Round Hill Community Church Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 20, 2023

Prepare for Meeting and Prayer: At 5:30 Nancy welcomed everyone to the meeting and next asked Ed to offer a prayer. Ed offered a prayer of blessing and thanks. 

Minutes:  At 5:38 the minutes from March 15, 2023 were unanimously approved.

Pastor’s Report:  Ed began his pastor’s report at 5:40 by asking Leslie and Shannon to join him in making comments on the report. Leslie also fielded any questions board members had on the YouTube data for Digital Ministries Report which she had compiled. The report indicated the number of Podcast listeners, YouTube subscribers and YouTube viewers from April 2022 through March of 2023 as the viewed RHCC media content. The board was interested in the ebb and flow of viewership and how particular topics like “Adventures in Faith” from the podcast and how media projects like the “Marks We Make” contributed to strong viewership. Questions from both Mary Ann and Pat focused on developing funding for the media projects and their role in church operations. Both members asked the leadership team to what extent were our media projects being promoted? Leslie noted that the eBlast and word of mouth from members and listeners seemed to be the promotional core of the ministry. Ed noted the wide geography of listeners and hoped that indicated a growing wave of online listeners. The question of effectively monetizing the digital programs was still under consideration. Ed did say, however, that the church is working with Dave Emmons to help with the promotion and development of our digital media. Mary Ann supported the media projects but just wanted to make the point that such projects should spread, strengthen, and amplify the RHCC message. She also felt that it would be good to consider having our online media projects include visiting ministers and address the interests of families and children. There was a positive feeling from the pastors and board members that our online message was consistent with the church’s values and mission. 

The Pastor’s Report ended with the celebration of recent RHCC successes such as meeting our goal of $12,000+ in the Heifer Project and the ‘Dinners for Nine’ project. Ed again thanked the board for approving his sabbatical. 

At 6:00, Shannon, in her Associate Pastor’s report, noted that she and supply preachers would be responsible for the summer’s preaching. As of this meeting, Shannon had engaged the following ministers:  Rev. Jake Miles Joseph, Rev. Dr. Susan DeGeorge, Rev. Dr. Anne Coffman and Rabbi Mitch Hurvitz. Shannon next announced that the panel on Tools for Aging Well was coming together. As of this meeting, panelists included: Libby Grant, Atty to speak on wills/trusts/all docs, Dr. Stephanie Paulmeno/Town of Greenwich/SWCAA to speak on dementia and substance misuse, Ricki Goldstein, Sterling Care to speak on in-home care options, Donna Spellman/River House to speak on the need for community, Joan Brustman/Atria to speak on the option of assisted living, and Linda Ziac/Caregiver Resource Center, to speak on caregiving resources. 

 Shannon followed with the groups of people and organizations who would be manning tables for Tools for Aging Well: Elderhood, The Osborn, Oasis Senior Advisors, Assisted Living Locator, The Settlers, At Home in Greenwich, Town of Greenwich/Commission on Aging, Edgehill, Nathaniel Witherell, The Greens at Greenwich, Sunrise of Stamford,Seabury at Home, Donna Castornovo/Atty Ivey Barnum and O’Mara, Coxe and Graziano Funeral HomeAtria in Ryebrook, River House, Dr. Stephanie Paulmeno/SWCAA, Caregiver Resource Center, finally  Sterling Care. 

Shannon noted that the ministry team was currently also working on establishing prayer meetings, an Instagram project for church information, a breakfast run into the city and the RHCC’s Camino trip to Spain. She was happy to announce that there were two upcoming baptisms. She finished by asking the board to consider appointing a ‘Coordinator of Children’s Ministry’ if they were serious about strengthening children’s programs. Pat agreed as did the board. It was something to focus on in the near future. The members thanked Shannon for her hard work on the Aging Program and the other projects.

Financials: At 6:25 Bruce reviewed the Dashboard with the members. The members were very positive about the $5000 growth in such uncertain economic times. 

Environment: Leslie Lee began her report at 6:34 on the growing progress RHCC is making to act as a green church and force for good. She noted that Janet Stone McGuigan, Greenwich Select Woman, would be coming to the church on Earth Day Sunday. Leslie also informed the Trustees that progress was being made to replace our landscaping equipment with electric (battery) powered tools. She noted that the church was working with our neighbor the Greenwich Audubon Land Trust to consider alternative landscaping possibilities. Finally, she reminded trustees that the solar project led to significant reductions in reducing March electricity costs.

Afghan Resettlement Program: Ed asked the Trustees to take a closer look at the memo from Bruce Winningham regarding the Afghan Resettlement of families. Thus far the project has been very successful but we should not think of it as complete. There is still important help we could and should provide for these families. As time was running short for this meeting, Ed called for a fuller discussion at a later date.

Round Table Discussion:  Using a power point entitled Vision for Growth and two readings by Hall and Nieuhof, Nancy and Ed challenged the Trustees to brainstorm and discuss our future vision for growth and engagement. Over the next three years, what path should our church be following? The discussion was open-ended and centered around identifying tasks that could address RHCC needs. Jake noted that it was important that the church have a clear vision of how the green church, art, and music fit church aims. Helen and Leslie felt that our hybrid church ministry engages the church, keeps us connected with a wider group of people than those who are on campus. Helen argued that service to this larger community was part of being a force for good. Heather noted she had a friend who may be able to help the trustees with working on this topic and would see if she could contact him for suggestions. Jake felt that the church should continue what he viewed as the culture of calling. He felt that this was a very democratic model. All trustees supported, without dissent, the idea that the RHCC’s tasks ahead required a balanced support for the hybrid church, commitment to families, continued staff support, and campus development and community outreach.

Adjournment: Nancy adjourned the meeting at 7:10