Ministry Council Summary of Actions (23-24 January 2009)

  1. The Ministry Council met January 23-24, 2009, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Headquarters in Cordova, Tennessee.
  2. Opened with a devotional and Constituting Prayer led by Wayne Wood.
  3. Eighteen of the twenty-two Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Mandy Clark, Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Richard Hughes, Hillman Moore, Rickey Page, Gwen Roddye, Sam Romines, Ellie Scrudder, Roy Shanks, Wayne Wood. (Excused: Iwao Satoh, Leo Whinery); Youth Advisory Members: Billy Black, Corey Faulkner (Excused: Kyle Smallen); Advisory Members: Robert Rush, Frank Ward (Excused: Jonathan Clark); Director of Ministries: Edith Gholson and Administrative Assistant Abbay Robinson.
  4. Final documents related to the mergers were signed, to be filed within the next few days, making the mergers officially complete.
  5. Heard a report from Edith M. Gholson, Director of Ministries, on the Ministry Council Staff Retreat held the second week in January.
  6. Received financial updates from Robert Heflin, Executive Director, Board of Stewardship, and learned that OUO receipts for 2009 totaled at least $2.6 million. Agreed to invite Robert Heflin to be on our agenda at every meeting with the request that he send updated financials to the Ministry Council in advance.
  7. Announced that a “Business Center” will be set up in a room at the Center to be used by visitors who need to use a computer and printer and access the internet.
  8. Introduced Abbay Robinson Milner, new Administrative Assistant to the Director of Ministries.
  9. Heard presentations from the Executives of the Institutions summarizing their programs and recent achievements: Robert Prosser, President, Bethel College and Walter Butler; Kevin Henson, Executive Director, Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home; Robert Heflin, Executive Director, Board of Stewardship; Susan Knight Gore, Executive and Archivist, Historical Foundation; and Jay Earheart-Brown, President, Memphis Theological Seminary.
  10. The Executives of the Institutions met with the Ministry Council Executive Committee to develop a procedure for making recommendations of OUO Allocations to General Assembly. The Council and the Executives agreed to recommend to General Assembly the formation of a new permanent Our United Outreach Committee that reports to General Assembly.
  11. Heard a report from the CIT (Center Inter-Agency Team) regarding Information Technology and agreed to recommend that the CIT hire an outside vendor to take care of the technology needs at the Center instead of a paying a full-time in-house IT person a salary plus benefits.
  12. Received a list of translations available as compiled by Gwen Roddye. Eventually this list will be on the website.
  13. Elected Gwen Roddye as Ministry Council Representative to General Assembly and Rickey Page as Alternate. Gwen Roddye will introduce Director of Ministries Edith M. Gholson to the General Assembly.
  14. Agreed to adopt a formula for the adjusted 2009 and 2010 OUO Apportionment and empower the Director of Ministries to carry forth with the Council’s intent.
  15. The Ministry Council will plan two meals for General Assembly in Memphis: a Monday Luncheon and Wednesday Dinner.
  16. Heard report from Robert Rush that by the end of February we should receive a ruling from the State Board of Equalization removing all three lots on Traditional Place from the property tax rolls.
  17. Discussed cost cutting strategies for meetings of the Ministry Council.
  18. Edith Gholson will represent the Ministry Council at the February 27 meeting of the Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns to hear their concerns and report back to the Council.
  19. The next meeting of the Ministry Council will be held at the Center, April 24-25, 2009.