Summary of April 12, 2011 meeting

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Rhode Island

Summary of Meeting of April 12, 2011

The Hon. Scott Avedisian, President, called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm at St. Luke’s Church, East Greenwich, RI. Other members in attendance were Ms. Caryl Frink, Ms. Frances Gammell-Roach, the Rev. Pamela Mott, the Rev. Jennifer Pedrick,, Mr. WIlliam Plumb, the Rev. Anita Schell-Lambert and the Rev. Stephanie Shoemaker. The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf and Mr. Edmund C. Bennett were present for part of the meeting.

Present for the discussion on the proposed merger of their congregations were the Rev. Dennis Bucco, Mr. Dana Robinson, and Mr. Joseph Tassone, representing St. Luke’s Church, Pawtucket and Mr. Michael Robertson, Mr. John Vieira, and Ms. Monique Doherty, representing St. John’s Church, Ashton.

1. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Jennifer Pedrick.

2.. The minutes of the March 8, 2011 meeting were approved.

3. Consents:

a. It was voted to consent to the Ordination of George Dibrell Young III as Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of East Tennessee.

b. It was voted to consent to the election of a Bishop Suffragan for the Diocese of Virginia.

c. It was voted to consent to the election of a Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of New York.

4. St. Mary’s Church, Portsmouth,

a. It was voted to approve a construction loan of 3 million dollars at prime plus one (or less) secured by the Young land and the endowment of the parish.

b. It was voted to give permission for the signing of a binding agreement with the Aquidneck Land Trust if it is not substantially different from the non-binding agreement approved at the Feb. meeting of the Standing Committee

5. St. Luke’s Church, Pawtucket and St. John’s Church, Ashton

The guests from St. John’s Church, Ashton and St. Luke’s, Pawtucket were introduced and there was an update on the continuing work being done to effect the merger of these two parishes, a discussion begun with the Standing Committee in February. After time for questions, it was voted to consent to the proposed merger of St. Luke’s Parish, Pawtucket, Diocese of Rhode Island and St. John’s Church, Ashton, Diocese of Rhode Island in accordance with the Plan of Merger and the Memorandum of Understanding circulated to the members of the Standing Committee.

6. Bishop Wolf updated the Standing Committee on a few parish matters, reported briefly on the recent House of Bishops’ meeting, and informed the Committee that the bids for the feasibility study on the Cathedral Close are still being reviewed.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 5:02 pm.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, May 10, 2011, 4:30 pm in the Higgins Room of Diocesan House.

Respectfully Submitted,

Caryl Frink, Secretary