September Council Meeting Report
Diocesan Press Service. October 11, 1965 [XXXVI-1]
The question of improving two-way communications between Executive Council and the church it serves appeared often during the September meeting of Council in Greenwich, Conn. Discussions on the implementation of the Partnership Plan, the proposed expansion of Seabury House and other business included repeated references to "our image, our communications problem."
Development of the Seabury House facilities was presented to the Council, following earlier Standing Committee introductions. Architect Philip Ives presented sketches for considerable expansion and improvement for the facilities at the estimated cost of $580, 000, not including furnishings and certain fees.
Objections to the plan included inappropriateness of such expenditure in relation to the world-wide needs of the church; the comparatively few times the house is uncomfortably crowded; excessive costs, suggesting unwarranted luxury in design; lack of evidence of enough study on present and future use of facilities; and what such expansion would do to the "image" of the Council.
By resolution of the Council, a special committee will consider long- range plans for the center, needs requiring improvements, remodeling, additional accommodation and any possible financing for such expansion.
The first of a regular program of policy discussions, voted by Council action in May, dealt with the Partnership Plan - the equal sharing of all income by the dioceses with the national church. The Rt. Rev. Nelson Burroughs, Bishop of Ohio and chairman of the General Convention's Joint Committee on the Partnership Plan, reported that the committee has decided to recommend to the 1967 General Convention the abolishing of the quota system and going on the Partnership Plan in 1968 and to request Executive Council to implement the 1964 Convention resolution asking Council to assign a person on its staff during this Triennium to make available information on the plan, to share the experience of those dioceses on the plan and to work with the Committee in preparing to change over to the Partnership Plan.
Bishop Burroughs reported that a "happier spirit" has prevailed about giving money to the church in the churches in the 21 dioceses which have switched to the voluntary plan. This has not meant that in all cases more money has been contributed, but, he observed that parishioners have registered "less feeling of pressure" and are "more generous and thankful" in their giving. There has been " less griping and argument over weights and systems," he said.
John Paul Causey, Council member from Virginia, reported on his diocese's experience and said "what we are talking about is the total commitment of the individual, and of the parish and diocese, to Christ; in terms of an infinite need; any goal or objective short of that is false to the Gospel."
Charles F. Bound, Council member from New York and chairman of the Presiding Bishop's Advisory Panel on Personnel Policies and Practices, presented the report of his committee which included background material on the staff, their responsibilities and work loads. The report noted a need to help the managers to manage the affairs of the Council and provide support for supervisors to help reduce the heavy workload of the officers; to evolve ways to establish program priorities and goals; to plan f6r immediate salary adjustments and improvements in personnel management and practices, and to improve communication within the Council structure as well as across the church.
Council took certain action which will allow officers to borrow up to $5,000 at prime interest to use in buying homes; to receive sabbatical leaves for one semester after five years or two semesters after seven years service; to receive salaries within an expanded salary schedule with length of service and meritorious performance being considered. The Presiding Bishop has ruled that the sum of all increases must not exceed 5 per cent of salary figures for 1965. Council also recognized that certain people might have a life-long vocation to serve God and the Church through the Executive Council by approving that officers' appointments normally will be made for indefinite periods, subject to review.
Responding to the report on management, the Council authorized the Presiding Bishop to appoint a Management Advisory Committee to assist and advise him in the discharge of his responsibility for the management of the work committed to the Council. The securing of professional assistance, if necessary, was also approved.
In other actions, the Executive Council approved resolutions which:
--- Referred to Episcopal members of the General Board of the National Council of Churches resolutions from several parish vestries pointing out that the church has not taken a stand on right-to-work laws. A NCC representative testified in early June before a House of Representatives sub-committee for the repeal of such laws. Council acted "in the confidence" that board members would follow 1964 Convention guidelines.
--- Accepted a bid from the National Council and the Canadian Council of Churches to participate in the Second North American Conference on the Church and Family at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont., May 30 to June 3, 1966.
Named to new posts were:
Miss Jeanne Sutton, to be editor of Junior Materials in the Area of Publications in the Department of Christian Education;
The Rev. William W. Keys II, executive secretary of College Work, Province III;
Leon Modeste, associate secretary for field work in community services of the Department of Christian Social Relations;
The Rev. Laurence W. Walton, associate Secretary of the Division of Personnel of the Overseas Department;
Carroll Greene, Jr., former associate secretary of the Division of Christian Citizenship of the Department of Christian Social Relations to assistant ecumenical officer;
The Rev. David R. Covell, Jr., executive secretary in the unit field studies of the General Division of Research and Field Study;
The Rev. Robert R. Hansel editor of Senior High School Materials in the Publications Area of the Department of Christian Education, and
The Rev. Kenneth W. Mann, PH. D. executive secretary, Division of Pastoral Services in the Department of Christian Social Relations.