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Thursday, May 7, 2009
The synod was called to order by Vice President Michael Rehill at 1:15 pm. After an opening prayer by the Rt. Rev. George Councell, Provincial Secretary Louie Crew certified that a quorum was present. President Rehill welcomed Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon, Bishop of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, to this, his first synod meeting. The President then appointed the following to Synod committees:
- Dispatch of Business: Louie Crew and Rosalie Simmonds Ballentine
- Resolutions: John Goldsack, Dorothy-Jane Porpeglia, and Kim Byham
- Elections: Gerald Keucher, Valarie Crosdale, and the Rt. Rev. George Councell
The President then called for the adoption of the agenda. Hearing no opposition, the agenda was so ordered.
In his President’s address, Michael Rehill praised those who for many years had been instrumental in making Province II strong, especially Rt. Rev. Jack McKelvey, recently retired as Bishop of Rochester; Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane, recently elected the 9th Bishop of Maine and previously president of Province II and the clergy representative of Province II on the Executive Council; Rt. Rev. George Councell, Bishop of New Jersey, current Vice-President and member of the Presiding Bishop’s Council of Advice; Chuck Perfater, Provincial Coordinator; and the members of the Provincial Council.
The President welcomed two bishops elected since the synod meeting in 2006: Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop of Newark; and Rt. Rev. Prince Singh, Bishop of Rochester.
The President noted that with the elections this year, we will have the largest turnover of leadership in the history of the Council. Treasurer, Peter Hausman has agreed to serve through the end of 2009.
The President then introduced the members of Provincial Council: Louie Crew, Secretary; Peter Hausman, treasurer (not present); Dorothy-Jane Porpeglia, chancellor to the province; Edgar (‘Kim’) Byham, lay representative of the province to Executive Council; Petero Sabune, clergy representative of the province to Executive Council (recently resigned); Rt. Rev. Michael Garrison, bishop representative to the Council; Martha Gardner, lay representative to the Council; Dahn Gandell, clergy representative to the Provincial Council; Tim Schenck, provincial representative to the board of Episcopal Life; and Laurie Wosniak, editor of the province’s newsletter, InProv2.
The President identified two major ingredients for a successful province:
- The bishops must support the province
- The executive coordinator must be effective
The President thanked the bishops of Province II, and praised our executive coordinator, Chuck Perfater. The President expressed thanks for the privilege of serving over the last nine years as President and Vice President.
The Vice-President’s report:
Bishop Councell said that it has been a privilege to serve with Michael Rehill and others on the leadership council. “We are privileged in Province II. We have room to grow but are in fine shape.”
In January 2007 the bishops of the province met at Long Breach in retreat, lead by Professor Gordon Graham. In 2008 several of the bishops met for a week in Haiti, and were impressed by the dynamic and miraculous ways that diocese serves everyone in the country.
The provincial coordinator gave the report of the nominating committee for Bishop Michael Garrison, who had not yet arrived. The committee consisted of Peter Hausman, Petero Sabune, and Bishop Garrison.
The President called for any nominations from the floor; none were made.
Uncontested positions
Uncontested nominations for Provincial Council were President: Michael Rehill (NWK); Vice-President: the Rt. Rev. George Councell (NJ); Treasurer: The Rev. Gerald Keucher (NY); and Clerical Representative: The Rev. Dahn Gandell (ROCH).
Court of Review: Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Ambrose Gumbs (VI); Presbyters: The Rev. H. Gaylord Hitchcock (NY), The Rev. James Brooks-McDonald (ALB), and The Rev. Susan Anslow-Williams (WNY); Lay: Paul Ambos (NJ), John Goldsack (NJ), and C. Thomas Wright (ROCH).
It was moved and seconded that the secretary cast a unanimous ballot to elect all candidates for uncontested positions, and the President so ordered. Then the President called for the first ballot on the contested positions:
Contested positions
Secretary of the Provincial Council: Two were nominated: The Rev. Edward Thompson (VI) and the Rev. Mary White (ALB). The Rev. Edward Thompson won on the first ballot
Lay Representative to Provincial Council: Two were nominated: Rosalie Ballentine (VI) and Susan Kynor (NWK). Rosalie Ballentine was elected on the first ballot.
Lay Representative to Executive Council (6-year term): Martha Gardner (NWK), Michael McPherson (NY), and Dr. Sandra Michael (CNY). Martha Gardner was elected on the second ballot.
Clergy Representative to Executive Council (3-year term, to complete the term of Petero Sabune, who recently resigned): The Rev. Isaac Ihiasota (WNY), The Rev. Joseph Jerome (LI), The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton (NWK), The Rev. Allison Moore (NWK), The Rev. John Negrotto (NWK), and The Rev. Canon Sandye Wilson (NWK). With no election after the second ballot, the secretary moved and Synod unanimously approved dropping all but the top two vote getters for a third and final ballot. The Rev. Canon Sandye Wilson was elected; The Rev. Joseph Jerome was runner-up.
