CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

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• Parent Category: Landmark Newsletter
• Published on Thursday, 28 May 2009 14:45

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
May 12, 2009

PRISON MINISTRY:  Church Council was pleased to have Senator Ed Meyer, Vin Adinolfi, Susan Murtha and Gail Thompson speak to us about First Church’s prison ministry program.  Susan shared that there are six branches to this ministry, known as the Shoreline Resettlement Alliance:  Mentoring, Hospitality, Prayer Partners, Political Advocacy, Marts’ House and Other Partners.  The purpose of the ministry is to provide spiritual, mental and physical support as prisoners transition into the community.  Vin heads up the mentoring and Gail has served as a volunteer for many years.

  Both Vin and Gail spoke passionately and enthusiastically about their gratifying experiences.  This does not mean there aren’t frustrating moments.  Sometimes mentors are not welcome by the correctional officers in the prisons.  Most often there is only a 50/50 chance of staying in touch with a prisoner once released from prison.  Through prayer the volunteers know that while they may not receive tangible gratification, their time with a prisoner is most likely remembered for life.  Clyde and Betsy Work are mentoring two children whose parents are in prison, and have enjoyed the time with these children very much.  Marts’ House is a home that was donated to be a halfway house, and First Church furbished the library/computer room.  It was dedicated to Letty Russell and has been a great resource for the women at Marts’ House.  Hospitality includes the backpack program where First Church collects personal items, and Susan heads up the Prayer Partners.  Senator Meyer gave us an update on the work he is doing with legislation.  Last year the State passed a law prohibiting 16 and 17 year olds from being prosecuted as adults, with the exception of the more serious crimes.  Having a child prosecuted as a juvenile provides many rehabilitative services as compared to an adult, but State funding has been cut dramatically, so there is talk to rescind the law.  In other proposed legislation, there is a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.  Ed believes that this should not be passed because marijuana is the “gateway” to more serious drug use and other criminal behaviors.  Another bill being discussed is time credit for good behavior.  Presently CT does not have this program in place.

PILGRIM FELLOWSHIP:  With great sadness the church accepted the resignation of Michael Dalton, PF Director, who will be leaving to pursue higher educational goals.  Kendrick has assembled a search committee to include, besides himself, Rebecca Bunting, Russ Campaigne, Lisa Carbone, Marti Carlson, Kurt Linske and Charlie Peluse.  Council voted to accept this committee.

STEWARDSHIP:  Doug Scales presented Sandy Nicholas with a beautiful live plant as a thank you from the Stewardship Committee for her leadership this past campaign.  He also reported on the success rate of each wave of the campaign so we will know how to best spend our energies.

NEW BUDGET REQUEST PROCEDURES:  Peter Hughes reported that the BoF wants to look at creating a more accurate Current Expense budget by soliciting from EVERY committee and board a new budget request form.  BoF will make themselves available to your committee/board to assist with this.  He has written a budget guideline packet and will put a copy in each mailbox.  Please be sure that the appropriate individual on your committee/board (i.e., treasurer) gets this, and it is returned to BoF over the summer.  Stewardship needs a tentative target number by September to plan their fall campaign.

HUMAN RESOURCES:  Tom Grant, chair of HR, reviewed the Employee Evaluation process and presented the newly designed employee evaluation form.  (This is not the same evaluation form for the ministers.)  It is HR’s plan to have the evaluator set goals for the church staff member and have employees set goals for themselves.  Each committee member overseeing an employee should complete an evaluation form, and the chair would compile the information.  If we use the ministers as an example, it would be the Executive Committee for Deacons who would compile the evaluations and review the goals and evaluation(s) with each minister.  Tom also presented the new Educational Expense Plan, where the revisions made us compliant with our Flexible Spending Plan.  This revised plan was voted up and approved by Council.

FINANCIALS:  Debbie Peluse reported that there are still some technical difficulties in printing all of the reports through the compilation of reports.  Retroactive salaries will not show up until May.  In addition the PF bills and receipts have not yet been submitted.

MELITA:  Frank Wright shared that Melita will have a new chair – Sarah Beres – as he is moving back to England.  Council shared their appreciated for all of his work on the refugee program.  With his departure, it is his home on Fair Street where the Iraqi refugee family will live, although for the first ten days, they will stay with the Works.  Because Frank’s place is furnished, very little furniture, if any, will be needed.  The family has been in Damascus for the past two years since leaving Iraq.  The family includes the parents, a daughter, age 7, a son, age 5 and another child, age 2. 

Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM.