The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth convened on Monday, June 10, 2013, at 3:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Worth. Mrs. Martha Fagley presided. Ms. Elinor Normand opened the meeting with a short meditation. The following members were in attendance: Mrs. Martha Fagley, the Rev. Curt Norman, Ms. Elinor Normand, the Rev. Susan Slaughter, Mr. Norm Snyder, and the Rev. Bill Stanford.
Also present were Ms. Kathleen Wells, Chancellor for the diocese, the Rev. Janet Waggoner, Canon to the Ordinary; Mrs. Demi Prentiss, Ministry Developer and Administrative Officer for the diocese; and Mrs. Karen Shepherd, Clerk.
Minutes of the April 2013 meeting were approved.
The committee discussed the need for a diocesan “ethics in ministry” policy which would include safeguard training and background check procedures. The Rev. Waggoner will be doing research in the next weeks and will bring her findings to the August Standing Committee meeting. It is desirable to have a policy in place for a vote at the diocesan convention in November.
Standing Committee members are in the process of establishing a Google Group.
The Rev. Waggoner reported that she is currently acquainting herself with new duties as Canon to the Ordinary. She envisions her work to be helping to support clergy in their pastoral and vocational duties and, along with Mrs. Prentiss, assisting congregations in their needs.
The Rev. Slaughter reported that the check from the insurance company has been received and the project to repair damage to their building caused by an errant automobile is set to begin.
Mr. Snyder reported that diocesan response to the Granbury Tornado Relief Update, including visits from Bishop High and Deacon Tracie Middleton and congregational monetary support, have been most helpful in mitigating damages from the May tornado. A large number of the homes destroyed had been built by Habitat for Humanity. Fortunately, Habitat requires mortgagees to purchase insurance, and the homes will therefore be rebuilt by contractors. Habitat will rebuild the one house which was not insured at the owner’s expense. The Hood County Disaster committee, of which Mr. Snyder is a member, will be meeting long-term. Episcopal Relief and Development will be take a secondary position and use its money for what cannot be accomplished otherwise. Mrs. Prentiss commented that monetary donations have come into the diocesan office from around the entire country.
The committee approved a Request for Consent to the Election of a Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of Massachusetts; a Request for Consent to the Election of Mark Allen Bourlakas as Bishop Diocesan by Diocese of Southwest Virginia and a Request for Consent to the Election of Anne Hodges-Copple as Suffragan Bishop by Diocese of North Carolina.
The committee agreed to submit annotated agendas for publication on the diocesan website.
Mrs. Fagley attended the recent successful Day of Discernment. She reported that Bishop High would like all groups working on the discernment process to meet together at some time in the near future. The EfM graduation on June 1 was also a success.
The Rev. Jordan Haynie will be ordained to the priesthood July 9 at All Saints’ Church.
Episcopal Church Building Fund (ECBF) applications are due June 14. Five applications have already been received and two others are possible.
Ms. Wells reminded members that there will be an election for deputies to the general convention of The Episcopal Church at the diocesan convention in November.
The next meeting of the Standing Committee is at 3:30, Monday, September 9, at All Saints Episcopal School.