SHENANDOAH ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MINUTES

for Thursday, January 15, 2009

at St. Stephen’s UCC, Harrisonburg, VA

PRESENT: Peggy Kennedy, Leslie Nickel, Rev. Barbara Rhodes, Rev. Richard Vaught.

Richard provided the opening prayer.

The Minutes from the December Council conference call were APPROVED by consensus.

ACM Report – St. Paul’s Edinburgh will close at Easter.
St. John’s Middlebrook has submitted a church profile.
The following churches in the Association received church renewal grants from the Conference:
St. Paul’s/Mt. Calvary Woodstock, Sanctuary, and Centenary.
Conference finances are an issue.
Invested reserve funds have lost significant value.
Boundary training is going well. Five training events will be held by the end of the month. The plan is for each association to have three training events this year.

2009 Association Spring Meeting – The Spring meeting will be held at Bethel on April 26, 2009.

Rev. Dr. Keo Cavalcanti will discuss his research on the history of UCC churches in the Valley.

The ACM will show a boundary training video.

During the business meeting, amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws will be voted on and elections will occur.
The tentative schedule for the meeting is as follows:

3:30 Registration

4:00 Welcome and announcements

4:05 Worship

4:15 Keo’s remarks

5:15 Boundary training video and discussion

6:00 Dinner

6:30 Business meeting.

Fall Association Meeting – The Disciples have asked whether we want to do a joint meeting again.
Barbara is going to speak to them and express interest in doing a joint meeting focused on ecumentalism and examples of churches working together on mission.

New Business – Keo has offered to teach a polity course for our students in care.
While EMU Seminary is willing to host the course, Barbara suggested that the course be held at St. Stephen’s and open to members of the Association.
Tentative thoughts are to hold the class on Monday or Tuesday night from 6:30-8 pm for 12 weeks.

Barbara offered the closing prayer. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.

è Next Meeting: The meeting will be held via conference call on Thursday, February 19 beginning at 6 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Leslie Nickel, Secretary