Community of the Cross of
Nails, USA Board Meeting
Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati
October 27-28, 2001
We began with prayer in the chapel at 8:30 am.
The business session began with the introduction of guests: Bishop Bennetts of Coventry; Canon Andrew White, Director International Ministry at Coventry; Miriam Kussrow; Joseph Cunningham, Dean Chapel Valparaiso; Charlotte & Arthur Spruill, Ambassadors; Susan Mann, editor of the newsletter; and Pam Gibbard, webmaster.
Officers:
Van Kussrow announced the names of the newly elected officers:
President: Jim Diamond
Vice Presidents:
Stephen Stanley
Connie Domino
Treasurer: Tom Gross
Secretary: Roger Smith
Executive Secretary: Edna Smith
Executive Secretary Report:
There was no Executive Secretary’s report as Bill Hale was absent due to recent surgery.
Van Kussrow reported that there had been a good response. Those with suggested books for the reading list should e-mail the titles to Susan Mann.
Connie Domino reported that the whole prayer cycle list was being redone and that it will be available in print and on the website.
Website: www.ccn-northamerica.org
Pam Gibbard gave a very impressive report on the website. She gave helpful answers to the questions: What’s it good for? What can it do? Pam did this by connecting to the website and projecting it on a screen. She illustrated local center pages, the main website, and the Coventry Web Page. There is potential for discussion groups forming on the web site, it can provide links to people and groups of similar aims.
There was a suggestion that we could put up some of the historical material on the web.
At this point Gordon Price arrived and was introduced.
Connie Domino and Ralph Schmid reported on the youth conference in Germany that is planned for this summer. There were some questions about how many could attend and what the age group was. It was decided to call Germany and find out. Following the phone call it was learned that there was limited space and youth for the Germans mean essentially college age while for us it meant high school. It will not be possible for all the people planning to go. Pullen Memorial Church will shift its plans.
Sally Coulter talked about the possibility of Reconciliation Now becoming a Cross of Nails Center. Reconciliation Now is an ecumenical group located in Atlanta and with the Jimmy Carter Center, has sponsored some good conferences on reconciliation. They are planning an international conference in Atlanta for 2003. Their style is story telling. Sally Coulter is to be our link to them.
Ambassador:
It was moved seconded and adopted that we create a position of ambassador to peace and reconciliation groups and that Donna Hicks be appointed our ambassador.
Matilda has been working with Guy Lytle, professor of Anglican Studies at the School of Theology at the University of the South Sewanee, and recommends that the new All Saints Chapel of the School of Theology be made a Cross of Nails Center.
It was moved seconded and adopted that All Saints Chapel of the School of Theology explores the possibility in conjunction with the chapel of the University of the South (already a Cross of Nails Center) of becoming a Cross of Nails Center. Matilda was empowered to follow up on this work.
It was moved seconded and adopted that the Self Study meeting be held at Sewanee. Later in the meeting it was decided that the Raleigh-Durham area would be better and Stephen and Connie were asked to explore the possibilities.
It was moved seconded and adopted that Calvary Episcopal Church, Memphis and its partners AME Zion Church and St. Paul’s Community Baptist Church be made a Cross of Nails Center.
It was moved seconded and adopted that we recommend that St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chattanooga be made a Cross of Nails Center.
Matilda was interrupted at this point and continued her report at a later time in the meeting. At that time we took the following actions.
It was moved seconded and adopted that we recommend that St. Nicholas School St, Andrew’s Sewanee School and The Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace be made Cross of Nails Centers.
It was moved seconded and adopted that the Community of the Cross of Nails USA be responsible for paying for the Cross of Nails for these Centers.
It was moved seconded and adopted that Arthur Ben and Elizabeth Chitty, Mrs. Jack Allin and Mrs. Gerald Jones be recognized for their work in reconciliation with Crosses of Nails.
It was moved seconded and adopted that Matilda be empowered as an ambassador to assess the work being done and to prepare for a visit by Andrew White in 2002.
It was suggested that we need to be willing to do work with public schools as well as private schools.
Gordon Price
Gordon spoke of resurrecting the Cross of Nails Center at Christ Church Dayton, in connection with its work with students from Sierra Leone. They have established a center for African students. He introduced John Ademu, head of the Sierra Leone community in Dayton. They are in contact with Doctor Carew director of hospitals in Sierra Leone and the Bishop of Freetown. They are looking to becoming a center. In Sierra Leone they are hoping for a free democratic election. There is now tribal civil war going on.
There was a suggestion that Andrew visit. Bishop Bennetts said that with the expanding work he and Andrew have to be careful of their stewardship of time. They will first have to find time, and then they will need to find the money. Andrew works half time for the diocese and half time for the cathedral. Mark Pendleton to be the board contact for this work.
It was moved seconded and adopted that the CCN Board endorse this exploration of the possibility and appoints Donna Hicks and Mark Pendleton to work with Gordon Price and John Ademu.
Bishop Colin Bennetts
Bishop Bennetts reported that he is spending three or four weeks a year on international ministry. During this trip he has visited Atlanta, Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina, Duke, Wheaton, Valparaiso and Cincinnati.
