COORDINATING COUNCIL

MAINE CONFERENCE, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

September 26 - 27, 2008, China Lake Conference Center, China

 

Friday, September 26, 2008

    The Coordinating Council gathered at the China Lake Conference Center for its annual retreat on Friday, September 26, 2008. After enjoying a social hour and dinner, the Council met with Rev. Dr. Kent Ulery, the new President of Bangor Theological Seminary. Dr. Ulery reviewed his background as a parish and conference minister before coming to Bangor. He also discussed some of the expected changes at the seminary over the next several years, emphasizing anticipated faculty retirements and the need for upgrading the school’s technology. He described his efforts to have a single, well-identified building on the Husson campus and to work cooperatively with that institution to develop a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling degree. Reinstitution of the “Bangor Plan” was also being considered by the school’s administration and board of trustees. He indicated that the seminary is currently conducting the self-study portion of the accreditation process, with the visiting committee expected during the next school year. In answer to a question, Dr. Ulery acknowledged that the seminary had been removed from the list of approved seminaries of the Methodist church, presumably to encourage future Methodist ministers to attend seminaries supported and run by that denomination. He ended his discussion with an appeal for financial support of the seminary.

    Anita White then led the council in a group building exercise in which small groups met and discussed the following three questions:

1.     Why did you agree to do this work?

2.     What do you hope you can give to this work?

3.     What do you hope to gain from this work?

 

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Minutes

 

Present:

            Anita White, Moderator                                 Anne Roundy, Commission for Spiritual Life 

Herb Oliver, Vice-Moderator                                    Linda Kimball, Commission for Spiritual Life

Walter (Ted) Ruark, Clerk                             Earle Simpson, Commission for Community Life

Gerard Moore, Treasurer                               Linda Smith, Commission for Community Life

            Victor Stanley, Hancock-Waldo                    Connie Insley, Commission for Witness Life

            Jane Lowell, Kennebec Valley                       Jeanne Davis, Commission for Witness Life    

Don Isham, Oxford Union                              Tom Clough, Sabbatical Conference Minister

            John Glover, Penobscot-Piscataquis              Susan Craig, Associate Conference Minister

            Don Green, Washington                                 Darren Morgan, Acting Associate Minister for

            Franklin Anderson, York                               Small Church Development

            Mark Schussler, Business Manager               Susan Stevens, Conference Executive Assistant

Absent:

            Katie Pinard, State Youth Council                 Aroostook representative

            Susan Kaplan-Burgess, Franklin                    Cumberland representative

            Phillip McKean, Lincoln                                Ron Beinema, Board of Trustees                  

            David Gaewski, Conference Minister (sabbatical)

Guests

            Rev. Dr. Kent Ulery, President of Bangor Theological Seminary (Friday, September 26, 2008)

Text Box: (via conference call: 11:00 a.m. – noon, September 27, 2008):            

Bryan Breault, Director of Outdoor Ministries

John George, Manager, Rockcraft Retreat Center

 

Call to Order: Anita White called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

Don Isham discussed his perceptions of the visit to Rockcraft Retreat Center and his review of the various engineering and architectural documents provided over the past several years in the context of the Conference Mission Statement. He asked council members to keep his comments in mind as they thought about and discussed the facilities issues.

 

Minutes of the June 20, 2008 meeting: On a motion by Herb Oliver, seconded by Anne Roundy, the council voted to accept the minutes of the August 1, 2008 meeting as printed.

 

Treasurer’s Report: Gerard Moore highlighted the following from his written report:

  1. Income to date is slightly ahead of last year although Our Church’s Wider Mission receipts are only 42% of the budgeted level.
  2. Accounts receivable continues to be a major financial issue.
  3. Income from Rockcraft should be higher than recorded by almost 7% if the 2007 transfer of $15,000 is factored in. However, the operation of the retreat center will likely result in a deficit for the year.
  4. The current surplus in the Pilgrim Lodge account will almost assuredly be offset by fall and winter expenses for which there is little or no additional income.

On a motion by Walter (Ted) Ruark, seconded by Linda Kimball, the council voted to accept the Treasurer’s report as printed.

 

Business Manager’s Report: Mark Schussler highlighted the following from his written report:

  1. He reviewed the “immediate to near term facility project needs” list for Rockcraft outlined in his report, adding that the roofing issues are the most pressing need. Mark also expressed his concern regarding the potential financial impact should the Fire Marshal’s Office require that a sprinkler system be installed in the main lodge.
  2. He indicated that current financial market conditions are affecting the Consolidated Trust Fund’s earnings, but that the fund has limited exposure to the sources of this week’s economic crisis. While acknowledging that the portfolio has experienced an almost 20% decline, that decline would only be significant if stocks were to be sold, which is not anticipated.

On a motion by Linda Smith, seconded by Anne Roundy, the council voted to accept the Business Manager’s report as printed.

 

Conference Ministers’ Reports

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

  1. Susan and husband Brad coordinated the annual trip to H.O.M.E. in Orland for youth from Connecticut and hopes to establish a similar experience for Maine youth in the future.
  2. She represented the Maine Conference at the 175th anniversary of Hammond Street Congregational Church in Bangor and at a meeting of the Academy for Church Life and Leadership.
  3. She continues to work with search committees and church and ministry committees.
  4. She provided boundary training for the York and Cumberland associations and member in discernment training for Penobscot-Piscataquis Association.

Tom Clough reported the following:

  1. He has attended and participated in a number of association committee meetings, consulted with several pastors and church leaders, and counseled various search committees regarding their progress.
  2. He indicated that he has enjoyed his time as Sabbatical Conference Minister and reminded the council that he will be leaving in another three weeks.

