Heard It at Council (May 2016)

May 10, 2016

Moderator Deb Washington opened the meeting with a prayer and a glimpse at 1 Thessalonians 2: In attempting to discern God’s will we are reminded that His very word reassures our work in His name, and the word is love. Such is the core of God’s message as we seek to walk as Christ walked.

Janet Nolan, representing the newly appointed Columbarium Committee, spoke of the ongoing exploration of either a memorial garden or columbaria for ashes of the deceased on church property. Cremation is a rapidly increasing practice in the U.S. and is expected to reach almost two-thirds of the population by 2025. In a memorial garden, cremated remains could be commingled with the soil as a tangible symbol of the communion of saints. Names could be engraved on small plaques on the wall, perhaps with a fountain or benches.

Alternately, or in addition, a columbaria provides niches for urns. This could be located in any number of interior or exterior spaces. A multiplicity of design ideas abound, and we would follow architectural advice on its best placement. Seed money has been made available through a bequest towards the construction of either option.

Stewardship Committee Chair Kurt Gaertner proposed a new planning schedule to coincide with Epiphany, the season of giving, to reinvigorate pledging. The change requires moving the date of Annual Meeting and adjusting the budget for a short period (operating in the short-term with a “continuing budget”) as well some other tweaks to the calendar. We expect that OUR FAITH. OUR TIME. OUR FUTURE: THE CAMPAIGN FOR OLD SOUTH CHURCH, will wind up in the fall and the annual stewardship season would begin and conclude in January 2017. A motion to schedule the Annual Meeting for March 5, 2017 was entertained and passed.

Minister of Music Harry Huff announced that September 20th will bring Street Requiem to Old South Church for its Boston premiere. This “Choir of Hard Knocks” (as it was formerly known), an Australian street choir of persons down on their luck, will perform with our full Festival Choir. Jonathon Welch, who has worked with the homeless in creating this “Sing the World” choir, will also be at Old South Church for several days leading up to the event speaking at 10 am Community Hour and Festival Worship on September 18th. Street Requiem premieres in Carnegie Hall four days after our performance. The event will be poignant, a testament to the life and death of the man known as Michael who died on our steps this past winter. The concert will raise consciousness and generate much-needed discussion over the issue of homelessness. Harry hopes this will lead to the founding of such a choir in Boston.

Tom Wetherald of the Trustees indicated that the Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island conferences are undertaking a discernment process to consider cooperating more fully in ministry by merging. More on this in the coming months.

The goals of the Capital Campaign (which will endow our ministries of mercy and justice for future generations) were summarized. The program is advancing as committee members, as well as ministers/staff, council, trustees, deacons and others, are solicited.

Council approved the motion presented by Leadership Committee Chair Lisa Loveland to elect Linh Aven to Christian Formation and Ruth Edens to Planned Giving.

Associate Minister Rev. Anthony Livolsi announced that Sen. Elizabeth Warren will speak at Pride Morning Worship and accept the church’s Open Door award for her support of the LGBTQ community. With thanks for the church – for its place and its works – Anthony closed the meeting in a prayer of gratitude.

Robert Gabler, Clerk