Minutes of the Central East Mission Area Council

June 15, 2010 

President Brian Sisak announced there was quorum and called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.

The meeting started with a Prayer offered by The Rev. Kip Colgrove.  The minutes of the 4/13/2010 were approved.

Meeting Reports:

• Rev. Barbara presented St. Paul’s calendar as a template for other Vestries to use should they want. It will lend validity to an event or item.
• There is co-operation with the University of the South (4yrs) with one year at a time. The cost is $350/year.
• A new supply priest starts at St. Mark’s on 6/20/2010
• Trinity (NP) is developing a Worship and Eucharistic Leaders training course based on Diocesan guidelines.
• Trinity (Alliance) will have a presence at the “Carnation Parade; a vacation bible school is scheduled for 6/21 to 6/21.
• St. Mark’s has scheduled its vacation bible school for w/o 7/5 and has a book discussion group.
• New Life has set up two educational sexual prevention sessions: one will be for children and one for adults. The Children’s recognition session is for ages 9-11 and is based on the program provided by the Diocese. The adult session/training is from the program offered by the National Church. A light lunch will be served on July 17, 2010

Brian gave a briefing on the Diocesan Council Meeting for May. This is known as the “who” leadership meeting (offices to be filled). Copies of the minutes were distributed to MAC members. Brian welcomed the Church of our Savior of Salem, Ohio as a MAC member. The letter from the Presiding Bishop was discussed (published in Church Life) and used as talking points to give us some understanding of where the National Church is coming from. A possible bus trip to Perrysburg is being explored to attend the Winter Convocation on 2/11 and 2/12/2010. The Presiding Bishop is scheduled to attend. We need to get a count of possible bus riders; the use of a bus will obviate the need for individuals to drive. Brian will get costs of a bus and email us the results. The diocesan ECW meeting was held at St Paul’s and it was very productive.

Stewardship

Brian asked for parish financial people to be made of aware of the Diocesan giving programs to the Church in wills, etc.

Lael Carter and Fr. Alan James were prepared to contribute to a list various sources of information and resources available for parish use.  Ms. Carter indicated she is available for discussion of Christian wills with specific church bequests.

• Annuities (minimum is $5,000)
• Endowment programs: a formal Diocesan power point presentation is available.

 Investments

 Fr. James discussed that current advisors are doing very well in comparison with benchmarks. Trustees of the Diocese take their responsibilities and Diocesan policies seriously. They avoid so called ‘sin’ companies such as liquor and cigarette manufacturers; BP (or Big Oil) may find itself under re-consideration. The Joint Investment fund is in reality a savings account.

Stewardship

Fr. James reported that the annual stewardship on “Diocesan Stewardship Network” will be held July 30 and 31 in Indianapolis. He will gladly recruit those interested in Stewardship.

Discussion:

(Fr. James based his presentation on excerpts from several websites.) Stewardship is primarily the setting of goals for further faith developments and is not about parish budgets or just garnering more money. A program should be designed to make people understand why they are committing their faith leading to increased pledges. A program should help develop increasing individual skill sets by becoming a better disciple than they were before. In today’s times the church must be ready and able to provide social services. We have to remember the Old Testament describes the Hebrew Temple as the source of social services of the times.

• Must see that parish individuals understand the need to make one’s self as (loving) serving other individuals in the community.
• Develop a discipline to the point that God/God field is instilled as a permanent fixture (position) and then move on and above.
• The modern pledge is 5% to the church and 5% to outside services or needs. The stewardship chairman should have a freedom to say you have the “freedom” to give more.
• Fr. James had much more to say on the stewardship topic that this writer could not record all his points.

Brian set the next meeting date for August 17, 2010 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s.

Fr. Kip led the group in a closing prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Joseph Rusznak