ICYI Meeting Minutes

August 1, 2009

The meeting opened with prayer given by Rev. Timoth Sylvia of Hope Community UCC, Naperville (Fox Valley Association). All Associations were represented at the meeting. Present for the meeting were Rev. Jonathan Knight, Fox Valley Association Minister and Conference Staff member for ICYI; Ms. Jayne Clouser, Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ, Quincy (Western Association); Rev. Kirk Moore, Union Congregation Church, Somonauk (Prairie Association); Mr. Keith Scott (Chicago Metropolitan Association); Rev. Paula Comper, Contracted Program Staff for ICYI, United Church of Christ in Sauk Village (Eastern Association).

There was much discussion about the recent restructure proposal title "A Conceptual Framework for Staffing the Illinois Conference" Revised July 31, 2009." In the proposal is the elimination of the ICYI position. After looking at the General Ledger Account provided by the Conference Business Manager it was determined that the salary for the staff position for ICYI is not taken from the conference budget, but from the ICYI budget which is not supported financially by the conference.

There was also much discussion about the Strengthen the Church money in which a portion is designation for youth ministry. (Strengthen the Church can be used for scholarships or programming, but not for salary.) Every year Karen Karczewski and/or Paula Comper have filled out the grant proposal required by the LEEAP (Local Evangelism, Envisioning and Planting) committee. Currently LEEAP determines who will get the Strengthen the Church money and how much each requesting group/ministry will get.

The ICYI committee decided that a letter should be written to Rev. Wanda Sidel, Conference Moderator, and the Conference Council of the Illinois Conference to request that a set percentage of the STC money be given directly to ICYI annually and not go through the grant process. Also the letter will include a request to keep Rev. Comper as the program staff person for ICYI, to be paid out of the separate ICYI Fund. Rev. Timoth Sylvia, new pastor at Hope Community UCC, Naperville, has agreed to be the writer of the letter which will include the names of all those present at the August 1, 2009 meeting.

The 2010 ICYI Midwinter Retreat was discussed. Because the retreat dates have changed to Friday 12 March through Sunday 14 March the committee decided that the name of ICYI Midwinter Retreat would no longer work. The committee decided to change the name to Illinois Conference Youth Retreat. The theme for the 2010 is, "Making a Commotion in Motion." More detail will be forth coming as the planning continues.

Other discussions:

  1. The August 29 Zoo Trip – no need to sign up for this event, but it is helpful for Paula to know who is coming, so we can look for the church/youth
  2. 2010 Great Lakes Regional Youth Event; June 17-20, Defiance College, OH
  3. ICYI Web Page and Facebook – Rev. Kirk Moore will continue to maintain the ICYI web page (which is separate from the conference ICYI web page). He also let us know that ICYI has a Facebook page.

Next meeting information is as follows:

Planning and Policy Party

Saturday 10 October

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

First Federated Church

3601R North Sheridan Road

Peoria, IL 61604

Please encourage youth in 9th through 12th grades to attend this meeting.

Following the meeting will be our fall event:

Youth Harvest Event

Youth in 7th through 12th Grades

Saturday 10 October

1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (the orchard has sandwiches for purchase)

Tanners Orchard

740 State Route 40

Speer, IL 61479

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Paula Comper

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