MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETING
OF THE
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONAL
Through 02-C-79
Call To
Order A
regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the National
Association of Congregational
order by the chairman
Rev. Dr. Roy Backus at
Leadership Team joined together for dinner in the
Fellowship Hall,
followed by a Worship Service in the
church sanctuary led by the
Rev. Patti Dando Haaheim. She used Psalms 16:5, scripture of the
cups, and Psalms 23. She shared “ The Story of
a Cup” relating it to
three cups she had brought an English
cup and a personal cup. She ended
it with the thought that “God has
brought us together here in this place”.
Members of the Board of Directors present Thursday evening, in
addition to the
chairman were:
Dando Haaheim, the Rev. Patricia Ellcey, the Rev. Gregory A.
Simons,
Michael Hicks Murphy, the Rev. Alice
Hood, the
Rev. Lottie Jones
White, the Rev. Milton “Ed”
Carter, Mrs. Susan Bentley, the
Rev. Donald L.
Bailey, the
Rev. Dr. Steven H. Ware
Absent: Clarke, the Rev. Joseph
and Eckert, Mrs. Ellen
Present at all sessions: Glab, Mrs. Sherry, Secretary.
Also present were: The Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Richard, Executive Secretary;
Mr. James H. Walsh, Treasurer, Mrs. Marina Rosenberg, Controller; the Rev. Dr.
Lloyd M. Hall, Jr., Historian; Mr. Joseph B. Polhemus, Editor THE CONGREGATIONALIST; the Rev. Arthur
P. Ritter, Chairman, Division of Ministry; and the Rev. Dr. Steven Peay,
Institute for Congregational Heritage Ad Hoc Committee.
Welcome/Remarks The Chairman, the Rev.Dr.
Roy Backus opened
with a welcome and remarked that he would be asking for a consensus whenever
possible. During discussions and
conversations if you have spoken let other speak before you speak again.
02-C-68 VOTED: By consensus the Agenda was approved with
necessary
Approve
Agenda changes. (Exhibit 1)
02-C-69 VOTED: Rev. Gierke moved the staff reports be
accepted as printed,
Staff
Reports Seconded and
adopted. (Exhibits 3,4,5,6)
Housekeeping Dr. Backus had received a letter of resignation
from Ellen Eckert
Item stating her reason
was health related and an upcoming surgery would
prevent her from attending this meeting. Dr. Backus telephoned
her and
told her she had been elected to this Board and after some
discussion she
indicated she would probably be able to be with us in
February and he encouraged her
to do so. Dr. Backus will write a
letter
to her wishing her well.
Evaluation of Dr. Richard reported there were 27 responses to the request 2002 2002 Annual evaluation of the 2002 Annual Meeting. Overall remarks were
Meeting favorable. Dr. Steven H. Ware Bailey
observed the unfavorable
comments
were mostly petty concerns, i.e. food,
communion, which
are not
very important. Dr. Richard pointed out
every comment
the
overhead screen were positive and we are going to capitilize
on
comments
on Page 3. Mr. Joe Polhemus remarked the power point
was a good idea
and Dr. Backus made the comment that he did not
care for the method used for communion. Tom assured us we would
use and
follow through with suggestions. He is
going to give the
divisions fair warning regarding expenses. (Exhibit 7)
Moderator’s Dr.
Steven H. Ware Bailey reported the Program Committee has
Remarks met once, and he has met twice, with the host committee in Milwaukee. The hotel is the Hilton and is very nice. The theme is “For Years to Come” taken from Psalm 90. Jack Brown and Steven Bailey have written words to the tune of “O God Our Help In Ages Past” as the theme song of the meeting. Speakers are: Keynote Speaker David Maitland of Carleton College; Bible Lecturer Peter Gomes, Harvard University and Banquet Speaker Martin Marty, University of Chicago. The Wisconsin Association will be in charge of the communion service. Worship services will be held Monday and Tuesday. Host committee has secured a German band for entertainment on Monday evening. There will be no bus trips but
Corporation Minutes 3 October 10-13, 2002
there will be an opportunity on Saturday and Monday afternoons to go to the National Association office. Dr. Bailey hopes attendance will
be good since we are meeting in the midwest. The youth will not be meeting in the same area. There will be general workshops as well as smaller ones with each one given twice. Small discussion groups are questionable. Executive Committee forum is yet to be discussed. Dr. Bailey’s goal is to involve the attendees as much as possible. Joe Polhemus asked for a series of articles regarding the meeting. Host committee is well organized and will provide local details.
