Standing Committee Report to the 38th Convention

The Standing Committee held business meetings during the 2008-2009 term at the following
times and places:

1. February 23, 2008, St. Paul’s, Mobile;
2. May 2, 2008, Trinity, Apalachicola;
3. June 27, 2008, St. Thomas’, Greenville;
4. October 30, 2008, Church of the Advent, Lillian;
5. January 16, 2009, St. Paul’s, Daphne.

At the meeting on February 23, 2008, the Committee took the following action:
1. Elected The Rev. Ken Cumbie to be president of the Standing Committee for the
2008/2009 term.
2. Elected Dr. Melinda Henderson secretary for the 2008/2009 term.
3. On nomination by the Bishop, the Standing Committee elected Hal Major, St.
Christopher’s, Pensacola and The Rev. Thomas Heard, St. John’s, Mobile to three-year
terms on the Commission on Finance.
4. Consented to the elections of Bishops Coadjutor for the Diocese of South Dakota and
the Diocese of Texas.
5. Heard an update report from Rebecca Byrne on the purpose purchase of the Unger
property for Beckwith Camp and Conference Center.
6. Implemented a Visioning Strategy called “Operation Redesign” that would require the
involvement of the entire Committee and would augment the work of the Special
Committee.

At the meeting on May 2, 2008, the Committee took the following action:
1. Approved the purchase, for Beckwith Camp and Conference Center, approximately 18
acres, commonly known as the “Unger Property”, for $550,000.
2. Approved St. Mary’s, Andalusia consolidating its two loans maturing in the
Congregational Loan Fund.
3. Approved the renegotiation of St. James, Eufaula, Capital Improvement loan with
Colonial Bank.
4. On recommendation of the Commission on Ministry and the Bishop the Committee
consented to the ordination to the priesthood for Michael Tinnon and Becky Tinnon.
5. On recommendation of the Commission on Ministry and the Bishop the Committee
approved Anthony MacWhinnie and John Withrock to the transitional Diaconate.
6. Consented to the election of a Bishop Coadjutor for Central Ecuador.
7. Consented to the following Episcopal elections:
The Rev. Canon Paul Emil Lambert to be Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas
and The Rev. Canon Eugene Taylor Sutton to be Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland
8. Approved refinancing the Congregational Loan Fund loan for Grace, Panama City
Beach, in the amount of $74,000, to be paid over a period of ten years at a rate of 5%
per annum.
9. Approved for Epiphany, Enterprise, an additional advance on their Congregational
Loan Fund bringing the balance to $100,000, to be repaid over a period of fifteen years
at the rate of 5% per annum.
10. Heard an “Operation Redesign” report from Dr. Henderson.

At the meeting on Friday, June 27, 2008, the Committee took the following action:
1. Approved the Diocese borrowing on behalf of Beckwith Camp and Conference Center,
$699,000.
2. Approved Holy Nativity, Panama City purchasing a house across from the church for
$435,000, to be financed at a commercial bank.
3. Approved the Diocese grant St. Mary’s, Coden up to $100,000 to provide the balance
of funds due to complete the rebuilding of their church destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
4. On recommendation of Kathy Miller, Alabama Chancellor, the Committee amended its
resolution regarding Redeemer, Mobile to add a phrase authorizing the Bishop to
execute a mortgage on the church property as collateral for their financing
arrangement.
5. Officially adopted and reaffirmed the policy for the protection of children and youth from
abuse.
6. Affirmed and approved the resolution adopted by the 37th Annual Convention to form a
companion relationship between the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and the Diocese
of the Dominican Republic.
7. Adopted a resolution to provide for Ecclesiastical Authority in the absence of the
Bishop from the Diocese for the Lambeth Conference.
8. Heard an “Operation Redesign” report from Dr. Henderson.

At the meeting on Thursday, October 30, 2008, the Committee took the following action:
1. Approved St. James’, Eufaula refinancing their bank loan which matured in October 23,
2008, for a period of ninety days.
2. Approved the annual salary and allowance package as presented by the Commission
on Finance.
3. Ratified all previous e-mail approvals:
• The Diocese sold on behalf of Redeemer, Mobile to Mobile County property for a
road improvement for the sum of $42,934 given to Redeemer for their capital
funds project.
• Approved St. Mark’s, Troy to borrow $15,000 from the Congregational Loan
Fund.
• Approved St. Augustine, Navarre a loan in the amount of $66,161.
• Approved St. John, Wewahitchka renewing a bank loan in the amount of
$294,844.
• Approved Grace, Panama City Beach refinancing their Congregational Loan in
the amount of $70,719.
4. Approved, subject to Commission on Ministry recommendation, the ordination of
Milledge Baker to the transitional Diaconate.
5. Approved Trinity, Apalachicola to be admitted to the Diocese as a parish congregation
and refers this matter to the Diocesan Convention for final approval.
6. Consented to the Episcopal election of The Rev. Herman Hollerith, IV to be Bishop of
the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
7. Heard a report from Dr. Henderson regarding “Operation Redesign.”

At its meeting on January 16, 2009, the Committee took the following action:
1. Approved a loan for St. Mary’s Andalusia up to $155,000.
2. Approved Housing Resolutions for Bishop Duncan and Canon Dunnam.
3. Approved the Chapel of St. Dismas at Fountain Correctional Center, Atmore Alabama
be a Mission Station.
4. Consented to the election of a Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of Long Island.
5. Approved the transfer of $100,000 from the hurricane fund to cover the construction
deficit for St. Mary’s Coden and that the Diocesan staff facilitate the financing of the
balance of approximately $165,000 and that payments for that loan be taken from the
Turner Fund until the Diocese or St. Mary’s can make the monthly payment.
6. Approved a budget for calendar year 2009 to be proposed to the Diocesan Convention.
7. Heard a synopsis of the Report of the Special Committee for the Study of the Diocese
presented by The Rev. Thack Dyson, Chair, and The Rev. Albert Kennington. The
report will be presented to the 38th Annual Convention of the Diocese of the Central
Gulf Coast. The Special Committee recommends that the Bishop and Standing
Committee “work together and incorporate the findings of the Special Committee and
the “Operation Redesign” process currently underway in the Standing Committee, to
make the vision of this Diocese clear to all the clergy and laity as the first part of the
proposed “Five Year Plan”.”

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as president of the Standing Committee for the
past year. It has been my pleasure to work with my colleagues on the Standing Committee over the
last three years, and I want to thank them for their dedicated service to the Diocese.

Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Walter K. Cumbie, President