Foothills Presbytery, November 28,

Transcription

1 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, FOOTHILLS PRESBYTERY MINUTES Moving our Ministry ON OUT and into the community. Regular Meeting, Tuesday, November 28, 2017: Strathmore United Church, Strathmore, AB Present: Absent/Regrets: Ministry Personnel by Pastoral Charge Elected Lay Presbyters by Town Acme Jean Udall (RD Pbty) Acme Susan Simpson Airdrie Eva Biederman Airdrie Wendy Kindzierski Balzac Rita Cattell Kathy Lind Banff Murray Speer Arrowwood Rosemary Ingraham Blackie-Gladys (see Nanton) Balzac Ruth Unser Canmore Greg Wooley Banff Allan Buckingham Claresholm Blackie Cochrane Ray Goodship Canmore Mary Shearer Crossfield Dave Crawford Mary Rawlings Diamond Valley Matthew Heesing Claresholm High River Susan Lukey Cochrane Arlene Hepburn David Robertson Pat Hatfield Irricana Ruth McArthur Crossfield Barb Code Nanton-Cayley Susan Wilkinson-Matticks DeWinton Jean Burns Okotoks-DeWinton Julia Kimmett Gladys Irene Milton Prairie Winds Sue MacDonald High River Shirley Crawford Rockyford Gordon Hunter Marg Fenton Strathmore Pamela Scott Bob Findlay Irricana Marilynn Poffenroth Retired/ Shirley Collard Nanton Eleanore Tribe Retained: Henry Friesen Okotoks Lois Irvine Wally Fry Stewart Thomas Shelley Lavenne Rockyford Lynda Arnold Leonard Ling Strathmore Donalda Ledene Sherlee McGregor-McCuaig Charles Watson Doug Powell Art Eeles (alt.) Oliver Seward Turner Valley Sandra Farr-Jones Don Watt Vulcan Joyce Cook UCW Barbara Davison Retired DLM Brenda Watt Guests: Shannon McCarthy Lay Members at Large ---A QUORUM WAS PRESENT--- Norma Bell Bonar Hanson Sandra Hanson Jim Litchfield Eileen McMorris Olga Pollard

2 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, Welcome and Worship The day began with Worship led by Gordon Hunter, on the theme Who Me? A philanthropist? Call to Order, Acknowledgement of Treaty 7, Welcome Presbytery delegates were welcomed, the traditional lands on which the meeting was held were acknowledged, and the meeting called to order by Chairperson Ray Goodship at 10:00 AM. Announcements, Celebrations and Milestones Thank-you to all who supported High River s Common Vision concert on November 26, with a special note of thanks for the many folks from Balzac who joined in the choir Information has been received that Margaret Lange has been appointed, through Red Deer Presbytery, to serve the Three Hills and Acme United Churches Strathmore United Church concert series begins with a fun evening with the Heebee- Jeebees on December 1. Annual Christmas Gala at Buffalo Hills, Saturday, December 2. Bethlehem Market Place - December 3, 2017 at the Vulcan United Church. Executive Secretary Shannon McCarthy was introduced to the court, and Dave Crawford was welcomed back to Foothills Presbytery Two Covenanting Services are upcoming, celebrating the covenants between pastoral charges, Order of Ministry personnel, and Foothills Presbytery: o December 10, 2017, Eva Biederman, Airdrie United Church 3:30 PM o January 14, 2018, Dave Crawford, Crossfield United Church 3:00 PM Budget Process Introduced Jim Litchfield Treasurer Jim Litchfield outlined the budget process. Customized documents were sent ahead of time to the Divisions with more complex budget needs, to assist in focusing their budget dialogue. Each Division is requested to include Budget 2018 discussions in their Division time, and to pass along to him any changes from the stated draft budget. Remit 6 - Julia Kimmett, Barbara Davison, Allan Buckingham A study document regarding Remit 6, One Order of Ministry was circulated to Presbyters in advance of the meeting. After several minutes in table groups, the floor was open to discussion. A wide range of perspectives, concerns and questions were shared. It is hoped that the discussion at Presbytery will be helpful to those charges that have not yet voted. Additional study resources are at As previously agreed, the vote on this Remit will be held at the January 2018 Presbytery meeting. Divisions and Lunch Division meetings were held, followed by lunch. BUSINESS MEETING The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Ray Goodship at 1:15 PM. MOTION: Murray Speer/Susan Lukey That all non-members present be given corresponding status for the meeting. CARRIED MOTION: Bob Findlay/Susan Wilkinson-Matticks That the Order Paper be approved as presented. CARRIED MOTION: Greg Wooley/Julia Kimmett That the minutes of the September 26, 2017 Presbytery meeting be adopted. CARRIED