Moderator-Elect’s Rev. Donald Bentley announced that the
hotel has been confirmed and
Report the contract signed for
the for the 2004 Annual Meeting to be
held in Providence, Rhode Island. There was a meeting of the Program
Committee following the meeting in
Spokane. The theme is to be: “So we
being many are one body in Christ and
individually members of one another” Romans 12:5. Betsey Mauro is to be the Keynote Speaker,
Karl Schimpf, the Congregational Lecturer and Jim Sanders the Bible Lecturer. Rev. Bentley wants to
involve the local churches emphasizing God’s presence. Instead of a closing banquet we will end with
the communion service in a historical church.
He hopes arrangements can be made for us to do some touring of the area.
Sub-committee of the planning committee will be meeting in Providence
on 11 November 2002. This committee
consists of Don Bentley, Lois Heilmann, Lynn Merkel and Art Ritter, plus Joanne
Simpson as director of HOPE. The Annual
Meeting will be at the Biltmore Hotel and the youth will be meeting somewhere
in the area. Sunday service may be
held in a church or churches.
Future
Planning Dr. Richard announced this
committee has met twice by phone in
addition to meeting with
several members in Spokane. They will be
meeting by phone two or three
more times as well as at the annual
meeting in Milwaukee. Those serving on the committee are: Bob
Carlson, Chairman; Bill
Ahrens, Betsey Mauro, Ken Arnold, Roy
Backus and Carol
DiBiasio-Snyder. Some of the
aforementioned will
be rotating off in June.
Executive Dr. Richard reported the office had made a
mass mailing to all of Secretary’s
the churches with samples of resource material and the yearbook. The Report resource materials are
from the back room of the Oak Creek office.
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October 10-13, 2002
The office is looking forward to the feedback from this mailing. Tom is
looking to the website to convey
much of the information to the
churches. Rev. Bentley asked if the office monitors the
number of
churches using the website. Dr.
Richard indicated we would ask Don
Olsen tomorrow.
Fraternal Norman Rust, instead of Bob Carlson,
attended the installation of Rev. Delegates Donald Mayberry in South Paris,
Maine. The delegates are scheduling
their visits three to four
months in advance and are asking for
invitations. Seven churches were
turned down because they asked too
late and they are trying to fill
the needs of those seven. Rev. Gierke
reported Rev. Arvel M. Steece was concerned other types of churches
may not be remembered. Dr. Richard reported we had a delegate
attend the Interfaith 9/11
conference in Chicago.
Staff Changes Dr.
Richard pointed out the changes of staff responsibilities as noted in his
report. Regarding the upgrade of Karen
Frazzell to Director of Youth Ministries, this has not been officially
announced as yet. Phil Jackson is still
a liaison to the Youth program.
Lloyd Hall suggested we display all of the material from the back room
of the N.A. office, used in the
aforementioned mass mailing, at the 2003 meeting in Milwaukee.
Don Bentley expressed a concern concerning the youth. He felt they should have an executive
secretary assigned to them and that having them report to other personnel may be sending a wrong message. Discussion followed.
Controller’s Marina Rosenberg stated her report
was on the web site and thanked the Report committee for the new accounting
program. She had hoped to have the
number of those participating in the Ministers’ and Missionaries’
Benefit Board of the American Baptist Church (MMBB) program but we know we are
well on our way. The majority of
churches will start the retirement plan on 1 January 2003 due to fiscal
years. She will have numbers for us at
our February meeting. She stated all
churches should pay their employees salary plus benefits, not just a lump
sum. A liaison from MMB Co., Rev.
Margaret Lewis, will be at our 2003 Annual Meeting.
Historian’s Dr.Lloyd
Hall had his written report on line. (Exhibit 8). He further
Report reported
that he had acquired boxes of paper from Wally Davis on the subject of historic
documents in Indian churches which will be archived plus material from Harry
Butman for which he needs to hire an intern.
