Stewards Meeting Minutes
March 1, 2009
Present: Marjory Bankson, Peter Bankson, Kate Cudlipp, Cynthia Dahlin, Muriel Lipp, Dave
Lloyd (worship), Trish Nemore (recorder), Pat Conover, Keith Seat (moderator), Margreta
Silverstone, Deborah Sokolove.
Absent: Ken Burton, Lewise Busch, Jeannine Caracciolo, Jane Engle, Sue Johnson, Aeren
Martinez, Sandra Miller
Visiting for a portion of the meeting: Bob Sabath
Worship. Dave Lloyd read from 1st Peter and invited us to reflect on our own baptism and to
give thanks in our heart for the promise of the rainbow and the blessing of our baptism.
Housekeeping. Next meeting is April 5. Moderator: Deborah Sokolove, Worship leader:
Margreta Silverstone, Recorder: Peter Bankson, Angels: Sue Johnson and Lewise Busch.
Rolling Ridge. Margreta asked us to think about what our hearts say about our desire to
use Rolling Ridge, as we have not been good stewards of our ownership share in the Retreat
House. The discussion was preceded by a presentation by Bob Sabath about developments on
and near the property that now provide or will in the future alternative settings to the
retreat house for experiencing the wilderness. The mission group that runs Rolling Ridge
has long range plans for five staff houses (the fifth is now being built), two retreat
houses (a second on the lines of Wellspring with a central meeting house and cabins) and
three hermitages (for long-term residence, for therapeutic uses and for generic purposes).
Some of these plans intersect with developments brought to them by others interested in
developing retreat options in the area (mentioned below).
Another user group relates to Stillpoint, a house overlooking the river that some groups
have preferred to the Retreat House (including Seekers Healers group and a soon-to-happen
retreat of the Time and Space mission group). Stillpoint is 35 acres with a swimming pond
and the house. The house has a living room and three bedrooms, with 18 beds throughout the
house. Fifteen people are buying one acre lots to build retreat cabins to be available
near the Stillpoint cabin. Lots of Stillpoint time is open use, though some will be used
for retreats led by the Stillpoint Group.
A smaller house is River house, offered by its owner, Janet Carbella, to be available 50
weeks out of the year. A nearby resident is building an apartment with his house that he
will make available to Rolling Ridge users. An Episcopal priest is interested in building
a contemplative center near the RR property and is working with the RR group. Another idea
relates to becoming a regional retreat center similar to one that exists in New Mexico.
Ideas related to “wilderness centers” and “wisdom centers” are part of the conversation as
well.
The Rolling Ridge group is wanting more shares in the current Retreat House and is
wondering if some users (like Seekers) are interested in changing their usage from the
Retreat House to other places such as Stillpoint. They are looking for one or two more
partners in Stillpoint at $25,000/share (owner share not user share – Bob did not explain
the difference).
Margreta pointed out that the Seekers men’s retreat uses the Retreat House, Keith (with
healers) and others have used Stillpoint (no one present at the meeting other than Keith
had been to Stillpoint), and that generally, Seekers does not make full use of its share in
the Retreat House.
Discussion followed in which questions were raised of what might get us out to RR, how we
could have better access to a schedule of what space is available and when, whether we
could “trade” Retreat House usage for Stillpoint usage (Bob said they’d have to figure a lot
out vis a vis such an action), whether to yield a portion of our Retreat House usage
regardless of other steps we take. We agreed to revisit the question in two months; in the
meantime, Margreta will publish the calendar and asks mission groups to determine what their
use of RR might be over the next year. We should try to make opportunities to see
Stillpoint, as well.
2025. Keith reported there is a new potential buyer for the space. After Kate raised the
matter of the costs the Hubers have incurred to relocate the students who were living there,
we agreed we will offer $5,000 from the proceeds of the sale to reimburse them.
Pastoring those Seekers not in mission groups. Brenda led a discussion to identify where,
if at all, Seekers who are not in mission group are finding connections to the community.
Stewards sharing. We agreed to continue our practice to having individual Stewards share
in depth at Stewards’ meetings; Marjory agreed to be the person to coordinate that activity.
Soul Talk.
Adjournment a little after eight.
