Diocese of New Hampshire
Diocesan Council Minutes for August 14, 2008
Attendance
Council members: Benge Ambrogi, Bonnie Chappell, Bill Exner, Susan Fockler, Heidi Frantz-Dale, Sally Hague, Judy Haigh, Betsy Hess, Charles LaFond, Anne Milne, Ron Moore, Connie Morton-Ewbank, Anne Plumer-Fisher, Margaret Porter, Bishop Gene Robinson, Sarah Rockwell, Carol Twomey, Jason Wells.
Call to Order
Margaret Porter called the meeting to order at 4:08 p.m.
Devotions
Margaret Porter led devotions, based on the life of Jeremy Taylor.
Approval of Minutes
Jason Wells moved that the minutes of the June meeting be accepted as posted on the website, with the deletion of the following sentence: Paula Bibber will be making arrangements for a bus. (Instead, Margaret Porter will be arranging transportation for the retreat.) Betsy Hess seconded. Motion carried.
Action Items and Reports
September Meeting Date: Becky Forbes and the Finance Committee would prefer that the Council meet on September 4, rather than September 11 as previously scheduled. This would allow for presentation of the 2009 budget to Council prior to most September Convocation meetings.
Mission Resources: The Committee has made field trips this summer to Christ Church in Portsmouth and All Saints’ Church in Littleton. They are finalizing the grant application and hope to have it out by the end of September. Applications will be due back in November.
Housing Allowance: The Rev. Fran Gardner, the new half-time rector in Berlin, will also work half-time as North Country Missioner; the latter position will be funded through a donation to the Center for Congregational Development. Bishop Robinson moved that half of Fran Gardner’s compensation be designated as a housing allowance. Judy Haigh seconded. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION OF DIOCESAN COUNCIL
WHEREAS, ministers who own their home do not pay federal income taxes on the amount of compensation their employing church designates in advance as a housing allowance, to the extent that the allowance represents compensation for ministerial services, is used to pay housing expenses, and does not exceed the fair rental value of the home (furnished, plus utilities); and
WHEREAS, the Rev. Francine B. Gardner, North Country Missioner, is compensated by the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire exclusively for services as a minister of the gospel; and
WHEREAS, the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire does not provide Rev. Gardner with housing; therefore, it is
RESOLVED that the total compensation (salary and SET) paid to Rev. Gardner for the remainder of the calendar year 2008 shall be $9,187, of which $7,125 is hereby designated to be a housing allowance; and it is further
RESOLVED that the designation of $7,125 as a housing allowance shall apply to the remainder of the calendar year 2008.
RESOLVED this 14th day of August, 2008.
DIOCESAN COUNCIL
Council Retreat: Council was asked if they might consider holding the retreat on Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19, instead of Friday and Saturday, October 17-18, in order to provide an opportunity to meet with more North Country parishioners. It was decided that the original Friday-Saturday plans are preferable. Because of the cost of bus transportation, we will carpool instead, starting from Church of the Messiah in North Woodstock. Council members will stay in Littleton overnight on Friday, either in homes of parishioners or at Thayer’s Inn. Another retreat planning session will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, before the Council meeting.
Accountability Form: The Council looked over an accountability form, developed by Susan Garrity, to be used by all three commissions—Evangelism, Youth and Young Adult, and Outreach. It will be sent out with the initial application. It was suggested that the form ask for some additional information regarding the budget.
Recipients might be asked for a description of the ways in which the grant was sufficient or insufficient for their needs and, if the project went over budget, a revised budget could be requested.
Response from Constitution and Canons: The Council received a draft version of Canons 6 and 7 from Celeste Hemingson, which reflected the possible changes discussed at our May meeting. Council suggested the following revisions to the draft.
Canon 6, Section 6: Change the introductory statement to read “Each Convocation shall have the following responsibilities.”
Canon 6, Section 6b: Do not remove this line (as suggested by the committee), but change it to read “To assist communications within Congregations in the Convocation.”
Canon 6, Section 5: Change “vestries of member congregations” to “member congregations.”
Canon 7, Section 1a: Change “The Bishop may also appoint a moderator…” to “The Chairperson may also appoint a moderator…”
Canon 7, Section 7: Do not use the word “agencies.”
Financial Review: Ron Moore presented the Financial Review. This report is given to Council on a quarterly basis and would have been presented at the July meeting (which was cancelled). It was noted that some churches were omitted from the Fair Share summary that was distributed; this will be corrected.
Presiding Bishop’s Visit: The Presiding Bishop will arrive on Friday morning, September 26. She will have lunch with the Diocesan Staff and Standing Committee, and will stop at St. Andrew’s Church in West Manchester. From 3:00 until 4:30 p.m., there will be a public gathering (not a worship service) at St. John’s Portsmouth. She will have a 7:00 dinner with the Council at the Bishop’s home. On Saturday morning, September 27, from 9:00 until 10:30, there will be a clergy gathering at St. Paul’s Concord, followed by a public Eucharist at 11:00. From 3:00 until 4:30 p.m., there will be a gathering at Trinity Claremont, followed by a 5:00 stop at Edgerton House Student Center at Dartmouth. She will have dinner and stay overnight in Littleton. On Sunday, September 28, at 10:00 a.m., there will be a Eucharist at All Saints’ Littleton for all North Country parishes. The Presiding Bishop will be preaching and celebrating both at St. Paul’s on Saturday and All Saints’ on Sunday.
Pilgrimage for Peace: Bill Exner distributed information regarding the New England Pilgrimage for Peace, to be held from September 28 to November 9, 2008. It will be in New Hampshire from October 17 to October 25. An Evensong will be held at St. Andrew’s in West Manchester at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 19. An informational packet will be sent out to parishes. New Hampshire Episcopalians are invited to support the Pilgrimage by praying and/or walking.
Bishop’s Report
The Bishop reported on his experiences before, during, and after the Lambeth Conference.
Assignments for September 4th Meeting
Devotions – Bill Exner
Snacks – Connie Morton-Ewbank
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Twomey
Scribe