The Bishop spoke about the events of September 11th and said that we must ask questions about the origins of such an event. What actions and attitudes affect or threaten other parts of the world. Is the response appropriate? Can you wage war on an abstract noun, terrorism? Just war theory doesn’t apply. We are making a territorial response to a systemic problem.
Good contacts in the academic institutions, in political science and theology are being made. These people can be of great help in the international ministry.
The Bishop said that he is proud to be able to speak at this particular time in history. He told of the University of North Carolina, a secular institution, holding a forum on the nature of faith.
The work of the International Ministry of Coventry is expanding at an incredible rate. It needs a firmer financial basis and a bigger full-time staff.
Andrew White
Andrew spoke also of the excitement of the academic institutions.
He spoke of the Consultation on Bosnia with the Soul of Europe (a Christian/Muslim group. All of the leaders of government/community and religious leaders participated and dealt with the whole rebuilding of a nation.
He is now being called upon by the Foreign Office.
In Nigeria they have been asked to head up conflict resolution by the government. Foreign office asking how can it be helpful. Need Muslim backing also.
Work is proceeding in Iraq with the help of the Foreign Office. Setting up a bone marrow transplant unit there. The doctor heading this up was at the institution of Dean Irving. They are bringing doctors to Britain for training and then returning them to Iraq. The flying hospital project is blocked for now. They are trying to set up teaching teams of doctors.
CCN is a lifeline for the Christian Community in Bethlehem.
The ministry is moving now from conflict resolution to conflict prevention.
Andrew named three possible new centers: St. Luke’s, Atlanta; St. Mark’s, Glen Ellen, Illinois, in conjunction with Wheaten College; and Christ Church, Indianapolis
It was moved seconded and adopted that St. Mark’s, Glen Ellen be made a center and that Jan Mortensen be the contact. That Sally Coulter work with St. Luke’s Atlanta and that Jim Diamond work with Christ Church Indianapolis and the revival of Trinity Church Cleveland.
Officers of the Board will decide about making recommendations for establishing centers between board meetings.
Arthur Spruill
Arthur asked that Fresh Ministry of Jacksonville be considered as a center. This was referred to the newly formed Committee on New Centers.
He and Charlotte had visited St. Paul’s AME Zion church and Pullen Memorial.
The Jacksonville chapter is beginning to revive. Cuba is in the midst of an Episcopal election that is deadlocked. Pray for them.
Archivist Position
Moved, seconded and adopted that Tom Gross help Van Kussrow sort and decided which of the old financial records should be put into storage.
Fund Raising
Sally Coulter agreed to do the revisions on our brochure. This is to be scanned and put on the website. Sally to also get 2000 brochures printed.
Financial Report
The finance report is attached [Website Note: report is available from CCN-USA Treasurer]
Gift for Henny & Bill Hale and Van Kussrow
It was moved seconded and adopted that Tom Gross purchase a Frabel Cross of Nails for Bill and Henny and for Van.
Report on the Institution of Dean Irving of Coventry
Jim Diamond, Bishop Bennetts, Andrew White, Roger and Edna Smith gave a report of the institution of John Irving as Dean of Coventry.
Connie Domino:
Connie is working on The Prayer Cycle and the Youth Conference with help of Ralf.
Ralf Schmid
Ralf read a letter from Germany expressing sympathy about 9-11, prayer for peace and US relationship with Muslims. Concern was expressed that we pray that violence not be used since violence breeds violence.
Mark Pendleton
Mark is to continue to explore the relationship of membership with John Stonesifer, Church of the Holy Spirit, Germantown, Maryland.
Newsletter
Susan Mann asks for people to write articles for the newsletter. November 15 is the deadline for mailing December 1.
Moved, seconded and adopted that there be a reporter for each center. The names of these reporters to be sent to Susan.
Janet Thompson is still the reporter for Reconcile.
Articles for Newsletter
Stephen – Symbiosis of three bishops & UNC
Connie – Prayer
Van – Officers
Sally – Bishop’s and Andrew’s Visit
Jim – Cleveland & CCN Resurrection
Donna – Peace & Justice Groups
Matilda – News of the Centers in Tennessee
Van – Academic Institutions
Scott – Schools
Pam – Website
Staff
Moved, seconded, and adopted that Susan, Pam & Donna be designated as staff members with a line item in Budget.
Stephen Stanley
Stephen is planning a student trip to Barbados where a Cross of Nails had been presented in 1958. They are active in peace and reconciliation. Stephen will explore possible resurrection of center. Moved, seconded and adopted that Stephen be named as representative to Barbados.
Housekeeping Items
Our next meeting to be either October 18-20 or October 25-27, 2001.
Agreed: Roger Smith to send out minutes. Roger & Edna Smith to visit Bill Hale.
It was moved seconded and adopted that the Board authorizes a signature change for all financial legal document to the President and the Executive Secretary; James A. Diamond and Edna M. Smith.
We were asked to please keep in mind possible nominations for the Board
Respectfully submitted,
Roger S. Smith, CCN-USA Secretary