American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island

Board of Mission

Phillips Memorial Baptist Church

March 27, 2007

Present:          Tom Archer, Nancy Bancroft, George Barclay, Paul Becker, Don Hansen, Jim Essex, Liz Lussier, Don Wolfe, Dan Cottrell, Kathy Black,  Paul Hanson, Linda Spoolstra, Marie Carpenter, Cliff Hockensmith, Vivian Searle, Ethel Corbin, Hank Pedersen, Fran Pedersen, Ken Chaffee, Liliana Da Valle, Sue Maiocchi,  Peggy Johnson, Don Waterman.

Excused:         Don Anderson, Orlando Irizarry, Susan Grisliss, Ann Aldrich, and Janet MacGray.

Guests:           Matt Black, Bill McAllister.

President Bancroft called the meeting to order at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church at 7:05 p.m.

Paul Becker led devotions with verses from John 12:1-8.

There being no changes or additions the minutes of the January meeting were accepted as circulated.

President Bancroft announced that Bill McAllister, former administrator of John Clarke Retirement Center, and now consultant on their Board, had previously presented a written proposal concerning the possibility of leasing/renting space on Canonicus property to build 4-5 buildings for the purpose of housing for the elderly to a group of board members to see if it was worthwhile bringing to the rest of the Board. After that presentation, the group decided that Mr. McAllister should be invited to this meeting to present his ideas and plans to find out if there was a potential interest in this project.

President Bancroft asked Mr. McAllister to explain the profile of a person that would be living in this type of housing. This would be more like assisted living with minimal needs such as transportation, support, socialization. This concept is known as the Greenhouse Concept. He pointed out that there is a website greenhouseconcept.com for more information. After a question and answer period, Mr. McAllister thanked the Board for their attention and left the meeting.  After discussion by the board, President Bancroft felt the board had three options to choose from. Option 1 – No Interest. Option 2 – A great idea so go find out more about it. Option 3 – We will give permission to go ahead to look some more but we are still not sure how we feel.  Discussion indicated we cannot proceed with this without first reviewing ABCORI’s mission and developing a long-range plan. It was moved, seconded and voted  to form a task force that reports to the Board of Mission that will look at the mission and long range plan for ABCORI and Canonicus in light of the ABCORI mission.  

Tom Archer, treasurer, distributed and presented the financial report for the end of February. The report was filed for audit.(See distributed report for financial update)

Rev. Dr. Liliana Da Valle gave a report on the Children in Poverty meeting. Approximately twenty people attended and were very excited and tuned in to this mission. In May there will be a training session at Valley Forge in which two people are definitely attending and four more are interested in attending but not yet committed. The maximum that can attend are four. There is a great level of commitment to this ministry.

President Bancroft asked the Board to ratify the appointment of Al Vernava from North Scituate Baptist Church to the Personnel Committee due to the resignation of Carlos Mooney which left a vacancy. This would be a three year term that would begin in May. A motion was moved, seconded and  voted to ratify the appointment of Al Vernava as a member of the Personnel Committee.

President Bancroft announced the appointments to the Executive Ministers Relations Committee. The by-laws do not state any terms for this committee. It just states a committee may be appointed. President Bancroft suggested a different procedure than was used under Don Rasmussen. Don chose to have one new person a year and to have those persons serve for five years; however it was difficult to get people to commit to this term. President Bancroft proposed three year terms after which the individuals would be eligible for re-appointment if so desired. George Barclay (term ending 2008), Paul Becker (term ending 2009), Wes Smith and Cynthia Smothers (term ending 2010) with one vacancy (term ending 2009) left to fill.

Don Wolfe, Chair of the Department of Stewardship & Administration, distributed and presented the 2005-2006 Goals for the department. A summary of these goals was given. (See distributed report for update)

George Barclay, chair of Department of Church Life, presented his report. Four areas of concentration with this department have been the following: Congregational Wellness, Evangelism and Outreach, New Church Development and Improving Communications. These are Natural Church Development and New Life 2010 with Donna Sherman as chair. President Bancroft reported that there will be three, possibly four, new churches added to the New Life 2010 at the Annual Gathering. This will bring the total to 16 or 17 churches. Evangelism and Outreach have been covered through offering Evangelism and Christian Education workshops. The department has been making sure goals are understood and all communicate with each other.