E-mail with attachment will be sent to the Executive Committee first
which will be biographical sketches of former leaders and if it works will go
out to the full Leadership Team.
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October 10-13, 2002
Institute for Dr. Steven
Peay asked that he give his report since he would not be
Congregational
with us the next day. (Exhibit 9)
Heritage
Ad Dr. Richard expressed the need
to have people to carry on the message
Hoc
Committee of Congregationalism through
seminars and written works and few are
Report doing it today.
Meeting
recessed at 9:10 P.M.
Friday,
October 11, 2002
At 9:05 A.M.
the Leadership Team gathered in the Fellowship Hall in the Wayne Congregational
Church, after partaking of the church’s gracious hospitality once more.
Morning Rev.Rob
Joy, minister of the host church, was called on to give the morning
Devotion devotion.
The scripture was from Philippians “Rejoice in the Lord Always”
He shared “The Wellington Story” and stated we often don’t give
enough encouragement and optimism is
contagious. In our lives, as Christians
we will have Good Friday experiences and Easter experiences. “Focus on things” recognizing God is in the
world. Set the tone in the National
Association and out to the churches. God
is alive and breathing new life in
our Association.
Workshop Rev. Patti Dando Haaheim continued with
her workshop with group
sharing beginning with two scriptures on trust and
hope from Proverbs and
Jeremiah. She
referred to the N.A.’s Mission Statement and the
vision from
it – are we
faithful to the “Way”? Vision creates a
future. She spoke on
the benefits of dreaming and
hoping, seeing what God is doing. Patti
shared
a synopsis of the recent
meeting with the area Association moderators – a
new sense of mission,
individually and collectively our big dream.
She then
handed out cards for us each to
write a personal hope and dream for this
Association after which we each
shared with the group what we had
written.
Our meeting
resumed at 10:37 A.M. Joining us were
Rev. Neil Hunt, Rev. Ted Miller, Rev. Art Ritter, Rev. Don Olsen, Mr. Joe
Polhemus. Dr. Steven Peay was absent
throughout the remainder of the meetings.
Call to Order
Chairman Rev. Dr. Roy Backus called the meeting to order and asked Rev.
Art Ritter to give a prayer.
Editor’s Mr. Joe Polhemus reported The Congregationalist is doing well
financially Report and
the income from other sources is increasing.
Subscription letters are
ready for mailing. Next issue
will feature Contemporary Worship and Why
Piedmont College joined with the UCC.
Mr. Polhemus is confident in how things are going.
Congregational Rev. Neil Hunt reported they are
working with the formation of five new Church churches namely Fox River, Winchester, Virginia, Orange
County, Calif., Development Phoenix,
Arizona and Stuart, Florida. In addition
they are participating in
a revitalization of the
church in Farmington , Connecticut. The committee
hopes to create a model for
church development to pass on. Rev. Hunt
expressed his delight with
the new Foundations being formulated. He
would like to see us form a Foundation using
outside resources. Members
of the committee have
contacted Cargill & RSI (professional fund raisers).
Dr. Backus asked that Rev.
Hunt talk to Jim Hopkins. Mr.
Polhemus
Asked Rev. Hunt to prepare an
article on the church revitalization.
Div. For Rev. Art Ritter reported there was nothing
new since the meeting
Ministry Spokane. Rev.
William Rafuse is working on a Grief Ministry program.
Missionary Rev. Ted Miller reported this group will
meet in San Diego and go to the
Society Pan American Institute (Tijuana,
Mexico).
Rev. Don Olsen reported the
Horace McGee bequest is to help with school
personnel in Africa and Latin
America. The calendar the Society
had wanted to have printed has
had to be cancelled due to not enough
people interested in buying it,
however, they will look at the feasibility of it
again. Contributions from local
churches are down, however, there were
some surpluses put away last
year to draw from. They are considering
reducing the number of members on the
Missionary Society. Marina
informed us the draw down of
funds is the downfall, not the individual
giving.
Rev. Lottie Jones
Hood and Mrs. Sue Carter rejoined us at 1:00 P.M.
Roy asked us to think about
having a meeting with new members (of the
Executive Committee) following
the Annual Meeting to start the new year.
We will revisit this tomorrow
morning.
