Annual Council 2005 Archive

 

 

Annual Council 2005 

Information and Reports from the

99th Annual Council

Holy Innocents’ Church and School

November 11-12, 2005

   

Bishop Mhogolo Speaks

   Bishop Mhogolo, Bishop of Central Tanganyika

 

 

2005 Annual Council Journal online

The 2005 Annual Council Journal is now online. This gives us the flexibility to make this information available to you as the different sections are completed.

 

Helpful Links

2005 Council results:

 

RESOLUTIONS

RO5-01 

Whereas, we recognize that many soldiers and military personnel serving in conflicts abroad will in time return home, and

Whereas, these persons may experience difficulties as they return to families, work, and communities offaith and civic life,

Be it resolved, that the Commission on Liturgy create a task force to draft a specific liturgy/ies that will welcome these persons home and offer a liturgy for healing, penance, absolution, thanksgiving and strength; and

Be it further resolved, that these liturgies will be forwarded to theStanding Commission on Liturgy and Music of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church for consideration and to military chaplains and staffserving on military bases in the Diocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Georgia (with the permission of the Bishop of Georgia).

ADOPTED

 

R05-2

 

Whereas, we are called to exercise Christian stewardship of all creation and

 

Whereas, personal, societal, corporate, church and governmental practices and policies toward the environment express moral values in and of themselves,

 

Be it resolved, that a commission be formed to study the current personal, societal, corporate, church and governmental practices and policies and to submit such study to the Bishop and people of the Diocese of Atlanta at each diocesan council and to current leaders of government to assist their work in safeguarding the environment for future generations.

 

ADOPTED

 

 

R05-03

 

Whereas, there is widespread concern that the State of Georgia may not be in full compliance with contemporary standards of procedural fairness in the application of the death penalty, and

 

Whereas, the delegates in attendance at the 99th Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta question whether the criminal death penalty should be continued in force, and

 

Whereas, the death penalty, an irreversible punishment, must, in any event, be applied fairly, and never endanger the lives of innocent persons; and

 

Whereas, over 120 persons, including 6 from Georgia, have been exonerated from the nation’s death rows in the past 3 decades,

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved that this 99th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta supports legislation placing a moratorium on executions while the General Assembly reviews our state’s death penalty to determine whether it should be continued in force and to address all areas in which the criminal procedures in force in Georgia may not be in full compliance with contemporary standards of procedural fairness, taking into account the findings of the Special Committee of the American Bar Association now studying the application of the criminal death penalty in Georgia; and

 

Further resolved, that this Resolution be communicated to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House as an _expression of the Council’s desire that such legislation be introduced, considered and enacted at the 2006 Regular Session of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia.

 

ADOPTED

 

 

PROPOSED CANON CHANGES

C05-01                                                                                                                   

Resolved, that Canon 20 of the funding of the Diocese of Atlanta be changed in full with the new canon to read as follows:

Of the Funding of the Ministry and Mission of the Diocese of Atlanta

Section 1.  We the people, clergy, and parishes of the Diocese of Atlanta acknowledge our need to give of our time, talent, and treasure for the work of Christ.  We further embrace our strong heritage — expressed both in the Bible and in longstanding Tradition — of parishes supporting one another and joining together to accomplish the work of Christ.  We acknowledge our responsibility to support the episcopacy and to provide for the mission of the Church.  We recognize the tithe as the minimum standard of biblical giving, and we acknowledge the important example our parishes provide to parish members by practicing the tithe.  Finally, we feel strongly the bonds we have toward one another as members of the Body of Christ.  We therefore desire that funding of the ministry and mission of the Diocese be accomplished fairly and equitably, within a framework that promotes both compassion and accountability.  We seek a framework in which no parish will be required to contribute more than a fair share, and no parish will be allowed to contribute less than a fair share.  To these ends:

