Metropolitan Community Churches

Board of Administration

 

 

Meeting

Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles

Friday 17 -18 March 2006

 

Present

 

Rev Jeff Miner (Chair)

Marsha Warren (Treasurer and Vice-Chair)

Stephen Harte (Secretary)

John Vespa

Barb Crabtree

Julie Krueger

Marvin Bagwell (from Friday afternoon)

 

 

In Attendance

 

Rev Dr Cindi Love (Executive Director)

Rev Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator

Rev Elder Don Eastman, Vice-Moderator

Connie Meadows, Assistant to the Moderator

Jim Birkitt, Director of Communications

 

Apologies

 

Marvin Bagwell (for delayed attendance)

 

1.1        Prayers

 

Rev Jeff Miner led the opening devotions and prayers.

 

1.2        Agenda

 

            The Board discussed and approved the agenda for the two days of meetings.

 

1.3        Approval of Minutes

 

The Board approved the minutes of the Conference Call of 10 February 2006 and instructed they be circulated.

 

2.         Leadership Team Report

 

The Moderator, the Executive Director and the Chair made presentations from the Leadership Team on strategic priorities, strategic church resourcing models and financial strategy issues.

 

3.         Financial Reports

 

The Board reviewed and considered profit and loss reporting for the first two months of 2006 with a view to examining the likely impact on our ability to meet 2006 budget of any trends revealed.  The following issues arose:

 

3.1        Fund Development

 

As part of our strategy for meeting the 2006 fund development goal, the Board will participate in calling direct donors to the denomination.

 

3.2        Tithe Agreement Process

 

The Board reviewed its policies on dealing with tithe delinquency and assisting Churches into becoming current with their tithe commitments. 

 

3.3        St Jude’s MCC

 

In reviewing the request for assistance from St Jude’s MCC, the Board resolved authorise the Executive Director to investigate and negotiate issuing a promissory note and/or equity participation agreement with that Church.

 

3.4        Conference Management

 

The Chair noted that we anticipate a 17% surplus on the Men’s Conference and a 15% surplus on the Women’s Conference and the Board expressed its appreciation and thanks to all concerned in organising these successful Conferences.  The Board resolved that

 

the Executive Director (either directly or through an appointed staff member) shall develop and present budgets for each of the Regional Conferences in consultation with the appropriate Regional Elders within 30 days; and

 

the Executive Director (either directly or through an appointed staff member) will have full authority to veto expenditure outside those budgets.

 

3.5        Elder Expenditure

 

The Executive Director and the Moderator will report to the April Conference Call on whether the trends in Elder expenditure indicate concerns for either the 2006 budget or cash flow and report on the expenditure consequences of the Elder workplans.

 

3.6        Balloon Payment

 

The Executive Director reported that we have to rest our $300,000 line of credit for at least one day by July.  The Executive Director investigate our options for addressing this situation and report to the April Conference Call.

 

4.         Financial Strategy

 

The Board discussed issues of financial strategy arising out of a memo by the Chair to the Board of 13 March 2006.

 

5.         Closing Devotions for Day 1

 

            Marsha Warren lead closing devotions ending the Board’s first day of meeting.

 

6.         Opening Devotions for Day 2

 

            Stephen Harte lead opening devotions for the Board’s second day of meeting.

 

7.         Financial Strategy (continued)

 

            The Board continued to discuss issues of financial strategy. 

 

8.         Board Process

 

The Board agreed that, in principle, it’s Conference Calls (in month’s when no face to face meeting was scheduled) on the 4th Friday of each month at 1.00pm Eastern Standard Time.  The Board Packet will be issued during the preceding Tuesday.  The Chair will assemble the Board Packet and would expect items for the packet by the Friday before.  The Secretary will set up a system of outlook reminders.

 

9.         Bylaw Advisories

 

The Board agreed to appoint Stephen Harte and Marvin Bagwell and one Elder appointed by the Board of Elders to address Bylaw Advisory Requests.

 

10.        Finance Team and Audit Team

 

The Board agreed to dissolve the former Finance Team of the Board.  The Board appointed to the Audit Team, Marsha Warren and Barbara Crabtree to this Team.

 

11.        Deferral of Tithes/Forgiveness of Tithes

 

The Executive Director was asked to develop a methodology for dealing with requests for deferral of tithes.  The Board asked the Executive Director to review requests for forgiveness of tithes (in consultation with the Moderator and the relevant Regional Elder) and make proposals to the Board as appropriate.

 

12.        Process for Evaluation and Support for Executive Director

 

John Vespa made a presentation to the Board. The Board agreed on a approach to the evaluation and support for the Executive Director.

 

13.        MCC Albuquerque / Emmanuel MCC, Albuquerque, New Mexico

           

The Board noted that Emmanuel MCC has closed and the former congregation has joined MCC Albuquerque.  The Board consented to the assets of Emmanuel MCC (which would otherwise revert to the denomination) being transferred to MCC Albuquerque.  The Board wished the new merged congregation well in its ministry.

 

14.        Board Evaluation

 

            Board members will be evaluated using Board Source online evaluation tools.

 

15.        Closing Devotional

 

            The Executive Director lead closing devotions.