IMG minutes 04/01 to 04/12
Minutes for the
Council For World Mission (CWM)
Pacific Region
Interim Management Committee
Nadi, Fiji
26-28 May 2004.
26th May 2004.
Present: Rev Dr Paulo Koria, Rev Chris Nichol, Rev Tekeabei Karma, Ms Eti McCarthy, Alexai Starr, Siaosi Salesulu.
Apologies Rev Dr Elia Ta'ase, Wilson Gina
9.00am Opening prayer led by Rev Dr Paulo Koria (Moderator of the IMG)
A word of welcome by Paulo on behalf of the IMG to Alexai (Regional Youth Representative) as this was his first IMG.
The IMG accepted Rev Dr Elia Ta'ase apology due to his attending his son’s graduation.
Wilson Gina or the Assembly office of UCSI have not made his whereabouts known and what his status is with the church. As consequence of this “lull”, communication between the Regional office and Wilson has been non-existent.
Additions to the agenda
Chris moved that discourse on the proposed Regional website be under the Communication Development Projects as noted on the agenda.
A letter from PCANZ church property trustees to Kerry Enright outlining their concerns regarding the Regional empowerment fund was tabled and would be discussed under General Business.
It was confirmed that the Regional Secretary would write–“Letters of Congratulations” on behalf of the IMG to Rev’ Dr Elia Taase (his son graduating from the University of California) and Mr. Bob Franklyn (new position with the Congregational Church in Wales.)
Eti reiterated the problem of acquiring communications through the CUNZ General Secretary’s office rather than receiving it personally.
It was affirmed by the IMG that in the future all Communications/correspondences concerning the IMG would be directly to IMG members rather than church offices. However as a matter of courtesy General Secretary’s would be informed.
Eti inquired who made the decision to change the date of the present IMG that was initially planned for April 2004. Eti noted that because of the change in the date of the IMG she was forced to alter her plans that she has envisaged since the start of the year.
Paulo on behalf of the IMG apologized to Eti and explained how complicated things are in terms of “communications channels” and that this decision was made at the last trustees meeting that was held in London.
Alexai raised questions regarding the Communications Audit questions.
The IMG resolved to discuss these questions as raised by Pastor T.W Starr of the Nauru Congregational Church under Regional Programmes.
Alexai on behalf of NCC requested some form of accounting assistance for NCC or an accountant Chris noted that the Australians could help in this matter.
It was resolved that this matter can be discussed further in South Africa for the trustees meeting. Agenda confirmed.
IMG 04/01 Matters arising from the minutes
Siaosi apologized for consistently misspelling the name of Rev Tekaabei Kaoma in the previous IMG minutes.
IMG 04/02 Leigh Bredenkamp
Paulo has not received any further correspondence from Ms Bredencamp.
Paulo will write one more time to Ms Bredencamp so the IMG and the region can bring closure to this matter in the near future.
IMG 04/03 Surplus funds from the PRC-Kiribati.
Tekaabbei upon his return to Kiribati will arrange for these funds to be deposited in our regional account.
IMG 04/04 St. Andrew (Suva).
Chris reported that things at St. Andrew (Suva) are “going well”.
Furthermore Chris noted that there are two services every Sunday-
A multicultural service and a service for the Kiribati language speakers.
St. Andrews has identified a minister, which has been “well received” by all concerned.
St. Andrew (Suva) is moving towards self-sufficiency as they are contemplating a move away from the Auckland presbytery and more towards the mission office giving it a superfluous mission focus and orientation.
Chris states that people from any church of the CWM family should be aware that St Andrews is there and is a place for worship if visiting Suva.
IMG 04/05 Niue
PCANZ &CUNZ in response to Cyclone Heta that ravaged the Pacific nation organized NZ$12,000 thousand to assist with the relief work on the island.
CWM-Global has also assisted financially to this cause.
PCANZ have contributed an architect and has been at the forefront of the aid campaign for this stricken Pacific nation.
IMG 04/06 Financial Group Advisory Group Member.
Paulo clarified the issue and explained that due to time constraints he appointed the CCCS treasurer to the post. Rev Elisaia Kolia now fills the position.
IMG 04/07 Communications Development Project
Communications Development Project proposal furnished by Rev Kitiona on behalf of EKT for the purchasing of computer equipment for the EKT headquarters.
The IMG affirmed that they are not formulating regulations to make things too “rigid” in accessing funds but there are inconsistencies in the EKT application and at present EKT’s proposal does not add to the strategic capacity of the church.
Paulo noted that there were no supporting documents that could verify the costs of the computer equipment that EKT has requested under their proposal.
Chris stated that the proposal was not in line with the Communications Audit Report recommendations.
