Diocesan Council Highlights 6-11-2013

1. OPENING

Bishop Michael welcomed all members of Diocesan Council, those elected at the May 24th and 25th Synod and continuing members.
Everyone in attendance was aware that this would be Bishop Michael’s final Diocesan Council meeting as Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster and Chair.
He went on to share with Council that in recent weeks he has received many kind wishes and tributes from people around the diocese and then he quipped “so I’ve decided to rescind my retirement.” There was a burst of laughter but in spite of that laughter he affirmed that he was “just kidding.”

3. PRESENTATION
3.1 New member Welcome and Orientation
After opening prayer Bishop Michael organized a very brief orientation segment where each member shared with Council their name, home parish and their role on Council.
Normally there would be a more comprehensive orientation process but due to the very full agenda it was kept to this brief introduction.
Bishop Michael informed new members and reminded continuing members that Diocesan Council is the Synod between Synods, giving oversight to the policy and mission of the diocese. Council does not have the power to change canons or the constitution. Canonical and constitutional change can only be done at Synod.
George Cadman the Chancellor provided further information on the role of Council and how Council is able to deliberate and make decisions on the use of restricted funds and other financial matters. Council also has a role to play in the deliberation and decision making around property matters (development, sale, purchase), mortgages, and partnerships with other organizations.
Meetings of Council are public meetings and may be reported on in the diocesan communications vehicles.
In closing the brief introduction Bishop Michael explained the In Camera process which in most cases has to do with property matters.

Bishop Michael suggested a change in the order of the Agenda to look at the matters facing Council that involved guests taking part in presentations.

6.2 Holy Trinity Cathedral - development proposal (Loan Request)
Gary James presented the Precis for the HTC development plan. This plan involves developing the HTC property by rejuvenating the existing building and grounds but also incorporating a 24 story concrete residential structure with continued funding for the long term maintenance of the building and site, after funding extensive renovation and reconfiguring the heritage Cathedral building. In the proposal, HTC will have ownership of 3 units in the Residential tower which will provide the source of revenue for the HTC Parish to ensure the maintenance of the Church buildings for the foreseeable future.
Gary listed the priorities of the parish’s mission and ministry. HTC believes strongly in liturgical excellence in worship and music and promoting education and youth development.
Currently, 17 different organizations use HTC and the opportunity for more growth is likely as New Westminster is growing. New Westminster expects 20-30 thousand new residents in the downtown area. Modern families are very happy with the quality of life living in a downtown urban environment and HTC wants to improve its presence in order to welcome them.
Following Gary, former diocesan Assistant Treasurer Jim Stewart spent 10 minutes going through the initial designs of the project and presenting to Council the Preliminary Development Budget. The components of this budget have been approved by the City of New Westminster.
In order to go to the next steps, HTC requires bridge funding to achieve a number of goals and move the project closer to the point where actual development can begin.
By doing all this work in advance prior to entering into a business arrangement with a developer, HTC will be in an excellent position to approach a developer to do the work and pay HTC for the preparation they have already done.
Once a development permit is received sometime in 2014 then the work will take 30-36 months to complete.
Tony Sauder, Chair of the Stewardship and Gift Development Committee asked if this presentation will come back to Council in the future for further deliberation.
Chancellor, George Cadman pointed out that the Motion voted on tonight is the funding of the up to $700,000 loan which is also approval in principle of the project.
Bishop Michael thanked Gary and Jim for their presentation and deferred the debate and vote to later in the meeting.
Later in the meeting after some other business was concluded,
Bishop Michael opened the floor to debate the motion.
The Venerable John Stephens had a question about risk of the capital. Legal Assessor Don Paul pointed out the paragraph in the agreement where the diocese would take a percentage of the property rights as collateral for the loan.
The Reverend Dr. Richard Leggett spoke in favour of the motion affirming that this is a very good use of the diocesan New Development Fund.
The Motion was Carried unanimously.

