sunday morning joint session included reports from each Team and from the Council.
- Twenty of the twenty-three Ministry Council members and staff were present. Members: Rev. Donny Acton, Sally Allen, Jill Carr, Mary Ann Cole, Rev. Michele Gentry de Correal, Rev. Troy Green, Rev. Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Rev. Lanny Johnson, Rev. Ron McMillan, Gwen Roddye, Rev. Sam Romines, Rev. Thomas Sanders, Rev. Lisa Scott (Excused: Roy Shanks); Advisory Members: Rev. Forest Prosser, Rev. Mike Sharpe (Excused: Rev. Robert Rush); Youth Advisory Members: Carolina Gillis, Eddie Montoya, Jr. (Excused: Ethan Morgan). Director of Ministries: Edith Old. Also present: Megan Warren. Forty-three Elected and Staff Ministry Team members were present. Twenty-one Elected and Staff Ministry Council/Ministry Team members participated in the Friday orientation.
- Elected Officers: Rev. Troy Green, President; Mary Ann Cole, 1st Vice President, Rev. Lisa Scott, 2nd Vice President; Gwen Roddye, Secretary; Elizabeth Horsley, Assistant Secretary. Outgoing President Rev. Lisa Scott was presented with a gift and recognized for her service with a donation made in her honor to Thistle Farms.
- Heard financial status report from Dan Scherf, Accounting Supervisor. At this time, 28 Our United Outreach distributions have been made for this year, compared to 27 distributions made during the same time frame in 2012. Contribution period for 2013 Our United Outreach will end January 15, 2014. All contributions must be received by that date to be counted toward 2013. Rejoiced to learn that a number of congregations have begun contributing to Our United Outreach after several years of non-participation.
- Heard the report of the outgoing Ministry Council President Lisa Scott, expressing special appreciation to the many Ministry Council/Ministry Team Elected Members and staff who were present at General Assembly.
- Heard the report of the Director of Ministries, Edith Old, which included reflections on her experience at Triennium. The Director encouraged Ministry Council members to consider serving as volunteers at the next Triennium and to participate in other Ministry Council/Ministry Team events during the coming year.
- Took the following actions in response to the Director of Ministries report:
- Appointed a subcommittee to consider ways to broaden funding sources and increase income for the Ministry Council/Ministry Teams.
- Appointed new Ministry Council members to serve on Ministry Teams.
- Approved housing allowance for MMT staff Rev. Johan Daza.
- Agreed to formally invite Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America leaders to attend the January 2014 Ministry Council meeting in order to broaden and deepen shared understanding of the potential for cooperative ministries.
- Agreed to set aside Wednesday, September 25, as a time of prayer and fasting in support of the September 26-27 All Hands meeting, which will focus on the next steps in developing a new mission field in Central America.
- Received a letter from Rev. George Estes announcing his intention to retire as Missions Ministry Team Leader effective December 31, 2013. Attended a dinner and program celebrating Rev. Estes’ almost twenty years of service with the Board of Missions and the Missions Ministry Team in addition to twenty-three years in the pastorate.
- In light of the decision by Missions Ministry Team Leader Rev. George Estes to retire effective at the end of 2013, approved the process of announcement and promotion of the ministry opportunity in accordance with Ministry Council Hiring Policy. Approved a revised version of the Missions Ministry Team Leader job description.
- Heard a brief presentation Rev. Cliff Hudson, Our United Outreach Fund Development Director.
- Noted the following upcoming opportunities:
- The Forum-Leader Development Event November 3-6, 2013, in Nashville, TN.
- The 2014 Ministers Conference-January 14-16, Madkins Chapel CPCA, Huntsville, AL.
- Heard the report of the Executive Committee regarding the annual performance evaluation of the Director of Ministries and expressed appreciation to the Director of Ministries Edith Old for her excellent leadership.
- Heard report from MC member Mary Ann Cole regarding her trip to Japan on behalf of Cumberland Presbyterian Women’s Ministry.
- Renewed Ministry Council Member Covenants; completed self-evaluations and set personal goals for leadership development during the coming year.
- Heard report on General Assembly and reviewed the General Assembly directives to the Ministry Council/Ministry Teams.
- Discussed Spirited Leadership pre-Assembly workshop for GA 2014 and agreed to devote time at every Ministry Council meeting toward the study of Spirited Leadership and implementation of Spirited Leadership within the ministries of the church.
- Adjourned to meet in joint/concurrent sessions with Ministry Teams, January 24-25, 2014, at the Center in Cordova.
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