THE 36th MEETING OF THE MISSION COUNCIL OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT (FORMERLY: THE 501st MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT), AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT, INC.
December 13, 2025
In Attendance: The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Mello, The Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens, The Rev. Judith Alexis, Brad Babbitt, Chancellor, Stu Cosby, Naomi Fisher, The Rev. Lisa Hahneman, The Rev. Stephanie Johnson, Trish Leonard, Steven R. Mullins, The Rev. Diana Rogers, Casey Rousseau, Lori Sarkett, The Rev. Deacon Chuck Sharp, Valarie Stanley, The Rev. Deacon Ron Steed, Lisa Yarbor, and the Rev. Stacey Kohl, Secretary of the Diocese and Convention
Absent: The Rev. Deacon Jessie Akerson, Judie Blackman-Cochran, Gordon Ross, Treasurer
Also Present: The Rev. Cn. D Littlepage, The Rev. Cn. Kevin Olds, Canon Rosanna Rosado, The Rev. Cn. Ranjit K. Mathews, The Rev. Cn. Rebekah Hatch, and Canon Sarah Woodford
- CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING PRAYER
The Meeting was called to order at 1:03 PM by Bishop Laura Ahrens who opened with prayer.
- ITEMS REQUIRING APPROVAL WITHOUT DISCUSSION
Bishop Ahrens moved to approve each item on the consent agenda, seconded by Brad Babbitt. The Consent Agenda including the following items:
- Minutes of the September 2025 Mission Council Meeting
- Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting
- Report from Camp Washington
- Staff Clergy Housing Allowance
- Northwest Region Terrell Fund Grant Awards
The motion passes.
- ITEMS REQUIRING DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
- No items were removed from Consent Agenda.
- Finance & Operations Reports, Statements (Q3)
Steven R. Mullins moved to approve theQ3 reports as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.
Canon Rosado offered a report on Camp Washington and Q3 Missionary Society Investment portfolio. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.
Canon Rosado updated on the Property & Casualty premiums and online billing & payments for GLMD, Clergy Pension, and Property & Casualty with Church Insurance Company. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.
Canon Rosado updated on Good Standing and Vulnerable Parishes. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.
Canon Rosado presented on JJMA Phase I and II. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.
Canon Rosado presented the Revolving Loan Fund application for All Saints with Christ, Oakville of $48,000 at 3.5% interest over 5 years (see appendix) which has been recommended by the Finance Committee. The Rev. Stephanie Johnson moved to approve the grants as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.
Canon Rosado presented the Revolving Loan Fund restructure application for St. Mark’s, Storrs. The balance due on the loan is $124,267 and the parish has requested a 10-year (120 month) extension. This would reduce the monthly payment from $2,151 to $1,268. This restructure has been recommended by the Finance Committee. Lori Sarkett moved to approve the restructure as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.
Canon Rosado presented on St. Peter’s, Cheshire CMS hardship. 2024 Parochial report was restructured, and Finance Committee did not have mechanism to determine new CMS, so retained 2023 CMS. St. Peter’s, Cheshire operating income has significantly reduced as a result of the loss of some fundraising income and reduction in investment income. Has requested a monthly CMS reduction from $3,154 to $2795 for 2026. Stu Cosby moved to approve the restructure as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.
Canon Rosado presented the Parishes Serving Low-Income Communities grant recommendations. A total of 11 parishes have been recommended, 8 of which need support in Good Standing compliance (full list available in supplemental materials). This grant is not a mandate of Convention or application based. The Rev. Chuck Sharp moved to approve the grant recommendations as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes with two abstentions.
Canon Rosado presented the Trinity South Norwalk fund; 80% of which is proposed in grant form by Trinity South Norwalk committee, 20% goes to ECCT. 2026 Grant recommendations are Christ Church, East Norwalk; St. Paul’s on the Green, Norwalk; Norwalk Mentor Program; Norwalk Academy of Multilingual Students; East Norwalk Library Children’s Education Program; Laundry Love, Norwalk. The Rev. Chuck Sharp moved to approve the grants as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.
Bishop Jeffrey Mello and Canon Rosado presented on the creation of a Clergy Compensation Working Group as previously discussed at the 241st Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. The hope is this group will be the group that proposes clergy compensation related resolutions to Annual Conventions in the future. Makeup of Clergy Compensation Working Group to include a member of Finance Committee, a member of Mission Council, a clergy person, a retired clergy person, and a lay person.
Stu Cosby volunteered to serve from Mission Council.
- Values Investing Fund
Canon Rosado presented on the Missionary Society funds held in Donations & Bequests for Church Purposes, Inc.’s and those invested in the Values Investing Fund, which is an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) based portfolio. Mission Council has previously expressed interest in increasing the amount of assets invested in the Values Investing Fund portfolio as opposed to the Balanced Fund portfolio. No returns will be compromised by making these changes; both funds are doing well.
Stu Cosby moved the following, seconded by the Rev. Chuck Sharp,
RESOLVED, that the Missionary Society requests Donations & Bequests for Church Purposes, Inc. reallocate Missionary Society’s assets to 55% Values Investing Fund portfolio and 45% Balanced Fund portfolio.
Motion passes.
- Retired Clergy Funds
Canon Rosado presented on Retired Clergy Funds which had previously been restricted by BDEC, Bishop & Diocesan Executive Council, in 1995.
Casey Rousseau moved the following, seconded by Steven R. Mullins.
RESOLVED, that the Mission Council authorizes the Fund for Aged and Infirm Clergy and Widows and Orphans of Clergymen and the Clergyman’s Retiring Fund to expand to include helping offset or otherwise to reduce the costs that beneficiaries of these funds must incur to attend or participate in mandatory or highly recommended events or training.
Motion passes.
- Missionary Society Property Proceeds Discussion
Bishop Mello led in a discussion regarding the use of Missionary Society property proceeds. It is recommended that all Missionary Society property alienations or encumbrances from which there are proceeds available for disbursement be divided in the following way: 55% Unrestricted Fund; 10% Reparations Fund; 25% Strategic Mission Priorities; 10% Honoring Local Mission & Ministry.
- Intentional Episcopal Communities.
Bishop Ahrens presented on Intentional Episcopal Communities. The goal of naming these communities as IECs was to deepen relationship. Institutional relationship goals such as voice & vote at Convention and financial commitment to ECCT have been met, deeper relationship goals haven’t been met—everyone wants a little bit more
Questions regarding Episcopal Church at Yale (ECY) continue to come before Mission Council and have given rise to the larger question, “what is Campus Ministry in Connecticut?” and “How are we supporting Campus Ministries in Connecticut?”
In light of these ongoing conversations, it was recommended that the current structure of financial asks to IECs remain stable in 2026.
- UPDATES
Property Report of the Missionary Society
Canon Rosado updated on St. Paul’s, Darien, Trinity-St. Michael’s, Fairfield, and Christ Episcopal Church, Norwich. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.
- ADJOURNMENT, CLOSING PRAYER, & BLESSING
The meeting was adjourned at 3:23 PM and closed with prayer and a blessing by Bishop Mello.
Faithfully submitted,
The Rev. Stacey Kohl
Secretary of the Diocese and Convention