6.1 Motion 20 from Synod
Bishop Michael reminded Council that when presenting resolutions for debate and voting the same rules of order at Synod apply to Council. He also informed Council and guests that a motion similar to #20 is coming to General Synod “Joint Assembly” with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
Reinhard Rudersdorfer who is the mover of Motion 20 spoke .
Please click to access his STATEMENT.
The Reverend Margaret Marquardt, the seconder of the motion spoke very briefly and said that these mining companies headquartered in Canada would not be allowed to operate in Canada the way they are operating in the rest of the world.

A number of guests spoke in favour of the Motion offering compelling stories of how Canadian Mining Companies are viewed unfavourably around the world.
In summary, social and environmental impact of Canadian mining is creating upheaval around the world, pitting citizens of the countries affected against one and another resulting in murder, rape, illegal or unfair appropriation of land and resources and destroying things as basic as a reliable fresh water supply.

After the guests gave their statements Bishop Michael invited members of Council to speak.
The Venerable John Stephens said that he thinks Council needs more information in order to vote knowledgeably on Motion 20 and in response he read the Motion going to General Synod in July on the same issue which is more general in tone and in Archdeacon Stephens’s opinion, “begins the conversation.”
The Very Reverend Peter Elliott moved, seconded by the Reverend Dr. Richard Leggett that the Motion be looked at ad seriatum so that each part of the Motion can be voted on individually. That Motion was Carried and Bishop Michael then conducted voting on each paragraph of the motion with the following results:
MOTION #20
Paragraph 1 – Carried
Paragraph 2 – Carried
Paragraph 3 – Carried
Paragraph 4 – Carried
Paragraph 5a – Carried
Paragraph 5b- Defeated
Paragraph 6 and b – Carried.
This version of Motion #20 will be forwarded to General Synod Joint Assembly as a Memorial.

4.1 The Minutes of May 14th, 2013 were accepted as presented

3.3 Formation of Canon #2 Search/Nominations Committee
Chancellor George Cadman presented similar information to the information he provided on Day 2 of Synod but customized it for Diocesan Council.

This overview segued into the election of the Nominations/Search Committee. The applications were presented to Council; 10 Clergy applicants of which five will be elected and 5 lay applicants. The Chancellor then asked if there were any further nominations for lay applicants, hearing none, the five were elected by acclamation, they are: Prof. Starr Allaby of St. Barnabas, New Westminster and the Chair of the Ministry and Congregational Development Committee (MCDC); Prof. Leslie Arnovick of St. James’, Vancouver; Helen Brown of St. Cuthbert’s, Delta and Chair of the Ministry Resources Committee (MRC); Dr. Charles Nurse of St. George, Fort Langley; Reinhard Rudersdorfer of St. John, Sardis and Yale Deanery Representative on Diocesan Council.

The Chancellor then asked for further nominations for the 5 clergy positions. There were none, so the Chancellor handed out ballots containing the names of the 10 applicants. Following the vote, the Chancellor collected the ballots and went off to count the votes and determine the outcome. The clergy members elected: The Reverends Michael Fuller, Marnie Peterson, David Price, Brian Vickers and the Venerable John Struthers.
The Executive Archdeacon will be a staff resource to the Search/Nominations Committee and meetings may begin as early as mid-July.
The next step is to prepare the diocesan profile and present it to the Metropolitan, the Most Reverend John Privett.

5. CORRESPONDENCE5.1 Letter about Camp Artaban from Alex Rhodes, May 14th, 2013

6.3 St. John’s Shaughnessy – request to access restricted funds
Business Administrator Rob Dickson spoke to the request and highlighted several of the points made in the Precis and letter. The principal need is maintenance work and principal among that work are repairs that need to be done on the roof.
For information Bishop Michael told Council that the proceeds of rectory sales are put in a restricted fund for the benefit of the parish.
The Motion was Carried.

8. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
8.3 Fresh Start Presentation
(This item was actually on the agenda for debate)
On behalf of Ordained Ministry Division (OMD) the Chair, the Reverend Clarence Li presented the Reverends Ruth Monette and Faun Harriman who have been to Fresh Start facilitation training.
Faun and Ruth presented information about transitions in congregations, transitions that often take 18 months to 2 years. From the point that the clergy person says they are leaving that clergy person and the congregation goes into transition.
• How do you say good-bye?
• How do you say hello?
• How were introductions handled?
• What was the first Sunday like?
Ruth and Faun gave a powerpoint presentation that illustrated the material contained in the linked document.
In the near future we are looking at 12 clergy in transition.
The Motion to affirm Fresh Start as a pilot project in the diocese was Carried

9 NOMINATIONS
9.1 Appointment of Diocesan Office Task Force
The Task Force would work through the summer of 2013 in order to look at forming a Diocesan Centre and/or Diocesan Offices at facilities other that the current location of the Diocese Offices and report back to Diocesan Council by September 2013.
The Motion to affirm the members of the Task Force was Carried

It was getting on for 9:50pm when Bishop Michael asked Council for approval to defer the two remaining items to the September, 2013 meeting. Council approved and the Reverend Dr. Richard Leggett stood and informed Bishop Michael and Council that there would be a reception immediately following the meeting with Champagne and Black Forest Cake. At the end of that announcement Council stood and gave the Right Reverend Michael Ingham a sustained standing ovation.

All remained standing for “the Grace” and that concluded the final Diocesan Council meeting of Bishop Michael’s episcopacy.

Images: Top and homepage and below (in full). At the end of the meeting Bishop Michael is given a sustained standing ovation. Upper right, Gary James presents the HTC project story. Upper left Motion 20 seconder the Reverend Margaret Marquardt and to her left Motion 20 mover, Reinhard Rudersdorfer speaks to the Motion.

Middle-upper right the Reverend Emilie Smith holds a photo of her friend Yolanda (Yoli) Oqueli, a Guatemalan community leader. On June 13, 2012, she was shot, as she left the peaceful blockade of the El Tambor proposed gold mine site, half an hour north of Guatemala City. She carried a bullet to this day millimetres from her spine, but continues to be a leader in this movement. The proposed mine was owned at the time by Radius Gold (Vancouver) who have since sold the troublesome mine.

Middle, the first Coffee Break of the new Diocesan Council. Lower-middle left, the Diocesan Legal Officers. Lower-middle right, Phil Colvin Diocesan Youth Coordinator has "voice but no vote" however new Diocesan Council members, the Reverend Margaret Cornish, Clergy rep for Richmond/Delta and the Reverend Vivian Lam, Clergy rep for East Vancouver get to vote and are ready to have their ballots collected. Lower left, new Diocesan Treasurer, Bob Hardy and Diocesan Business Administrator, Rob Dickson. Lower centre, the Reverend Ruth Monette presenting the Fresh Start program. Bottom left, Archdeacons Fenton and Rowe cut and serve the celebratory Black Forest Cake. Below, the Standing Ovation as seen from the north side of the St. Augustus Hall.

 

Diocesan Council is the decision making, governing body of the Diocese of New Westminster consisting of: the Diocesan Officers (Bishop, Dean, Executive Archdeacon, Chancellor, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer)
the Archdeacons of the five Archdeaconries
the Archdeacon who is the Director of Deacons, two additional Diocesan Legal Officers, (Registrar and Legal Assessor), a Lay Secretary, a Clergy Secretary, the chairs of the Diocesan Standing Committees
There are two Deanery reps either Ordained or Lay. Sometimes Deaneries have two lay reps and sometimes two clergy reps, sometimes one of each. A Deanery is a group of churches, geographically affiliated and the reps are elected at the Annual Synod Meeting.
Synod Staff also attend meetings but are not members of Diocesan Council. They include: Business Administrator, Stewardship and Planned Giving Officer, Comptroller, Youth Coordinator and Communications Officer (and other staff as required).
Diocesan Synod consists of all the active clergy in the Diocese of New Westminster and 2-6 lay people elected from each diocesan parish proportionate to the size of the parish community.
Diocesan Council functions as the Synod between Synods, it is a representation of the large group that meets annually.
Diocesan Council and Diocesan Synod are both chaired by the Bishop.
Diocesan Council meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month usually at St. Augustine, Marpole at 7:30pm. Diocesan Council is adjourned for the months of July and August.