February 7, 2012--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Dennis Bucco, Jim Burgess, Susan Carpenter, Carol Drought, Joel Gardner, Mercedes Julian, Jackie Kirby, Kevin Lloyd, David Lucey, Casey Shobe, and Catherine Thenault.

LEARN & LEAD—COMMUNICATIONS
Learn & Lead went very well with 120-125 attendees. There were five “no-shows” and two unregistered. Registrations came from 30 churches. Twenty-two churches did not participate. Casey suggested that the next Learn & Lead be comprised of two 90-minute workshops with poster sessions or roundtables presented during lunch. CDC members agreed that there would be one Learn & Lead per year going forward.

Survey—Ruth is going to send out a survey on Constant Contact. The survey will ask for suggestions for next year. Commission members came up with the following topics: Hospitality including Greeting/Ushering, Signage, Coffee Hour, Welcome Packages, Newcomer Incorporation as well as how well do churches treat outside groups using their facilities;
Christian Formation; and Evangelism. The survey will also ask about the length of the sessions, the level of information imparted and what participants will do differently going forward.

CONVOCATION
Convocation will take place at St. Luke’s, East Greenwich on March 9 & 10. Friday night’s Eucharist will start at 6 p.m. with a pot-luck supper to follow. Saturday’s programs will run from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

CDC has been asked to do the “take-away”—a handout with a menu format including questions for reflection and ideas to encourage networking. It was suggested that there be discussion about Convocation at Deanery meetings following Convocation and prior to the “Walk Abouts” for the Bishop search. An e-mail follow-up was also suggested. The e-mail would ask next-step questions such as “How will your congregation do things differently?” Casey will contact Jennifer Pedrick to ask if what we have in mind is appropriate.

GRANT PROCESS
March 1 is the deadline for preliminary (paragraph-length) grant proposals. Members were asked to look at these on the collaboration site before the next meeting.

NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 6, at 5 pm. The meeting adjourned with a prayer at 6:30 p.m.

January 3, 2012--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 by Casey Shobe. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Dennis Bucco, Carol Drought, Joel Gardner, Jackie Kirby, Kevin Lloyd, David Lucey, and Catherine Thenault. The Rev’d José Roberts and Modesta Pellot from St. George’s, Central Falls were guests. The meeting began with a prayer.

GRANT UPDATE—ST. GEORGE’S, CENTRAL FALLS
Fr. José and Modesta reported that with grant funds from CDC they have expanded their music program. They have had an increase of about 40 in their average Sunday attendance. Betsy asked if they had made any progress in developing a brochure. They see a definite need for it, but at the present time they don’t have any clerical help. They also do not have a website or Facebook page. Casey urged them to attend the February 4 Learn & Lead on communications. Motion: To approve the third and final year of funding for St. George’s, Central Falls in support of their music program and for the development of a welcome brochure in the amount of $5,500. Lucey/Thenault. All in favor. Jackie agreed to write a letter to St. George’s. In the letter she will let them know that it is the final year of funding and that CDC would like to offer help and suggest they could also call upon the resources of the Hispanic Ministry Committee. The letter will also serve as a reminder that the next grant cycle begins very soon and a paragraph describing their proposal is due on March 1.

Jackie and Kevin wrote a letter to Joyce Penfield about the St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s grant proposal that was mistakenly never sent. They will try to resurrect and update it.

LEARN & LEAD—COMMUNICATIONS
Catherine is confident that AIPSO will have WiFi before February 4. She will schedule a time when members of CDC can tour the facilities. Right now she has availability on Thursday and Friday (1/5 and 1/6) or Monday and Wednesday (1/9 and 1/11). We have not been able to schedule a plenary speaker. Current possibilities are Anne Rudig, from the national church and Jan Nunley.

Catherine will contact Bethany Putnam from Basil and Peppercorns about catering lunch. We will have a potluck coffee service provided by members of CDC.

Ruth Meteer will take care of ticketing. Registration will be online only through EventBrite. She will also coordinate a speaker from Constant Contact as well as someone to present a workshop on websites.

Dave Siefert will handle print media and Casey will do present a workshop on Sunday bulletins.

Nametags will be generated by EventBrite through the registration process. We need to assign a “shepherd” for each presenter.

CONVOCATION
The Mission Taskforce is keeping us informed about Convocation for the sake of transparency. Casey will email the information he has received to CDC members.

December 6, 2011--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 by Casey Shobe. The meeting began with a prayer.

