Notes of EC meeting – October 10 through

MINUTES OF THE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

AND

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

OF THE

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

February 4-5, 2005

ACTIONS 04-E-01

Through 04-E-18

And

ACTIONS 04-C-01

Through 04-C-15

Call To Order The regular meetings of the Executive Committee and of the

Board of Directors of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches were convened on Friday, February 4, 2005 at 12:05 P.M. in the Comfort Suites at the Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin by the Chairman Rev. Alice Murphy.

Executive Committee voting members present were:

Butman, Mrs. Anne Kniefel, Mrs. Claudia

Hicks, Mr. Michael Murphy, the Rev. Alice

Van Tassell, the Rev. Wendy G. Clayton, Mr. Bonn

Clarke, the Rev. Joseph Godard, Mrs. Betty

Hotchkin, the Rev. Richard E. Butman, Mrs. Anne

Hood, Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones White, the Rev. Milton “Ed”

Absent: Gierke, the Rev. Dewey

Hall, Mrs. Hannah, Ex-Officio

Ex-Officio Executive Committee non-voting members were:

Glab, Mrs. Sherry, Secretary and Rev. Dick Adair, Moderator-Elect.

There were 12 voting members of the Board of Directors: present:

Hood, Rev. Dr. Lottie Jones Kniefel, Mrs. Claudia

Hicks, Mr. Michael Murphy, the Rev. Alice

Van Tassell, the Rev. Wendy G. Clayton, Mr. Bonn

Clarke, the Rev. Joseph Godard, Mrs. Betty

Hotchkin, the Rev. Richard E. Butman, Mrs. Anne

White, the Rev. Milton “E. “Ed” Adair, the Rev. Richard

Executive Committee Meeting 2 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Meeting

Absent: Gierke, the Rev. Dewey and Mrs. Hannah Hall, Moderator

Ex-Officio non-voting member present was Glab, Mrs. Sherry, Secretary.

Also present were: The Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Richard, Executive Secretary; the Rev. Dr. Lloyd M. Hall, Jr., Historian; Mrs. Vi Hammelman, Director of Development; and Mr. Jeff Dillon, Assistant Treasurer.

Lunch Prior to the Call to Order lunch was served for which Rev. Dick

Adair gave the blessing.

Call to Order At 12:45 Chairman Rev. Alice Murphy called the meeting

to order.

Introductions The Chairman, then asked that we go around the table for

self introductions.

1:00 P.M. Mr. Dan Drea arrived.

Devotions The devotions were given by Mrs. Anne Butman. She based her remarks on a passage from the book of Joel and reminded us that good leaders are visionary. Our visuals must include seeing the past and having visions for the future. She concluded with “God is here Now”.

05-E-01 VOTED: By consensus the agenda was approved as

05-C-01 printed, with minor changes. (Exhibit 1)

Announcements: Chairman Alice Murphy reminded us to get our expense reports turned in, announced the time for check out and that we would be going to Pilgrim Church for dinner.

05-E-02 VOTED: By general consent the minutes of October 4-5,

05-C-02 2004 were ratified as posted.

05-E-03 The minutes of the December 8, 2004 telephone conference

05-C-03 call were ratified as posted.

Executive Committee Minutes 3 February 4-5. 2004

Board of Directors Minutes

Rev. Olsen’s A report (Exhibit 2) from Rev. Dr. Donald Olsen, Associate

Report Executive Secretary, was presented and questions were asked for. Ed White asked if retired ministers could be used to help with the mediation process with member churches in conflict.

Mr. Drea’s Report Mr. Drea did not have a written report but gave the following oral report: Sue Grey left in mid-October and Annette Graf has been hired as his assistant. December financial reports are now done.

Rev. Sell’s The attached report (Exhibit 3) from Rev. Kathy Sell was presented.

Karen Frazzell’s Mrs. Karen Frazzell’s, Director of Youth Ministries, was considered (Exhibit 4).

Vi Hammelman’s Mrs. Vi Hammelman gave highlights of a trip she had taken

Report to California to visit Dr. Butman and other clergy in the area. She then handed out two reports “Congregational Foundation, Inc., Investment and Spending Policy”, dated October 6, 2003 (Exhibit 5) and an outline of the February 1-2, 2005 meeting of the Congregational Foundation (Exhibit 6).