Section 2.  Ten percent (a tithe) of the average of the past three years’ Net Operating Revenue (as reported on the Annual Parochial Report) shall be the minimum amount each parish shall give in support of the Ministry and Mission Budget of the Diocese.  On or before June 15 of each year, the Finance Committee shall give notice to each parish of its ten-percent minimum contribution (based on its Annual Parochial Report data) for the Mission and Ministry Budget of the Diocese for the upcoming year.  In the event that a parish has not filed a timely Annual Parochial Report, the Finance Committee shall substitute the most recently filed parochial report for its calculations.  Should the parish subsequently file an Annual Parochial Report showing Net Operating Revenues differing from that used in the computation, the Finance Committee shall adjust the required contribution to the Budget of the Diocese, as appropriate.

Section 3.  For most parishes, the ten-percent minimum will be an appropriate fair share.  For some parishes an appropriate fair-share may be a voluntary contribution of more than ten-percent.  Because of extenuating circumstances, a parish may be unable to give the ten-percent minimum and shall be afforded an appeal opportunity as described herein.  Not later than August 15, all parishes shall acknowledge, in writing to the Director of Finance, their commitment to give ten-percent, more than ten percent, or state their intent to appeal.

Section 4.  Any parish believing that, for good cause, it will be unable to give a minimum of ten percent to the Budget of the Diocese may file a written appeal signed by the Rector (or Vicar) and Senior Warden not later than August 15 with an Assessment Appeal Board.  The Assessment Appeal Board shall meet with representatives of the parish filing an appeal.  The parish will be given an opportunity to request a reduction from the ten-percent minimum contribution for the year in question.  The Assessment Appeal Board shall operate pursuant to guidelines and timelines provided by the Executive Board.  In making its determination, the Assessment Appeal Board shall consider, among other factors, the parish’s current monthly financial report, the level of stewardship training and education in the parish, the nature of the annual stewardship campaign in the parish, any extraordinary circumstances faced by the parish, and other data as considered relevant by the parish and the Assessment Appeal Board.  After such review, the Assessment Appeal Board may reduce the percentage of the assessment for that parish for that year or affirm that ten percent is a minimum assessment.  Such decision, and the reasons therefore, shall be communicated in writing to the Rector (or Vicar) and Senior Warden, the Bishop, Executive Board, and the Director of Finance of the Diocese.  In the event that the Assessment Appeal Board grants a reduction, that Board shall refer the parish to the Commission on Stewardship and the Commission for Congregational Growth and Development.  These Commissions will assist the parish leadership in developing a plan to enhance stewardship and enable the parish to increase its giving to the ten-percent minimum.

Section 5.  In the event that annual contributions from any parish fall short of the minimum ten-percent or the reduced amount set by the Assessment Appeal Board, at the next Annual Council of the Diocese the cleric and lay delegates of that parish will be denied vote on all matters of business and denied voice regarding matters related to finance or the expenditure of diocesan funds.  In addition, such parishes shall not call any assistant or associate clergy, nor fill vacancies for such clergy.  In the second successive year of not contributing the fair-share amount, any such parish shall, by operation of this canon, have its status changed to that of an Aided Parish of this Diocese.

Section 6.  The Assessment Appeal Board shall consist of three lay and three cleric members.  The Executive Board, with the consent of the Bishop, shall appoint these six members of the Assessment Appeal Board for a three year term.  Initially, the Executive Board shall establish staggered classes of this board, with two people sitting for a one year term, two people for a two year term, and the final two for a full three year term.  Thereafter, the Executive Board shall appoint two members each year to serve a full three year term. The Bishop shall appoint annually a convener as a seventh member, who will vote only to break ties.  The Executive Board will make a good faith effort to appoint members of the Assessment Appeal Board as follows: two will be appointed from parishes having Net Operating Revenues in the upper one-third of the diocese, two will be appointed from parishes having Net Operating Revenues in the middle one-third of the diocese, and two will be appointed from parishes having Net Operating Revenues in the lower one-third of the diocese.  In addition, the Executive Board will make a good faith effort to ensure broad geographical representation on the Assessment Appeal Board.

