Ministry Council Summary of Actions (24-25 April 2009)

1. The Ministry Council met April 24-25, 2009, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Headquarters in Cordova, Tennessee.
2. Opened each day with devotionals and prayer led by Frank Ward and Jonathan Clark.
3. Eighteen of the twenty-two Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Mandy Clark, Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Gwen Roddye, Sam Romines, Ellie Scrudder, Roy Shanks, Leo Whinery, Wayne Wood. (Excused: Richard Hughes, Hillman Moore, Rickey Page, Iwao Satoh,); Youth Advisory Members: Billy Black, (Excused: Corey Faulkner, Kyle Smallen); Advisory Members: Jonathan Clark, Robert Rush, Frank Ward; Director of Ministries: Edith Gholson and Administrative Assistant Abbay Robinson.
4. The merger of the program boards into the Ministry Council was finalized on April 3, 2009. Due to the merger of the former program boards, clarification of responsibilities of Elected Team Members is necessary. Some former areas of responsibility are no longer applicable. The following is a basic overview of the changes in responsibility and authority for the Ministry Teams:
   
   
   Ministry Team Elected Team Member Responsibilities:
   • Planning, participating, and implementing ministries collaboratively
   • Cost-benefit analysis of programs
   • Making recommendations for consideration by Global Ministries Leadership Team
   • Following the directives of the Ministry Council
   
   
   Ministry Team Elected Team Members No Longer Responsible For:
   • Personnel (hiring, firing, reviews, salaries)
   • Budget approval
   • Official representation for a particular ministry area
   • Electing officers
   • Fiduciary responsibility

Further identification of responsibilities of Elected Team Members will be accomplished in the joint meeting of the Ministry Teams and Ministry Council in November 2009.

5. Heard a Technology update from Edith M. Gholson, Director of Ministries. Engineered Management Solutions (EMS) was selected to service the Center Agencies. Installation of Microsoft Suite-MS Word, Excel, etc. is planned the last week in April. The IT Process Action Committee has seen demonstrations of financial software packages and a choice will be made soon.
6. Heard an Environmental Stewardship report from Edith Gholson on the Earth Day activities at the Center Property and new local efforts including recycling and discontinued use of bottled water and polystyrene cups.
7. Received financial updates from Robert Heflin, Executive Director, Board of Stewardship.
8. Reviewed the adjusted 2009 and 2010 OUO Apportionment with updated dollar figures presented by Jill Carr to be recommended to General Assembly.
9. Considered the combined budgets of the Ministry Council with the Ministry Teams and the deficit. Encouraged the Global Ministries Leadership Team to reduce duplications in publications, travel and other areas.
10. Voted to establish a 35 cent mileage reimbursement rate for all Ministry Council elected and staff members effective immediately.
11. Following a suggestion by Iwao Satoh, Japan Presbytery, approved a trip by Edith Gholson to meet and visit Cumberland Presbyterians in Asia at a time in the future.
12. Reviewed plans for the Ministry Council Lunch to be held at General Assembly on Monday, June 15. Members and staff will serve as table hosts. Edith Gholson will prepare information for each host to share with guests during the lunch.
13. Edith Gholson reported on her attendance at the February 27 meeting of the Unified Committee on Theology and Social Concerns.
14. Agreed that the Communications Ministry Team will be assigned responsibility for overseeing all forms of publication and communication, to include but not limited to web site, electronic and printed materials, and media relations, and to work with the Global Ministries Leadership Team to streamline and improve its current publications. Further, the team will be directed to design an image or logo to represent the Ministry Council and be prepared to present that design at the next Ministry Council meeting.  The Council also agreed that the scope of the additional responsibilities make it imperative for the Communications Ministry Team office be located at the Denominational Center, with the Team Leader present on a full-time basis.
15. Approved draft of the Ministry Council Report to General Assembly as amended.
16. Thanked Ellie Scrudder and Frank Ward for their service on the Ministry Council. Ellie asked not to be reelected to the Council, and Frank completed his two years as Advisory Member in the capacity of Moderator and Past Moderator. Youth Advisory Member Kyle Smallen submitted his resignation.
17. The next meeting of the Ministry Council will be held at the Denominational Center, August 28-29, 2009. Other dates were approved: November 6-8, 2009—a joint meeting of the Ministry Council and all Ministry Team Staff and Elected Team Members to follow, at St. Columba Retreat Center, Bartlett, TN; February 5-6, 2010-Ministry Council and all Elected Ministry Teams will meet simultaneously in Cordova.