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.
