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.
