Old Presbyterian Meeting House

Old Presbyterian Meeting House Mission Ministry Coordinating Council (MMCC) June 11, 2012, Meeting Notes

Next meeting: September 10, 2012

Attendees: Mary Lee Anderson, Gerry Cooper, Tim Elmore, Gail Freunsch, Jenny Gladieux, John Klousia, Linda Lanam, Lindsay Merchant, Olivia Michener, Joan Moser, Kathy Prudden, Charlotte Read, Margaret Rizzi, Jim Roberts, Kit Ruland, Ellen Smith, Ann Herlin Staley, Margaret Whitesides, Larry Williams

A pitch-in dinner was held between 7:00-7:30 pm.

Local Mission/Community Outreach

 80-85 congregation members participated in Service Sunday on June 3, according to Lindsey Merchant, who coordinated Service Sunday along with Randy Drucker. Next year, the goal is to get at least 100 participants. All 12 projects were completed, some of which were new this year. Lindsey and Randy got some ideas for projects that could be done later in the year. A goal for next year is to get more youth involved, which may require having a project scheduled for the Saturday before Service Sunday. Offering another day or an evening might also increase participation.  Mary Lee Anderson reported that a core committee has been established by the Senior Services of Alexandria to determine if a Friendly Visitor Program to provide volunteers to visit socially isolated seniors can be sustained. MMCC wants OPMH members to volunteer once the program is up and running. The Friendly Visitor Program was selected by the MMCC for a grant by OPMH as part of its Mission Challenge 2012 initiative.  Mary Lee Anderson reported that the Meals on Wheels pilot program on Service Sunday to provide Sunday meals went well and will become a permanent part of Meals on Wheels services. 58 out of 70 people requested a Sunday meal.  The Bag Lunch program has asked OPMH and other congregations to volunteer to provide bag lunches for an additional day(s) each month. MMCC decided not to take on any additional day(s). Last year, OPMH volunteered to take additional day(s) when a church dropped out and OPMH would need more volunteers if took on additional day(s).  MMCC agreed to add Sara’s Open Table as a new mission partner. Sara’s Open Table is a ministry of the Downtown Baptist Church to provide a healthy breakfast once a week to local Alexandrians in need. OPMH will not provide operating budget funds at this time. Volunteers are needed to visit with people who come for breakfast, as are donations of travel-size toiletries and some clothing items. Margaret Rizzi will serve as liaison for Sara’s Open Table if another liaison does not emerge.  ALIVE! held its June Board meeting at OPMH. National/Global

 West Virginia Workcamp, July 8-13 – currently 4 people are signed up to attend this workcamp with the Shack in Pursglove, WVA. Each volunteer must pay $300, $150 of which is to fund the cost of building materials and $150 for food and lodging. o Tim Elmore will do a Moment for Mission at the Sunday Service to ask for additional volunteers. o MMCC authorized (1) the expenditure of $300 of budgeted funds for Mary Pratt to go and, if needed, (2) an expenditure of up to $600 from budgeted funds for cost of building materials. (Budgeted funds include $3,500 in workcamp account and $500 in WVA workcamp account.) The workcamp needs a minimum of $1,200 to pay for materials and with 4 people going, $600 has been paid. However, the workcamp will need $600 more, unless more people volunteer to go.

 Currently, budgeted donations to N/G mission partners are made at the end of the calendar year. Margaret Rizzi asked if the mid-year distributions would be helpful. John Klousia said that the Community Coalition for Haiti would not benefit from a mid-year distribution. Ellen Smith stated that the end of year distribution to the Pakistan mission partner was adequate. Mary Lee Anderson noted that if mid-year distributions are made, the mission partner should be informed that the end of the year distribution will be for the balance of OPMH’s total donation to the mission partner.  Margaret Rizzi noted that the portion of the Pentecost Offering that will go to the Community Coalition for Haiti is approximately $918.

