April 19-20, 2013

April 19-20, 2013

1. The Ministry Council met Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, 2013, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Center, Cordova, TN.
2. Seventeen of the twenty-one Ministry Council members and staff were present. Members: 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. Tom Sanders, Rev. Lisa Scott, Roy Shanks (Excused: Sally Allen, Jill Carr); Youth Advisory Members: Ethan Morgan, Madison Rush; Advisory Members: Rev. Michael Sharp, Rev. Robert Rush, Rev. Don Tabor; Director of Ministries: Edith Busbee Old. Also present: Megan Warren, Ministry Council Administrative Assistant.
3. Heard financial report from Dan Scherf including review of current financial statements and Our United Outreach giving. Eleven Our United Outreach distributions have been made as of April 17, with another anticipated before the end of April. Financial audit will be completed before General Assembly.
4. Heard report from Rev. Lanny Johnson, Ministry Council representative to Our United Outreach Committee, regarding 2014 Our United Outreach allocations to be recommended by the committee to General Assembly and the selection of Rev. Cliff Hudson as Development Director for Our United Outreach
5. Received the report of Mark J. Davis, Communications Ministry Team Leader, regarding the role of communication in our ministries. Referred the report to the Interagency Web Development Committee for consideration and encouraged the Communications Ministry Team to initiate dialogue with all boards and agencies to identify ways we can better serve as a resource to the Church.
6. Heard the report of Rev. Elinor Brown, Discipleship Ministry Team Leader, bringing recommendations regarding the certification process for Youth Ministers and Directors of Christian Education and support information about safe sanctuaries. Also heard plans for General Assembly event celebrating 90 years of YPGA/NACPYF/CPYC. Received positive feedback regarding The Event: Elder Training.
7. Heard Rev. George Estes, Missions Ministry Team Leader, regarding recommendation to General Assembly dealing with new mission work outside the US.
8. Recognized the following Ministry Council Members who will be leaving the Council: Mandy Clark (resigned); Rev. Don Tabor (fulfilled term as Past Moderator of the General Assembly); Madison Rush (fulfilled term as Youth Advisory Delegate); Sebastian Phillips (resigned as Youth Advisory Delegate). Those leaving the Ministry Council will be asked to complete an exit interview as feedback to the Council about ways we as a Council can better conduct business and serve the Church.
9. Adopted new Ministry Council Bylaws revised to better align with the current structure, including descriptions of Ministry Council Teams.
10. Heard the report of Director of Ministries, Edith Busbee Old.
    1. Pastors Forums continue to be a highly effective means of sharing information between clergy and Ministry Council. Ministry Council members are encouraged to assist in setting up a Pastors Forum in their area.
    2. Ministry Council booth at General Assembly will reflect the GA Theme, “Telling Your Story,” based on Acts 4:20. Visitors to the Ministry Council booth will have an opportunity to share their own faith stories, and a method of recording oral/video histories will be offered.
    3. The Ministry Council sponsored event at 2013 General Assembly—90th Anniversary of CPYC Celebration—will be held Tuesday, June 18. http://e2.ma/message/y8mjc/6etmac.
    4. The Director of Ministries’ report on her mission field site visit to Guatemala included a request for a time of prayer and meaningful discussion as to how the Ministry Council can begin intentional focus on providing programs and resource materials that better fit the cultural and language-based needs of congregations, pastors, missionaries and New Church Developments outside the United States.
11. New Ministry Team members were elected to replace those whose terms expired or are not returning:
    1. Communications—Rev. Steven Shelton (Synod of Great Rivers, West TN Presbytery) to fill a newly added position; Rev. Nicholas Chambers (Synod of Great Rivers, Grace Presbytery) to follow Paul Earheart-Brown.
    2. Discipleship—Rev. Mindy Acton to succeed herself; Rev. Nancy McSpadden (Synod of Great Rivers, Arkansas Presbytery) to follow Rev. Tom Martin; Rev. Josafina Franco (Synod of the Southeast, Presbytery of East Tennessee) to follow Rev. Vernon Sampson.
    3. Missions—Rev. Victor Hassell to succeed himself; Rev. Mack Arase to succeed himself, Melinda Reams (Synod of Great Rivers, Arkansas Presbytery) to fill the 2-year unexpired term of Margie Vanderlaan; Brittany Meeks (Synod of Great Rivers, West TN Presbytery) to follow Sam Suddarth; Dominic Lau (Mission Synod, Presbytery del Cristo) to follow Mikel Davis.
    4. Pastoral Development—Rev. Patrick Wilkerson (Tennessee Synod, Columbia Presbytery) to follow Rev. Tommy Thompson; Rev. Drew Hayes (Synod of Great Rivers, West TN Presbytery) to fill the 1-year unexpired term of Rev. Don Thomas; Rev. Duawn Mearns (Synod of Great Rivers, Arkansas Presbytery) to fill the 2-year unexpired term of Rev. Bob Shelton.
12. Adopted new Ministry Council Bylaws revised to better align with the current structure, including descriptions of Ministry Council Teams.
13. Reviewed self-evaluation documents presented by Rev. Troy Green for use by the Ministry Council.
14. Continued study of Spirited Leadership and made plans to conduct a Spirited Leadership event at General Assembly 2014.
15. Ministry Council and Ministry Teams will meet in August 24-25, 2013 (Saturday/Sunday) in concurrent sessions. Orientation for New Ministry Council Members will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013.