Board of Governors Rev. Alice Murphy reported on the meeting of the Board of Governors with members of the Leadership Team, held just prior to this meeting. (Refer to Exhibit 6).

At 2:00 P.M. Mrs. Hammelman left the meeting.

Rev. Richard spoke to Exhibit 6 pointing out that the three sub-groups must agree on an approach to one (financial) appeal and an Estimate of Giving should be sent to churches prior to the budget planning. A lengthy discussion followed. Tom said he would put the complete reports on the work site and by June he will have a proposal covering these concerns.

Break At 2:15 P.M. the Chairman called a 15 minute break.

The meeting was reconvened at 2:33 P.M.

Executive Committee Minutes 4 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Christian Churches Reporting on Christian Churches Together Bonn Clayton asked

Together the question: “how do we get involved”? He is hoping for permission to have the National Association join this group renewable each year and he believes we should be Congregationalists leading the ecumenical movement. Bonn had asked Steven Peay if the Institute would go along with this idea. Lloyd Hall asked how can “we” (NACCC) participate? Tom Richard suggested our anniversary might be the time to discuss what we can do to become leaders of ecumenical organizations.

05-E-04 Bonn Clayton moved that we participate in Christian Churches Together with a vote and pay dues for one year only. Seconded

05-E-05 Bonn moved to amend his motion to add “Lloyd Hall and Bonn Clayton will attend”. Seconded

VOTED: Adopted

05-E-04 VOTED: Adopted as amended.

Moderator’s The attached written report (Exhibit 7) was accepted.

Report

Moderator-Elect’s Rev. Dick Adair spoke briefly to his written report ending with “we are off and running”. (Exhibit 8)

Host Committee A report from Andrew McHenry, Chairman of the 2005

Report Host Committee, was presented and discussed (Exhibit 9).

EC Sessions Rev. Richard suggested that we allow the Chairman and Vice

Annual Meeting Chairman of the Executive Committee to make the decision as to how the EC sessions would proceed. Joe Clarke asked if the Executive Secretaries could hold a seminar and Mike Hicks asked that they speak on “What can the NA do for you?” Sign ups will be decided on at the Executive Committee meeting Kansas City.

Executive Committee Minutes 5 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Faith Community Jeff Dillon advised us that the church he belongs to, Faith

Church Community Church, Milwaukee, is going forward in building

their meeting house and he asked if we would consider helping to fund this undertaking.

05-E-06 Joe Clarke moved that we authorize the Treasurer to open an

B&L Transfer account at Lincoln State Bank and deposit $150,000 from Building and Loan. Seconded

VOTED: Motion adopted.

GOF History Mr. Dan Drea explained the attached chart “NACCC GOF (General Operating Fund) History” (Exhibit 10).

Land Sale Joe Clarke presented a document entitled “Accounting For Sale of Land” January 2005 (Exhibit 11) It was noted that the gain of $203,759.62 would be placed in the investment portfolio.

3:45 Mr. Jim Walsh, Treasurer, arrived.

Treasurer’s Report Mr. Walsh presented his report (Exhibit 12) and then spoke to the budget for the Annual Meeting. He noted that last year registration of $150.00 was approved and later changed to $160.00. Allocated staff salaries charged to the Annual Meeting amount to $24,000. He suggested, based on 400 attendees, the registration be $175.00 with late registration at $195.00. We are hoping for a built in profit of $5,000.

05-E-07 Wendy Van Tassell moved that the registration fee for the 2005

Registration Fees Annual Meeting be set at $175.00 registration with a late registration charge of $199.00. Seconded

VOTED: Motion adopted.

Budget Dr. Richard spoke to the budget regarding the investment trust.

(Investment Trust) An inexpensive well done flyer to churches regarding the investment trust is to be prepared and the Associated Bank is to help with this. He went on to identify two items that have been in the works for over two years: Dean’s Chair and Missionary Chair each at between one million and one and a half million dollars. CCD is talking to four churches, about to dissolve, to give a portion of their assets to the NA for CCD and Building and Loan. Dr. Richard reported that whatever funds DFM raises will stay in the Christmas gift fund.

