Diaconate September Retreat and Business Meeting
September 24, 2005
Attendance: Elena Cleary (Moderator), Nancy Safrit, Jeff Sutton, Sally Keener (clerk), Bill Scott, Bruce Capehart, Lynn Chesnut, John Lockhead, Sharon Barnes, Holly Borden, Bill McAvoy, Rick Overholt, Michael Reich (Co-moderator), Carol Cunningham and Betty Berghaus (staff).
Objectives
v Get to know one another so that we can communicate clearly and effectively
v Build a sense of team among leaders of the church
v Organize our efforts for taking on new responsibilities
v Assign Deacons and responsibilities to committees
Opening Prayer / Devotional was led by Betty based on the deacon call to mission from The Book of Acts.
After get-acquainted self-introductions, Jeff facilitated a hands-on ice breaker activity that provided good discussion on process and organization do’s and don’ts to achieve a group-shared goal.
Sally led the group in activities that provided fun and discussion on the attributes of good leadership and effective teams. Core messages included the vital importance of good communication; valuing all team members and appreciating the varied contributions each person can make; actively seeking input from everyone; listening skills; clarifying the goal and tasks; and bringing high character to leadership roles.
Michael arranged for a wonderful lunch catered by Rick’s Diner.
Elena led a matching activity in which the deacons first individually and then with group consensus, divided the list of Diaconate responsibilities into five committee-based categories: Assimilation, Fellowship, Congregational Care, Local Missions and Global Missions. Five breakout mini-groups were formed, based on interest, to address seven questions in terms of the goals and perspectives of that committee. Questions covered (1) the mission and purpose of the committee; (2) how the committee should be organized; (3) how often the committee should meet; (4) how the committee will report to the diaconate; (5) who/how many should serve on the committee and is this an opportunity for congregational involvement; (6) how will involvement be encouraged/recruited; and (7) what should the leadership structure be. Each breakout group reported back to the whole group for further discussion. Once all committees had shared their answers, the deacons signed up for chair, co-chair, committee or liaison responsibilities. In addition to seeking members and from the congregation, the deacons not able to attend the retreat will be asked to help fill-in the gaps. The committees (listed alphabetically), the responsibilities and the deacons accepting responsibilities are as follows:
Assimilation Co-Chairs: Sally Keener and Rebecca Mattern-Mielcarek
Bonnie Derr, Elder Liaison
WPC Website Michael Reich, chair,
(members: Sally Keener, Holly Borden, Jeff
Sutton, Elena Cleary, Betty Berghaus)
Time & Talent
Barnabas Group
Congregational Co-Chairs: Bill Scott and Lynn Chesnut
Care (committee member – Nancy Safrit)
Congregational Care volunteers/workers
Cards from Deacons (Sally Keener)
Stephen Ministries
Fellowship Co-Chairs: Bill McAvoy and
Caroline Haynes, Elder Liaison
Supper Clubs
Christmas Eve dinner
Lenten Lunches (Nancy Safrit)
Ash Wednesday Pancake Supper
Church lunches/Dinners or Events
Kitchen (Dana Lange)
Athletics (John Lockhead)
Pres Point Camping (John Lockhead)
Global Missions Co-Chairs: Bruce Capehart and
Frances Anton, Elder Liaison / Co-chair
Crop Walk (Carol Cunningham)
Disaster
Relief Fund
Don
Wehmeyer Missions
Global
Mission Projects
Hurricane
Katrina Relief
Hyde
County Mission Fund
Mexico
Mission Trips
Music
Mission Kiev
Local Missions Co-Chairs: Sharon Barnes and Jeff Sutton
a) Budget Responsibilities: Howard Williams Fund
b) Liaison Responsibilities:
Next Step Housing (Sharon Barnes)
Threshold
Durham Congregations in Action (Nancy Safrit)
Durham Nativity School (Sally Keener)
Project Graduation (Carol Cunningham)
NCCU Pres. Campus Ministry (Dave Calderwood?)
Duke Pres. Campus Ministry (Bill Scott, Bruce Cunningham)
UNC Pres. Campus Ministry (Morris Griffin?)
