August 17-18, 2018

August 17-18, 2018

1. The Ministry Council met Friday and Saturday, August 17-18, 2018, at Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bartlett, TN, in both joint and concurrent sessions with the Ministry Teams. An Orientation was held on Thursday, August 16 for newly elected Ministry Council and Ministry Team Members, new Ministry Team Staff and invited guests. Joint sessions included Friday morning worship coordinated by Missions Ministry Team and a Missions Research Report from Rev. Lynn Thomas, Director Global Cross-Culture Missions Program. Saturday morning included worship led by the Discipleship Ministry Team; group planning of the Symposium, a leadership development event that will be held in November 2019; and reports from each Ministry Team and from the Council. 55 Elected and Staff Ministry Council and Ministry Team members and invited guests participated in the Friday and Saturday meetings.
2. Thirteen of fifteen Ministry Council voting members were present.
   Donny Acton, Karen Avery, Ken Bean, Carla Bellis, Rev. Kenny Butcher, Juan David Correa, Rev. Troy Green, Samantha Hassell, Rev. Lanny Johnson, Rev. Phillip Layne, Melinda Reams, Charelle Webb, and Rev. Mike Wilkinson. Also present were Youth Advisory Members: Sydney Holder, Madison Holland, and Leighann Morgan and Advisory members Rev. Mike Sharpe, Stated Clerk of General Assembly, and Rev. Dr. Jay Earheart-Brown, Moderator of General Assembly and Director of Ministries Edith Busbee Old (excused: Victory Moore and True Satoh).
3. Elected Officers: Rev. Mike Wilkinson, President; Rev. Donny Acton, 1^st Vice President, Rev. Kenny Butcher, 2^nd Vice President; Karen Avery, Secretary.
4. Renewed Ministry Council Member Covenants.
5. Received written financial highlights report from Dan Scherf, Accounting Supervisor. The completed financial audit presented at General Assembly required no adjustments. Cash flow accounting is being watched daily and we commend the work of GMLT, the Director of Ministries, Dan Scherf and Jinger Ellis.
6. Reviewed proposed revisions to four Ministry Team job descriptions: MMT Director of Congregational Ministries (full-time), MMT Coordinator for Women’s Ministry (part-time),DMT CP Resources Distribution Manager (full-time), and DMT Coordinator of Adult Ministry (full-time). Approved revised job descriptions. Approved a recommendation to set aside Ministry Council hiring process policy to allow DMT Leader to transfer staff member laterally within DMT to an administrative position, with the knowledge that the staff member is equipped for the position and the understanding of the time-sensitive nature of the position to ensure ongoing operations.

7. Heard and approved the report of the Director of Ministries. Requested the Director of Ministries bring the job description for Director of Ministries Executive Assistant (part-time) to the MC February meeting for consideration.
8. Ministry Council Liaisons Reported on their meetings with their respective Ministry Teams.
9. Milton Ortiz, Johan Daza, and Lynn Thomas met with the Council sharing perspectives from outside the US in response to the GA action related to “human sexuality”. Discussion followed within the Council, resulting in appointing Mike Wilkinson, Charelle Webb and Phillip Layne to draft an initial statement to the Permanent Judiciary Committee and Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns. Friday evening, that group worked with the Director of Ministries to draft a statement given to Council members the next morning, with feedback requested. Saturday afternoon, feedback was gathered and incorporated into the draft that was then emailed to the Stated Clerk to relay to the Chair of the Permanent Judiciary Committee and Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns.
10. Mike Sharpe distributed reports and answered questions on Unification.
11. Ken Bean distributed “Program Evaluation and Review Technique” (PERT) used in project management and planning and discussed the process in its use.
12. The Council went into an abbreviated Executive Session, no action taken.
13. Adjourned to meet with Ministry Team Leaders, Saturday and Sunday, February 16-17, 2019, at the Center in Cordova, TN.