Rural Ministries Network/By-Laws

Article I Name and Identity
The Rural Ministries Network, Inc. is a community laity and clergy of the Episcopal Church in The United States and of The Anglican Church of Canada, but not exclusive to the foregoing.

Article II Purposes
A. To promote effective Christian ministries in rural and small town areas through: (1) educational methods of study and training, (2) advocacy and promotional efforts, and (3) support and encouragement of fellowship among its members.

B. To work closely with, and give support to The Officer for Rural and Small Town Ministries on the National Staff of The Episcopal Church and to the similar officer of the Anglican Church in Canada.

C. To further these purposes by (1) Publishing a quarterly periodical to be mailed to all members, (2) maintaining a Web Site for general information and circulation of news of interest, (3) by enrolling members on a Prayer Cycle for their use in sharing information and remembering each other in Prayer.

Article III Governance
A. The organization shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of at least eight members to be elected by the Board. Nominations for the Board may be made by the general membership as announced through the Quarterly Periodical and the Web Site.

B. At its 2002 Annual Meeting, the Board constituted itself into 2 one-year terms, 2 two-year terms, 2 three-year terms, and 2 four-year terms. On subsequent years the Board will elect 2 members to four-year terms. Board members so elected may not be re-elected to a four-year term until at least one year has elapsed from the previous four-year term.

C. Other persons may be invited to be Ad Hoc members of the Board with voice but no vote. Such would be the National Staff persons for Rural and Small Town Ministries, and a Bishop to be appointed by the President to serve as Honorary President of RMN. The Editor of the Quarterly Periodical will also serve as an Ad Hoc member.

D. The Board shall each year at its Annual Meeting, elect from its membership, a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary. The Board will also appoint (not necessarily from its membership) a Treasurer, a Membership Secretary, and a Prayer Cycle Secretary who will serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be invited to meet with the Board with voice but no vote.

E. Should a vacancy occur in the Membership of the Board or in any of the appointed offices, the President, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy until the next election.

F. A Quorum to do business at Board Meetings will be one more than half of the members of the Board and at least one Officer.

G. The Board must meet annually in person or electronically. If the Board is to meet electronically, the President is to mail Board members two weeks in advance of the meeting, an agenda and any other pertinent material for their consideration. Minutes of Board meetings are to be kept by the Secretary and distributed to Board members with a summary of Minutes to be published in the Quarterly Periodical and on the Web Site.

Article IV Membership
A. Anyone in either Canada or the United State who agrees to support the Purposes of RMN is eligible for membership. Active members must pay annual dues as set by the Board of Directors. One year complimentary membership may be offered to newly elected Bishops with the understanding that they are to pay regular dues after being notified at the end of one year.

B. The membership Secretary shall notify members when dues are to be renewed.

C. If the member does not respond after two notices that dues are due, the membership shall be canceled.

D. All members are entitled to receive the Quarterly Publication, and to have their names placed on the Prayer Cycle.

Article V Finances
A. The treasurer shall be bonded and so recorded to the President. The Treasurer must send a quarterly report of current expenditures and income to the President who will share it with the Board of Directors The Treasurer shall also make an annual report concerning the RMN Endowment Foundation. The Board has authority to reinvest Endowment funds if necessary.

B. The Board of Directors shall make an annual budget estimating income and expenses for the year ahead and shall manage the financial affairs of the organization.

Article VI Amendments

A. These By Laws may be amended by majority vote at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board should be furnished with a written proposal of change at least two weeks prior to the Board Meeting.

Rural Workers Fellowship Board of Directors
Toddhall Center Columbia, IL June 1-2, 2005

June 1, 2005

I. Meeting comes to order at 6:30pm.

Members present: Steve Schaitberger, John Carson, Lim Parks, Warren Murphy, Kate Campbell, Steve Cuff, Mike Watkins Netha Brada (new member). Bill Davidson sent a note of regret and good wishes; neither Ben Helmer nor Sandy Elledge could attend. All three will be in touch by phone

II. Prayer: Gospel Based Discipleship, using todayâs Gospel reading (Luke 17:20-37).

III. Check-in Highlights included getting acquainted with new member Netha Brada and hearing from Mike and Carol Watkins about life in the former Diocese of Cariboo (now Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior). IV. Reviewed and adopted agenda

V. Business session

1. Minutes of last meeting (Kate). Approved (S. Cuff; multiple seconds).
2. Treasurerâs report, Sandy present by conference call. Report for 1-5/2005 attached. 2005 income budgeted, $14,383.43, actual $5842.64, difference -$8,995.79. Total expenses: budgeted $9,350, actual $2,641.40, difference $6,708.60. Income/expenses $3,101.24. Bank balance $4,411.43; endowment fund balance $25,098.21. Roanridge grant already applied for. Discussed 2004 budget÷more paid by Roanridge ($5K) than membership ($2K). Same pattern in 2005.
3. Crossroads (Jane). J. gets material from Board members, then canvasses material from dioceses with many small churches; Anglican Journal, international info. Interested in broadening material. Not time to go to 16 pp, though there is plenty of info. Send things in to Jane. Steve uses as recruiting tool. It is always on the web site. 4. Web page: costs staying down because Diocese of MN is paying as part of Steveâs MN missioner web page. Not much cost because not much is being sent to Melissa Schaitberger send anything in electronic format.