Hispanic Church Ministry
Religious Coalition for Non-violence
DCRC (Dan Dunlop)
Urban Ministries of Durham
Genesis Home (Morris Griffin)
Food Bank of NC (Dana Lange)
Housing for New Hope (Kirsten Overholt,
congregational liaison)
Habitat for Humanity (Bill McAvoy)
c) Activities: Collection Boxes rotates with needs
Distribution of Christ the King Shoeboxes
d) Committees: IHN Co-Chairs Carol Cunningham, Dorene
Palermo
and
(committee member – Dave Calderwood)
Share Your Christmas (John Lockhead)
Mission Work Day (Michael Reich)
Shelter Meals (Rick Overholt)
Benevolence Review Committee (Sharon Barnes, Jeff Sutton)
Jobs for Life (Doug Cleary)
Overall Board of Deacons:
Deacons’ Corner (Sally Keener)
Pastor and Assoc. Pastors Discretionary Funds
Mission Focus (Michael Reich)
Camp New Hope (Michael Reich)
Deacon thank you cards (Sally Keener)
Session Responsibilities – Deacon Liaison
Inquirers’ Class
Ways and Means (Bruce Capehart, Jeff Sutton)
Worship Committee (John Lockhead, Bill McAvoy)
Stewardship with
Dana Lange
Christian Ed (Sally Keener)
Youth Committee (Rebecca Mattern-Mielcarek,
Rick Overholt)
Nominating Committee (Bill Scott)
September Business Meeting was convened at 4:30 p.m. by Moderator Elena Cleary.
Mission Day Planning - Oct. 22 Michael Reich
Michael stated that the keys to a successful Mission Day are organization and getting people involved. The work sites for this year are still being firmed-up, but one will definitely be IHN. Michael handed out a list of the helpers he needs, and most requests were filled immediately by our Deacon volunteers. 1.Breakfast – Jim Tatum; 2. Lunch prep – Rick Overholt; 3. Workday snacks – Lynn Chesnut; 4. Childcare/activities – Hannah Overholt, Morgan Thompson, Sally Anderson & Grayson Schmidt; 5. Toddlers and Infants – TBA, probably Barb VB; 6. Sign-up tables at both services Oct 9th – Sharon, Oct. 16th – Carol. Michael will arrange with the pastors and maybe Doug Wellemyer for a minute for mission to announce and promote Mission Workday.
Michael needs a site supervisor for each location to clearly identify the task/goal, visit the site ahead of time, procure whatever materials will be necessary (to be reimbursed) and oversee activities at the site on the workday.
Mission Focus 2006 Michael Reich
Michael needs at least 3 people to develop a proposal to bring to the Deacon Board in October. Volunteers are: Holly, Jeff, John, Elena and Betty. Anyone with ideas for the mission focus is invited to email them to Michael.
Church Women United request for $50 Elena Cleary
This group had understood that the request they submitted (and had approved) last year was for an annual gift. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried that the Church Women United needs to fill-out and submit the appropriate form to the benevolence committee. As we do have a church member active in this group (Ann Kline), it is appropriate for the benevolence committee to consider the request. The Church Women United is a group of women of different races who meet for fellowship and to discuss race relation issues together. The funds would be to help support programs and mailings.
Spiritual Enrichment Weekend
The activities and meals for this event are supported through the Fellowship committee. Bill McAvoy, new Fellowship co-chair, will contact Richard Draffin to find how the Fellowship Committee will help. The spiritual Enrichment Weekend with Tom Long will be October 15-17th.
Collection Boxes through the end of September are dedicated to a drive by MP2 for supplies for Hurricane Relief. Bruce, the new Global Missions co-chair, will check with the committee and give us a list of what is needed for on-going hurricane relief; he will ask our mission group who is now in Mississippi for suggestions and report the decision(s) to Sally for inclusion in the Deacons’ Corner and the WPC website to guide October contributions.
Deacons’ Corner will include information about the Mission Workday and collection boxes.
Closing Prayer was offered by Betty.
Respectfully Submitted: Sally Keener, Diaconate Clerk