Metropolitan Community Churches

Board of Administration

 

 

Conference Call

Friday 11 March 2005

 

Present

 

Judy Dale (Chair)

Marsha Warren (Treasurer)

Stephen Harte (Secretary)

Rev Jeff Miner

John Vespa

 

In Attendance

 

Rev Dr Cindi Love (Executive Director)

Margaret Mahlman (Chief Financial Officer)

 

1.1        Prayers

 

The meeting opened in prayer.

 

1.2        Approval of Minutes

 

The Board approved the minutes of the Conference Call of 11 February 2005 and instructed that they be posted on the MCC intranet.

 

2          Executive Director Report

 

2.1        Budget and Cash Flow

 

The Executive Director reported that to the end of January 2005 we were $25,000 ahead on budgeted income.  However, this was due to the receipt of exceptional income for designated purposes and the timing of tithe receipts from local Churches.  The growth initiative (where Churches give an extra 1% on their tithes to support Church planting) is down $7,000 and the Executive Director will contact those Churches who gave last year.  More generally, the Executive Director will be proactively contacting Churches to find out how the denomination can serve them better.

 

The Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer reported that cash flow remains tight but that we are up to date with our bills.

 

2.2        2005 Audit

 

This will begin on 4 April 2005.  The Chief Financial Officer and her team have been working hard to prepare for the audit and some financial reports may accordingly be late.  During the audit process, any requests that would have previously been made to the Chief Financial Officer or her team should be routed through the Executive Director.

 

2.3        Personnel Matters

 

The Board entered executive session to discuss personnel matters. After leaving executive session, the Executive Director reported that staff moral at HQ remains good.  The Executive Director and the HQ staff team are working together to improve the efficiency of the HQ operation.  A new member of staff is coming to Q to work on certain clergy matters.  This new staff member will be paid half time and will work as a volunteer half time.

 

 

 

3.         General Conference

 

Regular reporting of Conference bookings etc will commence after the 2005 audit.  As of 11 March there are 639 Registrants fro Conference and over 100 applications to run workshops are being processed.

 

Plans for General Conference 2007 are underway. The Board expressed its desire to engage with stake holders on possible timings, locations, venues etc.  The Executive Director reminded the Board that only approximately 18 cities in North America have venues that could host a Conference of our size and only a dozen or so of them are likely to be culturally welcoming of us.

 

4.         Joint BOA/BOE meeting – April 2005

 

To save costs, we will be staying at the Ramada West Hollywood and using MCC LA facilities for meetings.  The Board expressed its gratitude to Rev Neil Thomas and the congregation of MCC LA for offering us hospitality for our meetings.  The Chair is working with the Executive Director and Rev Elder Arlene Ackerman on the agenda for our joint meeting.  The  Board extended an invitation to the Moderator-elect to attend our meetings.

 

At the joint meeting, the two Boards will explore their respective roles and the interaction between these roles.  The Elders have invited our Chair to attend their meetings.  As Judy will be unable to attend the meetings in Los Angeles, Rev Miner will be, with the consent of the Board, chairing in her place.  Unfortunately, a commitment to conduct a wedding in Indianapolis means that Rev Miner can not attended the Elders’ meetings.

 

5.         Draft vision Statement

 

The Board noted that the Board of Elders have, after engaging stakeholders in a broadly based consultation, suggested a draft Vision Statement to the denomination for consideration.  The Elders are actively seeking comments from stakeholders and these should be sent to Rev Elders Don Eastman, Lillie Brock or Diane Fisher.

 

6.         Other matters

 

6.1        Moderator’s Retirement

 

            We still await documentation from our lawyers.  This will be followed up.

 

6.2        Team Meetings

 

On the afternoon of Sunday 3 April, the Finance Team will meet to look at financial matters and the Governance/HR/Risk Management Team will look at the HR Manual.  The Board noted that the general policy manual required updating.

 

6.3        Executive Director Contract

 

This will be held over until the Board’s April meeting in Los Angeles.

 

6.4        Vacancies on the Board of Administration

 

            This matter was tabled until the Board’s April meeting in Los Angeles.

 

7          Closing Prayers

 

John Vespa closed in prayer.