Minutes, January 13, 2007
Attendees: Bonnie Bates, Convenor; David Southard, Recorder; Lawrence Gilley; Richard Cowles, Scott Brown, Clarence Price and Ginger Comstock
Bonnie opened our meeting at approx. 11 AM and requested that Lawrence provide a devotion. Lawrence read to us from Psalm 36, verses 5-10 and today's entry in the UCC 'Book of Prayer', followed by a prayer.
There were three (3) corrections to the November meeting minutes: Reference to May 10 in paragraph 3 should be March 10; Julia Brown-'Carebo' should read Julia Brown-Karimu in paragraph 4 and Jan 'Airy' should read: Jan Aerie on page 2, last para. Minutes were accepted with those changes. David asked everyone to, please, get him the requested changes to the minutes, BEFORE the next meeting so he will have corrected copies of the minutes to distribute. David agreed to do the minutes in Microsoft WORD instead of WORKS, so that all would be able to receive the minutes in plain text.
Update on our Website, according to Rick and Lawrence, has led to NO new action. Maybe Adrienne is too busy. Lawrence will handle merger of our Commission to the website, which Clarence said he believes will be acceptable. Carol Giordano will NOT be able to handle our activity. Bonnie will follow up with Adrienne and we'll go from there. Metro Association is VERY up-to-date and 'hits' come to our website through them.
Missionary Visits: Bob Welcher has agreed to coordinate our Missionary visits for our Global Commission, following an invitation to join us. Lawrence made a motion to accept Bob as our Missionary Coordinator, 2nded by David and unanimously approved. Lawrence provided us with the Wilson's schedule, both verbally and in a subsequent e-mail, so it will NOT be repeated in the minutes.
Contact people are Alice Hopkins for Susquehanna (March 4-8, 2007), NYConf. Youth Event (March 9-11), Bonnie Bates for Black River/ St. Lawrence (BR/STL) Assoc (March 18-23), P.V. George for Oneida Assoc. (March 24-31) and Melva Victorino or Kate von Braunsberg for Metro (April 20-30, 2007). Bob was NOT able to join us at today's meeting. Rick offered to help transport the Wilsons to BR/STL on March 17 and Clarence offered them a ride for their Susq. Visit. David and Scott will work out (with PV George) one or more Phoenix/Bayberry meetings with the Wilsons.
Disaster Response: Clare Price and Rick met with Eileen Dearborn our newly appointed NY Conf. Disaster Response Coordinator. Bonnie will contact Eileen, who did NOT attend today's meeting. David believes he had sent her the meeting minutes from November. Eileen has tremendous knowledge. OGHS (One Great Hour of Sharing) is the primary funding source for Disaster Response, acc. to Rick.
NYHELP: Ginger reported that 9 or 10 people will travel to Nicaragua between February 19 and March 3, 2007. They will work on the new secondary school and in modernizing the clinic-also attending the annual Soccer Championships. A summer trip is, also, planned for Nicaragua. Ginger will provide travelers' names to Rick who will publish them and request that NYConf churches pray for their safe and productive trip. A discussion of funding for 'Help-a-Child' ensued. The NYHELP knowledge is located in our Western Region, but contributions are received from other regions, also.
Work Camps and Relationships: Rick initiated discussion concerning there is more to be done at Disaster relief Work Camps in Broome County, NY; Florida and Mississippi. Rick will follow up and will be willing to lead one week. Clare will let Rick know about remaining needs in Sidney and Walton Churches.
Clare spoke of the German (EKU) Church involvement. Youth groups will be going to Southern African Work Camps from German churches. Do we cooperate? He provided some background info on our more than 20-year relationship with EKU Churches. A NEW covenant will be established, by the Commission on Ecumenism. Lawrence suggested we coordinate with them and offer our support. Bonnie suggested a letter from our Commission to Ecumenism, telling them we're excited about their plans and that we'd like to work with them. Rick will try to get pictures from Diane's Mexico Trip. Clare would like these available for the spring State Youth Event. Rick offered grace for our working lunch. We, then were asked 'How many trips do we want to sponsor and how frequent?'. A discussion ensued. Maybe we should plan trips every two years (Africa trip was in 2006-next trip in 2008, for instance). A suggestion was made that we pay for the Leader's expenses. Clare suggested a trip to Germany in 2008, Scott offered to lead a trip to China.
Rick said that three (3) of the missionaries they dealt with on the African trip have left their posts, already. He suggested, however, that the travelers encountered situations we can follow up on, such as asking our churches to donate funds to support certain efforts such as the Karen Center for Girls in Mozambique and the Noodsburg Orphanage in South Africa. Since the EKU is involved in these efforts we could make a cooperative agreement.
NYHELP is self-funded but should be uppermost in our minds for 2008 trips. A discussion ensued that dealt with the question of 'What do we DO on our trips?' Do we just visit and observe or do we 'pitch in' (Work Camps) to get something done? Something to decide for each trip. Clare showed us a Mission Christiana plaque and reminded us of our former relationship with that church. Rick will contact Common Global Ministries and Clare will determine the interest at Mission Christiana, by contacting them. (He believes we haven't had contact for over five years.).
Commission Budget for 2007: We had done a two-year budget in 2005, however, in looking at the figures, again, we're OK for 2007, but Clare suggested we need to remind the Executive Committee of our plans to travel extensively every two (2) years (2006/2008/2010, etc.).
Other Business: Bonnie will travel to Israel, January 30 ? February 8. We offered her our prayers for a safe and productive journey. Bonnie will conduct a Mission Workshop in the BR/STL Association and has asked for our help, Sunday, May 19. Ginger has volunteered NYHELP, Rick has volunteered to provide the African Trip presentation and David has volunteered to provide suggestions to churches to start their own Mission Ministry. Our 'Mission-Possible' date was agreed on for October 19 and 20, 2007. Rick will get info to Bonnie concerning a monthly questionnaire to churches.
Meeting adjourned at about 2:15 PM. Scott provided the closing prayer.
"The way to understand Mission and to contribute to Mission is to be involved in Mission !"
Next Meeting will be Saturday, March 31, 11 AM @ UCC NYConf. Office
Minutes respectfully submitted:
David G. Southard