Ministry Council Summary of Actions (August 2022)

 

1. The Ministry Council and the Ministry Teams met August 18-20, 2022, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Germantown, TN and Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bartlett, TN for their regularly scheduled meetings. Members of the Ministry Council in attendance were Carla Bellis (MC President), Rev. Kenny Butcher, Rev. Dr. Michael Clark (2^nd Vice President), Rev. Juan David Correa, Amy Cresswell, Debbie Hayes, Rev. Derek Jacks (Secretary), Lora Rogers-Kerner, Angelica Poveda, Melinda Reams, Ted Shirai (via ZOOM video conference), and Rev. Tim Smith (1^st Vice President); Advisory Members: Rev. Mike Sharpe, Stated Clerk of General Assembly; Staff present were Director of Ministries Edith Old, Central Accounting Department Supervisor Dan Scherf. Rev. Mike Wilkinson, Moderator of the 191^st General Assembly joined the meeting via ZOOM video conference briefly. The Ministry Council excused the absences of Rev. Mike Wilkinson, Rev. Phillip Layne, and Victory Moore.

 

2. The Ministry Council heard reports from the 191^st General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Central Accounting, and all the various Ministry Teams.

 

3. The Ministry Council elected the officers for 2022-23: President, Carla Bellis; 1^st Vice President, Rev. Tim Smith; 2^nd Vice President, Rev. Dr. Michael Clark; Secretary, Rev. Derek Jacks.

 

4. The Ministry Council approved recommendations from the Communications Sub-Committee to task the Director of Ministries Edith Old to contract with a professional website design vendor to produce and maintain a Ministry Council website, app, and bring a cohesive and unified social networking presence on behalf of the ministries of the Ministry Council and Ministry Teams.

 

5. The Ministry Council approved a recommendation that all elected, advisory, or Ministry Council staff make positive, accurate, and informative communication a priority in all facets of their lives to one another, each judicatory of the church, and the members of the CP Church in all mediums including, but not limited to, conversations, text messages, phone conversations, emails, social media postings, and printed materials.

 

6. The Ministry Council approved the recommendation to amend the “Code of Ethics” and “Involuntary Termination” sections of the Ministry Council Personnel Handbook. The Ministry Council also reminded all staff and elected members of the Ministry Council and Ministry Teams that they are all subject to the policies contained within the Personnel Handbook.

 

7. The Ministry Council approved the recommendation to amend the Ministry Council Member Covenant to include a “Code of Conduct” clause.

 

8. The Ministry Council formed a committee to work with the Global Leadership Ministry Team (GLMT) to review draft senior leadership succession and transition plans and to make a report to the August 2023 Ministry Council meeting. Members of this committee are Rev. Dr. Michael Clark, Rev. Phillip Layne, Lora Rogers-Kerner, and Debbie Hayes.

 

9. The Ministry Council formed a finance committee to better enhance the MC’s understanding of the budget process and monitoring its status. Members of this committee are Amy Cresswell, Rev. Kenny Butcher, and Ted Shirai.

 

10. The Ministry Council approved the 2023 Clergy Housing Allowances for the ordained ministers employed by the Ministry Council.

 

11. The Ministry Council discussed the progress of their new strategic visioning outcome goals of developing leaders, supporting churches, and ensuring an effective Ministry Council. The Ministry Council extends their gratitude to all the staff and members of the Ministry Teams for their hard work and dedication to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

 

12. The Ministry Council approved a recommendation to instruct the Missions Ministry Team to investigate and structure a plan to address the prevailing need for a Men’s Ministry for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

 

13. The Ministry Council will meet February 18-19, 2023, for its next regular meeting at the Denominational Center in Cordova, TN.