Ministry Council Summary of Actions (1-2 August 2008)
- The Ministry Council met August 1-2, 2008, at the Wingate in Cordova, Tennessee.
- Opened with a devotional and season of prayer led by Sam Romines.
- Elected officers for the 2008-2009 term: Gwen Roddye-Chairperson; Jill Carr-1st Vice Chairperson;
Wayne Wood-2nd Vice Chairperson; Elizabeth Horsley-Secretary.
- Welcomed new Ministry Council Members Karen Brinkley, Mandy Clark, and Carlton Harper and new
Advisory Member Jonathan Clark, General Assembly Moderator.
- Interviewed three finalists for the position of Director of Ministries and issued the call. The
announcement of the new Director of Ministries will be made soon.
- Acknowledged the hiring of new employees at the Center: Frank Ward, Executive Director of
Discipleship Ministry Team; Susan Groce, Coordinator of Ministry with Youth and Young Adults;
Robert Heflin, Executive Director of Board of Stewardship; Mark Duck, Coordinator of Benefits;
Jess Hipsher, Bookkeeper in Central Accounting; Elinor Brown moved to Discipleship from Board of
Stewardship.
- Heard a report on General Assembly from Representative Sam Romines. Reviewed the referrals from
General Assembly to the Ministry Council and assigned various committees to begin work on these
issues.
- Agreed proceed to merge the Board of Christian Education (Discipleship), the Commission on the
Ministry (Pastoral Development), the Cumberland Presbyterian Publication Board (Communications),
and the Board of Missions (Missions) into the Ministry Council as Ministry Teams in November if
all legal issues are resolved.
- Agreed to direct the current Boards to begin using the Ministry Team names upon occupation of the
new Center Buildings.
- Elected a standing Web Page sub-committee: Mandy Clark, Kyle Smallen, and Elizabeth Horsley.
- Heard an updated report on closing on the sale of the Union Avenue building to Chick-fil-A and on
the finishing touches left to complete the new Center buildings. In addition to Outstanding
Pledges, we need $391,021 more to pay off the property purchase and refitting of the buildings.
Plan to help encourage all churches to participate in fundraising even if they cannot meet the
$100 per member goal.
- Took a tour of the new buildings on Traditional Place in Cordova, Tennessee.
- Discussed the need for a new Salary Administration Committee and the need for a salary scale for
the Ministry Council.
- For the purposes of advance planning by the Office of the Stated Clerk, agreed to host the same
number of banquets at the 2012 General Assembly as traditionally hosted at General Assembly by
pre-merger boards.
- Established a committee to review the Personnel Policy Manual for Center Employees after the
Director of Ministries comes on board to include: State Clerk, Global Ministry Leadership Team,
Board of Stewardship Executive, and Historical Foundation Executive.
- Agreed to continue with the upgrade of the current computer systems using Thoroughbred Basic as
reported by Davis Gray.
- Agreed to return to the $.585 per mile travel reimbursement rate.
- The next meeting of the Ministry Council will be held in Cordova, Tennessee, November 13-15, 2008.