Governance news posted Thursday, November 18, 2010
Standing Committee Committed to Nurturing Health of the Diocese
Taking to heart our belief that the church is the body of Christ, in the coming year the Standing Committee will strive to nurture healthy relationships among the governing bodies and the many congregations, clergy, and people of our Diocese. Among ways we will measure “health,” we envision the following: be clear in our mutual understanding of respective roles and responsibilities with appropriate delegation and mutual support; celebrate different gifts and strengths of all in the Diocese; help one another feel safe; raise up new leaders; maintain regular communication; commit to prayer and worship together; build enough trust to begin hosting a vision for our future. Clearly, this is not the work of the Standing Committee alone. It is the ministry of all of us together as the body of Christ. Steps are already being taken among the governing bodies to gather leaders so that we may clarify our interdependencies and build support.
On November 16, at its first meeting since Diocesan Convention, the Standing Committee welcomed newly elected members, Jo Ann B. Jones, Esq. and The Rev. W. Franklin Allen, and elected officers for the year: The Rev. Ledlie I. Laughlin, president; Mr. Norman (“Mac”) McCausland, vice president; and Ms. Arlene McGurk, secretary.
Members selected to serve as representatives to committees: Diocesan Council (Ledlie Laughlin & Isaac Miller), Finance and Property (Jo Ann Jones), Program Budget (Mac McCausland & Arlene McGurk), Episcopate Budget (Frank Allen, Mac McCausland & D-L Wormley), Constitution and Canons (Frank Allen & Christopher Hart; they will also serve on the Finance Review Committee called for by R-6-2010), Commission on Ministry (Mac McCausland, Arlene McGurk & Joy Segal) Diocesan Mission Planning Commission (Samuel Adu-Andoh & Isaac Miller), and Diocesan Consultation Team (Isaac Miller & Joy Segal).
In other business on November 16, the Standing Committee:
- Approved the Bishop’s appointments of Mary Kohart as Chancellor and Frank Helminski as Vice Chancellor
- Approved the Commission on Ministry’s recommendation of ordination to the priesthood of The Rev. Randy Callendar and The Rev. Michael Gianciracusa
- Gave consent to the election of Bishops in the Dioceses of Springfield and Western Kansas
- Passed a resolution of thanks for the leadership of the immediate past president of Standing Committee, The Rev. Glenn Matis
- Advised the Bishop to offer some form of response to the approval of R-7-2010 calling for his resignation
- Received (and in some instances took action on) monthly reports from the Bishop, treasurer, chancellor, and property manager
- The complete minutes of SC meetings are posted when approved
If you have hopes, questions, or concerns you would like to share, please be in touch with any member of the Standing Committee, or the president at laughlin@stpetersphila.org.
