January 24-25, 2014

January 24-25, 2014

1. The Ministry Council met Friday and Saturday, January 24-25, 2014, at Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bartlett, TN, in both joint and concurrent sessions with the Ministry Teams.  Joint sessions included worship, Team reports, meals and fellowship.
2. Twenty-two 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. Tom Sanders, Rev. Lisa Scott, Roy Shanks; Youth Advisory Members: Eddie Montoya, Jr., Ethan Morgan, (Excused: Carolina Gillis); Advisory Members: Rev. Michael Sharpe, Rev. Forest Prosser; Rev. Robert Rush; Director of Ministries: Edith Old; Executive Assistant: Megan Warren. Forty-two Ministry Team Members and Ministry Team Staff were present. In addition, eight invited representatives from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America (CPCA) attended: Rev. Dr. Theodis Acklin, Gladys Canty, Elder Lewis Leon Cole, Jr., Rev. Al Garrett, Rev. Anthony Hollis, Rev. Elton Hall, Rev. William Robinson, Elder Craig White.
3. Received updated financial reports presented by Dan Scherf, CAD. Total Our United Outreach giving for 2013 was $2,539,709.44, 90.7% of the goal for 2013. Noted that approximately 20% of Our United Outreach was received in December, a fact that creates cash flow problems in other months of the year. MC members also received a spreadsheet that showed 2013 OUO giving from each congregation and as appropriate, noted which MC/MT members have a relationship with each church (as member or pastor). Endowment income is up, due largely to a change in investment strategy.
4. Heard a preliminary report of the subcommittee appointed to research long-term financial planning/fundraising for Ministry Council, offering several innovative ideas and suggestions about ways to promote growth of Our United Outreach.
5. Received the report of Director of Ministries Edith Old giving the account of her service on behalf of the Church mid-August 2013- December 2013. Activities and events included visiting/speaking at 10 churches in both Cumberland Presbyterian Church and CPCA, attending fall meetings in 3 presbyteries, and CPCA meeting on Unification in November. The report also included an extensive list of administrative meetings with Ministry Council Staff and other meetings she attended as representative of the Ministry Council.
6. Heard Director of Ministries’ plans for future travel to Japan Presbytery for the Asia Exchange Committee to discuss cooperative programs/events that could benefit all Cumberland Presbyterians in Asia.
7. The Director of Ministries encouraged Council Members who have not done so to set up a Pastors Gathering within their presbytery this Spring.
8. Elected three new Ministry Team Members and nine Team Members to succeed themselves.
9. Approved 2014 housing allowances for clergy on Ministry Council/ Ministry Team Staff in accordance with IRS requirements.
10. Approved recommendation from subcommittee tasked with consideration of employee incentives.
11. Heard an update on the Unification Task Force from CPCA Elder Lewis Leon Cole, Jr. Learned that the Task Force plans to bring a draft plan of union to both General Assemblies in 2014.  Click here for further information from the Unification Task Force.
12. Elected Rev. Lanny Johnson representative to Our United Outreach Committee.
13. Elected Ministry Council representatives to General Assembly 2014, Chattanooga, TN: Rev. Troy Green, Representative; Rev. Lanny Johnson, First Alternate; and Mary Ann Cole, Second Alternate.
14. Elected a Standing Nominating Committee: Elizabeth Horsley, Rev. Carlton Harper, and Rev. Lanny Johnson.
15. Elected the Evaluation Committee charged with conducting the 2014 evaluation of the Director of Ministries. Reviewed and updated the Director of Ministries Job Description to better reflect the responsibilities of the position.
16. Heard a presentation about recent Young Adult mission trip to Colombia by participants Megan Warren, Rev. Patrick Wilkerson, and Rev. Steven Shelton.
17. Ministry Council Members and CPCA representatives assigned to specific Ministry Teams participated in afternoon sessions with Teams and reported back to the Ministry Council.
18. Discussed the pre-Assembly Leadership Development workshop to be led by Troy Green. A significant portion of the April MC meeting will be spent in preparation of the workshop, with the working theme “Identity.”
19. Response to past General Assembly directives: Ensured that MC members eligible for re-election at General Assembly are aware of endorsement requirements as reflected in MC Bylaws: presbytery endorsement for clergy, session endorsement for laity.
20. During the Saturday morning Joint Session, Ministry Council and Missions Ministry Teams recognized members rotating off. Missions Ministry Team recognized Elected Members Beverly Stott and Nancy Gordon; Ministry Council recognized Elected Members Rev. Lisa Scott and Roy Shanks, Youth Advisory Member Ethan Morgan, and Advisory Member Rev. Robert Rush.
21. Celebrated enhanced and growing collaborative efforts of the Ministry Teams as demonstrated in plans for representatives from all four Teams to go to Guatemala in response to the need for training and resources in that new mission field.
22. Heard reports from each Team during the Saturday morning Joint Session. 22 Ministry Council Members and Staff plus 42 Ministry Team Members and Staff were present. Some highlights of Team reports:
    • Communications—The new cumberlist has been rolled out with very few negative comments received to date; a Memorial from Murfreesboro Presbytery related to CMT and denominational communication will be addressed at this year’s General Assembly.
    • Discipleship—Children’s Fest, a denominational event for children K-6, will be held at the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home in Denton, TX, on June 7, 2014, and at Bethel University in McKenzie, TN, on July 19. CPYC will be June 22-27, 2014, at Bethel University (note date change.)
    • Missions—The Stott-Wallace Offering to support missions will be collected during Pentecost; this is an offering, not an endowment, and all collections will go directly to the support of missionaries. A Missions Advocate Retreat will be held March 7-8, 2014, at the West Nashville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Referral Services are undergoing radical enhancements/automation, and a booth at GA will encourage pastors to update their Personal Information Forms (PIFs) there.
    • Pastoral Development—A new handbook for Clergy Care Committees is being prepared. Learning Circles, a new program of on-line support and information for various pastoral situations, will soon launch. The Louisa Woosley Endowment has been established in recognition of the 125^th anniversary of her ordination and will be used to support women in ministry. Women in ministry can be honored with membership in the Louisa Woosley Society for a contribution of $125 to the endowment.
    • Additional information about the work of Ministry Teams is available on the Ministry Council website.
23. Continued with the Ministry Council business meeting after the Joint Session adjourned.
24. Adjourned to convene on April 25-26, 2014 (Friday and Saturday) for the Corporate Meeting of the Board at the Cumberland Presbyterian Center, Cordova, TN.