Executive Committee Minutes 6 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

05-E-08 Bonn Clayton moved that the following per diem allowance

Pre Meeting be approved for the pre-meeting:$11.00 breakfast, $15.00

Per diem lunch and $20.00 dinner. Seconded

VOTED: Motion adopted.

Communion The host committee has not yet decided where the offering

Service Offering taken at the communion service will go.

05-E-09 Bonn Clayton moved that we accept verification of the

05-C-03 National Association Financial Manager that we are in

Federal & State compliance with procedures for withholding, collecting and

Taxes remitting all Federal and State Taxes. Seconded

VOTED: Motion adopted.

05-E-10 Ed White moved that we engage Reilly, Penner and Benton,

05-C-04 LLP for annual audit (May 2005). Seconded

Audit VOTED: Motion adopted.

Housing Allowance The dollar amounts for the housing allowances for the

Executive Secretaries were not available.

05-C-05 Rev. White moved that no transfer be made from earnings

Endowment Funds to endowment principle of the three Morgan Park

Endowment Funds (CFTS, CCD and Hurting Churches).

Seconded

VOTED: Motion adopted.

05-E-11 Ed White moved that overdrafts of the line items in the

05-C-06 FY 2004-2005 Operating Budget are approved provided

Overdrafts that they do not exceed the total expense budgeted by ten percent (10%). Seconded

VOTED: Motion adopted.

Dinner Break At 4:45 P.M. the meeting was recessed for dinner held at the First Congregational Church, Milwaukee with Rev. Chris Brian, minister of the church, as our host.

Executive Committee Minutes 7 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Meeting The meeting was reconvened at the Comfort Suites at 7:30 P.M.

Reconvened All were present as previously noted except for Jeff Dillon, Dan Drea and Anne Butman.

Budget Rev. White spoke to the Budget Subcommittee Report

Subcommittee (Exhibit 13) and Rev. Dewey Gierke joined us via speaker phone for the remainder of the meeting. Ed asked for questions regarding this document. Our attention was drawn to the second page of this report regarding a professional fund raiser. It implied that this fund raiser and the Director of the Foundation be the same person for three years. Tom Richard informed us that the salary for a full time person, plus expenses, would be $100,000. Alice reported that the Board of Governors has not yet prepared a budget.

7:40 Jeff Dillon and Anne Butman rejoined the meeting.

Tom offered to have the office staff collate the following four reports from: the Budget Subcommittee, Foundation, Finance Committee and the Board of Governors. Alice stated we need to know figures for the budgets before going forward in finding a person to carry this out.

05-E-12 Rev. Ed White, on behalf of the committee, recommended we

05-C-07 accept the budget as presented.

Budget

05-E-13 Rev. Joe Clarke moved we postpone this action until the

05-C-08 following day. Seconded

Postponement VOTED: Motion adopted.

Historian’s Report Rev. Lloyd Hall reported he is writing the history of the 50 years of the National Association. He thinks it will be written by June, having it published by June is questionable.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

Executive Session At 8:17 P.M. an Executive Session was held.

Adjournment The Executive Session was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.

Executive Committee Minutes 8 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Saturday, February 5, 2005

Call to Order Rev. Alice Murphy reconvened the meeting at 8:35 A. M. All members of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors previously listed were present with the exception of Mr. Bonn Clayton.

Ex-officio non-voting member Sherry Glab, Secretary was present.

Also present were: Rev. Dr. Thomas Richard, Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. Don Olsen, Associate Executive Secretary, Rev. John Carson, Associate Executive Secretary, and Mr. Jim Walsh, Treasurer.

Devotions Rev. Richard Hotchkin gave the devotions. He read a passage from a writing of Oswald and Chambers regarding patience, opening with the words “Though it may tarry; wait for it”. He went on to say we must beware of spiritual relaxation.

05-E-14 Ms. Kniefel moved we bring back motions 05-E-12 and 05C-07.

05-C-09 Seconded

Budget VOTED: Adopted.

