April 19, 2016 Meeting Summary

April 19, 2016 Meeting Summary

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island

Standing Committee

Minutes of the Meeting of April 19, 2016

The regular monthly meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) was called to order by Ms. MacFall at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House.

Bishop Nicholas Knisely, The Rev. James Bocchino, Mr. John Gelati, The Rev. Greta Getlein, The Rev. Patrick Greene, Mrs. Lora MacFall (President), Mr. Neal McNamara, and Mr. F. Leon Sibielski (Secretary) were in attendance; The Rev. Kevin Lloyd was absent.

Bishop Knisely led the SC in opening prayer.

A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve the Minutes and Minutes Summary of the SC Meeting of March 15, 2016 with one abstention recorded. 

Bishop Knisely provided the SC with background information about Chancellor Sayer’s role in the development of a Diocesan Bylaws Template and Checklist.  The Bishop is empowering each congregation to come up with their own version of their bylaws using the checklist as a guide.  The Rev. Getlein and Mr. McNamara volunteered to serve as a subcommittee to review and to recommend suggested revisions to all incoming parish bylaws.  Mr. Sibielski volunteered to serve as a consultant to this subcommittee. 

Bishop Knisely provided background information to the SC about St. Mark’s request for a $20,000.00 loan.  They are hoping to utilize half of that amount to bring their church structure into compliance with the city of Warwick’s fire codes.  St. Mark’s has $140,000.00 in savings, not endowment.  A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve St. Mark’s request for a $20,000.00 loan.  

The SC interviewed The Rev. Deacon Linda Mackie Griggs.    Following their interview, a motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve Deacon Linda Mackie Griggs for Ordination to the Priesthood pending a letter of recommendation to Bishop Knisely from the Commission on Ministry.  (On April 27, 2016, the SC voted unanimously via email to ordain The Rev. Deacon Linda Mackie Griggs to the Sacred Order of Priests.) 

The SC interviewed Grace Swinski.  Following their interview, a motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve Grace Swinski for ordination to the diaconate pending a letter of recommendation to Bishop Knisely from the Commission on Ministry.  

The SC interviewed James Kelleher.   Following their interview, a motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve James Kelleher for ordination to the diaconate pending a letter of recommendation to Bishop Knisely from the Commission on Ministry.  

The SC interviewed Edward Dean.  Following their interview, a motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve Edward Dean for ordination to the diaconate pending a letter of recommendation to Bishop Knisely from the Commission on Ministry.  

Bishop Knisely then entered into conversation with the SC presenting several informational items to them for their input.

The Rev. Getlein led the SC in closing prayer.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

NOTE:  The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House.  

Respectfully submitted

F. Leon Sibielski, Secretary

March 15, 2016 Meeting Summary

March 15, 2016 Meeting Summary

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island

Standing Committee

Minutes of the Meeting of March 15, 2016 

The regular monthly meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) was called to order by Ms. MacFall at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House.

The Rev. James Bocchino, Mr. John Gelati, The Rev. Greta Getlein, Mrs. Lora MacFall (President), Mr. Neal McNamara, and Mr. F. Leon Sibielski (Secretary) were in attendance; The Rev. Patrick Greene and The Rev. Kevin Lloyd were absent.

The Rev. Bocchino led the SC in opening prayer.

Motions were made, seconded, and approved by the SC to approve the Minutes and Minutes Summary of the SC Meeting of February 16, 2016. 

A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to consent to the election of The Rev. Dr. Douglas E. Sparks, Bishop Diocesan for the Diocese of Northern Indiana.

A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to consent to the election of The Rev. Patrick W. Bell, Bishop Diocesan for the Diocese of Eastern Oregon.

 A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the SC to consent to the election of a Bishop Suffragan for the Diocese of W. Texas.

Following a brief discussion about the age at which a person is considered an adult member of [a] congregation, and in an effort to be compliant with the Canons of the Episcopal Church the SC agreed to change the wording of Item 5 of our Diocesan Bylaws Checklist to read Do the bylaws state that members sixteen years of age and over are to be considered adult members of the congregation?  Additionally, it was suggested that the checklist along with the parish’s bylaws be sent to the Bishop’s Office (Direction 6, Diocesan Bylaws Checklist) so that his administrative assistant could oversee its distribution to Bishop Knisely, Chancellor Sayer, and the SC. 

It was reported that negotiations for the sale of the St. Mary’s property in Warwick had reached an impasse and the attorneys involved were attempting to resolve the issue of the subdivisions of that property.  

