Ministry Council Summary of Actions(18-19 January 2008)

1. The Ministry Council met January 18-19, 2008, at St. Luke Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
2. Observed a season of prayer for the task before the Ministry Council, the entire Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the future Director of Ministries, and our current denominational staff members.
3. The Ministry Council urgently needs partnership in prayer and requests that the entire Cumberland Presbyterian Church pray with the Ministry Council for the person who may be sensing a call from God to serve as our Director of Ministries and for openness to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in encouraging potential applicants.
4. Discussed various ways to spread the news about our search for Director of Ministries applicants.
5. Reviewed actions of the Called Meeting of General Assembly as they pertain to the Ministry Council including our impending incorporation and reviewed the Plan of Merger document to be signed by each Programming Board as merger into the Ministry Council takes place.
6. Appointed the following ad hoc subcommittees: Salary, Budget, Advertising, Operations Manual, Programming, Purpose Statement, and Personnel. Reports were received on Salary, Advertising, Programming, and Purpose Statement.
7. Decided to change the term “Advisory Committee” to “Ministry Team.” The various Ministry Teams will be made up of elected members and staff members and will be charged with the responsibility of planning and implementation of their team’s ministry.
8. Adopted the following as the Ministry Council Purpose Statement:
   
   
   For the Glory of God, the Ministry council will:
   • Seek Christ’s vision
   • Support ministry development
   • Serve the Church
9. Agreed to notify the General Assembly Council that the Ministry Council is prepared to assume their duties effective February 1, 2008. Upon notification, the GAC can take official action to dissolve per the General Assembly’s instructions.
10. Designated our Executive Committee as the point of contact for all other entities of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church until the Director of Ministries is in place.
11. Reviewed a preliminary assignment of office space for the new center buildings and acknowledge the need for the entire Church to unite to support this effort in prayer and finances.
12. Discussed ways to ensure that Cumberland Presbyterian official documents are translated into the various languages of the Church.
13. Ministry Council representatives will be available to the 2008 presbyterial and synodic Spring meetings.
14. The new Ministry Council web page, including Director Ministry Job Description and Application Packet, is available for viewing at www.cumberland.org/ministrycouncil.
15. The meeting was adjourned to meet in Germantown, Tennessee, February 29-March 1, 2008.