Governance news posted Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Actions of Standing Committee

Nov 20, 2007 – Jun 24, 2008

Stated Meeting, Tuesday, November 20, 2007

  • Approved request for St. Luke’s, Bustleton to begin negotiations to renew daycare lease, subject to legal review.
  • Approved listing the property at Atonement, Morton for sale with Colliers International.
  • Approved listing Emmanuel/Good Shepherd property for sale with Colliers International.
  • Approved that organ at All Saints’, Crescentville for not less than $6,700.
  • Approved funds for new boiler for St. Faith’s, Haverton, pending identifying appropriate fund.
  • Consented to election in Diocese of Dallas for Suffragan Bishop.

Special Meeting, Tuesday, December 4, 2007

  • Consented to signing the mortgage papers for the property at Wapiti.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  • Consented to the request from the Diocese of Chicago to confirm the
    election of Jeffrey D. Lee as Bishop.
    * Consented to the request for an election from The Diocese of Puerto Rico.
    * Approved granting of $20,000 to the Union of Black Episcopalians for their 40th Anniversary celebration to be held in Philadelphia.
    * Approved granting of $1,343.75 for reception and $300 for musicians for the Absalom Jones Celebration.

Stated Meeting of Tuesday, January 22, 2008

  • No actions for posting

Stated Meeting of Monday, February 4, 2008

* Approved sale of rectory at St. Martin’s in the field, Chestnut Hill
Stated Meeting of Tuesday, February 26, 2008
* Consented to the election of the Rev. Dr. Prince Singh as Bishop of the
Diocese of Rochester.
* Consented to the request of the Diocese of South Dakota to hold an election for a Bishop Coadjutor.
* Approved to have a year long moratorium in the ordination process due to the inhibition.
* Approved request from St. John’s, Lansdowne to sell property.
* Approved having property at 1510 Ellsworth Street property (belonging to St. Mary’s, 1839 Bainbridge Street) sold.

Special Meeting, Tuesday, March 4, 2008

* Denied the request for $10,000 for windows requested by St. James, Prospect Park.
* Denied request from the Girls’ Friendly Society to advertise on the DIOPA website.

Stated Meeting Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Resolutions passed

Concerning Wapiti:

  • (1) It has been brought to the attention of the Standing Committee by Finance & Property that there are no funds to cover the maintenance expenses of the property at Wapiti in the Program Budget. At the Finance & Property meeting of October 31, 2007, this fact was known and Bishop Charles E. Bennison, Jr. pledged to meet this obligation from his personal funds. We encourage Finance & Property to contact Bp. Bennison to request that he honor his pledge.

Concerning Cathedral Village:

  • (2) The Standing Committee declines the proposal from the Board of Cathedral Village that the Diocese of Pennsylvania withdraw as the sole member of Cathedral Village.

Concerning use of the Endowment Funds under the discretion of the Ecclesiastical Authority:

  • (3) The Standing Committee’s use the Endowment funds, which are to be used at the discretion of the Ecclesiastical Authority, will be used first to cover the shortfall of the Episcopate budget in order to avoid having the congregations of the Diocese bare the burden of the additional costs being incurred due to the inhibition of Bp. Bennison.

Concerning use of funds in the Legal Reserve:

  • (4) The Standing Committee authorizes and directs use of the funds from the 2006 fiscal year Episcopate budget, which are currently held in the legal reserve, be utilized to pay the fees and expenses of the Chancellor.
  • (5) Consented to request from the Cathedral Chapter for The Rev. Canon Lloyd Casson to be Interim Dean upon the retirement of Dean Giles.

Special Meeting, Sunday April 6, 2008

  • No actions

Stated Meeting, Tuesday, April 22, 2008

* Approved for ordination Ken McCaslin to the Vocational Diaconate
* Approved for ordination Erica Takacs to the Priesthood.

Special Meeting of Monday, May 05, 2008

  • (1) The Standing Committee approved the following actions related to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville:
    • (a) Forgiveness of the final $200,000 of the $1 million loan for the planting of the mission.
    • (b) Opening negotiations for the repayment of the remaining debt associated with the rectory.
    • ©Acceptance of the proposed use of the donated modular classroom unit at a cost of $21,000 to Holy Spirit, pending review by The Rev. Christine Ritter, Diocesan Property Manager.
  • (2) Approved hiring a part-time Communications Officer.
  • (3) Approved co-sponsorship of the upcoming event featuring Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of England and the British Commonwealth to be held May 20, 2008.
  • (4) Approved posting official actions (approvals for ordinations, actions related to property matters and financial matters/grants) to the website.

Stated Meeting of Tuesday, May 27, 2008

  • The Standing Committee approved the reappointment of Ms. Karen Lash as the Chair of the Convention Resolutions Committee. The use of the Diocesan Property Fund for 2008 operating and maintenance Wapiti expenses up to the amount of $150,000 was approved with the understanding that it is a loan. The loan would be repaid from the proceeds of the sale of all or part of Wapiti.

Special Meeting of June 9, 2008

  • No actions

Stated Meeting of June 24, 2008

  • The Standing Committee approved up to $4,000 for expenses related to Wapiti and the presentation to the Cecil County Board Meeting on July 21, 2008