OPENING AND ATTENDANCE A meeting of the Congregational Development Commission was called to order at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 by Casey Shobe. Betsy Fornal attended the meeting along with Commission members: Jim Burgess, Carol Drought, Joel Gardner, David Lucey, and Catherine Thenault. The meeting began with a prayer.
EL MESIAS—NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Betsy reported that El Mesías has decided to close. Its members are now attending St. George’s, Central Falls and Ascension, Cranston. With regard to grant funds that were intended for El Mesías, Betsy would like to divide the money proportionately with respect to the number of members now attending each of these churches.
COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY
On Saturday, April 2 the first Collaborative Ministry event was held at St. Martin’s, Providence for churches in the Central Deanery. Casey & Jackie facilitated the meeting. The congregations sending representatives were All Saints’ Memorial, Grace, Redeemer, and St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s, all in Providence, as well as St. Thomas, Greenville and Trinity, N. Scituate. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate a meeting of parish leaders, including clergy, with the aim of exploring areas of possible collaboration and planning future meetings which they would conduct without CDC facilitation. Despite the low turnout, there were positive results. St. Thomas and Trinity will launch a collaborative youth ministry.
Casey’s main tip for future event facilitators is to communicate with a cross section of parish leaders, including clergy and wardens, but casting a wider net.
THE CHANCELLOR’S REPORT ON CANON X—PARISHES
There was a discussion of the document “Proposal to Revise Canon 10.7 and Add New Canon 10.8—Draft of March 31, 2011.” We will ask Chancellor Edmund Bennett for clarification of section 10.7(a)ii—“fails to provide financial support necessary for the spiritual program of the parish.” Jim pointed out the importance of 10.8—Reestablishment of a Parish. It is important for people to feel they can become a parish again. Jim will work on clarifying the language of 10.8.
GRANT PROPOSALS
The Commission considered seven grant proposals: Ascension, Cranston for Hispanic ministry; All Saints’ Memorial/St. Martin’s, Providence for a breakfast program for the homeless; Emmanuel, Cumberland for interim clergy; Emmanuel, Newport to expand their Royal School of Church Music program to all of Aquidneck Island; St. Peter’s & St. Andrew’s, Providence for programs and activities for at-risk youth; St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Narragansett to hire a Coordinator for Children’s & Youth Ministry in collaboration with St. Augustine’s, Kingston and Ascension, Wakefield; and the West Bay Deanery to hire a consultant to coach parish leaders in Appreciative Inquiry methodology. Casey will follow up on the West Bay Deanery proposal which the Commission felt would be more appropriate for a Diocesan-wide program, perhaps a future Learn & Lead. Catherine will follow up on the proposal from St. Andrew’s & St. Peter’s. The Commission felt the proposal needed further development and might be among proposals considered in the 2012 round. The proposal from Ascension, Cranston will be set aside and considered for funding as a mission. The others will be asked to submit a full proposal by June 1, 2011.
PROGRAM & BUDGET COMMITTEE PROGRAM
On Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon the Program & Budget Committee will present a program on the state of the Diocese and the state of the churches. The program will be held in Synod Hall at the Cathedral. Prior to this, Program and Budget will hold a session for Council, Standing Committee and Congregational Development on Tuesday, April 12 at 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s, East Greenwich. All members of CDC are urged to attend.
NEXT MEETING AND ADJOURNMENT
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 5 p.m. in the Diocesan Annex. The meeting adjourned with a prayer at 6:55 p.m.
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