Recorder: Suzanne Lindner
Attendees: Jan Bosse – Co Chair, Vicki Strike, Jessica Proctor , Mike Kasputes, Suzanne Linder, Kristen Silvia, Pastor Peters (part-time), Bob and Kris Buckwalter (beginning)
OPENING:
Jess opened the meeting with a devotional reading (Hope is In You).
NOVEMBER MINUTES:
One correction was noted on the November minutes and then approved.
SOCIAL WITNESS MINISTRY:
Bob and Kris Buckwalter joined us to propose an idea for Social Services Ministry. Bob and Kris expressed their concern that poverty is at an all-time high and shared stats with us that 40 years ago executive incomes were 40 times that of the average worker whereas now they are 400 times greater. They spoke to us about Lincoln Park (and the greater Operation Wall Street). Bob described the individuals involved in this movement as people who are anguished with pain and anger and who believe in radical democracy. He shared that he and Kris spent time talking with various people at Lincoln Park and described these individuals as a people who believe in non-violence, are concerned about money & politics, income & equity and corporate greed.
Bob and Kris posed this question to us: Can the church be a part of this discussion? Bob expressed that this is a movement and that the people involved want to talk about income inequity. They want justice. Is there any way we can be involved?
Members agreed that we would discuss this further and explore how we might become involved.
MINISTER’S MOMENT:
We discussed the article that Elsa distributed in our last meeting (Fast Forward Your Church’s Community Engagement). Discussion focused around: Are we doing service in, for, and/or with our community?
Members agreed that we do service for our community by giving monetary donations. We also agreed that we do service in our community via volunteering at soup kitchens, etc. Mike pointed out that these two methods don’t require much time, but that serving with our community requires a much larger commitment. All members agreed that we are not really doing service with our community but that we should be partnering with them in various ways.
Elsa asked: How can we hold this question to our attention? Various ideas were shared (ex: skill bank) and the question was also raised whether this changes over time?
Elsa proposed asking this question again next month. All members were in agreement.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Mike distributed the report. See report for details.
OLD BUSINESS:
AGENCY REVIEWS: We decided as a team that we would postpone this month’s reviews as we had 3 team members absent from the meeting and we thought it was important for all of us to be present for these discussions. Kristen and Sarah will, therefore, present in January along with the others that are scheduled for that month.
AGENCY MAIL FOR REVIEW: Jan proposed that we divide mail between members seeing as how we receive a lot of mail and we can all learn from reading the materials. All members agreed this was a good idea and mail (so far) has been divided in this way:
• Youth and Family; Social Change – Suzanne
• United Church of Christ Related – Jan
• Food & Disaster Relief – Jess
• Housing, Health and Mental Health – Kristen
• Personal Crisis – Vicki
• Open & Affirming – Mike
During this discussion, Mike pointed out that the reason we might be receiving so much mail is because some organizations used to receive more money from us and this led to a discussion surrounding the idea that we have to have greater flexibility to be responsive to need. Discussed that in the past we have not always put much thought/discussion into who we are giving money to or the amount. Instead, it has felt as though we make the decisions based on what we did the year before, etc. All members agreed that we should be more mindful of current needs, etc. and use that as the basis for who we are making disbursements to and for how much (based on current needs).
FUND DISTRIBUTIONS: Discussion began with requests for money that we have received.
Jan shared that there were several organizationS requesting money: Project Feed, Bread for the World and Seeds for Peace (summer camp). Members decided that we would not give to Project Feed because this is an emergency food pantry and we have our own. Members agreed that we would make a donation to Seeds for Peace in the springtime.
Jane brought up Safe Harbor again as a possible recipient of our money in the future.
Money was disbursed as follows:
• Serenity House – $1,000 (Jan shared that they had experienced significant cutbacks and that they have give from 32 to 16 beds and that they have a great need of money for this reason.)
• Outright – $500
• Southern Poverty Law Center – $500
• Family Crisis Shelter – $500
• Protestant Hospital Ministry – $500
• Union Theological Seminary – $500
• Maine Council of Churches – $500
• Preble Street Resource Center (Food Programs) – $500
Members agreed that Open House should be removed from the list as we have not given to them in 2 years and no one is familiar with them.
CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS:
• The Christmas Fund on Christmas Eve: will go to Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund
• Christmas Offering: We began with discussion surrounding whether we do two local organizations or whether we do one local and one global. We also discussed the various options: Martha’s House and the Solar Cooker Project. After discussion, members agreed that it was important to do one global organization. Members decided that the Christmas offering would be allocated as follows:
o ½ – Community Crisis Ministries for fuel
o ½ – Solar Cooker Project – Protecting and Empowering the Women of Darfur
NEW BUSINESS:
“THANK YOU” NOTES RECEIVED: Thank you notes were received from the following organizations:
• Long Creek
• Wayside
• Pilgrim Lodge
GLSEN & GSTA: Jane reminded all members that we have been invited to the next meeting on December 8th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. If anyone is interested, contact Laurie Carey at lauriec@maine.rr.com and she can provide the location of the meeting.
MISSION AND OUTREACH BUDGET FOR 2012:Members had a discussion that focused on the fact that it would be hard to ask for more money for 2012 given the tight budget and the probability that pledges for 2012 have not gone up. Members voted and agreed to request the same budget for 2012.
CLOSING:
Jess closed the meeting with a devotional reading.
NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, January 5th
Devotions – Richard Parker
Recorder – Jess Proctor