 

Darren Morgan highlighted the following from his written report:

  1. He has met with the executive and church and ministry committees in several different associations as well as a number of search committees.
  2. He attended the Bangor Theological Seminary Convocation and Search and Call Training.
  3. He provided consultations and advice to a number of pastors and church leaders.
  4. He reported that the Department of Agriculture had withdrawn the cell tower grant through which church steeples would have been a potential site for cell phone transmitters.

 

Continuing Business:

  1. Replacement for Gini King on National Executive Council: Gini King (Machais) has submitted her resignation as the Maine Conference representative to the National Executive Board and recommended Cynthia Huggins as her replacement. Cindy is the President of the University of Maine at Machais and a member of the Machais church. After considerable discussion, the council decided to entertain additional suggestions. Marcia Charles was identified as a possible candidate. This item will be included on the agenda of the next council meeting.
  2. New appointment to the Commission for Spiritual Life: On a motion by Herb, seconded by John Glover, the council voted to appoint Rev. Karen Janos to the Commission for Spiritual Life.
  3. Anita White read a thank you card from Bill and Judy Imes.
  4. Date change for November Council meeting: The date of the November Coordinating Council meeting was changed from November 14th to the 21st, with the meeting to be held at the Winslow Congregational Church.
  5. Finance Committee: On a motion by Anne Roundy, seconded by Connie Insley, the council voted to appoint Art Marshall (Bethel) to the Finance Committee.

 

Facilities Conversations:

    John George, Manager of the Rockcraft Retreat Center, and Bryan Breault, Director of Outdoor Ministries joined the council, via conference call, for its discussion of the various conference facilities (Pennell Center, Rockcraft, and Pilgrim Lodge). Anita reviewed council action to date and thanked the council members that had been able to visit the facilities since the August 1st meeting.

    Mark indicated that the owner of land adjacent to Rockcraft is interested in purchasing a small parcel of land (which would include approximately 180 feet of shoreline) to “square off his lot.” The potential positive and negative aspects of such a sale were discussed at length. On a motion by Don Green, seconded by Jane Lowell, the council voted to request more information regarding the possible sale of a small parcel of land at Rockcraft to an abutting owner.

    It was recognized that, while repairs and maintenance was needed at all the properties, there are not sufficient funds in the budget to accomplish them, especially the much needed roof repairs on the main lodge at Rockcraft. On a motion by Franklin Anderson, seconded by Victor Stanley, the council voted to take up to $10,000 from remaining Capital Campaign funds for emergency roof repairs.

    In the course of the discussion, Bryan Breault identified the three most pressing facilities needs at Pilgrim Lodge. After considerable discussion and recognizing again that funds have not been budgeted for these projects, on a motion by Earle Simpson, seconded by Her Oliver, the council voted to authorize a subcommittee consisting of Don Isham, Bryan Breault and other interested individuals to meet to generate a design and cost estimate for the replacement of the boardwalk at Pilgrim Lodge.

    A Portland architectural firm has submitted a $7,500 proposal to gather cost information through a design feasibility study for the three Conference facilities. After brief discussion of the proposal and possible funding sources, on a motion by Walter (Ted) Ruark, seconded by Linda Smith, the council voted to authorize an appeal to fund the design feasibility study described in the proposal from Scott Simons Architectural firm. On a motion by Victor Stanley, seconded by Connie Insley, the council voted to establish a subcommittee to work with the architectural firm and report back to the council on the design feasibility study. Herb Oliver agreed to chair the subcommittee, which will also include Don Green, Don Isham, Walter (Ted) Ruark and Mark Schussler. They will consult with John George and Bryan Breault as needed

 

2010 Annual Meeting – date and location: Council members discussed the advantages and disadvantages of a spring and fall annual meeting including costs, settings, and potential conflicts with existing functions (such as Pilgrim Lodge training and budget preparation). A motion by Earle Simpson, seconded by Victor Stanley, to schedule the 2010 Annual Meeting in the spring was defeated by a vote of 6 to 7 with 2 abstentions. A motion by Walter (Ted) Ruark to schedule the 2010 Annual Meeting in the fall failed for lack of a second. After further discussion, on a motion by Herb Oliver, seconded by Don Isham, the council voted to table action on setting a date for the 2010 Annual Meeting until the November 21, 2008 Coordinating Council meeting.

 

New Business – Conference staff have expressed its concern about the inadequacies of the telephone system at the Conference office in Yarmouth. After a brief discussion, on a motion by Anne Roundy, seconded by Walter (Ted) Ruark, the council voted to ask staff to report back on the telephone system. Mark and Sue Stevens will request proposals from different companies for specifications and prices of a new system. Recognizing that the budget does not include funds for this expense, several council members offered to contribute to the purchase of a new telephone system. Any other members willing to contribute may contact Mark.

 

Reports

  1. Lincoln Association: Bob Edgarton’s ordination is scheduled for October 19th.
  2. Hancock-Waldo Association: The fall meeting will be held on October 26th.
  3. Kennebec Valley Association: The fall meeting will be held on November 16th in Madison and will include the installation of Rev. Susan Tierney as pastor.
  4. Oxford Union: Rev. Michael Ring will be installed as the pastor of the Poland church on October 19th.
  5. Penobscot-Piscataquis: The association’s annual meeting will be held at the Dover-Foxcroft church on October 26th.
  6. York Association: The annual meeting will be held on October 26th in North Berwick. At a recent meeting, the executive committee expressed its desire to pursue a new church start in the area.
  7. Commission for Witness Life: Jeanne Davis distributed information concerning the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
  8. Academy for Church Life and Leadership: Sue Stevens reported on the first meeting (September 13th) of Academy students, noting the diverse nature of the students and their enthusiasm.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.

 

Emailed to Anita White and Sue Stevens on Sunday, September 28, 2008