Part of our growing relationship with The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts was to have an annual review or evaluation of this process. President Bancroft reported that the ABCORI staff and TABCOM staff meet every month. There has been a committee with Rhode Island and Massachusetts people planning a stewardship workshop entitled, Sox, Tithes & Videotapes for September 29^th at First Baptist, North Attleboro. The TABCOM board has restructured a new fifteen member board which includes one position for a person from ABCORI to be a full member of their board. President Bancroft asked the Board if they would like to reciprocate by including one of the TABCOM staff on our Board. This would mean a change in the by-laws. After some discussion a motion was moved, seconded and voted to invite a TABCOM representative to sit on our Board with a voice but no vote until such  time the by-laws have been changed, and that the representative be selected by TABCOM.

Don Wolfe put before the Board that an Audit Committee was appointed by Stewardship & Administration that should not report to Stewardship & Administration. Because of separation of duties, the committee should report to the Board of Mission. A motion was moved, seconded and voted that the Board of Mission establish an Audit Committee and that in fact the first Audit Committee established be the one that was appointed by S & A and that the committee report in writing annually.

Paul Becker gave his report of the Recruitment Committee. As of March, there were six vacancies of which three have been filled but not ratified as yet. The three remaining vacancies are assistant treasurer, one vacancy on the Department of Church Life, one vacancy on Stewardship and Administration.

Sue Maiocchi, President of ABWRI, distributed and presented her report to the Board. (See distributed report for update)

Liliana has been working with Search Committees diligently. She has been offering to churches a three year covenant.  Bringing a pastor on board for three years and establishing accountability and meeting every six months with the pastor for coaching purposes. There are a couple of churches that are very interested and excited about this. If the relationship does not work out in three years, the covenant has expired and everyone goes their own way.

ABCUSA has established Mission Explosion in which individual projects are tackled. The two projects in mind right now for ABCORI are in India and Honduras.

Liliana has been leading training sessions for Search Committees, Evangelism, and Envisioning.  A Communication Task Force has been formed to review ABCORI publications.

Three new churches have been established. They are Iglesia La Esperanza, River of Life and Primera Iglesia Bautista Latinoamericana. A seedling of another new church planting has begun, a Hispanic church in Providence which meets in a home and has an attendance of fourteen people. They have called ABCORI and would like us to work with them. Rev. Wilfredo Rodriguez from Woonsocket will be ABCORI’s Church Planting Coordinator working with churches.

Liz Lussier, Director of Administration, presented her report. In ABCORI's efforts to synergize with TABCOM we have identified that we do not have exact counterparts in each other’s regions.  Therefore, in order for our BIRST meetings to be more productive, Liz recommended that Matt Black, Assistant Camp Director, and Linda Martin, Conference Coordinator, join the BIRST meetings.  The TABCOM staff, as well as Liliana, Kathy and Liz, all agree that their participation in BIRST has been a welcomed addition.

Liz finished re-writing non-exempt staff job descriptions, all of which were revised. A compensation benefit page was added to better inform the employee what it costs ABCORI to employ them. Everyone signed a letter of employment at will effective March 1, 2007.

Liz reported that Jeff Woods, from ABCUSA, will conduct a Teambuilding Workshop with ABCORI staff on April 24^th. All part time and full time employees will participate.

ABCORI has informed Quest Montessori School that we are not interested in expanding their use of the Canonicus property to accommodate the school’s needs.

Liz has been voted as Treasurer of the Rhode Island Association of Camps (RIAC).

Liz, Matt Black and the Leadership Staff will attend an American Camping Association Conference for three days in New Hampshire in late March.

The new full color camp brochures have a new look this year in commemoration of the 60^th year celebration of Canonicus. In addition, Canonicus will be preparing for 2 spring Beaver Days, the Adult & Me Fishing Derby and camp Open House.

Kathy Black, Director of Eldercare Ministries, presented a report on the status of the Search Committee for a new Executive Minister for the Rhode Island State Council of Churches. The search has been narrowed down to three candidates. The committee will be recommending the candidate by the middle of April.

The meeting closed with prayer at approximately 9:35 p.m.

                                                                                    ____________________

                                                                                     Liliana DaValle

                                                                                     Secretary