Section 7.  Every congregation in the Diocese shall include in its annual budget the amount of its fair-share contribution (assessment) for the support of the Mission and Ministry Budget of the Diocese.  A portion of the annual contribution is to be paid to the Diocese on or before the twentieth day of each month.

Section 8: The Executive Board shall prepare a tentative Diocesan Mission and Ministry Budget and send it to each Vestry.  Each Vestry shall, by a date set by the Executive Board, consider the mission and ministry priorities of the Diocese and report recommended changes in the Ministry and Mission Budget to the Executive Board.  The Executive Board, in its discretion, may develop additional means of soliciting recommendations from the people and parishes of the Diocese.  When the process for receiving such recommendations is ended, the Executive Board, with the assistance of the chairs of Diocesan commissions, committees, and the Diocesan staff, shall develop a Proposed Ministry and Mission Budget that reflects the mission priorities of the Diocese.

Section 9.  Council shall consider the Proposed Mission and Ministry Budget, make amendments as desired, and approve and return the resulting Proposed Mission and Ministry Budget to the Executive Board.  Using the Proposed Mission and Ministry Budget approved by Council, the Executive Board shall establish and adopt the Mission and Ministry Budget in its final form.  Copies of the budget in its final form shall be mailed to all Vestries.  The Executive Board shall give direction to and administer the gross amounts budgeted through its various departments.  The Treasurer shall make a detailed financial status report for the previous and current year to Council in session.

Section 10. This canon shall take effect on January 1, 2006 in preparation for the 2007 budget year.

ADOPTED

C05-2

Resolved, that Article 3, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Diocese of Atlanta be amended to delete the word “majority” and replace it with the word “plurality”.
 Explanation:  Article 3, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Diocese of Atlanta presently states
Election of officers: All elections shall be by ballot unless by unanimous consent the ballot is dispensed with, and a majority
The amended Article 3 Section 2 of the Constitution of the Diocese of Atlanta would state:  
Election of officers: All elections shall be by ballot unless by unanimous consent the ballot is dispensed with, and a plurality
The purpose of the proposed amendment is to expedite the election of members to the various boards and committees of the diocese.   Every year at Council hours of valuable time are spent because multiple ballots are necessary to elect persons to the numerous board and committees of the diocese.   These multiple ballots are required solely because of the majority requirement for elections to various boards and committees of the diocese.   These elections could be just as democratically handled by a plurality election.  In essence this would mean that whoever gets the most votes on the first ballot would be elected without the necessity of the multiple runoffs which are currently necessary. 
This amendment would not change the method for electing a Bishop which is governed by a different section of the Constitution (see ARTICLE 5).  Additionally, any member of the clergy with the concurrence of two members of the laity could still request an election by orders which would still require a majority vote of each group (see ARTICLE 2 section 5).   Therefore, the majority ballot would still be available for special or controversial elections.   However with this change the ordinary elections and business of Council could be performed in a much more expeditious and efficient fashion.  of the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice. of the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice.

DEFEATED 


 

 

 

Elected at the 99th Council:

 

 

APPLETON FAMILY MINISTRIES BOARD

 

Wes Smith The Rev. Dr. J. Wesley Smith, rector, Christ Church, Macon

Pertinent Interests and Experience:  A native of Savannah, Georgia, I am an alumnus of The University of the South (Sewanee) and Vanderbilt University.  Married to Kristina, with four grown children, I am also a Chaplain (Lt. Colonel) in the U. S. Army Reserve and have been mobilized on active duty.  I continue to serve as the Rector of the parish and have been very activity in diocesan activities over the past year, including chairing the Task Force on Canon 20, regarding the funding of the mission and ministry of the diocese.  I will be released from active duty on the 1st of February, 2006.

