January 27-28, 2012

January 27-28, 2012

1. The Ministry Council met Friday and Saturday, January 27-28, 2012, at the Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in Bartlett, TN, in both joint and concurrent sessions with the Ministry Teams. The Ministry Council enjoyed a fellowship dinner with the members of the United Board of Christian Discipleship held on Thursday, January 26, at the Denominational Center.
2. Met in an opening joint session including Worship led by Rev. Lisa Scott, Ministry Council First Vice-Chairperson, a Leadership Workshop led by Council member Rev. Troy Green, and introductions of new staff: Rev. T. J. Malinoski, Evangelism and New Church Development; Jinger Ellis, Missions Ministry Team Administration-Finance; and Rev. Elinor Brown, Discipleship Ministry Team Leader.
3. Ministry Teams and the Ministry Council met concurrently on Friday with joint meals and breaks and concluded with a joint reporting/sharing session on Saturday morning.
4. Eighteen of the twenty-two Ministry Council members were present. Members: Sally Allen, Jill Carr, Mandy Clark, Rev. Michele Gentry de Correal, Rev. Troy Green, Rev Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Rev. Drew Hayes, Rev. Lanny Johnson, Toni Prosser, Gwen Roddye, Rev. Sam Romines, Rev. Lisa Scott, Roy Shanks (Excused: Rev. Tom Sanders); Youth Advisory Member: Ricky Kirby (Excused: Madison Rush, Ben Sweet). Advisory Members: Rev. Mike Sharpe, Rev. Don Tabor (Excused: Rev. Boyce Wallace); Director of Ministries: Edith Old. Also present: Megan Warren. All were present both days.Ministry Team Staff and Elected Team Member attendance: 44 on Friday; 35 on Saturday
5. Heard the report of the Director of Ministries, Edith Old.
6. To satisfy IRS rules, approved the amount of salary for Ministry Council clergy staff that is to be designated as housing allowance.
7. Approved updates to the Ministry Council Personnel Manual.
8. Approved the creation and sale of Ministry Council Christmas cards and all occasion note cards as a revenue stream to offset the Ministry Council Administration budget (that has no current endowment income).
9. Discussed possible suggestions to the Nominating Committee for Ministry Council members who will not return to the Ministry Council at the end of the 2012 term: Toni Prosser who has requested not to be re-elected, Ben Sweet who has resigned, and Ricky Kirby who is not eligible for re-election.
10. New Ministry Team members (as nominated by the Teams) were elected to replace those whose terms will expire or are not returning:
    1. Communications: Rev. James McGuire (Presbytery of East Tennessee) to succeed himself for a second term; and Rev. Michael Clark (Murfreesboro Presbytery) to succeed himself for a second term.
    2. Discipleship: Rev. Christian Smith (Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery) replacing Jeff Gehle who completes his third 3-year term in 2012; and Rachel Cook (Robert Donnell Presbytery) replacing Kip Rush who completes his third 3-year term in 2012. Joanna Bellis (Missouri Presbytery) to succeed herself for a second term. LeIla Dixon (Trinity Presbytery) to complete the 2-year unexpired term of Alan Butler who has resigned.
    3. Missions: Rev. Cardelia Howell-Diamond (Murfreesboro Presbytery) replacing Robin McCaskey-Hughes who completes her third 3-year term in 2012; and Rachel Betty (Nashville Presbytery) replacing Athala Jaramillo who completes her third 3-year term in 2012. Sherry Poteet (Trinity Presbytery) to succeed herself for a second term; Margie Vanderlaan (Grace Presbytery) to succeed herself for a second term; and Rev. James Barry (Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery) to succeed himself for a second term.
    4. Pastoral Development: Rev. Linda Snelling (Red River Presbytery) to succeed herself for a second term; Rev. Bob Shelton (Red River Presbytery) to succeed himself for a third term.
11. Discussed the goals, benefits and challenges related to Ministry Council Youth Advisory elected members and named a special committee to gather information and report back in April: Jill Carr, Roy Shanks, Ricky Kirby, and Susan Groce as consultant.
12. Heard financial status report from Dan Scherf, Accounting Supervisor, who highlighted the improving Ministry Council Balance Sheet. Rejoiced achievement of near 100% of the Our United Outreach Goal for 2011. Celebrated with a Friday Night Pizza Supper and recognition of the special work of OUO Committee Chair Ron Gardner and Accounting Supervisor Dan Scherf.
13. Heard Mark J. Davis, Communications Ministry Team Leader. Received the report of the Unified publication Task Force and approved its recommendations, assigning dates to the proposed actions as follows: (1) present a plan to the Ministry Council in April for having digital versions of both The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine and the Missionary Messenger available online by January, 2013, and a plan for determining those who do not prefer to receive paper copies; and (2) adjust print runs of the Missionary Messenger to better align with distribution by April, 2012.
14. Heard Rev. George Estes, Team Leader of the Missions Ministry Team, summarize the MMT report and recommendations.
15. Heard Rev. Elinor Brown, new Team Leader of the Discipleship Ministry Team, regarding the recommendation for approval of the Certification for Christian Educators program and the search for a new Coordinator of Children and Family Ministry.
16. Reviewed the itemized endowment report prepared by the Team Leaders and discussed ways to promote endowments that are near the point where the interest can be used. Appointed an Endowment Committee made up of Drew Hayes, Toni Prosser, Troy Green, and Edith Old to bring ideas about promotion of endowments.
17. Elected new Ministry Council representation to the Our United Outreach Committee: Lisa Scott, Delegate, and Lanny Johnson, alternate
18. Reviewed and adopted the 2013 Budget prepared by the Global Ministries Leadership Team. Approved the Ministry Council request to the Our United Outreach Committee.
19. As a Council, discussed the book Spirited Leadership, Empowering People to Do What Matters by Thomas G. Bandy. Troy Green, who has been leading an online discussion of the book, directed the discussion.
20. Asked for volunteers to represent the Council at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly Executive Board meeting in Huntsville, AL, on Thursday, May 3, 2012: Troy Green, Carlton Harper, and Edith Old.
21. Elected Carlton Harper, Representative to General Assembly in Florence, AL, June17-22, 2012. Also elected Sam Romines as Alternate Representative and Elizabeth Horsley as Assistant to the Representative.
22. Adjourned to convene on April 20-21, 2012 (Fri/Sat) at the Denominational Center in Cordova.