LEARN & LEAD—COMMUNICATIONS
The program will be scheduled for February 4. We will offer workshops covering Print Newsletters (Dave Seifert), Worship Bulletins (Casey Shobe), E-newsletters (a representative from Constant Contact), Social Media (Ruth Meteer), and Websites. Betsy will contact Ruth Meteer and Dave Seifert to confirm their availability. We would like Ruth to help select a plenary speaker as well as to suggest presenters for the website workshop and arrange to have someone from Constant Contact lead a workshop.

Lead and Learn will take place at AIPSO, 302 Central Avenue, Johnston, RI. Catherine will coordinate a field trip to AIPSO for Commission members. We will invite Ruth.

The cost will be$10/person or $50/church. Registration will be more expensive ($15/person) after January 30. All the publicity will be lectronic—email, parish administrator’s listserve, Diocesan Facebook page, E-Risen. There is no snow date. Catherine will coordinate food. Sodexo is the food service for the facility. Registration will begin at 8:30. Plenary session will begin at 9 with workshops running from 10-11; 11:15-12:15; and 1:30-2:30. Lunch will be scheduled for 12:15-1:15. Wrap-up will take place after the last workshop and will be scheduled until 3.

CONVOCATION
Sara Miles will be the speaker at Convocation in March 2012. CDC is being asked to help with “take home” materials. The Deaneries will be a logical focus especially if deaneries are meeting in April to discuss bishop’s election. CDC will also offer to underwrite printing and help them get printed materials. We will ask Ruth to promote book purchases (Take This Bread) through the Diocesan Facebook page.

OTHER BUSINESS
We will invite St. George’s, Central Falls to meet with the Commission in January or February.

NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 5 pm. The meeting adjourned with a prayer.

October 4, 2011--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 by Casey Shobe. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Carol Drought, Jackie Kirby, and David Lucey. The Rev’d Dennis Bucco, Rector of St. Luke’s, Pawtucket was a guest. The meeting began with a prayer.

GRANT UPDATE--ST. LUKE’S, PAWTUCKET
Dennis reported that with grant funds from CDC St. Luke’s had hired an organist/choir director in September, 2010. They now have a children’s choir with up to twelve participants. The merger between St. Luke’s and St. John’s, Ashton became official in June, 2011. Dennis would like to increase the organist’s pay from $13,000/year to $15,000/year. Motion: To approve the second year of funding for St. Luke’s, Pawtucket in support of their music program in the amount of $4,000. Lucey/Kirby. All in favor. Casey will follow up with a response in writing.

CANONICAL REVISION—CANON X—PARISHES
The group discussed a strategy of discussing the Canonical revision with parish leaders including, clergy, wardens and vestries. Casey will talk with Dennis Bucco at St. Luke’s, Pawtucket and Michael Tessman at Holy Spirit, Charlestown. Because of schedule conflicts with the date of St. Augustine’s next vestry meeting, Casey would like to schedule a meeting with wardens and eelgates at another time after the passage of the revision. David Lucey will talk to David Ames of All Saint’s Memorial, and will get contact information for wardens of Holy Trinity, Tiverton. St. Mark’s, Riverside and St. Matthew’s, Barrington have asked permission of the Standing Committee to begin merger talks. Carol will field questions at the West Bay Deanery meeting on October 25. It is up to the Standing Committee to devise a process for implementation of the revision. Casey is anticipating amendments from the floor of Convention regarding making the trigger for reverting to mission status half-time clergy from the proposed full-time.

CONVENTION
Casey will request time to present an oral report on the activities of CDC, highlighting grants and including information about the next Learn & Lead program.

ASCENSION, CRANSTON
Motion: To continue to support music lessons at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for students from Mision El Mesias who now attend Ascension by granting $3,500 to Church of the Ascension from Mission funds. Lucey/Shobe. All in favor.

CONVOCATION
Sara Miles will be the speaker at Convocation in March 2012. CDC has been asked to help fund Convocation expenses. In the past several years, CDC has supported Convocation to the tune of $2,000 each year. Motion: To contribute toward Convocation expenses in an amount consistent with last year’s contribution. Lucey/Kirby. All in favor.

LEARN & LEAD—COMMUNICATIONS
The program will be scheduled for January 21 or 28. We will offer workshops covering three or four areas featuring experts in each. Some of the possible topics might be Worship Bulletins, Constant Contact, Social Networking, and Print Newsletters.

NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 1, at 5 pm. The meeting adjourned with a prayer at 6:40 p.m.

