COORDINATING COUNCIL
MAINE CONFERENCE, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
March 19, 2010

First Congregational Church United Church of Christ

Waterville, Maine

 

Minutes

Present:

Anita White, Moderator                     Don Green, Washington

Herb Oliver, Vice-Moderator                        Franklin Anderson, York

Walter (Ted) Ruark, Clerk                 Susan DeCoster, Commission for Community Life

Gerard Moore, Treasurer                   Betty Ann Haskell, Commission for Community Life

Ron Beinema, Board of Trustees       Steve Hastings, Commission for Witness Life

Nita Dehais, Cumberland                   Linda Kimball, Commission for Spiritual Life           

Susan Kaplan-Burgess, Franklin        David Gaewski, Conference Minister           

Bernys Doak, Hancock-Waldo           Darren Morgan, Associate Conference Minister           

Jane Lowell, Kennebec Valley                                   for Small Church Development           

Ann Roundy, Mid-Coast                    Susan Craig, Associate Conference Minister

Dan Johnson, Oxford Union               Mark Schussler, Business Manager

John Glover, Penobscot-Piscataquis  Susan Stevens, Conference Executive Assistant 

                                   

Absent:

Aroostook representative                               Jaimee Batchelder, State Youth Council

Connie Insley, Finance Committee                ___________, Commission for Spiritual Life

___________, Commission for Witness Life

 

Guests: Lori Whittemore, Diane Bennekamper, Bill Walsh

                                   

Call to Order: Anita White called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and Dan Johnson opened with a prayer.

 

Disaster Response Plan: Lori Whittemore reviewed the history of the development of the proposed Disaster Response Plan, explaining that the Disaster Response Team had drafted the plan,.with financial assistance from a national office grant to the Conference. Discussion following her presentation included questions about the name of the team’s advisory committee and the lack of a Conference budget for its activities for 2010. Lori indicated that the National Disaster Response Office would be undergoing a restructuring this summer. On a motion by Don Green, seconded by Susan Kaplan-Burgess, the committee voted to endorse the Disaster Response Plan as amended and that the Disaster Response Team would be under the auspices of the Commission for Witness Life.

 

Unified Governance: Diane Bennekamper presented a report from the Unified Governance Working Group of the United Church of Christ. She reviewed the history of the Unified Governance Proposal that had been presented at the General Synod in 2009. Her goal for the day was to solicit feedback on the Core Concepts and Principles adopted by the Working Group. Discussion centered on questions about representation of historically under-represented groups on the proposed Unified Church Board and at the General Synod. David Gaewski expressed concern about the potential loss of representation from the Maine Conference (because of the consolidation of the Covenanted Ministries’ boards) and the possible concentration of power in staff positions on the Executive and Finance Committees. It was suggested that the selection of the “other United Church Board members” be from as many different conferences as possible. Diane encouraged Council members to forward any additional comments to her following the meeting. Her email address is dbennek@sus-com.net.

 

Minutes of the January 29, 2010 meeting: On a motion by Herb Oliver, seconded by Susan DeCoster, the minutes of the January 29, 2010 meeting were accept as printed.

 

Treasurer's Report: Gerald Moore highlighted the following from his written report:

1.     Income in January and February was up from 2009, due primarily because the Cumberland Association made its payment earlier than last year. 

2.     Receipts from Pilgrim Lodge registration are higher than 2009 for these two months.

On a motion by Walter (Ted) Ruark, seconded by Susan Kaplan-Burgess, the Treasurer's report was accepted as printed.

 

Business Manager’s Report: Mark reported that he is currently working on the audit and the 2011 budget preparation.

On a motion by Steve Hastings, seconded by Susan DeCoster, the council accepted the Business Manager’s report.

