Ministry Council Summary of Actions (6-7 August 2010)

  1. The Ministry Council met Friday-Saturday, August 6-7, 2010, at the Center in Cordova, TN.
  2. Nineteen of the twenty-two Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Mandy Clark, Michele Gentry de Correal, Troy Green, Elizabeth Horsley, Rickey Page, Gwen Roddye, Sam Romines, Iwao Satoh, Roy Shanks, John Shoulta (Excused: Carlton Harper, Toni Prosser, Lisa Scott); Youth Advisory Members: Ricky Kirby, Madison Rush, Emma Shoaf; Advisory Members: Robert Rush, Sam Suddarth, Harry Chapman (Excused: Boyce Wallace); Director of Ministries: Edith Gholson. Also present: Michael Sharpe (Stated Clerk-Elect) and Abbay Milner.
  3. Chairperson Gwen Roddye, Secretary Elizabeth Horsley, and Director of Ministries Edith Gholson met with the new members of the Council on Thursday afternoon for an orientation.
  4. Welcomed Michael Sharpe who will become an Advisory Member when he takes office as Stated Clerk in October. Welcomed Vice-Moderator Harry Chapman who will attend when Moderator Boyce Wallace is unable to be present.
  5. Unanimously passed an amendment to the Ministry Council Bylaws regarding the election of officers. ARTICLE IV.B. now reads: “The officers of the Ministry Council shall be elected at the first meeting of the board following the annual meeting of the General Assembly (the “Election Meeting”) and shall hold office for a term of one year or until their successors are elected. The person holding the office of First Vice Chairperson at the time of the Election Meeting shall be nominated to the office of Chairperson when the office becomes vacant or the end of term. Any officer may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the removal would serve the best interests of the corporation.”
  6. Unanimously passed the recommendation that the office of Assistant Secretary be created and that the person serving as the Assistant Secretary of the corporation shall be authorized to assist the Secretary in performing the duties incident to the office of Secretary and to perform duties of the Secretary during the absence or disability or refusal of the Secretary, or in case of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary.
  7. Elected the following officers for the next year:

  8. Received the report of our Representatives to General Assembly, Sam Romines and Rickey Page, and reviewed the Summary of Actions of General Assembly as it relates to the Ministry Council and Ministry Teams.
  9. Received the Director of Ministries Report. Director Edith Gholson reported on activities and travels since our last meeting including: Represented the Ministry Council at General Assembly and at Memphis Theological Seminary graduation, served on staff at Presbyterian Youth Triennium, hosted Beth and Boyce Wallace, met with and led tour of Japanese delegation, led or attended various meetings, plans to attend Fall Presbytery meetings and to travel to Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan and Laos to meet with church workers in November.
  10. Heard report from the Director of Ministries on the free IKON Document Efficiency workflow analysis initiated to study the current printing and mailing processes of the Ministry Council with the goal to reduce costs, improve processes and service levels, leverage new technology, and provide leadership with improved reporting regarding ongoing printed material costs, volumes, and trends.
  11. Adopted a Covenant for Ministry Council Members stating attendance and participation expectations. Each member signed and turned in a copy of the Covenant.
  12. Heard an update from Edith Gholson on the Our United Outreach Committee and agreed that Ministry Council Members will actively attend their Fall Presbytery meeting to speak on behalf of Our United Outreach using handouts provided.
  13. Accepted the letter of resignation from Michael Sharpe, Team Leader of the Missions Ministry Team, effective October 15, 2010. Acknowledged Mike’s 22nd Anniversary of employment with Missions.
  14. Heard financial update from accountant Dan Scherf including comparisons and reports as current as July 31, 2010. OUO distributions are still being made for $50,000 in receipts instead of the previous $100,000 distribution guideline. Due to so many events taking place in the summer, the Ministry Council balance is currently a deficit.
  15. Reviewed summary results of the Spiritual Gifts Assessment completed by Council Members prior to the meeting. The Ministry Council Staff will complete a similar assessment soon.
  16. Spent time visioning regarding the Missions Ministry Team leadership and future work.
  17. Reviewed an updated Team Leader Position Description from Missions and collaborated to finalize the new position description to be used to hire a new Team Leader. The new Position Description will immediately be publicized throughout the Church. The Interview Panel will be selected from Missions Ministry Team Elected Team Members and include the Director of Ministries plus possibly one MMT staff member.
  18. Gave the “go ahead” to the Pastoral Development Ministry Team to proceed with plans for “The Year of the Clergy” as outlined in a memorial approved by General Assembly.
  19. Reviewed a list of MMT Staff Suggestions for Development of a Ten-Year Evangelism Plan, and heard further explanation from Team Leader Mike Sharpe. Passed a motion to select a Ministry Council member for a six-person planning committee and to empower Missions Ministry Team to select the remaining five members, including at least one from each team. Elected Michele Gentry de Correal as the Ministry Council representative on this committee.
  20. Viewed various media presentations on events and programs of the Ministry Council and Teams from the past few months.
  21. Thanked Stated Clerk Robert D. Rush for his invaluable service to the Ministry Council as an Advisory Member and extended congratulations on his retirement effective September 30.
  22. Expressed appreciation to Gwen Roddye for her outstanding leadership as Chairperson of the Ministry Council since February 29, 2008.
  23. Next Meeting Date: October 30-31, 2010, (Saturday morning through early Sunday afternoon) at the Center in Cordova. Ministry Council and Teams will meet in concurrent sessions.