Bishop Nominee for Executive Council: No nominee at this time.
The President appointed Dorothy-Jane Porpeglia as chancellor with the unanimous consent of the synod.
Treasurer Peter Hausman was not present but had filed Treasurer’s report, all three parts of which were in our packet and presented by our President:
- Budget Results for the 2007-Triennium. The budget has a current surplus of $41,963. After final accounting, we expect a surplus of about $50,000. We unanimously accepted this report subject to a final audit.
- Budget Proposed for the triennium 2010-2012. We unanimously adopted this budget.
- Diocesan Fair Share: Based exclusively on Diocesan Income. This breaks down the askings reported in the budget we adopted, showing what each diocese receives in revenues. Synod unanimously adopted the fair share principles as reflected in the adopted budget for the new triennium.
The President noted for the absent treasurer that for last twelve years the province’s asking has been fixed, based on resource and income of fifteen years ago. During the last twelve years we have committed to maintain the province with no increase from the diocese. We have lived within that pledge, but we realize we will, in fact, need additional funding, since without it we would exhaust our reserves before the end of the next triennium. It is generally felt that the increased services and activities of the Province justify an increased asking. Therefore, we need a modest increase in the overall contributions of the dioceses. Our new model goes from .235% to .25% in the first year, and then increases to .3% and .33% in the two following years.
Haiti and Virgin Islands are subject to more natural calamities than others are: we have historically provided for a low asking: The budget we adopted asks that contributions from those two dioceses remain constant, and all others will pick up the slack.
Louie Crew proposed and another seconded also freezing the asking from the Convocation of the Episcopal Church in Europe at the amount of the last triennium. Some spoke of the wealth of Europe compared with the needs of Haiti and the Virgin Islands. Bishop Whalon noted that the Convocation serves many refugee congregations and many disadvantaged immigrants. The Convocation has not for sometime just been the chaplaincy of rich expatriates from the United States, as it was in earlier times, he noted. Nevertheless, to support attention to the needs of Haiti and the Virgin Islands, Bishop Whalon moved and Louie Crew seconded a motion to table Crew’s original motion. Synod unanimously approved the motion to table indefinitely.
We approved the minutes of the 2006 Synod.
Executive Council Lay Representative Kim Byham gave his report. He noted enormous changes in his six years on Council. At the beginning, possibly only ten percent of Episcopal Clergy and two percent of Episcopal Laity knew what the Executive Council does. Those percentages have increased dramatically.
Executive Council takes on tasks not possible for General Convention, which meets only every three years. As examples, Byham noted the full-scale renovation of the Church Center in his first triennium and the acquisition of a new facility for the church’s archives in this triennium.
Byham noted that provinces elect 18 members of Executive Council and that General Convention elects 20, plus the presiding officers of each House. In his first triennium, because of elections at General Convention, 8 of the 40 members of Executive Council were from Province II, but in the current triennium, only 4 of the 40 are from Province II.
Byham thanked us for giving him the honor to serve and indicated Council members sometimes find out what is happening at very early stages.
He noted that he was one of only three who voted against the Reorganization of Church Center as presented to Executive Council.
Executive Coordinator Report
The coordinator promoted the synod’s next major event…a Convocation on May 6-8, 2010 in Syracuse, with the topic “Formation and Transformation.”
The coordinator expressed gladness that Rt. Rev. Zaché Duracin was with us, and noted with concern the many struggles in Haiti. Only 33-35 clergy serve 109 congregations. Our coordinator stressed that we need to strengthen life style in Haiti through education.
In our packets we received “The Haiti Future” a pamphlet from our provincial Haiti network. Province II requests that on Sunday June 28th every parish in this province raise at least $100 for the seminary in Haiti. If we raise $30,000, we can educate 30 new clergy. The coordinator praised The Very Rev. Oge Beauvoir, dean of the recently established seminary in Haiti.
Province II is grateful to have had an opportunity to help with fresh water projects in Haiti: we discovered they needed a large water truck to provide fresh water to all that need it at a small fee to support the seminary. Province II provided funds from the reserves to purchase the truck. When the truck was stuck in mud during a recent hurricane, it became unusable, but the Diocese of Rochester provided $3000 from their MDG funds to repair it.
The coordinator noted a Province night on July 14th during General Convention, at Bar Louie, 3 blocks from the convention center, 6:30 p.m., $30 per ticket. Attendees will need to buy their own drinks.
Our packets provide a list of the province’s Networks, together with names and contact information for all of the chairs.
Our first business session adjourned at 2:20 p.m., noting that persons with resolutions to propose for synod action should get them to the resolutions committee (see above) before dinner tonight.
- Four Workshops were presented and all were well attended:
- Ecumenism Initiatives – The Rt. Rev. Christopher Epting
- Episcopal Health Care and Lay Benefits – Tim Vanover & Kim Byham
- Anglican Covenant – Rosalie Ballantine
- Title IV – Diane Sammons
Eucharist was held at St. Peter’s Church. Bp. Singh presided and The Rev. Sandye Wilson preached. We are grateful to the staff at St. Peter’s for hosting and assisting in providing this mass.