3 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, Minutes of the October 24, 2017 Presbytery Executive meeting were received for information. Chairperson s Report Ray Goodship The October Conference Executive meeting included good discussion about geographic boundaries. Allan Buckingham was given approval to do further work around the use of video conferencing and other technology in Conference. January 1, 2019 will be implementation date for three court model, so this coming year will be filled with transitions. Recording and Correspondence Secretary's Report Greg Wooley An instruction sheet regarding Conference Archives will be circulated in coming weeks. Those considering standing for nomination to be a GC43 commissioner (to be held in July, 2018 in Oshawa, Ontario) were directed to ask Greg for the information sheets. Business Arising: Small Church Event Irene Milton Small is Strong. The Small Church event on October 28 th had 55 attendees from 15 congregations. Rita Cattell s shared sabbatical learnings about Confident Small Churches, and table discussions, spoke of the vital role played by small churches in their communities. Focused time was spent discussing the implementation of the three-court system, and concerns for staying connected (through clusters and ongoing small church events). Material collected at this meeting will be collated, and ed to Presbyters. The hall at Red Deer Lake has already been booked for a third event, in October Division Reports: MINISTRY SUPPORT Pastoral Relations - Pamela Scott MOTION: Pamela Scott/Murray Speer That Doug Powell s membership be transferred to Calgary Presbytery, effective immediately. CARRIED MOTION: Pamela Scott/Julia Kimmett That Henry Friesen be available for appointment, July 1, 2017 to June 30, CARRIED MOTION: Pamela Scott/Lois Irvine That Henry Friesen be available for appointment, July 1, 2018 to December 31, CARRIED The following four motions, and motion , pertain to sabbatical coverage for 2018: MOTION: Pamela Scott/Bob Findlay That Henry Friesen be the Pastoral Charge Supervisor for Strathmore Pastoral Charge, from April 2, 2018 to June 30, CARRIED MOTION: Pamela Scott/Bob Findlay That Henry Friesen be appointed to a 0.3 position at Strathmore Pastoral Charge, from April 2, 2018 to June 30, Category F, COL 3, annual salary $60,121.00, telephone $120.00, continuing education $ , total annual full-time amount $61, CARRIED Note: the monthly pro-rated amounts (0.3) for this position are: salary $1,540.85, telephone $15.00, continuing education $271.44, total monthly salary $

