April 25-26, 2014
- The Corporate Board of the Ministry Council met for its annual meeting Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, 2014, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Center, Cordova, TN.
- Sixteen of the twenty-three Ministry Council Members and Staff were present. Members: Rev. Donny Acton, 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, (Excused: Carolina Gillis, Eddie Montoya, Jr.); Advisory Members: (Excused: Rev. Michael Sharpe, Rev. Forest Prosser; Rev. Robert Rush); Director of Ministries: Edith Old; Executive Assistant: Megan Warren.
- As the primary visioning body of the Church, set aside significant time at this meeting to discern the will of the Holy Spirit. In particular we worked to improve and strengthen our leadership and the ministry of the Church through prayerful and Biblically grounded workshops on “Identity.” We believe who we are (as Christians, Church leaders, and Cumberland Presbyterians) has direct and powerful ramifications for what we do. If we better understand who we are, then we will have more clarity about what we should do and be more effective doing it. It is our intended purpose to facilitate this same experience throughout the denomination. We did not leave with simply new programs or good ideas but with a powerful vision for a Church that engages every member in ministry. Workshops included: God’s Identity led by Rev. Lisa Scott; My Identity led by Rev. Tom Sanders; Experience of Identity led by Ethan Morgan and Gwen Roddye; and Leadership Identity led by Rev. Ron McMillan.
- The Council divided up into three small groups and shared a meal with each Team Leader over the course of the weekend.
- Received updated financial reports presented by Dan Scherf, CAD. The 13th distribution of Our United Outreach has been made.
- Received the report of Director of Ministries Edith Old giving an account of her recent travel to Japan to attend the Asia Mission Forum inaugural meeting. The Director also reported the hiring of a temporary part-time Center Phone Receptionist/Translator.
- Approved the revised PDMT Leader job description, committed to prayer and support for the interview panel, and to actively encourage qualified individuals to apply for the position.
- Approved the DMT request and job description for a part-time Shipping Clerk.
- Adjusted for tax purposes the housing allowance for a Team Leader.
- Elected Rev. Drew Hayes for another three-year term to the PDMT.
- Received a report from Rev. Lanny Johnson, representative to Our United Outreach Committee.
- Finalized plans for the Pre-Assembly Workshop Behavior, Identity and Re-Envisioning Individual and Community Ministry. Workshop participants will explore, clarify and embrace our Christian identity and re-envision our ministry individually and as a community. This workshop is designed to be more experiential than informational. The workshop will be facilitated by Rev. Troy Green.
- Adjourned to convene on August 23-24, 2014 (Saturday and Sunday) at Fogelman Executive Conference Center, Memphis, TN, for Concurrent Meeting of Ministry Council and Ministry Teams to be preceded on Friday, August 22, by the Orientation for New Ministry Council Members and Elected Ministry Team Members.