Minutes from Executive Council Meetings

January 2007

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINUTES

January 8, 2007

Present: Ruth Prindle, Rev. Gordon Forbes, Rev. Jim Todhunter, Rev. Sandy Dodson, Nae Pearson, Bud Dennie, Sue Dollins, Trish Esposito, Stevan Fisher, John Gipson, Pete Hotchkiss, Karen Lee, Cynthia Page, Dan Pence, Doris Raber, Kate Rogers, Anne Weissenborn, Leslie Weyn, Tim White.

Moderator Ruth Prindle called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 p.m. Rev. Sandy Dodson opened the meeting by inviting those present to share reflections on the themes of kindness and justice.

The Council approved the minutes for the December meeting, as presented.

Treasurer’s Report

Dan Pence presented a mid-year report on CCC’s financial situation (copy attached). Dan said that the revenue side was a “good news” story, on the whole. For example, pledges to both the operating budget and the capital budget are ahead of schedule. CCC has already received 67% of the amount pledged for the capital budget ant 56% of the amount pledged for the operating budget. In addition, we have already collected 61% of the loose plate amount projected in the current budget. On the other hand, building expenses are slightly ahead of projections: we have already spent 52 % of the amount budgeted. Dan said that he had distributed reports to each board showing the balance remaining in the board’s budget.

Dan noted that the entire amount budgeted for CCC’s music program has already been spent. Rev. Sandy Dodson asked whether the music program had been underbudgeted. Dan replied that it had; the music budget had been cut as part of the effort to balance CCC’s operating budget. Trish Esposito observed that it may be possible to make up some of the shortfall in the music budget by the use of memorial funds.

Karen Lee asked whether the positive financial news could translate into restoring some items that had been cut from the operating budget. Tim White suggested that it was probably too early to view this as a trend that would indicate that CCC would end the year with a surplus. Sue Dollins agreed, pointing out that the fact that pledges were running ahead of schedule could be due to pre-payments, which she said have been significant.

Reports of the Ministers and Staff

Rev. Sandy Dodson stated that she was concerned about the challenges of recruiting volunteers—for Church School in particular.  She has the feeling that the CCC congregation is feeling tired and would like a break, but it is not possible to take a break from Christian Education. 

Rev. Jim Todhunter reminded the Council that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast is Saturday, January 13, 2007, at Peoples Congregational UCC.  The speaker will be the Rev. Adora Lee, who has been serving in as HIV/AIDS advisor to the UCC of South Africa.  Jim also reported that on January 16, 2007, he will attend a program at the Lancaster Theological Seminary.  The program, funded by a grant from the Lilly Foundation, is intended for pastoral clergy facing retirement.   Jim also said he will serve on the Board of Directors for the Shalem Institute.

Nae Pearson expressed thanks to the CCC community for a beautiful, meaningful Christmas.  Anne Weissenborn thanked Nae for the music, which contributed so much to the Christmas season.  Rev. Gordon Forbes pointed out that, in addition to his duties as Director of Music, Nae is also leading a spirituality group.

Reports of Boards and Committees

Church Life – Stevan Fisher reported that the Board for Church Life had sponsored a successful Thanksgiving Food Drive and had provided refreshments for Christmas Carolers who went out to sing for shut-in members or friends of CCC.  He also reported that Winter Weekend is being held January 12-15, 2007, at Camp Soles.  There will be about 80 participants, from both CCC and the Washington Ethical Society.  Another upcoming event will be the Valentine’s Day Cotillion, which will be held February 10, 2007.  Stevan also said that the Board has decided not to staff an official fellowship time after the first service, because there had been a relatively small number of participants (for the fellowship time).  Stevan said that Board members had invited participants in the first service to help themselves to coffee, if they wished.