 

Conference Ministers’ Report:

David Gaewski: David reported the following:

  1. Search and Call: David commented on the large number of churches requiring assistance.
  2. Rockcraft Retreat Center: He reported on the progress made on the sale of Rockcraft

Susan Craig: Susan highlighted the following from her written report:

  1. She and Darren Morgan had accompanied 13 new ministers from Maine on a recent visit to the United Church of Christ offices in Cleveland.
  2. Her youth ministry activities: the New England Youth Event (scheduled for June 24 – 27 in Boston), the Middle School Ministry Network Rally Day (planned for May 2 in Waterville), and the Midwinter Retreat of the State Youth Council (held in Belfast in February). She also mentioned youth activities planned for next summer and fall.
  3. Her search and call work with local churches.

Darren Morgan: Darren highlighted the Conference, preaching, and search and call activities from his written report:

 

Continuing Business:

  1. Bylaw Revision Committee: Walter (Ted) Ruark reviewed the recommendations of the Bylaw Revision Committee. There was considerable discussion concerning the issue of liability insurance coverage for association officers and church and ministry committee members under the Conference liability policy. On a motion by Sue DeCoster, seconded by Linda Kimball, the Council voted to recommend the bylaw revisions to the Conference at the 2010 Annual Meeting without the Indemnification article (leaving the article title for future language). The Council asked David Gaewski to further research the limitations placed on the Conference by policy and Maine state law and report back to the Council at a future meeting.

Gardiner Church: David reported that the Gardiner Church has voted to give its property and liquid assets to the Maine Conference. The disposition of the Bradford White Trust has yet to be resolved.  With a recommendation of the Next Generation Committee, and on a motion by Linda Kimball, seconded by Ron Bienema, the Council voted to use some of the funds from the Gardiner church to hire Scott Simon Architects to assess the Gardiner church building for a possible location of the Conference office and retreat center.

  1. 2010 Annual Meeting: Herb Oliver reviewed the draft of the 2010 Annual Meeting agenda developed by the Planning Committee. The theme will be “Reframing Church – Visions and Dreams.” The keynote speaker will be emerging churches author Carol Howard Merritt. She will also lead the pre-meeting retreat. It was also noted that the registration fee will be $50 for the pre-meeting retreat and $55 for the Annual (an increase of $5 over 2009). On a motion by Susan DeCoster, seconded by Susan Kaplan-Burgess,the Council voted to approve Moderator Anita White’s selection of Sally Colgrove as the parliamentarian for the Annual Meeting.  
  2. Pilgrim Lodge Task Force Report: Anne Roundy reported that the subcommittee had met with Bryan Breault to hear his concerns and hopes for Pilgrim Lodge. The ensuing discussion included the following issues:
    1. The “jumper” system and its success in promoting Pilgrim Lodge in every church in the Conference (as evidenced by increases in pre-registration);
    2. The need for a review of the Pilgrim Lodge user policy;
    3. An oversight board for Pilgrim Lodge (perhaps that could be the Task Force).

4.     Finance Committee: David reported that the committee had discussed possible adjustments to the 2010 budget. These will be discussed in detail at the next Council meeting.

5.     Coordinating Council Retreat: Herb Oliver, who will succeed Anita White as Moderator after the June Annual Meeting and is responsible for planning the Council retreat, indicated that the retreat would probably be held in conjunction with the September Council meeting and would likely center on the organizational structure of the Conference.

 

Reports from the State Youth Council, Associations, Others:

1.     Activities were reported from the Cumberland, Franklin, Penobscot-Piscataquis, Oxford Union, Washington, Hancock-Waldo, Kennebec Valley, Midcoast, and York associations.

  1. Steve Hastings, chair of the Commission for Witness Life, and Sue DeCoster, chair of the Commission for Community Life, and Linda Kimball, chair of the Commission for Spiritual Life, reported on commission activities.
  2. On a motion by Anne Roundy, seconded by Dan Johnson, the Council accepted the recommendation of the Commission for Witness Life to appoint Bill Walsh to the commission to complete a term that will expire in 2011.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.