April 23-24, 2010

April 23-24, 2010

1. The Ministry Council met Friday-Saturday, April 23-24, 2010, at the Center in Cordova, TN.
2. Fifteen of the nineteen Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Richard Hughes, Rickey Page, Toni Prosser, Gwen Roddye, Sam Romines, Roy Shanks (Excused: Mandy Clark, Iwao Satoh); Youth Advisory Members: Billy Black, Emma Shoaf (Excused: Corey Faulkner); Advisory Members: Robert Rush, Jonathan Clark (Excused: Sam Suddarth); Director of Ministries: Edith Gholson. The number of members dropped from 22 to 19 with the resignations of Hillman Moore, Leo Whinery, and Wayne Wood.
3. Unanimously voted to accept the report of the Search Committee and adopt the recommendation to nominate Reverend Michael G. Sharpe to fill the two-year unexpired term of Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. If elected, he will fill the vacancy created at the retirement of the Dr. Robert D. Rush later in 2010. Expressed appreciation to Search Committee members Richard Hughes, convener, Toni Prosser, Roy Shanks, Elizabeth Horsley, and Rickey Page.
4. Heard up-to-date financial reports from Dan Scherf, Accounting Supervisor. Affirmed that the reports generated by our new technology are easy for Council Members to understand and expressed excitement that accurate, up-to-date financial information is available daily.
5. Heard report from Billy Black and Edith Gholson about the Our United Outreach Committee and its plans and current efforts to educate and increase giving including certificates, letters, and presentations. The Ministry Council OUO Allocation for 2011 is less than 2010.
6. Appointed Rev. Carlton Harper to replace Billy Black on the Our United Outreach Committee for the next term since Billy will rotate off the Council in June.
7. Appointed Toni Prosser as our representative on the Center Personnel Committee comprised of one executive and one elected member of the four entities at the Center.
8. Unanimously passed an amendment to the Ministry Council Bylaws removing Our United Outreach responsibilities for allocation, receiving, and distribution. The new replacement to ARTICLE 1.B.7.a. reads: “To be responsible for promoting Our United Outreach in cooperation with the Our United Outreach Committee.”
9. Heard information on changes in cost of insurance for employees at the Center and passed a recommendation that Edith suggest to CIT a four-year plan to incrementally require employees to pay for premiums for dependents: beginning in 2012, employees would pay 10, 20 and 30% over three years, then 100% the fourth year
10. Adopted and implemented a Per Diem Policy for non-staff travel expenses for Council and Ministry Teams effective May 1, 2010
11. Heard Team updates and Team report highlights from Mark J Davis, Milton Ortiz, Mike Sharpe, and Elinor Brown (filling in for Frank Ward). Council members divided up into five groups to review and revise the five sections of our report to General Assembly. Groups reported back to the Council as a whole
12. Complimented the Pastoral Development Ministry Team on the completed revision of the 48-page Handbook for Presbyterial Committees on the Ministry or Preparation for the Ministry which will be presented to General Assembly for approval. Council members are excited to share this with their presbyteries
13. Affirmed the increasingly effective collaboration of the Ministry Team Leaders and Teams
14. Heard clarification from legal counsel that the Ministry Council is responsible for electing Ministry Team Members. Team leaders presented nominees and the Council elected the following as Elected Ministry Team Members to succeed themselves or fill vacancies:
    • Communications Ministry Team: Rev. James M. Cantey, Mr. Paul Earheart-Brown, Ms. Denise Adams
    • Discipleship Ministry Team: Rev. Mindy Acton, Rev. Tom Martin, Rev. Vernon Sansom
    • Missions Ministry Team: Rev. Makihiko Arase, Mr. Mikel Davis, Rev. Ricardo Franco, Rev. Victor Hassell, Ms. Sherry Poteet, Ms. Jo Ann Shugert, Mr. Sam Suddarth
    • Pastoral Development Ministry Team: Mrs. Pat Owen, Ms. Micaiah Thomas, Rev. Tommy Thompson

    New terms begin after General Assembly

15. Adopted the Ministry Council Consolidated Budget for 2011 which includes the budget needs for the Ministry Council and all four Ministry Teams
16. Heard from Robert Rush that all property taxes paid on the Center property on Traditional Place prior to receiving tax-exempt status have been refunded and deposited back to Central Services and Capital Campaign Funds
17. Received the Director of Ministries Report and adopted its recommendations related to assessment tools, orientation of new Council members, addition of Gift Assessment to the August Agenda, and designation of concurrent and joint meetings. Director Edith Gholson reported that in addition to the ongoing responsibilities of the office related to the Ministry Council, Corporate Board, and Center Interagency Team, she has worked with the Our United Outreach Committee and provided support to the OUO Committee for video and presbyterial presentation script. In addition, she represented the Ministry Council at a CPCH Board Meeting in Denton, Texas, and was keynote speaker at the Synod of the Southeast Retreat in Rogersville, Alabama. The Director also hosted a luncheon in appreciation of MC staff for their hard work and accomplishments with Raisers Edge/Financial Edge implementation
18. In order to facilitate the work of the Ministry Council and the Ministry Teams, agreed to designate the annual October meeting to be concurrent and the annual January meeting to be joint
19. Expressed appreciation to Advisory Member Jonathan Clark for his two years of service, to Youth Advisory Member Billy Black for his three years of service, and to Member Richard Hughes for his three years of service. Also acknowledged the service of absent Youth Advisory Member Corey Faulkner who rotates off this year and the service of former members Hillman Moore, Leo Whinery, and Wayne Wood each who had to resign due to family needs
20. Next Meeting Date: August 6-7, 2010, (Friday morning through early Saturday afternoon) at the Center in Cordova. New member orientation with the Executive Committee will be on August 5