HARROWSMITH-VERONA PASTORAL CHARGE

MINUTES

OFFICIAL BOARD MEETING APRIL 21, 2008

 

Present: Jennifer Bennett, Bonnie Brown, Carolyn Brown, Fergus Brown, Lynda Boulter, Denny Buchanan, Rob Christie (Chair), Brenda Crawford, Millie Cuthill,  Don Coleman, Liz Hughson, Elaine Lazier, Marilyn Lawler, John McDougall (secretary), Rev. Lynda Price, Gord Ramer, Elfleda Watson, Ardith Wolsey, Don Wolsey

Regrets: Nancy Moore-Carr, Darlene Nicol, Marnie Pederson

 

  1. The meeting was opened by the chair Rob Christie with the Constitution of the Court and Rev. Lynda Price followed with a prayer. Gayle Robertson will lead the opening worship at the next meeting.

 

  1. The agenda was adopted. Don Wolsey / Lynda Boulter Carried

 

  1. The minutes of the Jan. 28, 2008 meeting were accepted. Carolyn Brown / John McDougall

 

  1. Business arising. The meeting thanked Jennifer Bennett and the volunteers from both churches for managing the wonderful performance of The Gospel of St. Mark on April 19, 2008.

 

  1. We received letter of thanks for donations from the Salvation Army and the Central Frontenac Community Services.

 

  1. The Minister’s Report outlined her intention to attend The Bay of Quinte Conference May 30- June 1. M&P will provide the supply. The Share the Vision Conference is Thurs, June 5 in Yarker. An Interim Ministry Event will be held at Trinity June 11-13, 2008. The More Franchises Than Tim Horton’s conference is being held in Toronto, June 18-22. Lynda will be holding Membership Classes on May 14 and 21.A Verona Cemetery Service will be held on Sunday May 25 at 2.00 p.m. Trinity’s Anniversary preacher will be Rev. Nancy Hardy from Toronto. We will hold a charge retreat in the fall.

 

  1. Moved: That we design and provide our own bulletin covers on the fifth Sundays of the month, after consultation with the secretary.  John McDougall / Brenda Crawford Carried. Lynda Boulter and Don Coleman have agreed to run them off.  

 

  1. The Treasurer’s Report was accepted. Don Coleman/ Jennifer Bennett. Our manse insurance is very high and Don Coleman will look into other options for next year. The manse rentals are now coming in reliably.

 

  1. The Manitoba maples at St.Paul’s will be removed. Sean Tryon will donate his services.

 

  1. Motion: That our charge reject participation in the United Church of Canada’s new centralized payroll plan. Don Coleman / Denny Buchanan Carried. This plan was originally to be handled by the head office and cost Charges $ 15.00 per transaction. In fact, the plan has been outsourced to a payroll company and will cost $ 420.00 per year. It actually means a bigger administrative workload for our treasurer. The money would have be forwarded from our account early in the month and would affect our cash flow flexibility.

 

  1. The original expectation of more than a 10% increase in the Presbytery allocation this year is said to be actually more in the 2-3% range. We will be watching very carefully for increases in budget proposals for the beauacracy budgets for next year.

 

  1. Motion: That Don Coleman and Judy Borovskis be authorized to negotiate a new photocopier lease as our present leases expire or are bought out.  Don’s proposal represents a savings of $40.00 per month.

 

  1. Committee Reports

 

a. Elaine Lazier reported that the Ministry and Personnel committee has met twice with the Minister and once as a committee. They will conduct the service June 1.

 

b. The Manse Committee chair, Fergus Brown, reported that there is no survey and an amendment would have to be made to the Township Official Plan in order to install a water source and sell the manse. A meeting is planned with the Township planner, Lindsay Mills, the mayor and the deputy mayor to look at options.

 

c. No reports were available from the Stewardship, Joint Worship, Presbytery, or UCW.

 

d. The Trinity Session chair, Millie Cuthill, reported on the training session for our new stair climber and the proposed repair of our stained glass windows.

 

e. Chair, Lynda Boulter, reported on the Trinity Steward’s fundraising plans, past successes, the results of their elections, kitchen inventory progress and donations. New Steward member Denny Buchanan was welcomed to this meeting. The full detailed report is posted at the back of the Trinity sanctuary and on the website.

 

f. Trinity Trustee’s secretary, John McDougall, reported that the Trinity congregation decided to invest the remainder of their Ila Townsend fund, and that the interest will be used for community outreach.

 

g. Millie Cuthill has asked the Sunday Schools to stay in session until after our joint Trinity Anniversary Sunday on June 8.

 

h. Donna Walker (Social Planning), Liz Bruce and Brenda Crawford are new member of the St.Paul’s Council. They are hiring a new caretaker. A fall retreat and a welcoming committee are being planned. A chicken BBQ in coming up on April 26.

 

i. The St.Paul’s Trustees re planning a joint application, with Trinity, for a Church Modernization and Improvement Grant from General Council. We decided to send it in on behalf of the Official Board.

Motion: That the Pastoral Charge apply for a Modernization and Improvement Grant to upgrade both church’s stained glass windows and the grant amount ($ 5000.00) be divided equally between the two churches. Liz Hughson / Millie Cuthill Carried

John McDougall will work with Liz Hughson to prepare the application.

 

j. John McDougall will ask The Child Centre in Sharbot Lake if there is any money available for rent or donation for the space that we provide in both churches.

 

  1. The next meeting: Monday September 22, 2008 at Trinity at 7.00 p.m.

 

  1. Adjournment: Brenda Crawford and Liz Hughson Carried