2014 August Stewards Minutes

Seekers Church

August 3rd 2014 Stewards Meeting

Dave Lloyd, Margreta Silverstone

Visitors: Mary Carol Dragoo (MSG), Judy Lantz (MSG),Vincent Shepherd (MSG), Larry Rawlings (Koinonia)

Takoma Park Folk Festival: Larry and Brenda

Mission Support Companions:  Mary Carol

Mary Carol read the new statement of call for the Mission Support Companions, a group that is separate from but related to the Mission Support Group, though not itself a mission group (primarily because it doesn’t have two people who are able or willing to be Stewards).  Though it does not have official mission group standing, the Mission Support Companions group functions like a mission group.

Ministry update:  Carroll Cafe

Because of travel and other obligations, Carroll Café has not been able to meet to produce a report for this meeting but will give a report in November.  Stewards were reminded that Jesse’s CD release concert is on September 12th,  an important occasion for all of us.

 Oiko Credit check:  Marjory.

Marjory reported that in June we received a $93,000 check from Oiko Credit saying that they were closing out our account due to a reorganization and would like permission to reinvest it on our behalf.  The reinvestment was approved.

 Safe Space Stickers:  Cynthia

Cynthia reported that she had attended a meeting of Clergy for Justice where she learned about Safe Space Stickers and asked if we would like to get some to show GLBT people that we are a welcoming community.  Stewards expressed an interest in getting some of the stickers.

Holy Spirit Fund:  Peter presented a report on the Holy Spirit Fund’s spending for the past year and noted that spending has been climbing over the past several years.  SLT has examined what they have been doing, what has worked, and what hasn’t worked and have developed some guidelines aimed at ensuring consistency and containing costs for the Fund.  One major change is that the Holy Spirit Fund will no longer give loans.  It will give money, as appropriate, but not lend it.  Along these same lines, SLT expressed a desire to forgive all outstanding loans included in the current spending report.  Stewards expressed support for the guidelines and approved forgiving all outstanding loans in the Holy Spirit Fund report.  There was a discussion of how Stewards could support SLT in setting limits on the use of the Holy Spirit Fund.   It was agreed that Stewards would have a longer future discussion about the guidelines.

The meeting closed with SOUL TALK.  Deborah mentioned that she will be installed as a Full Professor at Wesley Theological Seminary on October 21st at 11 am.  The ceremony will be held in the chapel at the Seminary.

Submitted by Jacqie Wallen

August 15, 2014