In attendance: The Hon. Scott Avedisian, President of
The Standing Committee, The Reverend Mike Coburn, Ms. Frances Gammell-Roach,
Mr. James Kelliher, The Reverend Pam Mott, The Rev. Jennifer Pedrick, Mr.
William Plumb, and The Reverend Anita Schell-Lambert. The Right Reverend
Geralyn Wolf was also present.
Guests:
The Reverend Patrick Campbell, and Ms. Sherilyn Pearce and Ms. Beth
Gettel (via Skype, courtesy of the Reverend Pedrick)
The meeting opened at 4:38 with prayer by the
Bishop in celebration of the Day,
Julian of Norwich.
1. During
the Bishop’s Time, the Bishop reported that she will be visiting with the
bishop nominees on Friday. She recounted a recent visit to Block Island filled
with lots of food and hospitality. The Bishop and her staff are working very
diligently to clean up any unfinished business, including Title IV cases and
merging and closing parishes as well as staffing for the diocesan office. With
regard to the Cathedral building, it will be secure and periodically checked.
The books have been closed and books are in the diocesan offices, along with
payments. The Cathedral Chapter does not want to take on the responsibility of
oversight. The Chapter will disband and create a chapter or committee to
oversee the cathedral. Discussion including logistics with new bishop’s arrival
and Bishop Wolf’s leave-taking, the latter which officially is January 1, 2013.
2. Motion was passed to approve minutes of the April 10, 2012 meeting.
Motion was passed to approve the meeting summary of the April 10, 2012 meeting.
3. Motion was
passed to consent to the election of Bishop Suffragan for the Diocese of North
Carolina.
4. Update on
St. Alban’s, Centredale and Trinity, North Scituate. Mr. Avedisian reported
that he wrote to the attorney for St. Alban’s. St. Alban’s rectory was sold for
$137,000. May 6 Trinity, North Scituate voted to merge with St. Alban’s.
5. Update on
St. Andrew’s, Little Compton. Per Mr. Avedisian, St. Andrew’s is finalizing
an agreement with the Little Compton School department. Both the Congregational
Church and St. Andrew’s of Little Compton will be jointly leasing parish
buildings for a year.
6.
Mr. Avedisian reported that the auditor for the diocese said that there were no
pending Title IV cases and no other items necessary to go into the 2011 audit.
7. The Reverend Mott, rector of St. Mary’s,
Portsmouth gave an update on St. Mary’s,
Portsmouth. The Reverend Mott reported on the progress of their new
building: financing has been in part through conserving of 40 acres of land,
with a conservation easement and reformation of Sarah Gibbs Land for “purposes
of land or seminary” given in the nineteenth century. In the meantime, a local
growers market approached the Reverend Mott about using the former parish house
for a winter farmers market. The immediate issue is for the former parish house
to be given away in a limited partnership with Aquidneck Island Land Trust, the
growers market, Eco Rhode Island and Sustainable Rhode Island as a sustainability
center with various entities including the thrift shop. The Vestry of St. Mary’s has approved
the vision, pending permissions.
Permission to give the land and the building for
this limited partnership will need to be granted by the Standing Committee,
along with permission to give an easement for the septic system.
8. Interview
of Patrick Campbell for ordination to the priesthood. The Reverend Campbell
reported that a new opportunity came to be priest in charge at Redeemer,
Providence, and a two-year placement. Mr. Avedisian reported that all Reverend
Campbell’s paperwork is in order. Ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for
Saturday June 30 at 10 am at St. Paul's, Pawtucket.
According to Canon III.9.1-3, motion was made and
passed to “testify
that The Reverend Patrick Campbell, desiring to be ordained to the Priesthood,
has presented to the Standing Committee the certificates as required by the
Canons indicating his preparedness for ordination to the Priesthood have been
met; and the Standing Committee certifies that all canonical requirements for
ordination to
the Priesthood have been met, and we find no sufficient
objection to ordination.”
9.
Upon a Skype interview, courtesy of The Reverend Pedrick, and according to
Canon III.8, motion was made and passed to “testify
that Ms. Sherilyn Pearce, desiring to be ordained to the Diaconate and
Priesthood under Canon III.8, has presented to us the certificates as required
by the Canons indicating her preparedness for ordination to the Diaconate under
Canon III.8; and we certify that all canonical requirements for ordination to
the Diaconate under Canon III.8 have been met; and we find no sufficient
objection to ordination. Therefore, we recommend Ms. Sherilyn Pearce for
ordination.”
10.
Upon a Skype interview, courtesy of The Reverend Pedrick, and according to
Canon III.8, motion was made and passed, “Subject
to successful completion of her psychological review and recommendation of Ms.
Gettel for ordination by the Commission on Ministry to the Bishop, the Standing
Committee testifies that Ms. Becky Gettel, desiring to be
ordained to the Diaconate and Priesthood under Canon III.8, has presented to us
the certificates as required by the Canons indicating her preparedness for
ordination to the Diaconate under Canon III.8; and we certify that all
canonical requirements for ordination to the Diaconate under Canon III.8 have
been met; and we find no sufficient objection to ordination. Therefore, we
recommend Ms. Becky Gettel for ordination.”
11. Report of
Mr. Plumb for the Transition Committee about the upcoming election of the 13th
Bishop of Rhode Island noted the use of polling machines for the election
12. Closing Prayer was given by The Reverend
Pedrick at 6:30 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Anita Schell-Lambert
Secretary, Standing Committee
The Diocese of Rhode Island
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