Summary of Sept. 13, 2011 meeting

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Rhode Island

Summary of Meeting of Sept. 13, 2011

The Hon. Scott Avedisian, President, called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. 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 was also present for part of the meeting.

1. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Anita Schell-Lambert.

2. The minutes of the July 10, 2011 meeting were approved as amended. This prompted a continuing discussion about parish mergers and our need to preserve what we have learned for reference for future members of the Standing Committee

3. The testimonial for the Ordination to the Priesthood of the Rev. Deacon John Higginbotham was signed by all members.

4. The Bishop’s time:

1. The cycles of intercessions that Bishop Wolf created during her sabbatical are at the publisher and should be ready by Advent. They will be available through an online subscription.

2. There was an extended, open ended discussion concerning the future of the Cathedral of St. John and the related future of the offices of the Diocese of RI; a preliminary report on the Cathedral feasibility study is expected in a few weeks.

5. The following joined the meeting for discussion and possible approval of the merger plan of St. Mark’s Church, Riverside & St. Matthew’s Church, Barrington: the Rev. Richard Shippee and Jeanne Mason (St. Mark’s) & the Rev. Judith Mitchell and Sally Easton (St. Matthew’s).

First there was an update and time for questions regarding activities, meetings, and publicity centered on this merger plan since the last discussion with the Standing Committee in March 2011.

A written agreement and plan of reorganization was presented for discussion. With our thanks for their hard work and best wishes for their common future, the visitors left the meeting. After a brief concluding discussion, the following resolution was approved:

The Standing Committee gives its consent to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization between St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and St. Matthew’s Church Corporation.

6. The Standing Committee had invited representatives of the four parishes in Cranston to this meeting to update the Committee on the meetings they have been having regarding the future of the Episcopal Church in Cranston. The following joined the meeting: Peter Lane & Sue Hurn (St. David’s Church); the Rev, Mary Korte, Dwight D. Barrett, & Joe Rose (Church of the Transfiguration); Bill Baddeley, Stephan Sloan, and the Rev. Marsue Harris (Trinity Church); Shirley Sibielski and the Rev. Michael Coburn (Church of the Ascension). Canon Betsy Fornal also joined the meeting.

Each parish had the opportunity to tell its own story about its participation in these meetings and this was followed a long discussion with full participation by all the visitors. Having listened to the presentations and discussions, Bishop Wolf proposed that while she had been asked for permission for two of the parishes present to engage in merger talks, she would instead give her consent to the continued conversations of the four churches. The Standing Committee then approved the following resolution:

The four churches in Cranston have permission from the Standing Committee to continue their conversations with the possibility of merger and report back to the Committee in January 2012.

7. There was the beginning of a discussion concerning possible communication, coordination and collaboration with the Standing Committees of other dioceses in the Search and Transition process; in Province I, The Dioceses of Western MA, RI, & NH are in various stages of this process.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 4:30 pm in the Higgins Room of Diocesan House.

Respectfully Submitted,

Caryl Frink, Secretary