CORRESPONDENCE

No correspondence was received.

 Dick Black from the Parish of Westfield was welcomed as a member of the Steering Group, replacing Jackie Lohnes. Jackie’s resignation was received with regret and her work and service to the Stage Four Steering Group is gratefully acknowledged.

Keith Lane from the Parish of Greenwich is moving to Ontario effective 20 March 2003 and a replacement will be appointed from that parish at the appropriate time.

 TASK TEAM REPORTING

A. Existing Facilities. Gerry Peer
Inventories of artifacts and other belongings have been completed by some of the churches and the other churches are gathering the requested information.

B. Community Building.
The Combined 4 Parish Advent Service was held on 08 December 2002 at Grand Bay United Baptist Church and was not as well attended as the other joint parish services. The "Meet the Bishop" evening at Westfield United Church was attended by 55 - 60 people and there was a good exchange between the parishioners and the Bishop. Canon Trivett will initiate planning for the next joint parish service with the Team.

C. Financial Visioning. Andrew Logan / Keith Lane
The PPM financial statement for 2002 was circulated for inclusion in Parish Annual Reports. All PPM donations received through envelope offerings are forwarded by the parishes to the PPM account.

D. Communication. Cindy Price
The third issue of the newsletter, "Rivers’ Light," will be distributed Sunday, 09 February 2003 and work will soon begin on the next issue. Karen Scovil is the new Communication contact for the Parish of Greenwich. The Communication Task Team will be looking at ways to make the River Valley Anglican Parish News (bulletin) more effective.

E. Parish Vision. Debbie Black
The Visioning Sessions were successful and the Mission Statement was well accepted by the parishioners. The Parish Vision Task Team is analyzing the data gathered at the Visioning Sessions and compiling a concise report to be circulated.

F. New Facilities. Gordon Brown / Wanda Porter
Canon Trivett reported that the Corporation of the Parish of Westfield is asking for detailed analysis and engineering study of the Glebe Land. The Steering Group is following a process and all possible locations under consideration will be thoroughly evaluated at the appropriate time in the process. The Steering Group requests that parishes allow the Group to guide the process.

BUSINESS

1. Stage Five. To advance to Stage Five, a vote is required by individual parishes for a petition from the parishes to the Bishop for a new parish alignment (amalgamation). A comprehensive report is needed for submission to the Bishop to include demographics, new ministry configuration and a parish profile, and financial implications. The Chancellor of the Diocese will attend the next Stage Four Steering Group meeting to discuss the legal ramifications of the a proposed amalgamation. The Bishop is suggesting that the four parishes amalgamate and for pastoral reasons St. Paul's Church, Oak Point, be kept open as a satellite mission point.

2. Youth Ministry. At a future meeting the Steering Group will facilitate a process for the four parishes to work together to respond to the Bishop's request to all parishes of the Diocese concerning an action plan for youth ministry.

NEXT MEETING:

18 February 2003, St. Anne’s Church, Ketepec, 7:00 p.m.

11 February 2003
GMH/SM