VI. Who are we and where are we going?
1. 2003 mission statement accepted as basis for the discussion
2. We agreed we should seek a voice in appointment of Benâs successor. Consensus was that being heard in such a situation would be a unique opportunity.

June 2, 2005 9am GBD, outdoor meditation on outdoors by Warren. 9:30 am

Vicissitudes: Warren calls meeting to order in place of Steve Schaitberger, who is in ER being checked for heart condition. During the day, several phone calls to Sandy Elledge fail; in the evening we discover that she was waiting faithfully at her office for our call, but we were calling her home. Oh well.

VII. Strategic vision
1. Communications: Crossroads and website for edification, inspiration and advocacy
2. Creating a network of resources
3. Hold up community n prayer with prayer cycle
4. Advocacy on behalf of small congregations and their concerns, e.g. resolutions for national and diocesan conventions

VIII. Membership
1. 330 members: 148 complimentary, 1 life, 74 current paid-up-to-date; 107 are expired memberships. 110 reminder postcards sent on 5/25/05
2. Renewals 2004: Regular 85, patron 12 2005 to date: Regular 13, patron 2
3. Consensus to give complimentary memberships to new ordinands; Board members are encouraged to give individual copies of Crossroads as recruiting aid and give memberships to others. Steve C. sends gift notes the first year, invitation to continue membership the second. 1 pm Phone call to Bill Davidson: he will write letters and distribute copies to baby bishops. 4pm Eucharist celebrated by Netha Brada, who also preached

IX. Resolutions prepared for 2006 General Convention
A. Equitable benefits for small church workers Resolved, that this convention asks the CPF to change the formula for crediting the time of CPF participantsâ service. And resolved, that any resulting change should be made retroactive whenever it is to the participantsâ gain.

Explanation
1. Many of the participants in the CPF serving in small churches do not receive full credit for the calendar years they serve.
2. At present CPF uses a complicated formula to calculate the time of service in relation to the pay of members of the Fund. Thus, low paid participants do not get credit for their calendar years of service. A participant paid at a quarter of the rate the CPF considers the minimum pay for a full time position first has the pension based on the actual pay and is given only a quarter yearâs credit, even if it was the CPF memberâs only source of income. This policy means that the participant suffers doubly: once for the low pay, and then for the CPFâs assessment of the actual time spent in service.
3. Social Security and other pension funds are calculated on a simple calendar year basis.
4. The Annual Report of the CPF for 2003 recognizes the financial hardship of priests in very small institutions, resolves to help them (12), and invites dialog to address their needs (14).
5. The Annual Report of the CPF for 2004 addresses the needs of both large and small churches (2), finding that almost half of all Episcopal churches have attendance under 75 on a Sunday (7), and profiles a small rural church (11).
6. This action would encourage future clergy to serve in small church ministry. Strategy: Warren Murphy will sponsor; Board members will seek 2 other deputies to co-sponsor. If diocesan conventions approve, it can go as a diocesan resolution. Although we know that Convention has no direct authority over CPF, its voice might be heard.

B. Uplift Small Church Ministries Resolved, that this convention directs ECUSA to continue to uplift small church ministry by supporting the position of Missioner for Rural and Small Community Ministries; Resolved that the position be filled by someone with extensive small church experience; And, resolved that Rural Ministries Network and other church organizations÷like New Directions, Living Stones, and Episcopal Appalachian Ministries÷which are interested in the vitality of small churches be consulted in that appointment. Explanation The Episcopal Church has long had a staff officer working with the ministry of small churches. This resolution would continue the tradition and those organizations already working in small church ministry would be encouraged by participating in the selection.

Strategy: To be submitted only if the position is not filled in 2006.
1. Steve S. should write Charles Fulton to request that RMN be consulted in the appointment process.
2. Lim will write Larry Maze÷Interim Committee for Ministry in Small Communities planning their blue book report to introduce ourselves and show support.