4 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, MOTION: Pamela Scott/Henry Friesen That David Robertson be the Pastoral Charge Supervisor for Diamond Valley Pastoral Charge, from April 3, 2018 to August 16, CARRIED MOTION: Pamela Scott/Donalda Ledene That Wally Fry be the Pastoral Charge Supervisor for Cochrane (St. Andrew s) Pastoral Charge, from June 3, 2018 to October 26, CARRIED Three points of information: In preparation for the new Office of Vocation, it will be important for retirees and those retained on the roll to be up to date on their police record checks and boundaries training, if they wish to be eligible for appointment. In order to assist local communities of faith to have a greater degree of independence, local policy manuals need to be up to date and functional. Murray Speer, is developing a resource to help congregations identify ten policy decisions every congregation should make. In addition to this, he will be available, supported by Presbytery funds, to consult with congregations on this matter. A do your own oversight visit resource is being fine-tuned, recognizing that Presbytery Oversight Visits will end when Presbytery ends. This will give M&P committees, Boards, congregational members, and the incumbent, and opportunity to assess how things are going on the Pastoral Charge. This will be distributed once ready. Pastoral Oversight no report Education & Students - Irene Milton New registrants to the Licensed Lay Worship Leader training, offered through United In Learning, may join the program at the beginning of each unit. Presbyters are asked to keep a look out for those whose calling may be in ministry, and to encourage them to prayerfully consider this calling. Conference E&S met in Calgary, November 8-9. Two candidates were recommended for ordination, and one for Commissioning at the May 2018 meeting of ANW Conference. Much was learned at this meeting regarding the upcoming changes as a result of the remits: The Remit implementation team is being led by David Allen, and will be meeting with Conference and Presbytery leaders. The Boundaries commission is consulting with Conferences and Presbyteries. A first draft will be out by January 11, 2018 with a final decision going to the March General Council Executive meeting for information only. The Commission has the authority to make the final decision. From a Conference Personnel Ministers meeting at the end of October: the most frequently used phrase was yet to be determined. Funding for a Regional Support Minister may be in place for Pastoral Relations work, if the region so decides, with funding coming from assessments (yet to be determined). Support structures in the new model include an Effective Leadership and Healthy Pastoral Relations Division, to support ministry personnel and congregations, staffing yet to be determined ; and a national Office of Vocations, staffed from General Council, which will work with those going through the process of becoming ministers. BC Conference is piloting a new candidacy pathway. Discernment will change from a year-long process, to a weekend meeting.

5 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, Inquirers will be required to do Vocational Assessment and complete the Boundaries and Racial Justice workshops and Police Records Check before becoming Candidates. Conference E&S Committees will continue their work until everything in the new system is in place and functioning. STEWARDSHIP Treasurer - Jim Litchfield Questions from the floor, not pertaining to the budget, were invited. The balance sheet was distributed quite early this month, so a few items have changed roughly $2,900 of Bow Valley funds have been disbursed, and about $600 added to the Small Church event expenses. Property - Joyce Cook no report Appeals & Grants - Norma Bell Conference Appeals & Grants met on November 7. The amount available, $177,305, remained unchanged from This year s grants were: Calgary Presbytery $6,500 to Calgary Presbytery Pastoral and Spiritual Care (requested $8,000) $27,000 to Symons Valley United Church for loan repayment. SVUC serves a wide general community in NW Calgary. (requested $30,000) Northern Lights Presbytery $15,000 to Hillcrest United Church, Fort Nelson, the only mainline Church in this isolated community on the Alaska Highway. (requested $15,000) South Alberta Presbytery $6,000 to Raymond United Church, as they field offers on selling their Church building in (requested $20,000) $2,500 to Waterton Pastoral Charge, which serves park visitors and local residents during July, August and at Christmastime. The Church building did suffer significant smoke damage during the recent wildfire. (requested $2,500) Incorporated Ministries $40, 000 to Bissell Centre, Edmonton. (requested $64,000; should there be uncommitted funds remaining in May 2018, this grant will be reassessed.) $15,000 to Inner City Pastoral Ministry, Edmonton, which provide a Sunday service and 200+ bag lunches each Sunday out of the Bissell Centre. (requested $18,000) Campus Ministries $8,000 to Ecumenical Campus Ministry, Lethbridge, two campuses (requested $8,000) $12,000 to Ecumenical Campus Ministry, Medicine Hat, two campuses (requested $12,000) $12,000 to Faith Lift, Edmonton, two campuses (requested $12,000) $25,000 to United/Presbyterian Campus Ministry, Calgary, three campuses with hopes of expanding to a fourth. (requested $35,000). An uncommitted balance of $1,305, remaining from this year s funding was directed to this ministry. In addition, there are grants possible from the Mission Transition Fund, which many Foothills congregations could put to good use will be the final year in which funds are available, Applications should be in for consideration at the May 2018 meeting. This year s grants were:

