Members met on Aug. 20, 2020 to consider two requests for 2021 program funding that came to the Connectional Table after the March round of budget requests.
The Open Spirit Task Force (OSTF), which was tasked with exploring new ways forward for the NEAC after the 2019 General Conference, asked for $3,000 to continue its work in light of the postponement of the 2020 General Conference; the continuation of the OSTF will come before the Annual Conference for approval. CT members approved the request for funds.
The Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women (COSROW) submitted a revised version of its budget request. In March, the CT had approved $500 (the minimum) for COSROW, saying the initial request lacked sufficient details and metrics for their proposed projects.
Based on the new request, members agreed to approve $3,500 (in addition to the $500) with the understanding that a COSROW representative would be required to attend the CT’s annual fall budget retreat and that a CT liaison would continue to work with COSROW on developing their future funding requests.
Both requests will be funded out of the Connectional Table’s budget for emerging ministries. These funds appear in the 2021 Conference budget proposal under the Connectional Table. The funds will not appear on the budget line for COSROW (which will still show only the initial $500); the OSTF was not funded in the 2021 proposed budget.
The Connectional Table’s annual fall budget retreat for the leaders of Conference boards and agencies will be a half-day virtual event on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. CT members invited the Conference Commission on Religion and Race to offer a program on the topic of addressing racism as part of the event.
Members of the Connectional Table took some time at this meeting to thank and honor Rene Wilbur, who will step down from the CT when she retires as Conference Lay Leader following the 2020 Annual Conference session.
The next meeting of the Connectional Table will take place in early November (prior to the budget retreat) to welcome its newly elected members.
