Mission Council Minutes, March 14, 2026

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THE 37th MEETING OF THE MISSION COUNCIL OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT (FORMERLY: THE 502nd 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.

March 14, 2026

In Attendance: The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey Mello, The Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens, The Rev. Judith Alexis, The Rev. Deacon Jessie Akerson, Judie Blackman-Cochran, Brad Babbitt, Chancellor, The Rev. Lisa Hahneman, The Rev. Stephanie Johnson, Trish Leonard, Steven R. Mullins, The Rev. Diana Rogers, Gordon Ross, Treasurer, Casey Rousseau, Lori Sarkett, The Rev. Deacon Chuck Sharp, Valarie Stanley, The Rev. Deacon Ron Steed, and the Rev. Stacey Kohl, Secretary of the Diocese and Convention

Absent: Stu Cosby, Naomi Cardello, and Lisa Yarbor

Also Present: Canon Alison Hollo, The Rev. Cn. Kevin Olds, Canon Rosanna Rosado, The Rev. Cn. Ranjit K. Mathews, The Rev. Cn. Rebekah Hatch, and Canon Sarah Woodford

  1. CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING PRAYER

The Meeting was called to order at 1:02 PM by Bishop Jeffrey Mello who opened with prayer.    

  1. ITEMS REQUIRING APPROVAL WITHOUT DISCUSSION

The Rev. Lisa Hahneman moved to approve each item on the consent agenda, seconded by Trish Leonard. The Consent Agenda including the following items:

  1. Minutes of the December 2025 Mission Council Meeting
  2. Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting
  3. Jack Spaeth Creation Care Grants
  4. ECCT Employee Handbook Updates
  5. 2024 Annual Audit

The motion passes.

  1. ITEMS REQUIRING DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
  1. No items were removed.
  1. Finance & Operations Reports, Statements (Q4)

Canon Rosanna Rosado offered a report on Finance & Operations for Q4 2025. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.

Items of note included: Facilities Management variance due to GAAP compliance, computer supplies, and utilities for 290 Pratt Street. Congregations & Transitions variance due to staff hiring timing.

The Rev. Jessie Akerson moved to approve theQ4 reports as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.

Canon Rosado offered a report on Camp Washington and Q4 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. Both phases are now complete. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes.

  1. Revolving Loan Request

Canon Rosado presented the Revolving Loan Fund application for Epiphany, Southbury of $40,000 at 3.5% interest over 7 years (see appendix) which has been recommended by the Finance Committee. Valarie Stanley moved to approve the grants as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.

  1. Property Improvement Grants

Canon Rosado presented on Property Improvement Grant requests. 21 parishes requested $132, 494 in reimbursement grants with $84,844 available from ECCT. Supporting documents are included in the supplemental materials of these minutes

Valarie Stanley moved to approve the grants as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.

  1. Property Improvement Grant Criteria

Canon Rosado presented on Property Improvement Grant Criteria.

Recommended new criteria:

  • Increase grant to $100,000 annually (increase of est. $15,000),
  • Reimburse 100% of any capital improvement project up to $10,000,
  • Reimburse 50% of any cosmetic improvement up to $5,000,
  • Streamline the application process,
  • Parishes can apply for 2 consecutive years and then must wait 1-year before applying again,
  • Submissions can be for the current or previous quarter,
  • Adjust Mission Council’s role from annual approval to quarterly review.

The Rev. Stephanie Johnson moved to approve the new criteria as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.

  1. Common Mission Support (CMS) Adjustments

Because 2024 Parochial Report did not provide the needed numbers to update CMS, the decision was made to maintain 2026 CMS based on 2023 numbers. The following parishes have requested their CMS be adjusted based on their actual 2024 numbers; all submitted their 2024 budgets as part of their requests.

  • St. Thomas, Bethel
  • St. John’s, Essex
  • St. Andrew’s, Meriden
  • St. Peter’s Grace, Monroe
  • St. Michael’s, Naugatuck
  • Christ Church, Roxbury

Casey Rousseau moved to approve the adjustments as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.

