St. Benedict Episcopal Church Van Muhn Memorial Outreach Fund

Outreach Committee: Katharine Emsden, Sarah Lowell, Walt Lynn, Nancy Nielsen, Susan Simons

Global/Local distribution of $4,000

 Local 60% = $2,100

 Global 40% = $1,900

General Criteria (not ranked)

Organization/project benefits youth

Organization is community oriented

 (Works w/other organizations, brings people together, fosters community)

Targeted donation rather than general donation

 (Donation goes to project and not to administrative or development needs)

Organization is inclusive, does not discriminate

Local organizations will give feedback to St. B about their use of the donation

Past donations:

 CVCCS $ 120.00

 Dorcas Circle $ 600.00

 Nets for Life $ 750.00

 Sangre de Cristo Hospice $ 300.00 (for Kids Kamp)

2011 donations to date: 

 LV Scholarships $ 500.00 ($1000 in 2011 from operating)

Current balance $4,836.20

The plan suggested below will distribute $4,000, leaving $836.20 in the fund for emergencies or as a basis for 2012 scholarships.

Local

Dorcas Circle $ 500

CVCCS $ 500

LV Schools $ 500

Hospice Grief Therapy (Huerfano) $ 300

 Journey Home

Kids Kamp (Pueblo) $ 300

Global

Pediatric Cancer Genome

Project (St. Jude) $ 950

Episcopal Relief and Development

 Nets for Life $ 475

 Gifts for Life 

This summary of the meeting went out in an email to all congregants and is here reproduced on the site for future reference.

Topics Discussed

• Vicar Search
• Partnership
• St. Benedict Self Assessment and Mission Focus

Alex Howard, Eleanor Foley, Barbara Scott and Michael Scott traveled to St. Thomas in Alamosa for the commissioning of Trish Brown as Lay Pastoral Leader. Service and commissioning was lead by Canon Lou Blanchard. Afterwards we met with Erin Smith, St. Thomas' Bishop's Warden, and Lou to discuss the topics listed above.

Vicar Search
Although Lou has a few potential candidates, after discussion about length of tenure, financial capabilities and the fact of differing desires and perspectives within St. Benedict's congregation about the focus, character and direction of the church for the future, all agreed that a permanent vicar search is premature. St. Benedict will rely upon the services of Fr. Alex, Eleanor Foley as Pastoral Lay Leader and supply priests while the congregation develops a coherent and comprehensive mission.

Partnership
All reaffirmed the partnership between the two churches and agreed to find ways to be increasingly spiritually and financially supportive to that partnership as both are able to do so.

St. Benedict Self Assessment and Mission Focus
The need for the congregation of St. Benedict to come to a consensus on the focus and direction of the church was deemed a prerequisite for any effort to identify and approach candidates for a permanent vicar assignment. Some areas that need discussion and resolution are:

• Importance of fully supporting the Diocesan emphasis on missional purpose, engaging the suffering, radical generosity and evangelizing the youth.
• The question of increasing the membership and physical structure of the church.
• Methods and means of supporting the St. Benedict & St. Thomas partnership to strengthen both and increase mission activities to our respective communities.

The Bishop's office and the Bishop's Committees of both churches, with Lou's help, are looking into arranging a facilitated retreat in early 2012 to address these topics.

St. Benedict's annual meeting will be on November 21, 2010 after church.  Be prepared to hear about some of the things we have been doing recently.  We will talk about plans for our future and entertain names for the Bishop's Committee. 

If you have additions to the agenda, email me at efoley53@hotmail.com

Sincerely, Eleanor Foley