TRM
Todd Murphy, from Todd Robert Murphy Agency (TRM), joined us and
Presentation
Dr. Backus asked that we each one introduce ourselves. Mr. Murphy gave
his report (Exhibit
10). Questions followed. It was noted that it would take
$35,000 to $50,000 to
front the commercial expenses, $500.00 per market for
local
advertising. Churches could join in at
anytime.
Marketing Rev. Patricia Dando Haaheim, Chairman of
the Marketing Ad Hoc
Ad Hoc
Committee, reported they had held a meeting via a conference call. Dr.
Committee
Steven H. Ware Bailey, a member
of the committee, had prepare
a document describing
“The Congregational Way” which he presented
(Exhibit11). The other members of this committee are Rev.
Dewey Gierke,
Dr. Roy Backus, and Dr.
Tom Richard. Dr. Backus encouraged the
committee to have one or
two more submissions like the one
prepared by Dr.
Bailey.
Meeting
recessed for lunch at 12:20.
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October 10-13, 2002
The meeting
reconvened at 1:35 P.M. with a prayer by Rev. Neil Hunt. .
Tom Lootens,
Christine Fleischmann and Rev. John H. Miller joined us.
Communication Rev. Miller, Chairman of the Communication
Services gave his report
Services (Exhibit 12).
He concluded by stating the committee’s willingness to
help with the
Marketing Plan and asked that representation from this
committee serve on
the ad hoc Marketing Committee.
Church Mrs. Christine Fleischmann gave
her report (Exhibit 13). She further
Services stated they will be giving
workshops at the Annual Meeting on Music,
Youth and the
Rotation Concept.
Financial Mr. Thomas Lootens, Chairman of the
Financial Services Committee,
Services submitted the report for Financial
Services (Exhibit 14). In addition he
reported this
committee wants space in The
Congregationalist, they do not
want to merge with
CCD and they want a presence at the regional and
national meetings,
and be included in workshops and seminars.
In addition, they
want to have financial advisors available.
Treasurer’s Jim Walsh., Treasurer presented his
report (Exhibit 15). He noted $90,000
Report in CCD and $110,000 in the
Missionary Society were bequests. He reported
travel is the one line item
overspent in all divisions. A discussion
of the
NACCC meetings and undesignated
bequests ensued.
2:55 P.M. the
Youth Committee and Christine Fleishmann, Chairman of Church Services joined
us.
02-C-70 VOTED: Rev. Gregg
Ellcey moved that the two unrestricted bequests
Bequests received in the past six months, for
a total of $1,600.00, be allocated to the
General Operating
Budget. Seconded and adopted.
Youth Members of this Committee were
introduced: Mrs. Michelle Hunt Simino,
Subcommittee Chairman, Rev. Dan Vellinga, Rev. Joyce Acree, Mrs. Dee Hupp, Rene
Soderberg, and Chris Jones. Also Christine Fleischmann, chairman of the
Church Services
Commission.
Michelle Simino reported
they propose to become their own commission
once again. If they were, they feel they would better
communicate with the
local churches. They would hold their planning meetings at
the same time
as Church Services and they
plan to have representatives at the annual adult
Corporation Minutes
8
October 10-13, 2002
meetings as well as
P.F. and HOPE.
Christine Fleischmann reported the consensus of Church Services is that
they are not ready to have the Youth Committee split off. The Youth Commission is working on their
Mission Statement. Rev. Lloyd Hall asked
that this item be considered at the Annual Meeting. Rev. Tom Richard asked the Youth Commission
to consider the following: their intent to move away from Church Services,
budgetary considerations: Executive Committee overseeing another commission and
meetings to be held in separate locations.
Chairman Roy Backus asked Michelle and Christine to meet with Rev. Ed
White and Michael Hicks to talk over these issues and report back in
February. Michelle stated they were
trying to communicate at no extra cost.
2:50 P.M.
break and reconvend at 3:10. Joe Polhemus was absent and Tom Lootens joined
us.
Congregational Rev. Art Wallach reported on
the Congregational Foundation (ad hoc) Foundation committee.
The committee and Hal Frentz met September 20
and 21, 2002.
Ad Hoc They considered the proposal
approved at the Spokane meeting and
Committee feedback, including that of the Executive
Committee. They asked questions
and obtained feedback from the attorneys Davis and Kuelthau. They have received numerous epistles and
blessings from Rev. Dr. Harry Butman.
