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Metro Association

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Fall Meeting of the Metropolitan Association
November 6, 2004

Metro Association Moderator Christopher Solomon

The Metro Association may have set a record - its fall business meeting, led by Moderator Christopher Solomon, lasted less than 90 minutes. This allowed all participants to attend the God is Still Speaking events which followed.

Primary business was the review of the September 2004 Year-To-Date actual financial statements and the passage of the 2005 Budget.

Treasurer's Report

Metro Association Treasurer Fannie Davis

Treasurer Fannie Davis presented September 2004 Year-to-Date statements which showed Fellowship Dues payments for the first nine months to be only $39,927 of the year's budgeted $65,070. However, totals as of November 2 are over $53,000, and work will continue to seek the balance of payments by year-end. However, even with full payment of Fellowship Dues, the Association has budgeted an operating loss of over $13,000 for 2004 plus additional expenditures for purchase of assets of over $25,000, which would yield a decrease in net assets of over $38,000.

The budget for 2005 shows an operating loss of over $37,000. Davis explained that the Metro Board, led by president Ronald J. Williams Wells, will seek to resolve this deficit by collecting principal and interest owed on loans made by the Association to member churches. The written budget comments include "A review of the loans indicates that the total principal amount of loans ranges from approximately $180,000 to $300,000. Conservatively speaking, if the agreed-upon monthly payments are made, they would contribute additional annual cash receipts of approximately $38,000."

In his written report to the Association, Williams Wells said, "Today you will be asked to vote for a deficit Budget. However, this vote also means that we must hold our brother and sister congregations, who owe the Association money, accountable for the repayment of their loans. This is a bold step in the right direction, and I am resolved to spending the balance of my time addressing difficult and challenging issues that will produce lasting change."

Questions followed the Treasurer's report. "Do you forgive unpaid Fellowship Dues?" Davis explained that efforts continue to collect dues, but the numbers presented today relate to 2004.

"How do we get our membership numbers corrected?" Conference Minister Geoffrey Black said he had just written each pastor in the Conference asking that they make it a priority to complete the annual reports which include membership numbers. These reports go to the Conference Office; they are forwarded to the National Offices for publication in the yearbook and to the Association Offices for uses such as the calculation of Fellowship Dues.

"Why are Committee Expenses so much higher in 2004 and 2005 than they were in 2003?" A review of the 2004 detailed budget indicates that the Association added the position of Coordinator of Hispanic Development, re-categorized the cost of Association meetings (which are offset mostly by registration fees), added expenses for the Association's share of fitness evaluations for those in care and for the website, and recognized the need to plan ahead for money to support the meetings of the Board and its committees.

The 2005 budget passed.

Other Business

Regional Conference Minister Michael Caine

In other business, Registrar Christopher Ponnuraj reported at least 146 delegates and pastors from at least 65 churches had registered for this meeting.

Solomon recognized two special guests: Ava Blackwell, who was ordained in the Metropolitan Association and is the widow of former Regional Conference Minister John Blackwell, and Conference Minister Geoffrey Black. He also recognized Donna Prince, newly ordained in the Metro Association.

Regional Conference Minister Michael Caine urged us to read his written report in our Meeting Packet, a report which focuses on his work in and enthusiasm for the God is Still Speaking campaign. In his brief remarks he noted, "You are a blessing, and you are a challenge. May God continue to bless us."

Jan Powell, chair of the Committee on Ordination and Standing, also referred us to her written report, calling attention to its final sentences: "In the months ahead, we look forward to meeting those persons you are nurturing in ministry. God gives the growth, but it is you who plant and water."

Louise Liverpool, chair of the Scholarship Committee, reported there was money for scholarships for three deserving applicants, each of whom had expressed gratitude for this help with their undergraduate college education.

Martin Luther King Celebration

Martha Gotwals for the Committee
on Church and the Metropolitan Community

Martha Gotwals of the Committee on Church and the Metropolitan Community announced the 2005 Martin Luther King Celebration will be on Sunday, January 16 at 3:00 PM at the Flatbush-Thompkins Congregational Church in Brooklyn . Speakers will be:

Dr. Traci West - Associate Professor of Ethics and African-American religion at Drew University
Rev. Alfonso Wyatt, Associate Minister, the Greater Allen Cathedral

Gotwals also urged participation in the Association Listserv to share information about social action and justice programs in which others in the Association can participate.

Diane Samuels announced there will be an additional training for the God is Still Speaking campaign. It will be Saturday, December 4, from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the Congregational Church of Manhasset.

Solomon extended our thanks for the generous hospitality of our hosts at The Riverside Church.

Before her closing prayer, Powell conducted "The Hospitality Game, the game everyone wins", challenging volunteer participants with such questions as "who is called to welcome persons who come to our churches?" (Answer - we all are!)

Her closing prayer was, "Amen, and thanks be to God."

Reported by Lucy Werner

Louise Liverpool, Chair of the Scholarship Committee

Jan Powell questioning
David Bocock in "The Hospitality Game"

Metro Board Chair Ronald Williams Wells

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Fall Meeting of the Metropolitan Association November 6, 2004

Fall Meeting of the Metropolitan Association
November 6, 2004