Westminster Diaconate Board Minutes
July 15, 2007
Attending: Walt Beckwith, Carol Kelly, Betty Berghaus, staff, Jeff Sutton, Darren Skeen, Sharon Barnes, Anne Van, Helen Tharrington, Bruce Capehart, Rick Overholt, Bill McAvoy, Dorene Palermo, Bill Burig, Gary Lehew, Bill Hatch, Scotti Harwood, Holly Borden, Marty Warburton, Michael Reich, moderator, Sally Keener, clerk.
Michael Reich, moderator, officiating the last diaconate meeting of his term, called the meeting to order and Devotions were led by Betty. She shared Scripture from Colossians 1:15-28, which brings us as officers the message about reflecting on who Christ is, what He has done for us and how we must work on our faith through study, reflection and acts. She closed with a prayer by Walter Brueggermann from Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth.
Concerns/Celebrations:
Concerns were shared for Ann Claypoole and her family with the sudden death of Frank Claypoole. Also, prayers for Mary Beck’s mother who is in the hospital again and Dan Dunlop’s sister diagnosed with cancer.
Introductions were made around the room for the benefit of the new deacons joining this meeting to get a jump on understanding the 2008 budget and the process for setting the budget. The board was delighted to have the new members so well represented.
The June minuets were approved as submitted.
Betty reported that the green house project will begin work on July 28th. WPC will be in charge of getting workers on the site and providing lunch on August 18th, September 29th and October 27th. You are invited to a supper provided by Trinity Avenue to meet Rosalyn, the house’s future occupant.
Betty reported that the family has moved back to Charleston. She reminded us that this was the woman and three children here for medical help that Terry Aubaugh referred to us. Our assistance for this family has been full of challenges and a learning experience about the importance of screening prior to accepting care-giving responsibilities so we can enter into any outreach prepared to serve.
Last year our Youth tore down an outside shelter to be rebuilt. We have struggled to do the rebuilding and it is only thanks to dedicated personal efforts of Walt Beckwith that the money needed was raised and the job will be done. Once again the lesson is that we deacons need full information of missions we take-on in order to be ready to follow-through.
Discussion reinforced that this is a work in progress and we can continue research to finalize our recommendations up through the November meeting. [The budget goes to Ways and Means in December, and to the Session for final approval in January.] Jeff was asked to oversee further examination of the budgets for the three campus ministries. It was also suggested that the September meeting entertain a motion to use local discretionary funds to add $2,000 to Housing for New Hope that is to be cut in the budget. Two new line items were added: Congregational Care with a figure of 400 and Environmental concerns (to be further researched by Scotti and her subcommittee) with a figure of $4000. Scotti will have an environmental report for the November meeting (or before).
We reviewed available Deacon Controlled Funds. These are funds that currently carry a balance and can be used to fund existing or new endeavors. We have not discussed these funds much this year but a couple of them have balances ranging from $7,000 to $11,000. We were reminded that the Westminster Fund must be used for work in the triangle area only. [See attachment.]
Respectfully submitted, Sally Keener, clerk