Mrs. MacFall presented the following information:

·       Linda Griggs is scheduled to be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at St. Martin’s Providence.   She has been scheduled to meet with the SC at 4:15 p.m. on April 19, 2016.

·       Ed. Dean, James Kelliher, and Grace Swinski are scheduled to be ordained to the Diaconate on Saturday, June 11, 2016, at St. Paul’s Pawtucket. 

o   Grace has been scheduled to meet with the SC at 4:30 p.m. on April 19, 2016.

o   Jim has been scheduled to meet with the SC at 4:45 p.m. on April 19, 2016.

o   Ed has been scheduled to meet with the SC at 5:00 p.m. on April 19, 2016. 

Mr. Gelati led the SC in closing prayer.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

NOTE:  The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House.  

Respectfully submitted

F. Leon Sibielski, Secretary

February 16, 2016 Meeting Summary

February 16, 2016 Meeting Summary

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island
Standing Committee
Minutes of the Meeting of February 16, 2016 

The regular monthly meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) was called to order by Ms. MacFall at 4:05 p.m. on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House.

The Rev. James Bocchino, Mr. John Gelati, The Rev. Greta Getlein, The Rev. Patrick Greene, The Rev. Kevin Lloyd, Mrs. Lora MacFall (President), and Mr. F. Leon Sibielski (Secretary) were in attendance; Mr. Neal McNamara was absent.

The Rev. Lloyd led the SC in opening prayer.
 
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the Minutes of the SC Meeting of January 12, 2016. 

A motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the Minutes Summary of the SC Meeting of January 12, 2016. 

The secretary distributed a document reflecting a previously agreed upon change to the remaining SC meeting dates for 2016 from the second to the third Tuesday of the months for February through June. 

The following motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the sale of the real property located on Warwick Neck Ave., Warwick, RI and shown on the plan attached hereto as Exhibit A as Lot 1 of a proposed two lot subdivision of Lot 336, Plat 379 of the City of Warwick Tax Assessor’s Plats, currently owned by Saint Barnabas Parish, Warwick, as successor of St. Mary’s Church, Warwick (“Seller”), to Heritage Christian Fellowship of the Assembly of God, Inc. (“Buyer”), for Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), pursuant to the terms of a Commercial Sales Agreement and Deposit Receipt dated January 7, 2016, is HEREBY APPROVED. This approval is without condition, either precedent or subsequent, is final and binding and may be relied on by both the Buyer and Seller.

A motion was made, seconded, and approved to consent to the election of a Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of Los Angeles. 

The secretary distributed to the membership a redesigned Diocesan Bylaws Checklist.  Bishop Knisely will be discussing with clergy the importance of bylaws and their being reviewed / developed by using the Diocesan Bylaws Checklist.

On behalf of the Bishop, Mrs. MacFall then entered into conversation with the SC presenting several informational items to them.

The Rev. Greene led the SC in closing prayer.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m. 

NOTE:  The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House. 

Respectfully submitted by F. Leon Sibielski, Secretary

January 12, 2016 Meeting Summary

January 12, 2016 Meeting Summary

Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island
Standing Committee
Minutes of the Meeting of January 12, 2016 

The regular monthly meeting of the Standing Committee (SC) was called to order by Ms. MacFall at 4:06 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House.

The Rev. James Bocchino, Mr. John Gelati, The Rev. Greta Getlein, The Rev. Patrick Greene, Mrs. Lora MacFall (President), Mr. Neal McNamara, and Mr. F. Leon Sibielski (Secretary) were in attendance; The Rev. Kevin Lloyd was absent.

Bishop Knisely led the SC in opening prayer.
 
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the Minutes of the SC Meeting of November 10, 2015. 

A motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the Minutes Summary of the SC Meeting of November 10, 2015. 

A motion was made, seconded, and approved to approve the Minutes of the SC Meeting of December 1, 2015.

The SC agreed to change its monthly meeting date from the second Tuesday of the month to the third Tuesday of the month so as to better accommodate those actions of the Finance Committee requiring SC approval.

The SC was presented for review and consideration a Purchase and Sale Agreement “to sell that property held in trust by St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 358 / 356 Warwick Neck Ave., Warwick, RI to the Heritage Christian Fellowship of the Assembly of God, Inc. as per the executed Purchase and Sale Agreement between the parties dated January 7, 2016.  

Bishop Knisely then entered into conversation with the SC presenting several informational items to them for their input.

The Rev. Bocchino led the SC in closing prayer.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. 

NOTE:  The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in the Higgins Room at Diocesan House. 

Respectfully submitted, 

F. Leon Sibielski, Secretary