Ministry Council Summary of Actions (15-16 April, 2011)

1. The Ministry Council met Friday and Saturday, April 15-16, 2011, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Center, Cordova, TN.
2. Sixteen of the twenty-one Ministry Council members were present. Members: Karen Breeding, Jill Carr, Michele Gentry de Correal, Troy Green, Carlton Harper, Elizabeth Horsley, Gwen Roddye, Sam Romines, Iwao Satoh, Lisa Scott, Roy Shanks (Excused: Mandy Clark, Rickey Page, Toni Prosser); Youth Advisory Members: Ricky Kirby, Emma Shoaf (Excused: Madison Rush); Advisory Members: Michael Sharp, Boyce Wallace (Excused: Sam Suddarth); Director of Ministries: Edith Busbee Old. Also present: Megan Warren, Ministry Council Administrative Assistant.
3. Received an offering for Japan Earthquake Relief totaling $1,432.00
4. Heard financial report from Dan Scherf including review of current financial statements, Our United Outreach giving and debt status (Touch the Future, Contingency, Union Ave. Building and Maintenance, Capital Campaign). As loan payments are completed, funds will be shifted to complete payments on the next loan in the order given.
5. Heard report from Carlton Harper and Sam Romines (filling in for Edith Busbee Old), Ministry Council representatives to Our United Outreach Committee meeting, regarding 2012 OUO distribution to be recommended to General Assembly by the Our United Outreach Committee to General Assembly.
6. Took required action on signature change resolution to enable the Missions Ministry Team to accept gifts of stock through Hilliard Lyons account, removing the name of the former Missions Ministry Team Leader Mike Sharpe and adding the names of current Missions Ministry Team Leader George Estes and Director of Ministries, Edith Busbee Old.
7. Heard the report of Jill Carr, Ministry Council Chair. In order for Ministry Teams to work effectively, the Ministry Council will be electing new Team Members to fill the unexpired terms of Elected Team Members who have missed multiple consecutive meetings, with those Team Members who are to be replaced notified by letter.
8. Recognized the following Ministry Council Members who will be leaving the Council: Iwao Satoh (moved to a synod that currently has three Ministry Council Members); Karen Breeding (fulfilled term and declined re-nomination); Sam Suddarth (fulfilled term as Past Moderator of the General Assembly); Emma Shoaf (fulfilled term as Youth Advisory Delegate); Rickey Page (resigned); John Shoulta (resigned). Those leaving the Ministry Council will be asked to complete an exit interview as feedback to the Council about ways we as a Council can better conduct business and serve the church.
9. Heard the report of Director of Ministries, Edith Busbee Old:
   
   
   1. An offering during General Assembly worship will go toward the Clergy Crisis fund.
   2. A banner with the Ministry Council logo and church name was designed and made for use by all Ministry Teams at meetings and events. It will be on display at General Assembly.
   3. Personal data forms and criteria for Elected Team Members are available on line. The form will be redesigned in the near future to include gifts/skills of the applicant.
   4. Ministry Teams have been engaged with the Stated Clerk’s Office in preparing five workshops to be presented at General Assembly.
   5. The 2012 budget was presented and approved.
   6. The local web development firm Speak Creative has been contracted to completely redesign the Ministry Council web page. The initial contract for development, training, and launch also includes an ongoing monthly hosting fee that covers support, upgrades, backups and code-based enhancements as available.
10. New Ministry Team members were elected to replace those whose terms expired or are not returning:
    
    
    1. Communications—Rev. Dr. Michael Clark (Murfreesboro Presbytery) & Ms. Dusty Luthy Shull (Covenant Presbytery)
    2. Discipleship—Aaron Ferry (Nashville Presbytery) & Alan Butler (Red River Presbytery)
    3. Missions—Rev. Jim Buttram, Jr. (East TN Presbytery), Nancy Gordon (North Central Presbytery), Rev. Jim Barry (TN/Georgia Presbytery)
    4. Pastoral Development—Rev. Amber Clark (Murfreesboro Presbytery) & Rev. Don Thomas (West TN Presbytery)
11. Adopted an edited version of the Ministry Council Covenant that describes attendance and participation expectations more clearly. Signed covenants were received from members present.
12. Discussed further clarification of Elected Team Member responsibilities, with Troy Green and Sam Romines appointed to prepare Team Member expectations and guidelines for review by the Ministry Council via email, and presentation to the Global Ministries Leadership Team in July in preparation for August concurrent meetings.
13. Reviewed reports from Ministry Teams for inclusion in Ministry Council Report to General Assembly.
14. Reviewed the lengthy notes from the Council and Team joint sessions of “Challenges” and “ Re-Imagining” in January and referred portions to the various Ministry Teams for review, response, and recommendations.
15. Discussed Evangelism, Church Planting and Missions Task Force Report to be presented at General Assembly. The recommended theme of the ten-year plan is Step Out! The report presents goals and strategies for the local church, presbyteries, and the denomination as a whole.
16. Ministry Council and Ministry Teams will meet August 27-28, 2011 (Saturday/Sunday) in concurrent sessions.