A meeting of Diocesan Council was held 07 November 2007 in Fredericton. In the absence of Bishop Claude Miller, Vice-chair Christopher Waldschutz was the chair.

ITEMS FOR FOLLOW-UP
Past items of business and their status were briefly reviewed:
• Code of Pastoral Conduct - tabled October 2006
• Shared Ministry Plan Implementation and Oversight
• Fractured relationship mediation
• RNS Act and governance review
• Retired Clergy Benefits - Consultation with retired clergy (complete)
• Parish Support of Diocesan Budget
• Budgeting process
• St. Paul and St. James Memorials of parish dissolution
• Resolution 129-12: Marriage and Sexuality
• Water as a right: Promotion of Clean Water Programs
• Communications Committee
• Stem Cell Research
• Rural and Struggling Parishes Task Force
• Camp Brookwood Task Force
• Communication of policies regarding parish property

CORRESPONDENCE
Resignations from C. Dixon (Diocesan Council) and R. Stevenson (Constitution and Canons)

STUDY
The Council studied Thessolonians 2:13-17

REPORTS
Reports from each of the Council Teams were reviewed. Standing Committee reports from Finance and Human Resources were received.

DISCUSSION
Three items of discussion included a proposed reporting template for teams and standing committees; oversight of progress on the Shared Ministry Plan; web site listing of committees, groups and organizations with links to roles and responsibilities.

BUSINESS
Diocesan Council made decisions on the following items:

1. Regulations and Policies
• B-14 Privacy Policy Appendix C modified re fees for records
• Regulation on Register of Memorials, Names, Boundaries and Communities adopted
• Regulation on Parish Forms (Annual Returns) adopted
• Regulation on Forms for Memorials adopted
• Policy A-17 on Signing Authority repealed

2. Dissolution of the Parish of St. James, Charlotte County

3. Motions of Thanks
To F. Morehouse (Archivist) and Charles Ferris (Chancellor)

4. Roles and Responsibilities
Adopted for Finance and Human Resources Committees and Parish Support and Development Team

5. Human Resources Committee Membership
Ted Curry, Victoria Garrett, Jim Wilson, Leo Martin, Bruce McKenna and Jack Walsworth appointed.

6. Guest Courtesies
Granted to Diocesan Staff, Archivist and member of Council of General Synod to June 2009.

7. Retiree and Survivor Benefits
Changes adopted following consultation as directed.

8. 2008 Diocesan Budget
Budget adopted. Narrative form of the Budget to follow.

9. Groups, Committee and Organizations Summary
New format for web site listing recommended for use.

10. Template for Team and Standing Committee reports
Recommended for use.

MEETING SCHEDULE
Saturday, 12 January 2008 – Doaktown
Wednesday, 12 March 2008 – Saint John
Saturday, 31 May 2008 – Bristol (Camp Brookwood)

GMH, Secretary of Synod
22 November 2007