Anti-Racism Advisory Group – Ruth Prindle reported that the representatives from the Boards had met with Jim Henkelman Bahn and Delilah Marrow and that there was a lot of excitement about continuing the Anti-Racism journey.   The members of the Advisory Group are:  Anne Nicotera, representing Outreach and Engagement; Jack Hiland, representing Deacons, Jan Forbes, representing Christian Education; Khristina Aabel, representing Social Witness; Cyndy Wright-Johnson, representing Trustees; Vesta Sithole, representing Stewardship; Linda Hodson, representing Church Life; and Anne Weissenborn, at large.  Ruth Prindle and Rev. Gordon Forbes are Ex Officio members of the group.

Strategic Planning Task Force – Ruth Prindle said that the Task Force Report has been mailed to the CCC community.  The report contains 26 goals that we will select from at the January 20, 2007 meeting.  Ruth encouraged Executive Council members to attend.  Task Force members plan to make personal phone calls to invite CCC members to attend.  Child care will be needed, Ruth said.  John Gipson volunteered to coordinate child care for the event.

Communications Committee – Ruth Prindle reported that Jackie Walters will be co-chairing the committee with Judy Cox.  Ruth suggested that a CCC list-serv be created.  Trish Esposito said that a broadcast e-mail would be a more appropriate vehicle than a list-serv.  Nae Pearson said that, at his previous church, a “week-at-a-glance” e-mail was distributed, which he thought was effective.  Bud Dennie wondered who would take responsibility for maintaining either the e-mail list or the list-serv.  He added that the technology committee would meet on January 17, 2007, and could discuss the issue.

Interim Minister Search Committee – No search committee has yet been named, but Rev. Gordon Forbes suggested that it would be good to have the committee in place shortly after the January 20 goal setting meeting.  Gordon provided a handout (copy attached) which explained some of the goals of an interim ministry.  Gordon said that our Conference and Association Ministers, John Deckenback and Kwame Osei Reed, will want to meet with the search committee and Executive Council to review the denominational process for calling an interim.  Gordon requested that anyone who would be willing to serve on the search committee contact him.

Nominating Committee – Trish Esposito reported that the Committee had an organizational meeting on January 6, 2007.  She reported that the meeting was very useful.  She encouraged each Board to discuss current Board structures, to determine whether the structure is working well or needs to be modified.  This would include a discussion of whether each Board is the right size (i.e. the right number of members).  Trish also asked Boards to consider the time commitment involved in serving on Boards and to consider whether there are responsibilities that could be delegated to volunteers without requiring them to be full Board members.  Additionally, she asked Board Chairs to clarify which Board members will be retiring from the Boards.  Finally, Trish reported that the Nominating Committee is considering offering training in effective recruiting.

Social Witness – Anne Weissenborn reported that the Board for Social Witness will be hosting a special guest preacher on January 14, 2007.  She is the Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, who is Executive Minister of the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries.  There will be a luncheon with Rev. Jaramillo after the service.

Physician Assistance in Dying

Ruth Prindle distributed a report on the issue of physician assistance in dying, which will be discussed at the February Executive Council meeting.  At that meeting Bill Neal, who is a strong proponent of physician assistance in dying, and Neville Platt, representing the Senior Adults of CCC, will join us.  Rev. Gordon Forbes reported that he had discussed the issue with Bill and had given him advice on how he might bring the issue before the Central Atlantic Conference and, ultimately, perhaps to the General Synod.  Anne Weissenborn reported that the Board for Social Witness had considered Bill’s report, and was unanimously in favor of it.  Karen Lee and Cynthia Page expressed grave reservations, based on the concern, among others, that disabled persons could be pressured into ending their lives.

Celebrations

Ruth Prindle announced that a Celebrations Committee had been formed.  The Committee will be responsible for planning a formal all-church celebration in honor of Rev. Jim Todhunter’s retirement.  The members of the Committee are:  Carolyn West-Gipson, Sue Dollins, Terry Strand, Betty Stith, Gregg Brown, and Marian Dirda.

There was further discussion of other possible celebrations in Jim’s honor.

Rev. Sandy Dodson closed the meeting with prayer and Ruth Prindle adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:30.

Respectfully submitted,
Leslie Weyn
Church Clerk

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