The one mission of this Foundation would be to further the
Congregational Way by financially helping the NACCC and be linked in spirit
with the NACCC. It would be its own
entity to protect the assets of the NACCC. The Board of Governors would consist
of seven people with the Executive Committee Chairman and the Moderator as
ex-officio members with vote. The Board of Governors would be ratified annually
at the Annual Meeting. An honorary
chairman was elected, Dr. Harry Butman, and he has accepted this position. Excerpts from a letter form Dr. Butman were
read. They need staff at the NACCC
office to help administrate. They may
need special groups, task forces, i.e. money raising. Appropriate office expenses would eventually
be paid back by the Foundation.
Executive Committee to determine needs and priorities. Board of Governors would raise funds,
possibly including grants, restricted and unrestricted, and endowments. Local churches would administer grants. Time line attached (Exhibit 16).
Art Wallach asked that Bet Goddard and Hal Frentz
be added to the Committee.
4:50 Don
Bentley left and Joe Polhemus returned.
02-C-71 Dewey Gierke moved we
bless this ad hoc committee and their work.
Seconded and adopted.
Corporation
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October 10-13, 2002
Persuant to Steve Peay’s report Dewey Gierke was asked to clarify rational of
Olivet and Piedmont students to attend any course in Congregationalism.
CFTS Phil
Jackson reported for CFTS in the absence of the chairman Beverly Douthett.
The CFTS Fall Seminar had the theme of “Spirituality and Spiritual
Experiences”. Fifteen students are in
the program, four will be graduating, two are interviewing. There is a possibility of five interviews in
June – all single and in their 20’s.
Layman’s training program will probably be redone and promoted in two to
three years. Boston seminar was a
success. History Polity Course was
offered at Boston and Piedmont, but Piedmont has ceased to offer it, we could
possibly create a correspondence course.
There is a shortage of 48 clergy (35 senior ministers). We need to recruit and encourage.
Dewey reported
Connecticut Association offered to pay a church $2,000 to start the new health
plan.
Viscinage councils for conflict
solving being considered.
Mr. Mike Hicks
gave a closing prayer.
Dismissed at
5:15 P.M.
Following
dinner at Rex’s Restaurant we gathered at 7:10 P.M. Patti
Dando Haaheim asked that
we form small groups and each were given one of the following topics: local
churches, history and Congregationalism, Finance (restructure of Congregational
Foundation) and youth growth. We were
asked to come up with goals to present the following morning.
7:55 Dismissed.
Saturday
We met at 9:00
A.M. with a devotion taken from 1st Peter 4:8. Patti asked each one to read our blessing
slips from the previous day, followed by a prayer. She then asked the groups to report on their
goals. Some of them were: Every church be represented at the Annual
Meeting. State Associations become
connected to the NA. NA workshops and
seminars be presented at state Associations.
Lay people visit other churches.
Every church have a contact person.
New way of thinking for Financial Services. Fair share giving. Get youth involved in church life. Survey by
geographic division to reap ideas from other churches. History and identity. Lift up congregational traditions seeking
God’s light in the world of today.
9:00 Meeting reconvened.
Corporation
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October 10-13, 2002
Mrs. Sue
Carter the NACCC Executive Car Proposal (Exhibit 15). The current practice needs to be made policy
and written into employees contracts.
Committee
recommendation was adopted.
Sue asked us
to pray for Tom Richard and the NA staff and support them.
Dewey Gierke
asked that the Personnel Committee apprise us of the leaving of Phil Jackson
and asked if there will there be changes.
Sue reported that our responsibility is to Tom and he makes the
decisions for the office. Lloyd advised
us the Executive Secretary’s position is stated in the by-laws as part of the
Executive Committee’s duties. Tom is
contemplating further shifts in the office.
Executive Committee will be included in hiring and job description. P and A to design the policy. Tom asked not to give him the responsibility
or the authority.
NEW BUSINESS
Don Olsen
reported on the changes of technology and what he has done in regard to
information services. We now use e-mail
to communicate with the Executive Committee and churches. He explained the upgrades he is making in webstreaming and presented a proposal. He reported how this would be used in communicating
candidate for ministarial positions, video interviews
and sermons. Possibilities of distance
learning. Website hosting which would
permit meetings on line. A discussion
followed, including the costs involved.
