Metropolitan Community Church

 Agenda for Governing Board Meeting3rd November 2020Present: Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, Rev. Elder Diane Fisher, Rev. Alberto Najera, Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey, Clare Coughlin, Chad Hobbs, Mark Godette, Rev. Paul WhitingApologies: James ChavisQuorum Established Opening Prayer: Rev. Elder Tony FreemanBrief Check-InOur Future (Dreaming)Consent Agenda:- Minutes of October Meeting- November Moderator’s ReportMotion to approve these two reports.Moved: Rev. Elder Diane FisherSeconded: Chad HobbsPassedDiscussion Agenda: COVID-19 Update: Rates are increasing in many countries that MCC is present; many churches are not opening until next year; this impacts MCC churches that rent from them. Feedback on Statement re: Racism & Anti-Racism Training: Rev. Elder Cecilia EgglestonThe GB has received feedback from individuals that MCC has said something; it is a step in the right direction. The next steps for the GB are to: read reports: ‘Awake, to Woke, to Work’ Building a Race Equity Culture and the accompanying report from Rev. Elder Ines-Paul Baumann, which analyses the diversity and inclusion reports that MCC has produced over the last 10 years. The Governing Board can then decide what action steps it wishes to take.Election of Vice-Chair for Governing BoardMark Godette said he is willing to serve a 2nd term as Vice-Chair of the Governing Board; James Chavis is also willing to serve as needed; vote held over until December meeting.Financial Report: Chad Hobbs / Rev. Marie Alford-HarkeyChad Hobbs gave an overview of the August & September Snapshots. Many thanks to Tammy Erwin - MCC Accounting and Finance Co-ordinator - and the Finance Committee on getting us current on audits.Motion to approve the August Financial ReportsMoved: Rev. Elder Diane FisherSeconded: Rev. Alberto Najera PassedMotion to approve the September Financial ReportsMoved: Clare CoughlinSeconded: Mark GodettePassedEndowment Fund Policies:Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey gave an overview on the progress of establishing the Endowment Fund. Proposals will be received, from different brokers, and a recommendation will be brought, to the Governing Board as to which to accept. Lilly Grant Application: We were not successful in obtaining the latest Lilly Grant.Disaster Fund Policies: Rev. Elder Diane Fisher / Clare CoughlinRev. Elder Diane Fisher has sent out a policy statement and guidelines for review by the Governing Board; these will be reviewed and approved at the January 2021 meeting.Update on Budgeting Process: The finance committee will be looking at developing policies, around approval of staff expenditure. The Finance Committee will commence the Budgeting Process in December 2020.Accounting Manual Update: OngoingHousing Allowance:Motion: Whereas, Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code permits a minister of the gospel to exclude from gross income (in computing federal income taxes) a church-designated allowance paid to him or her as part of his or her compensation to the extend used for actual expenses in owning or renting a home; and Whereas, the following personnel, ?Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, is compensated by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church exclusively for services as a minister of religion and Whereas, the Universal Fellowship Metropolitan Community Church does not provide parsonages to the following minister; therefore it is hereby Resolved, that the total compensation paid in 2021 to Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos shall include housing allowances as indicated pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code; and it is further Resolved that the designation of $18,000 housing allowance shall apply to the calendar year 2021 from 1st Jan? 2021.Moved: Chad HobbsSeconded: Clare CoughlinPassedRev. Elder Diane Fisher recused herself from the meeting, and vote, for this section.Property Update: Mark GodetteSarasota Property – no update this monthHouston Tract of Land – no update this monthGovernance: Rev. Paul Whiting- Process for appointment of next Council of Elders: Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston - Information and application forms available no later than: Friday 13th November - Deadline for applications: Friday 4th December - Recommendations for appointments to Governing Board meeting: Tuesday 5th January 2021 - Webinars held week beginning: 11th January 2021 - Special General Conference held week of: 25th January 2021 - Council of Elders start: 1st February 2021- Closures and Disaffiliations Rev. Elder Diane Fisher gave an overview of the first meeting; a working group has been formed to start discussion- Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) appointment in US & protecting S/G marriage in core values/doctrinal statement as part of faith practice:The following request was received from the Global Justice Institute. Metropolitan Community Churches is fully supportive of same gender marriages, in line with our core beliefs. We have been performing same gender marriage ceremonies since our inception in 1968.Dear Rev. Cecilia and Members of the Governing Board: Thank you for considering our request to review and update policies, doctrinal and belief statements and anything related to the freedom of religiously based practices and sacraments.? It is our belief as active members of the Council for Global Equality and several coalitions that work for human equality, that with the recent appointment to the United States Supreme Court {SCOTUS} that the religious right will seek to chip away at the Obergefell decision granting marriage equality in the United States.? We believe the argument to rescind LGBTQI marriage rights will hinge on so-called "religious freedom."? It will become important for churches like MCC to have articulated in all of their relevant documents the practice of marriage as a sacrament open to queer and straight people alike.? Though this is a particular US situation, it could have ramifications across the globe, and so your work in this area will have broader application.If we in the Global Justice Institute or on the Government and Policy Team can be of help or assistance to you, please ask. God bless you in your continued good work.Sincerely, PatThe Rev. Elder Pat Bumgardner | Global Justice Institute?Motion: Move to establish a working group to ensure that Metropolitan Community Churches commitment to same gender marriage is explicitly enshrined in our key documents; members of the working group to include the Moderator, a representative of the Governing Board, a member of the Governance Committee, the Council of Elders and the Global Justice Institute to work on this.Moved: Rev. Elder Cecilia EgglestonSecond: Rev. Paul WhitingPassedRev. Marie Alford-Harkey will represent the Governing Board and Rev. Paul Whiting will nominate a member of the Governance CommitteeStaffing: - HR Manual Update: Mark Godette Mark gave an update on the progress of the latest HR Manual, as it relates to the current staff and the Governing Board; the team has several recommendations that it would like to bring to the Governing Board at a future meeting.- Staffing Update: Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston gave an update and overview on staffing and the last remaining job vacancyCommissions: The Work of the Commissions is ongoingCommission on Communication: Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston and Rev. Alberto Najera asGoverning Board LiaisonGeneral Conference Commission: Rev. Paul Whiting in his role as Chair of the GovernanceTeam as Governing Board LiaisonRev. Paul Whiting and Chad Hobbs encouraged everyone to promote the Dream Sessions for General ConferenceAssessment Commission: Rev. Elder Diane Fisher as Governing Board LiaisonCommission on Rites & Sacraments: Rev. Marie Alford-Harkey as Governing Board LiaisonCommission on Pathways of Healing and Reconciliation: Clare Coughlin as Governing Board LiaisonClare Coughlin outlined that Rev. Roland Stringfellow is sending out a Racial Equality Assessment, asking for opinions, from MCC leadership bodies, on our current racial equality statusReview of Work Ahead for the Year:- Set date for Governing Board to review strategy for creating a framework for a Denominational Strategic Planning Process We could have some time in the January meeting to discuss this- Date for joint meeting with the new Council of Elders Possibly March or April 2021Review of the Minutes:Governing Board Update Items:Dates of future meetings:Tuesday 1st December 2020- Financial Deep Dive Tuesday 5th January 2021- Approval of new Council of Elders; Strategic Process Tuesday 2nd February 2021Close in Prayer: Rev. Alberto Najera closed the meeting in prayer at 7:02pm US Eastern / 12:02am UK time ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download