The members of the National Episcopal Cursillo Committee (NECC) gathered on Tuesday, October 23, at the Hilton Hotel on the beach in Daytona Beach, Florida to attend the fourth quarterly meeting of the year prior to the annual Seminar that began on Thursday in the same location. After dinner we continued the process of Piety, Study and Action by sharing what had been happening in our lives following the July meeting and discussing the book each of us had read in advance -
Always Enough: God's Miraculous Provision among the Poorest Children on Earth
by Rolland and Heidi Baker.
In this book, the Bakers, formerly missionaries in Indonesia and Hong Kong, share how their work during eight years (1995-2003) in Mozambique, ravaged by civil war and famine to become one of the poorest nations on earth, bore spiritual fruit beyond their wildest dreams. The book describes how God enabled the Bakers, and many others, to help many hundreds of Mozambique's throwaway children and start an astounding five thousand churches.
The NECC spent all day Wednesday and Thursday morning in worship services and meetings: district meetings, subcommittee meetings and business meetings. At the business meetings there was a full discussion of finances, including a proposed budget to be submitted at the annual meeting at the Seminar. The budget is a bare bones budget that includes substantial contributions by NECC members toward their own transportation. In addition, the NECC will meet only three times next year in order to cut down on transportation costs. While there was a decrease in diocesan contributions during the 2007-2008 fiscal year there was a significant increase in contributions in September. The NECC very much appreciates those that are current and/or have increased contributions and encourages the dioceses to continue with payments and increases in 2009. The NECC also established a fundraising plan and began implementation of the plan during the Seminar. The goal is to raise at least $24,000 in individual contributions to the NECC through Friends of Cursillo. Over $5000 was raised during the Seminar itself. Individuals are encouraged to contribute with checks mailed directly to the NECC office or contributed on line at the NECC website.
There were many other issues that were discussed, including the decline in attendance at the Seminar. As a committee it was agreed to proceed with the Seminar, now to be called Conference, in San Antonio October 22-25, 2009. At the request of the Conference Servant Community, the NECC discussed suggestions for workshop offerings and the possibilities for keynote speakers and future Conference locations and dates. More information should be available after the first of the year. It was also decided to again have a presence at the General Convention in 2009 with the hope that Cursillistas in southern California can help with housing and attendance at the booth. Finally, it was reported that the pastoral plan had been signed by the Presiding Bishop in October. A copy is on the website: www.episcopalcursillo.orgThe following Actions were taken:Approved the budget to be presented to the General Council.
Gave final approval to the San Antonio Conference. Passed a motion to have all existing marketing/public relations materials available for download for free on the NEC website. Approved a motion to request materials designed to market Cursillo be available through the National Episcopal Church website. Approved increases in prices because of cost increases for certain materials available through the NEC. Publications is completing manuscript on Ultreya that will be reviewed and voted upon in the next month.They should be ready for publication in early 2009. The subcommittee has plans to complete additional manuscript revisions for the booklet on the Day of Deeper Understanding. Cursillo Leaders Developmentidentified dioceses to target for ECLW's. There is also a Consultant program available through the NECC for dioceses that feel they have challenges and want someone to visit with, and provide assistance to, the local secretariat. This has been successfully used in at least two dioceses so far (Northwest Texas and Arizona). If a diocese thinks that it would benefit from a consultant, it should contact its representative to the NECC. Communications continued its work on updating and improving the new NECC web site. A "button" has been added to the website to accommodate Friends of Cursillo donations. Copies of the News Notes and Letters from the President have also been added to the website.The subcommittee is continuing to improve the website by replacing stock pictures with NEC pictures and getting the calendar functional. Finally there is a letter about the NECC that should be printed and included in candidates' packets upon the conclusion of each Cursillo. Ask your NECC representative to provide you with a copy.
The Seminar was a tremendous success and the Seminar Servant Community chaired by Joe Welch and the local Central Florida host community deserve a great deal of credit for making it so. There were 55 first time attendees.
Outgoing president Ted Ederer challenged those in attendance to set as a goal for Cursillo candidates a minimum of 'One Woman, One Man, Each Church, Each Year." If every church in every diocese sponsors, at a minimum, one woman and one man in each church each year for Cursillo the Cursillo Movement would provide tremendous new Christian leadership for the churches and diocese. He also challenged attendees to specifically look to sponsor younger members of the parishes. The keynoter Tom Ehrich was wonderful and his beachside chats gave the opportunity for many to ask questions.
Tom really challenged those in attendance to carry out the Sunday Cursillo talk of Christian Community in Action and to find ways to help the many in our communities who are in great need, both spiritually and economically. Please check out Tom's website: www.morningwalkmedia.com to get a taste of his message.
The presenters at the Seminar - both at workshops and at the business meetings - several of whom were first-time attendees and others who were experienced veterans - covered a wide range of topics. Workshop topics included Spiritual AND Religious, Please! I am an adult, Sponsorship and Myers-Briggs and Cursillo.
At the business meetings there were presentations by past NECC presidents Robin Dow, Glenn Ingraham and Dede Lewis as well as presentations by attendees on a variety of subjects including the consulting program, revitalization of Cursillo in Arizona, ECLWs, holding Cursillos in churches and a random act of kindness program involving umbrellas. The worship services were wonderful, the music was outstanding and the entertainment on Saturday evening provided a night of laughter. The following
Actions were taken by the General Council and districts:Approved the budget. Elected new NECC representatives: Southeast – Holly Walker, Fr. Edward Weiss (2-year term), Northeast – Lance Crawford, North Central – Dan Pool, South Central – Linda England, West – Fr. Scott Jones. Commissioned Doug VanDemark (President) and the rest of the 2009 leadership team for 2009. It was great to be in Daytona Beach. Conference in San Antonio, Texas The NECC Conference for 2009 will be at the airport Hilton in San Antonio, Texas October 22-25. The Diocese of West Texas will be the host. Now is the time to make plans as the goal is for at least 200 to be in attendance. If you have attended in the past, plan to be there again. If you have never attended, plan to do so for the first time as 55 did this year at Daytona Beach. Check on-line in 2009 at the NEC website and the 4th Day Magazine for information about the Conference and registration forms.Essential Information NEC Web Site www.episcopalcursillo.orgAddress NEC Office, 315 Kingston St, Conway SC 29526-5124Phone toll free-877-Ultreya - 877-858-7392long distance-843-488-2956 fax-843-488- 2693 Please contribute to the continuing work of the NECC by sending a tax-deductible check made out in whatever amount you can afford to FRIENDS OF CURSILLO at the address above or contribute on line. Remember that an Episcopal Cursillo Leaders Workshop (ECLW) is an excellent way to strengthen your movement, and that you can watch the website (www.episcopalcursillo.org) and The 4th Day Magazine for schedules or you can send requests for Information to moorenjnc@yahoo.com. And remember that if each diocese adopts and implements a plan that meets the minimum expectation for Cursillo candidates of One Woman, One Man, Each Church, Each Year the Cursillo Movement will be able to provide Christian leaders for all of our churches and dioceses. | ||||