Social Justice

 Gail Freunch reported that on Service Sunday a group of OPMH members had written letters to US Senators and Congressmen on behalf of Bread for the World asking for support for domestic and international programs to feed hungry people.  Gail reported that VOICE had an action in Manassas on June 3, in which lenders were held accountable for their pledge, or ask to pledge, to provide money to pay for [deleted] restructuring loans of qualifying homeowners in Prince William County. The next action is in October.  Gail asked for input as to how the MMCC could respond in a timely way to requests for advocacy by organizations with which OPMH is affiliated. Specifically, the Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light has asked its member congregations (and OPMH is a member) to request individual congregational members to support the proposed EPA rules regulating greenhouse gases, specifically rules reducing carbon emitted by coal and gas-fired power plants, and to show that support by sending a postcard to the agency. John Klousia said that if MMCC asked congregation members to support any position, including the proposed EPA rules, it should present both sides of the issue. In the case of the EPA rules, we should inform members that the rules might hurt the poor by driving up the cost of electricity. A discussion ensued and no consensus was reached, and it is

2 expected that further discussion of this question will take place at a future MMCC meeting. Change to Mission Budget Accounting

 Margaret Rizzi presented a proposal made by Bob Clark, with support from the Stewardship and Finance Ministry, to include as line items in the operating budget non- operating budget funds as additional items. The example given by Margaret is the money raised for Family to Family at the Congregational Dinner. The operating budget would specifically show that the funds came from an outside source. The purpose of including these funds in the operating budget is to keep track of how the funds are spent by having an income entry matched by expense entries. Kit Ruland observed that to be consistent, amounts contributed at the Alternative Giving Fair and in special offerings should also be reported as additional items in the operating budget. Margaret reported that Bob Clark and Stewardship and Finance Ministry would decide which non-operating funds would be reported in the operating budget.

Reaching Out to Other Congregations at the Mission Ministry Level

 Margaret Rizzi suggested that the MMCC try to reach out to the mission ministries at other congregations to share information and to use as a network to help support the OPMH mission partners. A group of mission ministries at churches supporting these mission partners could meet 1 to 4 times a year. Margaret reported that Michelle Smith at Christ Church in Old Town was interested.  Mary Lee Anderson offered to provide a contact list of mission coordinators or pastors at 72 Alexandria congregations for MMCC to use to identify which organizations might be interested in participating in a group of congregations.  Ann Herlin Staley reported that the Alexandria Interfaith Alliance is not currently active.

Concerts With a Cause

 Margaret Rizzi reported that on June 17 there would be a Concert With a Cause to benefit the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium in honor of its 15-year anniversary. The Children’s Choir of Michiana are performing. Music Celebrations located the Children’s Choir to perform and not only is the choir performing for free, but Music Celebrations is donating $500 to the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium.  Margaret Rizzi opened a discussion of whether OPMH should continue to host a reception after these concerts, given that the burden of hosting the reception falls on the MMCC. Different opinions were expressed but a consensus emerged expressed by Gerry Cooper that we should express our gratitude and hospitality to the performers for sharing their time and talent, and that receptions should be considered on a case by case basis.

Recruiting New MMCC Members/Volunteers

 Margaret Rizzi asked how MMCC could recruit new members/volunteers to help with OPMH’s mission program. Margaret observed that last year the MMCC had a pitch-in dinner and open house at its September meeting.

3  Ann Herlin Staley suggested as an alternative to an open house would be for current MMCC members to call and recruit new OPMH members and OPMH members indicating an interest in mission on their time and talent form. Susan Thomas could provide a list of these prospective members.  No decision was reached on the best way to recruit new MMCC members/volunteers.

May 21, 2012 Visit from the National Capital Presbytery’s Mission Coordinating Committee  Margaret Rizzi reported that the NCP’s Mission Coordinating Committee had visited OPMH to evaluate how OPMH might partner with smaller congregations in mission efforts. OPMH’s answers to the Mission Coordinating Committee’s questionnaire is attached.

Submitted by: Larry Williams