Following dinner, The Rev. Tobias Haller was the featured speaker, and he made a wonderful and humorous presentation. See it at http://jintoku.blogspot.com/2009/05/one-word.html
Friday, May 8, 2009
Following a brief worship service, the Synod was reconvened at 8:45 a.m. We spent the morning learning about and practicing the art of Public Narrative, led by Angela Herrara, hired by Executive Council with several of her colleagues in the Kennedy School of Business at Harvard, to train all deputies in Public Narrative during every synod meeting and during four sessions of ‘mission conversations’ scheduled during General Convention in Anaheim. For several weeks before our synod meeting, Province II’s lay representative on Executive Council, had worked with Angela Herrera to prepare persons to sit at each of our tables (organized by diocese) to train us. Training involved each person learning to tell a personal (but not private) story that shows how the person came to be active in the church as a leader. Colleagues at each table responded by indicating what resonated the most for them and what they would like to hear more of. Each narrated a second version of the same story, adding to the “my” story and “us” prospective, noting also the collective action which the story might prompt the group to take.
After lunch the President welcomed The Rev. Gregory Straub, Executive Secretary of General Convention, and The Rev. Brian Prior, Vice-President of the House of Deputies (appearing on behalf of the President of the House of Deputies) for a preview of General Convention. Gregory Straub gave an historical perspective. Then he and Brian Prior gave an elaborate explanation of the legislative process, including and practical directions for deputies. Other speakers included the Rev. Gerald Keucher, who spoke on behalf of Program, Budget and Finance; Rt. Rev. George Councell, who spoke about the role of the House of Bishops.
President Rehill called for resolutions. Dorothy-Jane Porpeglia on behalf of the Resolutions Committee, presented the following:
1. Resolution Honoring Stephen Lane
Resolved, That the 2009 Synod of Province II offer greetings to the Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane, 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Maine; and be it further
Resolved, That this Province extend its deepest thanks to Bishop Lane for his many years of faithful service to this Province, having served for six years as Provincial Secretary, for six years as President of Province II, and for six years as clerical representative of this Province on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Synod of Province II assure Bishop Lane of our continuing prayers for him and his family; and be it further
Resolved, That this Synod pray God’s Holy Spirit continue to guide Bishop Lane in his life and ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be prepared by the Secretary and Provincial Executive in a form suitable for framing and display and sent to Bishop Lane with an expression of our love and gratitude.
Submitted by Deputy Alfred D. Price, Diocese of Western New York
Upon second, the resolution was passed on voice vote by the members of the Synod.
2. A Resolution of Thanks
Resolved, that the Synod of the Province II of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Albany, New York, on May 7, 2009, expresses its thanks to the following:
For Service on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church on behalf of the Province:
Kim Byham, Esq., Lay Representative
The Rev. Petero Sabune, Clerical Representative
For Service on the Leadership Council of the Province:
Dr. Louie Crew, Secretary
Mr. Peter Hausman, Treasurer
The Rt. Rev. Michael Garrison, Bishop Representative
Ms. Martha Gardner, Lay Representative
For Presentations on behalf of the Church Center at the 2009 Synod:
The Rev. Dr. Gregory Straub
The Rev. Brian Pryor
The Rev. Jerry Keutcher
Ms. Angela Herrera
For Presentations at Workshops at Synod:
Rosalie Ballentine, Esq.
Diane Sammons, Esq.
Kim Byham, Esq.
Mr. Tim Vanover
The Rt. Rev. Chris Epting
For Leadership in Worship at Synod:
The Rt. Rev. Prince Singh
The Rev. Sandye Wilson
The Rev. Dahn Gandell
For Organizing the Synod:
Mr. Chuck Perfater and members of the Planning Committee (which included Kim Byham (NWK) - Chair, John Chaffee (CNY), The Rev. Betty Belasco (LI), Michael McPherson (NY), The Rev. Dahn Gandell (ROCH), The Rev. Susan Williams (WNY), Edith Haynes-Lake (VI), Lillian Davis-Wilson (WNY) and Jerry Carroll (ALB).
For Members of the Synod Support Committee of the Diocese of Albany.
After a second, the resolution was passed on voice vote by the members of the Synod.
3. Resolution to send to General Convention calling for a Standing Commission on Women
Resolved, the House of ________ concurring, that this 76th General Convention create a Standing Commission on Women with a membership of two bishops, two priests or deacons, and six lay persons to raise understanding across the Church about the many issues which affect the lives of women and girls. The anticipated expense of the Commission should be $70,000 for the triennium.
Submitted by Marge Christie
Upon second, the resolution was passed on voice vote by the members of the Synod.
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion passed. The 2009 Synod was adjourned at 4 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Louie Crew, Secretary
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