St. Monica’s, Hartford requested a 50% reduction in their CMS citing aging congregation and state of the economy. Finance Committee recommended with reservations a 25% reduction of the 2023 CMS. St. Monica’s currently in arrears. St. Monica’s received $47,000 in grants last year.

Canon Rosado and Treasurer Gordon Ross recommended utilizing the same formula as used for the six previous parishes who requested CMS reduction based on their 2024 actual numbers. This would reduce St. Monica’s annual CMS to $22,403.40, and monthly CMS to $1,866.91. Canon Rosado will follow up with St. Monica’s, Hartford, to seek other ways to aid them in their financial challenges and report back to Mission Council at the June meeting.

Valarie Stanley moved to approve the adjustments as recommended by Canon Rosado and Treasurer Gordon Ross, seconded by Casey Rousseau. Motion passes.

  1. Tech, Security & Fire Safety Grant Criteria

Canon Rosado presented on Technology, Security & Fire Safety Grant Criteria.

Recommended new criteria:

  • Increase grant to $100,000 annually (increase of est. $25,000),
  • Reimburse 100% up to $5,000 per parish,
  • Streamline the application process,
  • Parishes can apply for 2 consecutive years and then must wait 1-year before applying again,
  • Submissions can be for the current or previous quarter,
  • Adjust Mission Council’s role from annual approval to quarterly review.

Casey Rousseau moved to approve the new criteria as recommended by the Finance Committee. Motion passes.

  1. JJMA Wrap-up Funds Request

Bishop Mello presented on the Joining Jesus in the Missional Age (JJMA) Campaign Wrap-up. ECCT worked with CCS consulting to plan the original campaign. However, when the contract was signed, there was no guidance in the contract as to closing out the campaign. We cannot use funds raised in the campaign for expenses to close the campaign and current staff do not have the time in their schedules to take on this additional task. A request has been made to engage CCS to close out the JJMA campaign, thus setting ECCT up well for our next campaign.

Authorize expenditure from unrestricted funds up to $120,000 which will include $90,000 CCS Contract and two networking events in the amount of $30,000.

Valarie Stanley moved that up to up to $120,000 be made available from unrestricted funds to engage CCS, seconded Casey Rousseau. Motion passes.

  1. UPDATES
  1. Property Report of the Missionary Society

Canon Rosado updated Missionary Society held properties.

Six strategic assets for mission alignment under review

  • Good Shepherd, Bristol;
  • Epiphany, Durham;
  • St. James, New Haven;
  • Grace, Newington;
  • George Beach Home;
  • Marsh Road Rectory
  • St. Paul’s, Darien

The sale of Trinity-St. Michael’s, Fairfield has been completed. After a 10% donation to Operation Hope and a recoup of expenses by ECCT, the available proceeds after closing costs will be approximately $1,551,253, although the final expense figures are not yet complete. The funds will be placed in the Missionary Society’s unrestricted portfolio while we engage in a strategic discernment process regarding mission-aligned and financially sustainable use of the proceeds from the assets.

  1. Canon Rosado updated on the progress of the Clergy Compensation Working Group, which has begun its work.
  1. Canon Rebekah Hatch updated on ECCT’s work with Ministry Architects (MA). Listening groups for people across ECCT involved with or in leadership adjacent to youth & young adult ministry were held in the first week of February. From those listening groups, MA created an initial report and ECCT is now awaiting their final report. MA is in the process of creating an implementation team that will begin meeting regularly and a prayer team who will be praying for this process and these ministries.
  1. Canon Rosado updated on conversations related to the location of The Commons. Current configuration is an open layout which is not conducive to work, the space is strained by space limitations and is a lease arrangement. Goals: Cost-effective, centrally located, parking availability, and accessibility.
  1. ADJOURNMENT, CLOSING PRAYER, & BLESSING

The meeting was adjourned at 3:24 PM by Bishop Mello and closed with prayer and a blessing by Bishop Laura Ahrens.

Faithfully submitted,

The Rev. Stacey Kohl
Secretary of the Diocese and Convention