Contact information: phone: 478-745-0427, email: Wesley@christchurchmacon.com

 

ECCLESIASTICAL TRIAL COURT, Lay member

 

Paul Davison Paul S. Davison, member, St. Christopher’s, Perry

Pertinent interests and experience:I am the incumbent Presiding Judge and a member of the court since January, 2003.  Although we haven’t had any cases, I have been working to prepare procedures should we be called upon.  I have been an Air Force lawyer for 25 years.  I have been a vestry member and the clerk, and I am now a verger, lector and chalicist.  If re-elected, I plan to help complete the preparations we have been making.

 

Contact information: Phone (478) 396-1960, email paul_davison@alltel.net

 

 


MIKELL BOARD

molly mcauliffe Molly McAuliffe, member, Holy Trinity Parish, Decatur

 

Pertinent interests and experience: 
Molly started attending Camp Mikell in 1987.  She spent the summers of 1998-2001 working on the Summer Staff.  In 2000, she served as one of the Counselor Coordinators; in 2001 she was the Staff Leader.  Molly is a member of Holy Trinity Parish where she has served as a youth leader.  Molly is currently employed at Parkview High where she teaches AP social studiesclasses and coaches the golf team.  She believes many of her classroom and coaching abilities come from her Mikell experiences.

Contact information:  mollymustard@hotmail.com (home) ;Molly_McAuliffe@gwinnett.k12.ga.us (work) (770) 414-1815--home

 

josh condon The Rev. Josh Condon, Assistant Rector, Grace Church, Gainesville 

Pertinent interests and experience: I seek to be a part of the ongoing support in our Diocese for our camp and conference center.  Camp Mikell has been a part of many key points on my spiritual journey including leading youth retreats while in college, spending discernment weekends, attending various conferences, and participating in Dean’s staff at summer camp.  Providing an optimal place for spiritual growth and invigoration for everyone excites me and I hope to serve in this capacity. 

Contact information: Church phone : 770-536-0126  Cell:  770-540-7964 Email: jcondon@gracechurchgainesville.org

 

STANDING COMMITTEE-Priest Member

 

Doug Hahn The Rev. Douglas Hahn, Rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Columbus  (1999-present)
Dean of Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Convocation

Pertinent interests and experience:St. George's Griffin, Associate (1996-1999);
Episcopal Charities Foundation (1997-1999 Chair in 1999);Bishop Nominating Committee, 2000-2001(Communication Chair);Planning Committee, 2002 Diocesan Council;
Executive Board, Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries (Current);Supervised or provided support systems for several persons in Discernment for Holy Orders;Involved with Diocesan McCann Mission to Central Tanganyika (2005).

Contact information: 2100 Hilton Avenue,Columbus, GA 31906 (Phone) 706-324-4264; Email: revdhahn@aol.com
 


 

STANDING COMMITTEE- Lay Member
 


ben wells Ben R. Wells, member, St. Bartholomew’s, Atlanta

Pertinent interests and experience:I have served my parish and the diocese as youth Sunday school teacher,
co-chair of the rector nominating committee, and senior warden.  Icurrently serve as co-chair of the St. Bart's Strategic Development Team and as the acolyte warden.  My diocesan service on the Camp Mikell Board
of Governors and the Diocesan Executive Committee comes to an end inDecember 2005.  If elected to the Diocesan Standing Committee I will strive to serve the diocese well and with conscience.

Contact information:: email: brw101@comcast.net

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH TRUSTEE

 

john evans John Evans, member, Cathedral of St. Philip 

Pertinent interests and experience: Prior representation of diocese and alumni on the Board of Trustees (1998-2003); previously served as president of the Atlanta alumni; organized fundraiser for the Merrill Dale Reich Memorial Scholarships for Sewanee students needing financial aid; additional experience as Career Services and Admissions Office volunteer; member Sewanee Trust for Historic Preservation; frequent speaker on Sewanee history topics. "Our diocese unifies together with the University in a remarkable historical bond, and it can be strengthened." 

Contact information:  404 784 1241, evans3036@mindspring.com