6 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, $15,000 to Knox United Church Sanctuary Café, Calgary (requested $15,000) Copies of this innovative proposal are available from Norma. $13,000 to Prairie Spirit Pastoral Charge Technology Workshop. (requested $4,100 which was determined to be too low, based on costs of a similar project in Carstairs) $ 7,450 to McKillop United Church Affirming Ministry Youth Project (requested $7,450) No action was taken on a request from the ANWC Intercultural Ministry Committee, Coronation, for five-year lump-sum funding of $40,000. It was decided this could not be funded since the committee and fund will not exist after December 31, Mission &Service no report CONGREGATION & MISSION DEVELOPMENT Brenda Watt reporting for Sue Lauzon-MacDonald Canyon Church Camp hopes to rebuild since the fire. Since the camp is located in a National Park, they need extra levels of permission to do the work they need to do. They have a lease, and have every belief that they will continue on, but have received no official response yet from the National Park system. Foothills and South Alberta Presbyteries wish to provide financial assistance, as are several congregations and other organizations who use the facilities. MOTION: Brenda Watt/Stewart Thomas That Foothills Presbytery, make up to $44,000 available in the 2018 budget for the rebuilding of Canyon Church Camp, if and when such funding requests are made by the governing board of Canyon Church Camp. CARRIED A bequest a decade ago was designated to hold a children s event. The Division will commit to holding a children s festival in A former Youth Ministry fund has been renamed, to give greater latitude; this will now be the learning grant fund. The Division tweaked its draft policy to provide learning grants to members of Presbytery. Rather than the initial proposal, for one-third of funding to be provided by each party: the recipient, their congregation, and Presbytery, members of Presbytery will now be able to apply for up to $500 per year, per request. In some circumstances the Division may wish to grant more than $500, but this would be at the discretion of the division. This policy will be circulated separately. STRONG PUBLIC WITNESS Allan Buckingham Letters have been sent regarding the possibility of meeting at Blackfoot Crossing. This location is within the bounds of Presbytery, near Gleichen/Arrowwood. The Discovery Box for Living Into Right Relations is still available upon request, as is our copy of the film, Elder in the Making. There were no requests this year for strong public witness grants. The Division wishes to use its budget in 2018 as seed funding for staging the New Blood play in April. The total amount needed is $5,000 and we can provide $1,000. An issue that is on the Division s radar: conversation about how/should we support restorative justice. How can we do this as Churches? The Division will attempt to begin this conversation. PLANNING COMMITTEE Allan Buckingham The next Presbytery meeting is in Turner Valley. A host is still needed for the March meeting. MOTION: Allan Buckingham/Julia Kimmett That Murray Speer be named Chair of Pastoral Oversight. CARRIED