During discussion it was noted that the youth budgets are not yet prepared but we will assume they will break even. Development will be added later and will be shared with the Foundation.

05-E-12 VOTED: Adopted

05-C-07

8:53 Jeff Dillon joined the meeting.

Land Committee Rev. Joe Clarke presented a proposal to rent a portion of the NA property (Exhibit 14). This property consists of the cottage, workshop and barn behind the office. He reported the market value for renting is $800.00 to $1,000 per month and that the present custodian is interested in renting it at market value.

O5-C-10 Claudia Kniefel moved we seek to rent the property in question for market value. Seconded.

VOTED: Adopted.

Executive Committee Minutes 9 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Bylaws Ed White informed us that at the Annual Meeting this committee will move to cancel the amendments to the Articles of Association presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting.

New Hampshire Dr. Richard spoke to the New Hampshire Project and the

Project attached sample letters (Exhibits 15 and 16). He indicated other areas are interesting in using this approach and are waiting for results of this campaign.

9:10 A.M. Bonn Clayton arrived.

Wish List Tom Richard asked that we give empowerment to the Wish List Committee to revisit the request from the Church Services Commission to help fund expenses incurred by leaders of workshops at the Annual Meeting up to $10,000. (Exhibit 17). Note: The request did not specify an amount.

05-C-15 Mr. Bonn Clayton moved we refer this matter back to the Wish List Committee. Seconded.

VOTED: Adopted

Database for Youth Rev. Don Olsen reported the $5,500.00 for the youth database is being incorporated into the member database, which permits online registration. The question was raised as to whether it should be included in the budget. Jim Walsh is looking into whether it should be a capital expense.

05-E-16 Rev. Joe Clarke moved that we approve an amount of $5,500.00 to be used to update the computer system to include a database of NAPF and HOPE. Seconded.

VOTED: Adopted.

CCD Alice referred to the Action Report from the Congregational Church Development Division (Exhibit 18) for our information.

CFTS The attached report (Exhibit 19) of action items from the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies Division was discussed. Tom Richard questioned their Item 2 (Approval of Boston Seminar Instructors’ compensation). He stated that the Executive Committee needs to have a definition of the term “compensation” from all committees and divisions.

Executive Committee Minutes 10 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Missionary This will be included in John Carson’s report.

Society

Associate Rev. Carson presented his report with some additional

Executive Secretary comments. The Tsunami Relief fund has realized contributions totaling $45,000 and the Florida hurricane fund $15,000.

Membership & Dick Hotchkin spoke to the applications of two churches to

Procedures become members of the NACCC. Pilgrim Congregational Church, Worcester, Massachusetts founded in 1885 and a new church the First Congregational Church of Naples (Florida). (Exhibits 20 & 21)

05-E-17 The Membership & Procedures Subcommittee recommends membership of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, Worcester, Massachusetts and the First Congregational Church of Naples (Florida) pending approval of the assembly.

VOTED: Adopted

Nominations Mrs. Anne Butman presented the list of nominations and

& Appointments appointments:

Moderator-Elect

Mrs. Carol Cole, Congregational Church of the Messiah

Los Angeles, California

Secretary

Mrs. Susan Carter, Heritage Congregational Church

Madison, Wisconsin

Treasurer

Mr. Jeffrey Dillon, Faith Community Church

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Historian

Rev. Dr. Lloyd Hall, Plymouth Congregational Church

Lansing, Michigan

Executive Committee Minutes 11 February 4-5, 2005

Board of Directors Minutes

Credentials Committee

Mrs. Marjorie Weidlich, South Congregational Church

Hartford, Connecticut

Communication Services Committee

Rev.Franklin Pierson, Barnstead Parade Congregational Church

Barnstead, New Hampshire

Commission on Youth Ministries

Mr. Rev Mengle, Community Congregational Church

Franklin, Indiana

Rev. Adair questioned the Moderator-Elect not being from the area of the corresponding Annual Meeting. After a somewhat lengthy discussion it was decided that there might be a by-law change indicating the proximity of the Moderator-Elect and the next Annual Meeting. Tom Richard and Alice Murphy will talk to the committee regarding this.