The IMG resolved that EKT be invited to redraft their proposal so it best meets Communications Audit Recommendations. Secondly, EKT will be asked for documentation to support costs as outlined in their application.
IMG 04/08 Regional Structure.
It is the expressed hope of the region that the finalised copy’s of the Memorandum of Association and the Memorandum of Understanding will meet with the approval of CWM-Global. This will allow the regions empowerment fund to be forwarded to the Pacific Region.
Elia, Chris, Wilson, Paulo (whilst in South Africa) have been empowered to make final changes and to make the necessary alterations in order to have this document accepted by CWM-Global.
We will leave South Africa with an agreed document. This was moved by Tekaabei and seconded by Eti
IMG 04/09 Financial Report
The IMG laments that we have lost two years of interest from not having the opportunity to invest the regional empowerment fund in the designated account.
The IMG confirmed that the region has tried to meet the conditions as forwarded by CWM-Global yet it is distressing and inconvenient that we are still waiting for the empowerment fund.
Paulo raised the issue that the Regional Secretary has missed many regional seminars because he has not been able to access funds to travel to these seminars and conferences
[2].
Please note the following additions to the budget for the following year 2004
ST$1,000 for a sign for the Regional office in Apia.
ST$750 will be allocated for a Digital camera for the regional office. This will allow the Regional Secretary to add some pictures in his monthly newsletter.
International travel for the Regional Secretary will be ST$10,000 for the next two years
[3] The increase in the rent of the rental space at the John Williams Building, Apia , Samoa (location of the regional office) was not well received by the IMG.
The IMG resolved that Paulo would talk with the manager of the John Williams Building outlining the following points that the IMG believe should have entailed that we be exempt from the rental increase. –
1 .We did not use the office for ten months (2003) yet we still paid rent
2. CCCS is a Part of CWM and should consider this fact when seeking to increase rental charges.
IMG 04/10 CWM Pacific Mission Programme Workshop
Mission planning session with Reverend Dr Joosep Keum
Date
This event tock place on the 26-31 January 2004, four working days, excluding arrival and departure dates. The meeting was held in the conference room at the Peninsula Hotel, Suva, Fiji.
Background
The development of member churches’ Mission Programmes is at various stages. While some churches have started to implement MPSF-2, others are still in MPSF-1. It is necessary to provide particular assistance to those churches still in the early stages of development because a lack of human resources is hindering their progress in planning and implementing their ideas.
Among the six regions of CWM, the Pacific Region and its churches are in greatest need of assistance from the Mission Programme Unit in order to further develop their MPSF. However, because of geographical distance among the nine pacific member churches, it is not easy to visit all the churches for consultation in a short period of time. Therefore, it was of great benefit to the churches that there was this opportunity for the mission secretaries of each church to work together for the strategic planning of MPSF-2, based on the evaluation of MPSF-1.
Objectives
To assist collectively the pacific member churches in evaluating MPSF-1 and developing MPSF-2
To facilitate sharing mission issues, experiences, achievements and challenges in the development of overall mission programmes of the churches.
To stimulate mission thinking and promote a mutual learning process in mission
To assist the churches’ mission programmes with special reference to the issue of strategic planning
To provide better understanding on the nature and practice of MPSF
IMG 04/11 Communications Development Project
IMG 04/12 CWM Pacific Website
Chris spoke of the history behind the proposed website. The primary aims of the website is to
1. Profile member churches
2. Profile projects
3. Share information and resources
4. Signal future events
5. Report on past events
Richard Davis the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Webmaster, has suggested a possible way forward for the regional.
(i) The question is whether CWM Global agrees to allow the Pacific region to have a link on their web site. The next question was the Regional Secretary would need training and where that training would take place
(ii) Richard Davis of PCANZ will manage the site
(iii) Mr Davis related to the group (via Chris) that the Pacific regional website would give small churches a web presence and allow them to relate churches in the other CWM regions
Recommendation.
It was resolved by the IMG (after considering the suggestions made by Richard Davis) that the Pacific region of CWM would have its own web site pending the following stipulations
The Regional Secretary will write to Kenwyn Pierce of CWM Communications Unit to ask if the above suggestion is viable. The Presbyterian Church's Communications Unit will proceed with site development if the answer from CWM-Global is positive.
Developing the Pacific regions site within the regional and global context. Using the content management system protocols of the CWM site (assuming these exist)
Richard Davis of PCANZ will train the Regional Secretary to be the person who will update the site.
The IMG resolved that ST$2,500 has been added to the 2004 budget for the Regional Secretariat for the development of the website.
posted by Siaosi Salesulu on
5.7.04
1 Responses:
Excellent to have these minutes available on the site. It offers transparency and a high degree of accountability. Thanks Siaosi.
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