Background from phone call with Ben:
1. Benâs title: Missioner for Rural and Small Community Ministries.
2. Ben will retire December 31, 2005. His replacement will be at least a year away, not clear if/when. His supervisor Charles Fulton, will almost certainly fill it the position. We can suggest/support candidates BUT the person will be expected to live in NY metro area.
3. A resolution is a good idea and ones from deputies work best.
4. Larry Maze, chairing discussion of small church ministry, should have a letter SOON for meeting for rural ministry.

X. Activities for General Convention 2006 at Columbus, Ohio
1. Sandy says booths are very expensive, but we can share the EAM one, which the national church pays for.
2. Board members as volunteers.
3. Tee shirts?
4. Need a rep. for committee hearings to speak to resolution, probably need two. (Small Church and Finance)

XI. Treasurerâs Report: evening phone call to Sandy
1. Bank account 1st Tennessee Bank in Knoxville
2. Tax exemption: not as RWF, but under ECUSA, so use their federal tax ID as tax exempt; have employee ID
3. Agency of ECUSA, so can change name by deciding and notifying the national church (KC writes whoever Sandy says)
4. Booth at convention: EAM will have one, very expensive, we can put our stuff there
5. Investment: Sandy says Warren and Lim were supposed to devise something (and sheâs right). Lim suggests staggered four CDs and $5000 for a money market fund. Warren suggests $5000 and different length bond funds (averaging 5%), possibly Edward D. Jones or Merrill Lynch. Consensus for Warren and Lim to work with Sandy to invest all but $5000.
6. We should claim our reimbursements in June or wait until August. XII. Budget: see attached sheet

XIII. Name change Resolution: Change name of Rural Workers Fellowship to Rural Ministries Network (Lim, Steve C.) Unanimous. This followed a diverting discussion. To see the rejected alternatives, see the next Crossroads.

XIV. RWF brochure Steve Cuff will develop and send copy to Board members for copying and distribution. Should be given out at General and diocesan conventions (esp.), also clergy conferences by Board members.

XV. Next meeting March 7-9 after Rural Ministry Conference at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa (Tuesday-Thursday of First Week of Lent). Conference is March 5-7. Netha will organize, e-mail vote. Housing possibilities are Best Western or Sisinawa Dominicans.

XVI. Board nominations
1. Terms expiring: Steve Cuff (2 yr term) and Sandy Elledge.
2. In Crossroads, Jane will issue a call for nominations by Nov. 1.
3. Web Simons and Ben Helmer were mentioned. Ben said he was honored to be mentioned and will consider it.
4. Sandy said she would be willing to continue as treasurer after her term expires.

XVII. Evaluations
1. Improvement: presidentâs health, personal free time
2. Went well: location, work through business,

Tasks
1. Steve S.: get well; apply for Roanridge grant by Sept. 15; with Warren, choose location of next Board meeting, on basis Nethaâs information; write Charles Fulton to ask that RMN be consulted in the appointment of Benâs successor
2. Warren: sponsor our resolution for General Convention if it is not put forward by (a) diocese(s); work with Lim and Sandy on investments 2. Lim and Warren, with Sandy: Investments
3. Lim: Lobby with Larry Maze SOON before preparation of blue book for Convention; work with Warren and Sandy on investments
4. Jane: change name on logo for Crossroads and brochure, call for nominations, get a quote for letterhead, highlight website÷be in touch with Melissa to change web domain
5. Steve C.: prepare brochure, continue tracking membership
6. Kate: letter to ECUSA about new name, following Sandyâs recommendation; send resolutions out separately to all members
7. Bill D.: send a list baby bishops to Steve C
8. Mike: send a list of Canadian bishops to Steve C.
9. Netha: check with Warren Frelund about comp memberships to LAND graduates? Liaison in Dubuque÷motels and rate, meeting room, fee for Rural Ministry Conference, Sinsinawa, Shalom Center÷info to Steve S.
10. Everyone: get resolutions to all dioceses

Budget for Rural Ministries Network 2006

Income	2005	2006
Regular Memberships	$1,500.00	$1,500.00
Patrol Memberships	1,000.00	750.00
Donations	350.00	200.00
Grants	5,000.00	5,000.00
Endowment Interest	1,500.00	600.00
Endowment Fund
Carryover Funds	$5,488.43	$1,750.00
TOTAL INCOME	$14,838.43	$9,800.00

Expenses	2005	2006
Board Costs	$4,000.00	$4,000.00
Office Administration	250.00	500.00
Web site	900.00	900.00
Crossroads	3,200.00	3,200.00
Editor's Honorarium	1,000.00	1,200.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURE	$9,350.00	$9,800.00

Bank Balance as of 4/25/05 $4,411.43
Endowment fund balance $25,098.21
Adopted by the Board Submitted by Kathryn Campbell