Skyland United Methodist Board of Stewards Meeting Summary
August 13, 2024, 6pm
Attendees: Diane Rutledge, Kathy Woods, Jack Harrison, Michael Smith, Stephanie Knapp, Kyle Addison, Erin Brady, Sandy Fredrick, Charles Fredrick, Adam Byrd, Donna Galloway, Bob Blanke
Devotion: Stephanie Knapp – Trust in God, Scripture reference- Proverbs 3: 5-6
Minutes from the July 2024 BOS meeting were approved.
Council of Ministries Working Team Report –Donna Galloway
• Missions needs to fill 26 positions for the upcoming year.
• September 8th: Chow will restart. Encouraging people to attend.
• All children’s activities are moving to Sunday evenings starting this Fall.
• Upcoming events (repost from July 9, 2024 BOS meeting):
September 22nd from 3-5pm in the Fellowship Hall – Presentation from authors Betty Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby discussing their book Cousins: Connected Through Slavery, A Black Woman and a White Woman Discover Their Past and Each Other.
October 14-17 – Bus trip to Washington D.C. to visit the Church and Society Building and the Creation Justice Ministries building. More details to follow.
November – National Native American Heritage Month. More details to follow.
September- Jim Tolbert with the Caretakers for God’s Creation Ministry team are planning a week for the congregation to focus on the importance of transitioning our energy use to electric power and reducing our carbon footprint. Possibly the last week of September. More details to follow.
Finance Working Team Report – Charles Frederick
• Charles reviewed the July financial report.
• Upcoming Stewardship dates:
October 4th: Stewardship letters are sent out.
October 13th: Guest speaker
October 26th: Day of service
SPRC Working Team Report- Erin Brady
• Erin updated the group on the Music Director Position. Kimberley’s last day is August 25th.
• Open accompanist position has been posted.
• Reviewed feedback from the choir.
Other Items
• BOS discussed fellowship hall management and décor improvements.
Trustees Working Team Report – Bob Blanke
• Reviewed trustee’s budget.
• Parking lot drains needed repairs due to recent storms.
• The Trustees Working Team will draft an update to the guidelines for the use of church property and facilities for the board to consider.
• The Church bus needs repairs and is currently out of commission.
Pastors Report – Reviewed annual charge conference guidelines.
LGBTQ+ Path Forward Post General Conference
• Kyle reviewed the recent survey questions and results :
1) Should our church allow same-sex ceremonies on our campus? Majority of responses were yes.
2) Each year the SPRC sends a church profile to the Bishop’s Cabinet regarding Clergy appointments. Should our church accept an LGBTQ+ pastor? Majority of responses were yes.
• Buddy Gaither requested to address and addressed the board regarding concerns with the survey.
• A member asked when discussions began regarding LGBTQ+ and Skyland UMC. 2 events were mentioned. The World Café discussions were referenced.
• Board discussed why the word marriage was not part of the survey questions regarding a question from a member.
• Board discussed LGBTQ+ and the path forward and how to proceed.
• Jack Harrison made the following motion:
“The Skyland United Methodist Church (SUMC) Board of Stewards (BOS) hereby determines that all couples professing to be practicing Christians be allowed to use the campus of SUMC for their marriage service subject to having the acceptance of one of the Skyland UMC Ordained Pastors.”
The motion passed.
• BOS discussed communication to the congregation. Joe and Kyle will write a letter and place in the newsletter.
• An Ad Hoc team was charted to draft a policy for updates to church literature, website, etc. for board review and approval.
Prepared August 18, 2024 by Michael Smith
