Ministry Council Summary of Actions (5-6 February 2010)

1. The Ministry Council met Friday-Saturday, February 5-6, 2010, at Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bartlett, Tennessee. The Ministry Teams met concurrently during this time as well as jointly with the Council.
2. Thirteen of the twenty-two Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Richard Hughes, Rickey Page, Toni Prosser, Gwen Roddye, Roy Shanks (Excused: Mandy Clark. Hillman Moore, Sam Romines, Iwao Satoh, Leo Whinery, Wayne Wood); Youth Advisory Members: Billy Black (Excused: Corey Faulkner; Absent: Emma Shoaf); Advisory Members: Robert Rush, Sam Suddarth; (Excused: Jonathan Clark); Director of Ministries: Edith Gholson. Also present: Abbay Milnor.
3. Heard Director of Ministries Report from Edith Gholson. In addition, Edith shared beautiful pictures and stories from her January trip to Colombia with Bob Watkins and Lynn Thomas to visit Cumberland Presbyterian Churches, pastors, and members. She emphasized that if we are a Global Church, we need to translate for them; and that Presbyteries in Colombia need pastoral training and want help in evangelism.
4. Heard up-to-date financial reports from Dan Scherf, the recently hired Accounting Supervisor. The new Raiser’s Edge and Financial Edge software have facilitated increasingly more accurate and timely reports for the Center Agencies and the Denomination.
5. Heard report from Billy Black and Edith Gholson about the first meeting of the Our United Outreach Committee and its plans and current efforts to educate and increase giving. Reviewed Ministry Council budget needs in order to compose our request for 2011 allocation to the next meeting of the Our United Outreach Committee.
6. Rejoiced that the property tax-exemption on all of the Center property on Traditional Place is retroactive to July 2008 and that the previously paid taxes already refunded and anticipated to be refunded will go back to Central Services and Capital Campaign Funds.
7. Accepted the design presented by the Communications Ministry Team as the Ministry Council Logo to be used by the Council and all Ministry Teams and note that is ready to appear on the website, various letterheads, and publications.
8. Continued to define Elected Team Member Responsibilities for the Ministry Teams including:
   
   
   1. Elect Leadership (at least a Chairperson);
   2. Attend Team Meetings—including one Spring and one Fall concurrent/joint meeting with the Ministry Council;
   3. Plan, prioritize, and implement the Ministry;
   4. Make recommendations to GMLT;
   5. Follow directives of the Ministry Council;
   6. Send a report to the Ministry Council to be included in the Council’s report to General Assembly.
9. Established a formula for setting future meetings of the Ministry Council.
10. Following Robert Rush sharing that he plans to retire by the end of 2010, Chair Gwen Roddye named a Search Committee consisting of one Council member from each synod: Richard Hughes, convener, Toni Prosser, Roy Shanks, Elizabeth Horsley, Rickey Page. The Ministry Council is responsible for presenting the nominee for Stated Clerk to General Assembly in June, 2010.
11. Next Meeting Date: April 23-24, 2010, (Friday morning through early Saturday afternoon) at the Center in Cordova.