Heard a presentation from the Standing Committee and engaged in discussion about the election and transition to the next Bishop of Minnesota.
Discussed next steps for Mission Strategy.
Unanimously passed a motion to ask Jim Huber and Dan Pearson to be co-chairs of the Mission Strategy Committee, with Mariann Budde as spiritual leader and Craig Van Gelder as the consultant.
Unanimously passed a motion stating that the draft charge to the Mission Strategy Committee be completed as discussed in Council, with additional items to be inserted and with a preamble added by the Bishop, and that it be presented to the leadership of the committee and then published at large.
Unanimously passed Resolution 2008-03, designating any budget surplus from 2007 for offset of the additional anticipated expenses for the bishop search and transition, as well as continued Mission Strategy Committee costs.
Unanimously passed a motion instructing Sarah Strickland to put together a plan for mutual ministry review with Gethsemane, Minneapolis, including financial information, and to present this material at the March 13 Council meeting.
Unanimously passed Resolution 2008-02, listing minimum insurance coverage requirements for all churches in the diocese, to be implemented by May 1, 2008.
Passed a motion stating that the diocesan finance report presented to Council at its March 13 meeting be fully transparent, and include individual salary and benefit numbers for the episcopate and for diocesan staff.
Accepted a proposal from Cincinnatus to conduct a midpoint ministry review with Gethsemane, Minneapolis
Received a list of individual salary and benefit numbers for the episcopate and for diocesan staff, and engaged in discussion on issues concerning their use
Heard an update of the work of the Mission Strategy Network
Heard reports from Episcopal Homes and the Episcopal House of Prayer
Heard updates of activity in the regions of the diocese.
Heard an update of the Gethsemane Project from Aron Kramer and took a tour of the church building.
Heard an update from the Mission Strategy Network.
Heard a report from Wendy Johnson, new Director of Communications.
Heard an update on plans for the Bishop Search from Debbie Brown and Scott Crow of the Standing Committee.
Unanimously passed Resolution 2008-04, accepting an annuity gift of approximately $37,000 from Mary Ann Carter, to be used toward the St. Barnabas Project for Homeless Youth.
Heard a report from Malcolm McDonald on recent work of the Trustees.
Council leadership transition and comments regarding the absence of guests at this meeting provided by Doug Franzen.
In the absence of a clerk, chair asked for volunteer. After a “notable” pause, Pat Dibble agreed to act as summary recorder.
Established ground rules for discussion with all encouraged to participate in discussions. Council voted to conduct the meeting as an open meeting unless motion heard and approved from the floor to enter into executive session.
Heard brief feedback from council members regarding their first reaction to the budget options put forth by the DFAC.
Heard DFAC budget presentation by representatives Bill Gray and Stacy Abena
2007 Audit Report presented by Daryl DeKam of Virchow Krause.
2009 Budget deliberations continued with each council member given the opportunity to share any commonalities that they heard among the group during the earlier budget comments.
Motion (with exceptions) received and seconded to adopt bottom line of Budget B. Discussion continued with motion passed to go into executive session.
Moved out of executive session and passed motion to direct DFAC to complete a detailed budget by the September Council Meeting using the bottom line of Budget “B”
September Summary of the September 16, 2008, meeting
Diocesan Council:
Unanimously approved the appointment of Karen Olson as Secretary of Convention
Defeated a motion that funding for mission strategy be allocated from funds received from ACG
Defeated a motion to remove the salary increases to be included in the 2009 budget for the Executive Officer and the Canon Missioner
Adopted the 2009 diocesan budget, with thirteen Yes votes and two No votes
Unanimously approved a motion thanking the Finance/Audit Committee and diocesan staff for the work they have done and their input in the budget preparation process
Unanimously adopted the 2009 budget narrative
Unanimously approved use of special funding for the Trustees of the Diocese, Inc.
Unanimously approved a motion that information on individual 2009 compensation and benefits (by position, but not name) be included within the budget detail for 2009
Unanimously adopted a revised sexual misconduct resolution (2008-05) with a date change
Unanimously approved an application by the Montgomery Seasonal Worker Ministry to become a Specialized Mission Congregation
Unanimously approved a recommendation from the MDG Task Force for funding allocation
Unanimously passed a motion thanking Canon Gary Gleason for his years of ministry in the Diocese of Minnesota
December Summary of the December 11, 2008, meeting
Shared responses to the 2008 Diocesan Convention
Shared responses to the November 13 joint meeting with the Trustees and the Standing Committee
Unanimously approved the nominations of Doug Franzen, Tom Eklo, Andrew Waldo, Rex McKee, and Susan Dusek to work with representatives from the Standing Committee to establish recommendations for the compensation and benefit package for the IX Bishop of Minnesota
Discussed the requirements for election of delegates to the 2009 Diocesan Convention, which would also be the election convention for the IX Bishop of Minnesota
Heard an update from Development Director Kevin Shaw
Unanimously passed (with one grammatical change) Resolution 2008-07, changing the authorized check signers for the Diocese of Minnesota
Discussed the results of a Mutual Ministry Review for the Church of Gethsemane, Minneapolis
Unanimously received the Gethsemane Mutual Ministry Review report, and took it under advisement and consideration for further discussion and possible action at the January 2009 meeting
Unanimously passed a motion that Diocesan Council express its deep gratitude for the hard work Gethsemane has been doing in mission and ministry, and to commend them on their will to work, celebrating their success and thanking them for what they are doing for transformation in the Diocese of Minnesota
Unanimously voted to give Bishop Jelinek the initiative to constitute a working group to assist with property issues for the Church of Gethsemane, Minneapolis