September 6, 2011--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 by Casey Shobe. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Susan Carpenter, Carol Drought, Joel Gardner, Jackie Kirby, Kevin Lloyd, David Lucey and Catherine Thenault. The meeting began with a prayer.

ANALYSIS AND UPDATE OF CDC FINANCES
Betsy distributed a summary of funds available for support of parishes and missions for 2011 as well as funds for 2010 which have already been paid out and funds committed for 2011 and 2012. Betsy consulted with Ty Creason concerning the grant proposal approved at the August 2 meeting supporting the Hispanic ministry at Ascension, Cranston. With his approval, this grant will be funded with money designated for missions.

Jackie and Kevin will draft a letter to St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s encouraging them to come back next year with their proposal. The letter will emphasize that the CDC’s ability to fund their project would be greatly enhanced should they approach the Commission as a mission rather than as a parish. Applying as a mission would open up the opportunity for St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s to qualify for resources not available to parishes.

CANONICAL REVISION—CANON X—PARISHES
Casey felt that the proposed revision to Canon X received enthusiastic support from both Council and the Standing Committee. At this point we need to be sure that the proposal is on track to be considered at Convention. Kevin will talk to Ed Bennett about this matter. The proposal is on the agenda to be discussed at the Clergy Day scheduled for September 15. Depending on clergy reaction, CDC will discuss strategies to build support for this canonical change.

LEARN & LEAD—COMMUNICATIONS
Catherine has offered her workplace, AIPSO in Johnston, as the site for the next Learn & Lead program. She has been assured that conference rooms will have wireless access by the end of the year. The program will be scheduled for January 21 or 28. Dave Super and Ruth Meteer have been talking to Betsy about the program and Catherine, Susan and Joel will be part of the program planning group. Catherine suggested members visit AIPSO headquarters for a tour and lunch sometime soon. St. George’s School in Middletown was suggested as a back up site.

CONVOCATION
Sara Miles will be the speaker at Convocation in March 2012. CDC may be asked to help fund Convocation expenses.

NOMINATIONS
Terms of the following members will expire at Convention in November: Jim Burgess, Clare Fischer-Davies, and Catherine Thenault. Betsy asked for suggestions for prospective members. Catherine would like to serve another term.


NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 4, at 5 pm. The meeting adjourned with a prayer at 6:40 p.m.

August 2, 2011--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 by Casey Shobe. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Jim Burgess, Carol Drought, Jackie Kirby, David Lucey and Catherine Thenault. The meeting began with a prayer. Bethany Anne Putnam of All Saints’Memorial, and the Rev’d Joyce Penfield, Ken Taylor, and Arthur Thomas of St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s, Providence were guests.

GRANT PROPOSALS
WELCOME TABLE BREAKFAST—ALL SAINT’S MEMORIAL & ST. MARTIN’S, PROVIDENCE—The proposal requests $36,000 to support a monthly breakfast program for the homeless of Providence. Casey recounted that he had approached Episcopal Charities on behalf of the proposers to see whether Episcopal Charities would provide funding. Peggy Amatore, Executive Director of Episcopal Charities, responded in writing to the Rev’d David Ames and CDC member Jim Burgess of All Saint’s Memorial and the Rev’d Clare Fischer-Davies saying that Episcopal Charities was interested in hearing from them regarding their proposal and would probably provide funding. Bethany Anne Putnam provided an update on the progress of the Welcome Table Breakfast project. The group requested $16,000 from the Dexter Foundation through the Mayor’s office for improvements to the kitchen at All Saints’ Memorial in order for it to meet Board of Health standards. Funding was denied. Bethany said that a more realistic estimate of costs would be $20-25,000 including a fire suppression unit. So far St. Martin’s has committed $2,000 ($1,000 from the Rector’s Discretionary Fund and $1,000 from the Outreach Committee) and All Saints’ has committed $1,000. She also said that there was some momentum from the All Saints’ vestry on kitchen improvements. Casey said that the renovation of the kitchen by All Saints’ would demonstrate a good faith investment from the entire All Saints’ community. Bethany asked if the Commission could table or postpone a decision in consideration of the situation with the kitchen. Casey stressed the importance of building a leadership team for the sake of continuity. Bethany said that the project could provide an inner-city experience for other parishes in the Diocese. Motion: To table consideration of the Welcome Table Breakfast request until such time as capital improvement needs have been satisfied and we have heard back from the proposers on their consultation with Episcopal Charities. Lucey/Kirby. Jim Burgess recused himself. Four in favor. None opposed. Motion passes.

BIENVENIDO—A LATINO OUTREACH PROJECT—ST. PETER’S & ST. ANDREW’S, PROVIDENCE—The proposal requests $12,000. On behalf of St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s, Casey approached Episcopal Charities who suggested that St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s should approach the Hispanic Ministry Committee first. The Rev’d Joyce Penfield stressed that the Rev’d Mercedes Julian, Hispanic Missioner for the Diocese, had been central in the planning of this project and was a source of ideas for outreach to the community. Joyce envisioned a partnership with Ascension, Cranston. Joyce had also made a connection with City Camp and unfortunately the director resigned and it has not been possible to reconnect. Jim asked about setting priorities and involvement by members of the congregation. St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s already uses bilingual hymns and has a food pantry and soup kitchen. Ken Taylor said that in order to pursue the project they need to step outside the congregation itself because their people don’t have the skill set necessary. The goal is to have a Spanish language service. They had not considered applying to Episcopal Charities because the goal is not to offer English as a Second Language courses. The goal is to establish a social service delivery system to build a Hispanic congregation. Betsy said it was important that the project have the blessing and intentional support of the Hispanic Ministry Committee. Jim suggested that lay members of the Hispanic Ministry Committee assist St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s rather than the missioners who have a tendency to act unilaterally and take on too much themselves. Joyce observed that Mercedes sees her job as planting churches and she is very enthusiastic about that task. The next meeting of the Hispanic Ministry Committee is September 20. Motion: To table consideration of the St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s grant proposal until we hear from the Hispanic Ministry Committee and the Bishop in order to meet the strategic objectives of the Diocese concerning Hispanic ministry . Shobe/Lucey. All in favor.

ASCENSION, CRANSTON—The Rev’d Michael Coburn and the Rev’d Mercedes Julian presented their proposal and fielded questions from the Commission at their July 16 meeting. Motion: To approve the request by Church of the Ascension, Cranston according to their proposal. Lucey/Burgess. All in favor.

ST. PETER’S BY-THE-SEA—The proposal to fund a Coordinator of Children’s and Youth Ministry was presented to the Commission by the Rev’d Casey Shobe at the July 16 meeting. Motion: To approve the request by St. Peter’s by-the-Sea according to its proposal. Burgess/Kirby. The vote will be by email. Results of the email vote: Casey Shobe recused himself. Burgess, Carpenter, Drought, Gardner, Kirby, Lloyd, Lucey, Thenault in favor. None opposed. Motion passes.

NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 6, at 5 pm. The meeting adjourned with a prayer at 6:45 p.m.

July 12, 2011--Meeting Notes

OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 by David Lucey. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Carol Drought and Catherine Thenault. The meeting began with a prayer. Chair Casey Shobe joined the meeting late due to his presentation to the Standing Committee about the changes to Canon X proposed by the Commission. The Rev’d Michael Coburn and the Rev’d Mercedes Julian of Ascension Cranston were guests.

GRANT PROPOSALS
ASCENSION, CRANSTON—About 36 families (more than 100 people) form the Hispanic congregation at Ascension. As Mike explained it, his job is to make the Anglo and Hispanic congregations work together and Mercedes’ job is to develop the Hispanic congregation. They have just published their first bi-lingual newsletter. Quite a few families that were former members of the Hispanic congregation at the Cathedral have come to Ascension. A new schedule comprised of Christian formation for children and adults sandwiched between an English language service and a Spanish language service on Sunday mornings will be instituted soon. Christian formation for children will be bi-lingual with teachers from both congregations conducting classes. Because most of the adult Spanish speakers are not bi-lingual and virtually none of the English speakers are, there will be both English and Spanish language offerings for adults. There are lots of positive developments and the Anglo congregation is very excited about the progress of the Hispanic congregation.

ST. PETER’S BY-THE-SEA—The proposal to fund a Coordinator of Children’s and Youth Ministry would involve St. Peter’s, St. Augustine’s, and Ascension, Wakefield. Half the job would be with children at St. Peter’s and half would be with youth involving all three churches.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE—There was a suggestion that we review this set of grants at the six-month point. We would want to know how the projects affected each congregation.

LEARN & LEAD
The next Learn and Lead program will be held in January, 2012. The subject is Communications.

NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday August 2 at 5 pm. At that meeting we will be hearing from representatives from All Saints Memorial/St. Martin’s and St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s about their grant proposals. The meeting adjourned with a prayer at 6:30 p.m.