Coordinating Council

Special Meeting April 11, 2008

First Congregational Church, Waterville

 

Present:  Anita White, David Gaewski, Judy Hubley, Susie Craig, Jane Lowell, Connie Insley, Jeanne Davis, John Glover, Herb Oliver, Franklin Anderson, Dan Johnson, Mark Schussler, Ron Beinema, Sue Stevens, Anne Roundy

 

Guests: Joe Turano, Allison Rimkunas

 

Not Present: Ted Ruark, Don Greene, Victor Stanley, Katie Pinard, Phil MacKean, Denise Goodman, Linda Smith, Susan Kaplan-Burgess

 

Anita White called the meeting to order at 10:07 am, and introduced our guests – Joe Turano, chair of the Outdoor Ministries Committee and Allie Rimkunas, member of the OMC and counselor and dean at Pilgrim Lodge.  Members of the Rockcraft Committee were also invited to attend the meeting, and we regret that they were unable to attend.

 

Dan Johnson read Ephesians 3:20-21 and Anita led us all in prayer.

 

As a member of the Town Meeting Committee, Dan Johnson led us through the Agenda for the day. 

 

Together, we read the Mission Statement of the Maine Conference of the United Church of Christ.   The current Mission Statement was formulated in 2004.  We discussed how this clarifies our purpose?  Some suggestions were -  gives us focus, defines who we are, helps others to understand who we are, is a reminder of our purpose, a measure to hold ourselves up to, guidelines of how to live – corporately and individually, a mortar to hold us all together.   In today’s meeting we will be formulating a vision statement – looking for succinct statement of who we are and what we do.

 

In considering the best use and stewardship of the assets of the Maine Conference, the Coordinating Council considered how the current assets are used to fulfill the mission statement of the Conference.   Next to each statement of the Conference Mission Statement, each member noted which Conference facility is needed to carry out that point in the mission statement.  We compared and discussed our opinions.  The results are attached.

 

We decided that the question of how decreased liability might free us for creative mission was best postponed to discussion under item 6 of the agenda.

 

In preparation for the meeting, each Council member was asked to spend some time imagining where the Maine Conference will be five years from now. We then brought our individual “visions” to the meeting, which were organized into several categories.  The categories are – Philosophy, Program, New Churches, Money Issues, and Facilities.  The organization of our visions is attached to these minutes.  At this point, the Coordinating Council came to a consensus that “whatever direction we decide to move, it will be “Green”.

Franklin Anderson reminded us of some history of the Maine Conference assets. 

Originally, the Maine Conference was renting camping facilities in order to have a summer camp for youth.   After renting for several years, the Conference decided to raise the money to purchase our own facility, and we purchased the property that is now Pilgrim Lodge. 

Originally, the Conference was renting office space in Portland.  When the lease was not renewed, Ruth Pennell donated the money to purchase the office space that is now the Pennell Center

Rockcraft was a gift from Dorothy Gane to the Maine Conference in the early 1960s.  Approximately 25 years ago the Conference debated whether to sell the property at Rockcraft.  After a ground swell of opposition, money was raised to maintain the property and hire a full time Associate Conference Minister to develop programs for Rockcraft.  At the end of the three year program, Rockcraft was still not self-sustaining and the staff position was discontinued. Since then Rockcraft has had a full time facilities manager, but not program staff. 

Whereas Pilgrim Lodge and Pennell Center were a mission looking for a place; Rockcraft was a place looking for a mission.

 

The meeting reviewed the statistical analysis of the Town Meetings comments prepared by Don Green, and the summary of comments prepared by Dan Johnson.   Both of these reports are attached to the minutes.

 

The Council was in consensus that we must have a representative from the Outdoor Ministries Committee and the Rockcraft committee present during future meetings around the Conference assets.

 

David G. reminded the meeting that the Conference churches expect direction from the Coordinating Council regarding the Conference assets.  David will provide a succinct summary of the 6 year history of this process so far, and any points of consensus that have been reached. 

 

The Coordinating Council will allow time at the Annual Meeting for people to discuss their  recommendations concerning the Conference assets and provide a sense of direction for the next six months.

 

Since there was not sufficient time to finish our discussions around the Conference assets, and finish the items on the agenda, we will continue this discussion during the afternoon session (1-3 pm) of the Coordinating Council meeting in May 9th in Hallowell.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 2:05 pm

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Suzanne Stevens

Executive Assistant (Acting Clerk)