Bishop and Council of the Diocese of East Tennessee met eight times
last year. During that time Bishop and Council attended to the usual
business and mission of the diocese. All meetings included reports of
the Officers (Secretary, Chancellor, Treasurer), Committees (Budget
& Finance, Camp & Conference, Property, Opportunity Fund, Constitution
and Canons), Program Areas (Planned Giving, Legacy Society, Stewardship,
Jubilee; Clergy Support). Other reports included Deployment and Deployment
Consultants, Companion Diocese & Missions.
Action taken on clergy and lay employee insurance matters include endorsement
of a long-term disability policy, consideration and review of dental
coverage, adoption of a group health policy for 2001.
The Rev. Michael Doty commenced leadership in the mission area in March
as Archdeacon of the diocese, keeping Bishop & Council informed
on his work in missions and the companion diocese. The Mission Growth
Fund was established to fund facilities for future congregations. B&C
passed a minimum of 5% funding increase for mission clergy in the proposed
2001 budget. They endorsed and sponsored "20/20: A Clear Vision"
to present before this convention and renewed a contract with Percept
Incorporated, which makes demographic information available to congregations.
Council was kept informed on the progress of the Camp and Conference
Center Task Force. Authorization was given by Council, on November 3,
for the Bishop, Chancellor and Treasurer to negotiate toward closing
the purchase of the Manly property on Watts Bar Lake, along with other
motions enabling the Task Force and Officers of the diocese to work
toward establishing a camp and conference center for this diocese.
Approval was granted by Bishop and Council to present a resolution
before this convention for the Diocese of East Tennessee to engage in
a Capital Funds Campaign for the purpose of (1) creating and maintaining
a Camp and Conference Center, (2) endowing support for seminarians (3)
and endowing mission growth, including campus ministry.
Opportunity Fund recommendations were heard and voted upon twice during
the year of 2000. Changes were made to the Opportunity Fund Guidelines.
Repair work on Diocesan House was approved.
A Gift Review Committee was created which produced a Gift Acceptance
Policy for the diocese that was approved by Council. Information was
furnished on diocesan staff salaries and insurance benefits in other
dioceses in this province. Budget and Finance Committee gave consideration
to the discrepancies with other Province IV diocesan staff when the
proposed budget for 2001 was comprised.
From January to December of 2000 the Council took the following
action on real estate and property that are covered by Canon 10:
- Placed $12,500 remaining from the sale of St. Columba's vicarage
in an Episcopal Endowment Fund Account to be used for St. Columba's
under the direction of Bishop and Council.
- Approved a loan of $500,000 and a grant of $50,000 to St. John's,
Johnson City for a new nave and future growth.
- Approved a grant of $50,000 to Christ Church, Chattanooga for funding
of immediate needs for the building that relate to structural integrity
and safety.
- Approved a grant of $40,000 to Good Samaritan, Knoxville for renovation
and expansion of its facilities.
- Granted approval for St. Timothy's, Signal Mountain to encumber
their property, if needed, to complete their building project for
the amount of $500,000.
- Granted approval for All Saint's Day School to encumber whatever
property necessary, except the property on which All Saint's parish
sits, to obtain financing for the construction the new school site.
- Gave approval for St. John's, Johnson City to encumber the church
for $955,636 for financing for building growth.
- Granted approval for the sale of Tellico Property for $19,000.
Funds received from this sale were moved to the Middle East Mission
Fund.
- Granted permission for St. Paul's, Kingsport, to purchase and encumber
property at 134 East Sevier Avenue, Kingsport.
- Approved St. Paul's, Kingsport's request to relocate the alley
adjacent to its property to a place agreeable to St. Paul's, and the
city of Kingsport, allowing St. Paul's to accept land under the existing
alley when abandoned and convey their land to the city for relocation
of the new ally.
- Authorized purchase of the Manly Property, meeting the asking price
of $2 million, authorizing the Bishop, Chancellor and Treasurer of
the diocese to negotiate to close the purchase.
- Authorized permission to the treasurer of the diocese to direct
the cashing of bonds to provide $75,000 for earnest money for the
Manly property.
- Granted permission to All Saint's Parish to transfer Boxmore Campus
and Highway 160 property to All Saint's School, enabling the school
to have assets when requesting a loan.
- Granted that St. Francis, Norris, place funds from the future sale
of property in Anderson County in the St. Francis Building Fund.
- Granted St. James, Knoxville's request to disclaim a gift from
a will of property on Parkdale and Cedar Lane.
Respectfully submitted by Rosemary Davenport,
Secretary to Bishop and Council