Moving forward we will plan to post an executive summary of the content, discussion, and meaningful actions of each of our meetings within a week of the meeting here. While there are some aspects of our work that will need to be kept confidential (particularly as it relates to certain personnel and legal matters), we believe this will go a long way toward improving the transparency of our actions and conversations.
The following are highlights from the 4/11/2022 Governance Board (GB) meeting:
Devotional was delivered by Ms. Burch.
Discussion Opened: Cory Tylenda discussed questions on the updated Board Policy related to:
Mrs. Benjamin will make proposed changes and update formatting to Board Policy Book and present finalized version at next Board Meeting in May of 2022.
MOTION | To approve the March 2022 Consent agenda was offered by Ms. Benjamin. This included: March GB Meeting Minutes, Senior Minister’s Report, PPRC Meeting Minutes, Finance Committee Minutes and Materials, Updated Governing Board Policy Book |
Moved By | Beth Wilkens |
Seconded By |
Joe Stankaitis |
Outcome | Passed by unanimous consent |
Due to confidentiality, Governing Board entered Executive Session at 4:45 pm and exited Executive Session at 5 pm
A reminder for the Governing Board to please fill out these and return to Valerie if you have not done so already.
Due to confidentiality, Governing Board entered Executive Session at 5:05 pm and exited Executive Session at 5:16 pm
Meeting adjourned at 5:17 pm
— Respectfully submitted, Cory Tylenda, Secretary, Governing Board
The following are highlights from the 3/14/2022 Governance Board (GB) meeting:
Planning Scheduling for meeting: Stephen Cady requested two Governing Board members to attend the mediation with him. He asked who could attend for the meeting on March 24th, 2022. Angie Burch and Valerie Benjamin have agreed to attend with Stephen Cady.
Motion: Passed by unanimous consent
Suggestion to add a new 3.1.5, renumbering existing 3.1.5 and 3.1.6 correspondingly:
3.1.5 The Church Financial Director. The Financial Director reports to the Senior Minister, subject to appropriate Governing Board oversight including approval of candidates for the position proposed by the Senior Minister.
Suggested language for the fifth bullet of 1.1.1. below:
An annual, mutual Performance Evaluation of the Senior Minister’s effectiveness conducted and coordinated through the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, and Board’s effectiveness, in their respective roles as outlined in the Book of Discipline.
Valerie Benjamin stated Beth Wilkens provided with the recommended verbiage above.
Discussion Opened: Chuck Hanrahan stated he had questions on the current Board Policy Book.
Valerie will move "on-going receipt…." to her next update of the policy.
Action: Valerie Benjamin will update the policy book and send back to the Governing Board.
She will update it to our website.
Mr. Cady provided an overview of status. In February, the 2020 General Conference has now been postponed to 2024. This could make a difference if we have to elect delegates again. No movement is going to officially happen until 2024. In the meantime, the WCA and Good News, and Confessing Movement are now officially launching the Global Methodist Church on May 1, 2022. Some churches will probably immediately leave.
There is a provision in the Book of Discipline for churches that want to leave the UMC. In the Upper NY Conference, we have one of six bishops, who said that he is leaving the UMC to go to the Global Methodist Church. What does that mean to the churches who remain in the Upper NY Conference?
Is there a way that we can lead as a congregation as of right now? Or we do we wait two years from now? This is a topic we are following closely and continues to change. There is a hopefulness that is coming, even though it might be a couple of years away.
Executive Session began at 5:23pm and ended at 5:55pm
Action: Please review the board evaluation assessment. Please complete and return to Valerie.
The LGBTQA+ Advocacy Team is working on our webpage and to create content for our church web page, we are asking the Governing Board if they would be willing to provide content and answer a few questions. One of the ideas we had was to have messages on our page from a variety of people from the church. We hope to show with these short testimonials that Asbury First is truly dedicated to being an inclusive community.
There are three questions, that serve as guideposts:
Action: Please send responses to Barb Nelson. They will be included on the LGBTQ webpage.
Do we feel that these questions need to change? Discussion led by Valerie Benjamin:
Another question is re-invigorating the life of the congregation after COVID. How do we take action? How does the re-launch of the outreach center affect the church?
Are we going to perform gay weddings? If yes, when do we start doing that?
Discussion: I wonder if we need to obtain feedback from the congregation to see if they have feedback or input on any of the questions. Should we ask if there are any more questions?
Action: Create game-plan for engaging congregation for our focus.
Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm
— Respectfully submitted, Cory Tylenda, Secretary, Governing Board
The following are highlights from the 2/14/2022 Governance Board (GB) meeting:
MOTION | To have the following Governing Board members serve in 2022 in the respective roles: Valerie Benjamin as President, Ike Jordan as Vice President, Angie Burch as Treasurer, Cory Tylenda as Secretary |
Moved By | Joe Stankaitis |
Seconded By | Beth Wilkens |
Outcome | Passed by unanimous consent |
MOTION | Resolved that AFUMC deposit an additional $60,000 in the Conference Related Escrow administered by the Investment Committee, in quarterly installments during 2022, to be invested in the discretion of the Investment Committee subject to further direction by the Governing Board. |
Moved By | Beth Wilkens |
Seconded By | Cory Tylenda |
Outcome | Passed by unanimous consent |
Meeting was adjourned at 6 pm. Next Governing Board Meeting is March 14, 2022 via Zoom at 4:30 pm.
The following are highlights from the 01/10/2022 Governance Board (GB) meeting:
The following are highlights from the 12/13/2021 Governance Board (GB) meeting:
The following are highlights from the 11/8/2021 Governance Board (GB) meeting:
For more information about any of our governance or committees, please contact the Governance Board at governance@asburyfirst.org or call the church office at (585)-271-1050.