COORDINATING COUNCIL
MAINE CONFERENCE, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
August 26, 2009, First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Waterville, Maine
Minutes

 

Present:

Anita White, Moderator                                 Franklin Anderson, York

Herb Oliver, Vice-Moderator                        Jeanne Davis, Commission for Witness Life

Walter (Ted) Ruark, Clerk                             David Gaewski, Conference Minister

Gerard Moore, Treasurer                               Susan Craig, Associate Conference Minister

Nita Dehais, Cumberland                               Susan Stevens, Conference Executive Assistant 

Susan Kaplan-Burgess, Franklin                    Connie Insley, Finance and Audit Committee

Jane Lowell, Kennebec Valley                       Mark Schussler, Business Manager

Don Isham, Oxford Union                              Bryan Breault, Pilgrim Lodge           

                       

Absent:

Aroostook representative                               Linda Kimball, Commission for Spiritual Life

Kelsea Trefethen, State Youth Council         Bernys Doak, Hancock-Waldo 

Ron Beinema, Board of Trustees                   Phillip McKean, Lincoln 

John Glover, Penobscot-Piscataquis              Susan DeCoster, Commission for Community Life

Don Green, Washington                                 Lori Whittemore, Commission for Witness Life 

Ann Roundy, Commission for Spiritual Life            Linda Smith, Commission for Community Life

Darren Morgan, Acting Associate                

    Conference Minister for Small Church Development

 

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

 

Minutes of the June 5 and August 14, 2009 meetings: On a motion by Herb Oliver, seconded by Jane Lowell, the Council voted to accept the minutes of the June 5 and August 14, 2009 meetings as printed.


Conference Ministers’ Remarks

  1. David indicated that he would share his experiences in Europe (“walking in the footsteps of Martin Luther”) at a later meeting.
  2. He expressed his thanks to staff and the Finance Committee for its work in developing the recommended 2010 budget. He especially noted the leadership provided by committee chair Connie Insley. He identified several factors that made the budget process more difficult this year:
    1. The global financial recession and the anxiety that has accompanied it.
    2. The recognition that many local churches and families have had to tighten their own spending over the past year.
    3. The implications of the facilities review that the Coordinating Council has taken over the past two years.
  3. The application of “depreciation charges” for the first time and the adjustments that have resulted from that decision.

 

Action of 2010 Budget as recommended by the Finance Committee:

Business Manager Mark Schussler distributed a handout and addressed the issues raised at the August 14, 2009 Coordinating Council meeting concerning the addition of “depreciation charges” to the recommended 2010 budget. His handout included a clarification of depreciation as a non-cash expense (with supporting comments from Art Marshall of the Finance Committee and a reference to the facilities study conducted by Scott Simon Architects), an explanation how depreciation charges are developed, and a revised description of the Pilgrim Lodge portion of the recommended budget. After considerable discussion, and on a motion by Herb Oliver, seconded by Susan Kaplan-Burgess, the Council accepted the 2010 budget as recommended by the Finance Committee for recommendation to the 2009 Annual Meeting. Two amendments to the motion were defeated. The first amendment, made by Franklin Anderson and seconded by Walter (Ted) Ruark, would have reduced the depreciation charges to Pilgrim Lodge (lines 186 and 187) from $23,728 to $12,400 (with an associated reduction in anticipated income of $11,328). The vote on that amendment was 4-5. The second amendment, made by Walter (Ted) Ruark and seconded by Franklin Anderson, would have increased the available capital improvement/allowance amount (line 182) from $7,000 to $12,400 and reduced the depreciation reserve from $13,228 to $7,828


Rockcraft: Mark Schussler reported that a real estate agency has listed the Rockcraft property and that there have been a number of prospective buyers. No firm offers have been received. He also indicated that a video of the Rockcraft property and buildings is being produced and will soon be accessible on the agency’s web site.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon.

 


Emailed to Sue Stevens on Monday, September 28, 2009