7 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, MOTION: Allan Buckingham/Joyce Cook That Murray Speer be named Chair of Pastoral Relations from April 2, 2018 to June 30, CARRIED UCW Presbyterial Barbara Davison Many of the Women s group in congregations are calling themselves UCW Units, but do not seem to be affiliated with the Presbyterial UCW. Interesting discussions took place on this matter at the National UCW meeting, as it seems to be happening across the country. Most Presbyterials are now preparing for Annual Meetings. Foothills Presbyterial is beginning to organize its Annual Meeting, March 15th 2018 in Vulcan. The Conference UCW Annual Gathering is in April of 2018 at the FCJ Centre in Calgary, an opportunity to visit with women of similar spiritual values from across the Province. Conference UCW Barbara Davison The Child Wellbeing Initiative, which was begun in Calgary Presbyterial, is still involved with the giving out of the Poverty Doll - Hope. On November 21, 2017, the London Conference project Bread Not Stones met with the Canadian Government for a breakfast panel discussion in the Commons. Although the dolls were not allowed into the chamber, each of the 339 MPs were presented with a doll see UCW website. We are proud of how this local idea has spread across the country, an example of the work of the women of the United Church. Restructuring Update Shannon McCarthy, with extra input from GC42 Commissioners Shannon McCarthy provided an extensive update regarding the restructuring of The United Church of Canada. If there are any questions, Presbyters are invited to contact her at smccarthy@anwconf.com A transition team is evaluating how the sharing of Executive Secretary resources across three Conferences is going. In the regions, the new title of these positions will be Executive Ministers. General Secretary Nora Sanders will determine with a team to determine which staff will be retained, and where they will be deployed. Commissions are decision making bodies, so the geographic boundaries determined by the Boundaries Commission does not need to be approved by General Council After the initial report on January 11, the Church as individuals, congregations, Presbyteries - will have until January 31 to reply to the draft boundaries. After that the final decision of the Commission will be the decision on March To find the details of Remit implementation, go to the United Church Commons website look for the GC42 workbook. (UC Commons is the place to find many United Church documents). In January of 2018, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Church employees will offer Life Speak video resources to help staff in their roles as resources to other people, as well as self-help. Topics include diversity, conflict management, pastoral care to congregations, depression, addiction, sexual violence, and many more. Presbytery finance ending processes will be sent to finance/stewardship representatives. The rules and procedures are very detailed regarding trusts, CRA requirements, etc. Since Presbytery will no longer be a legal entity, it can no longer hold money past the end of Presbyteries are asked not to put unreasonable restrictions on how the moneys forwarded to the regions are spent, so that resources may be available for the whole system. As General Council Commissioners are elected, it is important to note that these people may be called upon as leadership people in the new regions, looking at and communicating our vision into the future, within a new structure. Questions were then invited from the court. Some of the additional points raised include:

8 Foothills Presbytery, November 28, As the regions are determined (roughly 12 to 15 regions) a key question in determining their size is, how many congregations are needed for viability? As Remits go to GC 43; we are reminded that a General Council does have the power to not enact a remit. The 2019 funding model is available in the GC Workbook. Annual Statistical forms will have slightly different questions to prepare for this. Clusters will not be legal entities, but the support and collegiality they offer will be extremely important in determining the next steps for the Church. Some test-driving of different models of clusters will be tried in the coming year. The Church already has some groupings that work as clusters: our small group connections in Foothills Presbytery, the UCW, and others. MOTION: Murray Speer/Pamela Scott That the committee reports be accepted as presented. CARRIED Other Business Budget 2018 Treasurer Jim Litchfield Our assessment to ANW Conference will be $45,075, $4,000 more than we had thought Mileage will be paid at $0.41/km, rather than $0.38/km, a budget increase of $800 The UCW Presbyterial request is now $1,000 rather than $750. The $12,000 budget line for Emergency Assistance for Canyon Camp comes out of the budget, as the new funding to be made available for this ($44,000, as per motion , above) will come from Term Deposits rather than the Chequing Account. This will reduce the intentional deficit from $27,585 to $15,835. MOTION: Joyce Cook/Norma Bell That the 2018 Budget be approved as revised. CARRIED The Division will be tidying up some of its accounts, with a view to making these into discretionary funds for use in More on this at the January 2018 meeting. MOTION FOR THE POWERS MOTION: David Robertson/Bob Findlay That the powers of Foothills Presbytery, routine and emergent, rest with the Executive, and the sub-executive if necessary, until the next scheduled meeting of Presbytery, except in matters where the consent of the full court is required by the Manual. CARRIED. The meeting was adjourned at 3:16 PM, and Chairperson Ray Goodship closed the meeting with prayer. Next Presbytery Meeting: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Turner Valley Next Executive Conference Call: Wednesday, January 3, 2018 Chair, Ray Goodship Recording Secretary, Greg Wooley