Highlights of meetings of the Executive and sub-Executive of

Toronto Conference
and a Commission appointed by the Executive

June, July and August are sometimes quiet periods in the church’s life, but this year life in the Conference was anything but quiet.  A regular meeting of the Executive was held June 14.  The sub-Executive met on four occasions, and a Commission appointed by the Executive met twice. 

Executive

Annual meeting follow-up:  The annual meeting had adjourned with three pieces of business unfinished.  The Executive forwarded to the General Council a Proposal encouraging the reading of the New Testament over a three year period; it passed a motion offering support to hotel workers seeking a living wage; and it postponed to the fall a discussion about a new Partner in Residence program.

Concern from Korean ministers:  A number of Korean ministers had raised objections to a Buddhist priest’s role at the annual meeting, in particular leading the opening worship.  The Executive authorized a response to the ministers indicating our commitment to inter-faith dialogue and acknowledging the pain and insensitivity to some within the meeting. (letter available upon request)

Other matters:   The Executive approved four people as Interim Ministers, authorized signing officers, received the report of the records committee from the annual meeting, approved the board of directors of the Toronto United Church Council, and appointed people to a number of committees.

Planning for 2006-2007:  In the spirit of experimenting with new structures, the Executive agreed to meet five times in the up-coming year, down from the usual eight meetings.  It elected a sub-Executive and determined the powers of the sub-Executive, outlining 13 specific items which it will not permit the sub-Executive to consider except in urgent circumstances. (list available upon request)

Sub-Executive

Conference president:  A legal situation involving the Conference president led the sub-Executive to agree that the president should not function as president until the matter is concluded in the civil court process.  In the meantime President-elect Rick McKinley is temporarily performing the duties of the president.

Site of the 2007 annual meeting:  The agenda planning committee had reviewed the evaluations of the recent annual, and recommended that the site for the 2007 meeting be moved.  The sub-Executive agreed with the recommendation.  A new site is being sought.

Archival agreement:  Because of an anticipated massive increase in the cost of participating in the central archives, the sub-Executive gave a required one-year notice that the Conference will withdraw from the central archives.  The Conference’s archives and history committee has been directed to begin research into new archival services to be available July 1, 2007.

Divestment:  Over the summer the Conference’s Middle East divestment task group supported CUPE Ontario’s position on Israel and the occupied territories.  There was much response, followed by further response to an e-mail exchange involving the co-chair of the task group.  The sub-Executive removed the co-chair from his position. (statement from the sub-Executive available upon request)

Other matters:  The sub-Executive approved sacramental privileges for two ministers, appointed people to committees, approved a loan request, and agreed to conduct a review on behalf of a Presbytery.  The sub-Executive appointed the sub-Executive of Bay of Quinte Conference as a Commission to consider the review report when it is available; the Commission will act on any recommendations.

Commissions

At its June meeting the Executive had appointed a Commission to consider follow-up actions related to three Section 363 reviews of Ministry Personnel.  In one, the Commission recommended to a Presbytery that a minister’s resignation from the Order of Ministry be accepted.  In the other, the Commission recommended to the General Council that a Formal Hearing be held with the recommendation that a minister be placed on the Discontinued Service List (Disciplinary).  The third matter is still pending.

To receive excerpts from the minutes as noted above, please contact Larysa Kazyeva at lkazyeva@torontoconference.ca