Dr. Lottie Jones Hood suggested we have a computer workshop at the
Annual Meeting. Roy asked if technical
work should be done by an Assistant Secretary and Tom responded that they are
working on this with outside help. Don
stated that in order for us to grow and enable the office to work more
efficiently, we need to have the money to move forward. A T1 line, programming and at least one
server will save the office time and better serve the churches.
02-C-72 Dewey Gierke moved we support Dr.
Olsen’s plan to expand our informational services and direct the office and
budget committee to bring recommendations to us in February. Seconded and adopted.
Rev. Alice
Murphy led us in prayer.
Break at 10:40
10:57 Meeting reconvened.
Membership Rev. Patti Dando Haaheim,
Chairman of Membership and Procedures
&
Procedures presented three churches namely Southern Ocean
Christian Community,
Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, Campton Congregational Church, Campton,
New Hampshire and First Church of Squantum, Los
Angles, California. (Exhibit 16) who are
seeking membership.
The committee recommends they be approved at the Annual Meeting.
02-C-73 Adopted by acclimation.
Rev. Dando Haaheim has assigned a sponsor to each of these, from local
CorporationMinutes 11 October
10-13, 2002
Churches, to work with them until the Annual Meeting. Dr. Lloyd Hall
brought up a concern with the words “in fellowship”. “In Fellowship” means
“ a relationship with local Association or local churches”.
Phil Jackson
joined us.
Misconduct Proposal on Misconduct Policy
(Website). Phil Jackson stated that no
one Proposal (HOPE or Pilgrim
Fellowship) has the right to take on this type of problem.
02-C-74 Mike Hicks moved we accept
these conditions. Seconded and adopted.
Proposed A proposal changing the days of the Annual
Meeting(Exhibit 19) was Annual discussed. Saturday night stay is still a break with
most airlines. There is Meeting need for ministers to be in their churches on
Sunday. Discussion ensued with Days no conclusion. Roy asked Rev. Ed White, Rev. Don Bentley and Dr. Tom
Richard to discuss
this and forTom
to bring back a report in February.
Request Dr. Richard asked us to consider
limited solicitations for CFTS in the names
Limited of Carolyn and Irwin Britton.
Solicitation
02-C-75 Rev. Alice Murphy moved
we grant limited solicitation to friends of the
Brittons. Seconded and adopted.
Founders A proposal to change the Founder’s
Library guidelines was discussed since
Library The Rev. Dr. Arvel M. Steece has offered his
collection of books to the
Policy Founder’s Library. Lloyd Hall stated that the books in this
library consists
of themes of Congregationalism or by Congregational members. Dr. Steece’s
collection does not meet this requirement.
02-C-76 Rev. Dewey Gierke moved to accept
this collection (Dr. Steece’s). Seconded and adopted.
Proposal Dr.
Richard stated they have consulted with two real estate people regarding Oak
Creek the proposal to subdivide
the Oak Creek property (Exhibit 20
). The deed to Property the property needs to be looked at as to
how to possibly subdivide. We could
sell or rent. We are considering
selling the property to the north (wooded area) house, barn and workshop. The front piece is worth the most.
02-C-77 Rev. Dewey Gierke moved
that we accept the proposal for appraisal and
survey. Seconded and adopted.
Annual A proposed change in the awarding of citations from the Executive
Meeting Committee was discussed (Exhibit
19). The Historian would submit the
Citations names.
02-C-78 Rev. Gregory Ellcey
moved we accept the recommendation as proposed.
Seconded.
Corporation Minutes 12
October 10-13, 2002
Mr. Blaine Simons moved to amend the motion to add the words “and
placed in handbook”. Seconded and
adopted.
The motion was adopted as amended.
Annual Rev. Ed White brought up the point
that the Presbyterians have their
Meeting Annual Meetings every two years. He asked us to consider how much money
Hoc it would save us in Annual
Meeting expenses. Roy asked Dr. Lloyd Hall,
Rev. Committee Dewey Gierke, Mrs. Susan
Carter and Dr. Tom Richard, along with the
Budget Committee