Restructuring Newsletter - Issue #4

July 1, 2008

The Restructuring newsletter “skipped” an issue. With all of the activity around the Annual Meeting, and all of the material in the AM package, we decided to let a bit of time pass before sending out a new issue. During the summer, when many staff and volunteers are taking much-deserved time off, the newsletter will only be published once per month.

Annual Meeting Update

Restructuring was discussed at the annual meeting. Incoming President and Steering Group Chair Carol Gierak discussed the project’s highlights for the past year. The PowerPoint presentation made by Carol Gierak can be viewed on the Conference website.

During the annual meeting several motions that pertain directly to restructuring were carried. They include:

Proposal #1 – terms of office

MOTION by Marg Walker/Shelley Roberts that the terms of office for the positions of Conference president-elect and Conference past-president be one year each, and that the president-elect be elected in the second year of the president’s term.

Proposal to review new structure

MOTION by Carol Gierak/Thelma Arnott that the 84th annual meeting of Toronto Conference take the following action:

That the changes made by motions 1-5 at the 83rd annual meeting of Toronto Conference (2007)(see p. 06/07-345) be formally reviewed with a report by a review team appointed by the Conference Executive to be returned to the annual general meeting of the Conference in 2012.

MOTION by Carol Gierak/Thelma Arnott that the 84th annual meeting of Toronto Conference take the following action: That the Conference structure implemented on July 1, 2009 be maintained until completion of the review to be conducted in 2012.

MOTION by Carol Gierak/Thelma Arnott that the 84th annual meeting of Toronto Conference take the following action: That the Executive develop a process with funding to ensure that gaps or emergent pieces of work can be addressed.

Proposal regarding staffing

MOTION by Carol Gierak/Bill Jermyn that this 84th annual meeting of Toronto Conference authorize a staffing complement to include 1.5 Conference ministers and one full-time administrative assistant to be deployed in each of the four Presbyteries effective July 1, 2009.

Proposal regarding Conference Assessment

MOTION by Clyde Harris/Bob Bingham that this 84th annual meeting of Toronto Conference adopt the formula for assessing Presbyteries and Pastoral Charges as described in the report of the Commission on Assessments and that the new formula be implemented effective January 1, 2010.

All other highlights of the annual meeting will be available for viewing on the Conference website later this month.

New Presbyteries – Update from the Annual Meeting

At the annual meeting each of the four new Presbyteries had the opportunity to name persons who would do some planning work on their behalf. Four Commissions were established to assist the new Presbyteries by developing draft solutions on the following topics:

• a governance structure, including the composition of the Presbytery Executive
• a committee structure that will address personnel, property, program and public witness issues
• nominations policies, including terms of office
• frequency and times of Presbytery meetings
• developing a vision for how to be a Presbytery that will be energetic and exciting and will involve doing things in a new way that will encourage the participation of those who are not involved in the current functioning of Presbytery - a vision that includes accessibility, inclusiveness, diversity and listening for voices often not heard
• a process for selecting a name for the new Presbyteries
• a plan regarding current Resource Centres, if applicable
• a plan for nominating Commissioners to the next General Council

The Southwest Presbytery chose to ask its commission to consult with congregations to get feedback.

The Commissions will report to the October 25, 2008 new Presbytery meeting with ideas for consideration. Following the meeting the Commissions will make Decisions on an interim Presbytery structure to be effective July 1, 2009, and to be reviewed by the new Presbyteries in fall, 2009.

The individuals below have been named to the Commissions.

Northeast Presbytery: Robert C. Biggar, King City, Amanda Buchanan, Minesing, Nina Fulford, Emsdale, Maureen Huismans, Trinity, Newmarket, Kirsty M. Hunter, Minesing, Anten Mills Bill Jermyn, Bradford, Kevin Logie, Bracebridge, Saber Luhowy, Collier St., Gillian McDonald, Bradford, Wayne Reed, St. Matthew's, Tanisha Taylor-Iasci, Georgina Island, Jane I. Wetelainen, St. James (Stroud), Wanda Winfield, Parry Sound Rural

Northwest Presbytery: Daniel Crawford, Badjeros, Ann Harbridge, Rosemont, Cathy Hird, Division St., Margaret Krauter, Durham (Knox), Joan Revie, St. John's, Elmvale, Shelley Roberts, Palgrave, Ralph Schmidt, Knox (Owen Sound), Samantha Speer, St. Andrew's, Camilla Jeffrey Werner, Bolton

Southeast Presbytery: Rosalie Bradley, Bellefair, Harry Brown St. Mark's, Thomas Clark, Fairlawn Heights, Will Cullen, Fairlawn Avenue, Sarah Fanning, Parkwoods United Church, Alan W. Hall, St. Mark's, Penny Keel, Saint Luke's, John Young-Jung Lee, Dentonia Park, Darren Liepold Nicholson, Knob Hill, Lynella Reid-James, Knox, Alan Rush, Toronto Chinese, Margaret Sumadh, Bathurst (Darren has subsequently resigned his position in order to take on a contract position on the Conference staff)

Southwest Presbytery: Allison Bolton, Richview, Philip Cable, Emmanuel Howard Pk., Michael Fraser, Forest Hill, Larry J. Giles, North Bramalea, Jean Leckie, Grace, Maureen C. MacLeod, St. Bartholomew’s, Coral Prebble, St. James, Barry Rieder, Jane-Finch Community Ministry, Glenn R. Smith, Irene Ty, Northminster, Stephen Wickett, Westminster

The next meeting of the new presbyteries will take place on October 25. Please note change of date.

The Assets and Funding Task Group

The Assets and Funding task group completed its meeting with the Presbyteries, Presbytery corporations, the Conference Executive and the Mission Support and Cedar Glen committees. The task group produced a detailed status report outlining their findings and offering options for a funding proposal for assets in the restructured Conference. The task group will be meeting with all of the participants to discuss the status report and the options presented on September 12. Until then, they welcome feedback from all individuals who have been involved in the process.

The Communications Task Group

In our last issue we asked for volunteers to join a communications task group. The Steering Group has formed the task group from the individuals who submitted their names. The new task group includes: Wanda Winfield, David Shearman, Marianne Williams (chair) and John Sullivan. This group brings a diverse group of skills to the table and provides an excellent cross-section of experience in various aspects of both strategic and tactical communications. The task group has had its first meeting with the SG and is aware of its mandate. Progress has already been made in defining the vision for the Conference and developing guiding principles for the communications strategy. Communication is vital now and will continue to be after restructuring.

The task group appreciates ideas and suggestions and encourages members of the Conference to provide input into the process. Anyone who has information that would be valuable to the work of the task group is invited to forward it to Carol Paniccia, project manager, at cpaniccia@torontoconference.ca.

Assessments Formula Update

The new assessment formula was presented at the Annual Meeting (see Annual Meeting update on page 1. The Finance Committee will provide more detail about the formula in the fall when it outlines the way in which the 2009 budgets of the Conference and the Presbyteries are to be administered.

Although we will continue our work on the project, the Restructuring Project team wishes everyone a wonderful, relaxing and safe summer!