Skyland United Methodist Board of Stewards
Meeting Summary
July 9, 2024, 6 pm
Attendees: Diane Rutledge, Kathy Woods, Jack Harrison, Michael Smith, Stephanie Knapp, Kyle Addison, Erin Brady, Sandy Fredrick, Charles Fredrick
Devotion
- Kyle Addison – Unity & God’s Love, Scripture reference- Philippians 1: 4-11
Missions Working Team Report – Diane Rutledge
- All Are Welcome group held a June 9 event to present changes in the Book of Discipline by the General Conference.
- A future series is being developed by Joe Tarpley on having social principles/social justice study from the Wesleyan perspective. Possibly in the Fall.
- Upcoming events:
September 22nd from 3-5pm in the Fellowship Hall – Presentation from authors Betty Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby discussion 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.
Summer – The Community Garden is producing vegetables. A thank you to Jack & Barb Harrison, and the Bridges tutors for packing and delivering bags of produce.
Finance Working Team Report – Charles Frederick
- Charles reviewed the June financial report and provided an Endowment Fund update.
SPRC Working Team Report- Erin Brady
- Erin updated the group on the Music Director Position.
- Joy Moss is leading services while Joe Tarpley is traveling.
Trustees Working Team Report – Bob Blanke
- Sanctuary air conditioner has been repaired.
- Ad Hoc Team chaired by Bob Blanke presented and updated SUMC Contract Authorization Policy. It was approved unanimously.
Pastors Report – Joe Tarpley is currently traveling.
LGBTQ+ Path Forward Post General Conference
Skyland UMC has made no decisions regarding same-sex marriages.
- The following motion was made and approved: The SUMC Board of Stewards will make the decision regarding same sex marriage thru a vote after reviewing feedback from the congregation.
- A survey was developed and will be available to local members, local homebound members, non-members who are regular attendees, and youth (with parents permission). The survey will go out about July 17, 2024 and the final day for survey submission is July 24, 2024.
- 2 Listening Sessions are Scheduled:
July 28, 2024 at noon in the Sanctuary
July 29, 2024 in the evening in the Sanctuary
August 13, 2024: Next Board of Stewards Meeting in the Fellowship Hall
Prepared July 10, 2024 by Michael Smith
