Draft of Province VIII August 2025 Meeting Minutes

Steve Welch
Nov 14
2 min read

Province VIII Quarterly Meeting – August 28, 2025

Prayer

Evita/Jeff

Ancestral Land Acknowledgement

Kawika

Introductions/Check in: “Where Did You Find New Life This Summer?”

R. Miller Adams (Chancellor, Olympia), Louise Aloy (DioHawaii, ECW), Christine Budzowski (ECW & Tech Support), Timothy Gee (Exec Council Prov8 Rep), David “Kawika” Jackson (Prov8 Sec), Evita Krislock (Prov8 Pres), David “Kawika” Jackson (Prov8 Sec), Sherina James (Prov8 Co-Ord Black African Ministries [BAM]), Jeff Martinhauk (Prov8 Treas), Eric Metoyer (Canon for Social Justice, Cal), Charlette Preslar (Dio SD), Madeleine Samson (Prov8 ECW Pres.) Tammy Smecker-Hane (UTO Board)

Minutes from February and May

Approved as submitted.

Treasurer’s Report

Jeff said our financial position continues to be strong, with better-than-expected diocesan contributions. We are at this time in the positive by $25K. The grant cycle needs to be set up, as we are starting to receive grant requests.

President’s Report

Evita urged each of us to make use of our new Communications Director, Steve Welch, to improve our networking.

Executive Council

Tim shared his report. Had meeting at the end of June and they have a new CFO, Chris Lacovara, who has a good grasp of the overall financial shape. A member of EC, Stanford Baker, sadly passed away the night before the meeting – new initiative to promote the ministry of deacons has now been named in his honor. Approved the 2025 UTO grants, totally over $1M. Also 107 scholarships totaling $111K. Also, highlighted the need for a Grants Committee to oversee and guide a standardized process for awarding grants. Also, they are close to a new contract for church archiving.

Province Ministry Updates (See Reports and Share Questions):

Province VIII EYE Gathering: Kawika and Charlette shared that there is the Province VIII EYE Gathering in the works (to replace the canceled EYE that would have happened in Summer 2026) to be held on the island of ) Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. There are questions of finance, venue, and maximum allotment of students and chaperones.

UTO: Tammy reported on grants given out.

ECW: Madeleine Samson shared an upcoming retreat around Indigenous Women’s values and issues. Christine B. said that at Provincial ECW they are highlighting a different diocese each time, to learn from each other, as well as an occasional provincial newsletter.

Other Items?

Upcoming events: Biodiversity event on 5 September: Reported by Evita.

The group had the start of conversation regarding the possibility of an in-person gathering of the province leadership in the fall of 2026. There were lots of comments, first and foremost is that there needs to be a purpose and reason to meet —what is the focus? Several comments were made in favor of intentional gathering. This is still on the table.

Closing Prayer

Please Update Your Calendars

Quarterly Province Meetings:

February 19, 2026
May 21, 2026
August 20, 2026
November 19, 2026
February 18, 2027
May 20, 2027

Synod: Date TBD