St. Peter’s Church - January 10, 2005
Fr. George Young opened the meeting at 6:00 p.m. The following were present: Rev. Elizabeth Tappe, Senior Warden Toby Atkinson, Ginger Mock, Jeri Kolke, April Davis, Cheryl Smith, Junior Warden Bert Jenkins, Gary Bong, Bill Dickson, John Dyal; Early McCAll, Vann Simmons, Ben Stephens, Treasurer Jim Carpenter; guests Joe Crim, Don Parker, Bill Hayes, and Tom Basore.
Fr. George gave the Devotional and provided an outline of “How to do Vestry Devotions” (summary attached).
Next Meeting: February 21, 2005 @ 6 p.m. (new Vestry orientation @ 5p.m.)
Minutes of the December 6 Meeting were approved as submitted.
Vestry “Thank Yous”:
- Don Parker - for his dedicated Vestry service and untiring effort in establishing the Founders group and organizing its several commencement activities.
- Cheryl Smith - for her ministries with organizing and shepherding the acolytes, attending to vestments and orderliness in the vesting room.
Financial Report:
Jim Carpenter reviewed the December and year-end financial summary and the 2005 Budget. Fortunately, due in large part to the modifications made in the Fall to our 2004 Budget, we ended the year with a surplus of nearly $13,000 which will be carried forward and “available” for 2005. The more conservative approach of budgeting based on the prior year’s actual revenues was incorporated in compiling the 2005 budget; with the result that the major income and expense categories for ’05 look quite similar to the actuals for ’04. Jim cautioned, however, that the budget ought be thought of as a “work in progress” which will be modified as the year progresses and circumstances require.
After some discussion, the Treasurer’s Report for December 2004 and the Budget for 2005 were unanimously approved. The 2005 Operating Budget ($592,000) is forecast to cover 100% of our expenses and yield a small surplus.
The two additionall items in the Treasuer’s report were: 1) a report on the satisfactory conclusion of the 2003 audit, conducted by the firm of Coursan & Stam. Jim felt that the quality of the dialog with the auditors and the recommendations made in the course of their review were constructive and beneficial. And 2) a recommendation that the Parish Operating Account relationship be moved from Compass Bank to First Coast Community Bank (FCCB).
This recommendation stemmed from an in depth review and analysis of the cost of services we are now using and the needs we anticipate as we become more streamlined (automated) and able to offer more (electronic) options to the Parish family in making payments and having pledges processed. In the course of his review, Jim interviewed representatives of Compass, FCCB and First National - Nassau County. His recommendation is based on functionality, costs savings, and relationship factors. The recommendation to award the appointment to FCCB was accepted without dissent (Ms. Kolke abstaining).
Rector’s Report:
Fr. George reviewed the Parish Vision of Stewardship statement (wherein Clergy and Vestry affirm, in writing, a common expression of parish stewardship); as there were no questions or comments, each Clergy and Vestry member signed.
Leslie Tanner has been appointed Children’s Ministry Director, responsible for Christian education pertaining to 5th grade and younger. Leslie will take up that part of Joanne Roach’s Christian Education responsibility, effective immediately (office hours for the time being are Tuesday 9 to 2 and Wednesday 9 to 12). With two small children of her own, she is well qualified for her new position.
A letter of inquiry has been received by Fr. George from a local group (Housing Assistance Corp of Nassau Co.), regarding a piece of vacant land the Church owns at the corner of Broom & 11th Streets. The Group’s mission is to provide safe and affordable housing for community service personnel and their families; it has an impressive Board of Directors (including parishoner Neil Blalock). The inquiry is preliminary and Fr. George asked Vann Simmons to lead a review of the Parish’s history and records pertaining to this holding. Vestry members are encouraged to drive by and have a look. Ibba suggested that members of the family who gifted the property should be made aware before any serious discussion of its future status commences.
The March 4-5 Diocesan Vestry Conference @ Camp Weed will be an exciting opportunity for Vestry from around the Diocese to network, get to know Bishop Howard, and get fresh perspective on issues important to the Bishop and in other Parishes. We’ll be back by 4pm, well in time for the Oyster Roast on the 5th.
The Pente Group will meet Jan 18th (2 to 4pm) and the 26th (5 to 7pm) to review individual assigments and share ideas regarding those assignments, objectives, and tentative dates for various “deliverables”. While no presentations are expected of individual Vestry members, some sense of how they might like to “engage” his/her particular initiatives would facilitate the discussion.
New Vestry members will have their 2nd orientation session with Fr. George in the hour before the next Vestry meeting (ie @ 5pm on Feb 21st).
The LENTEN theme for this year at St. Peter’s is: Bread for the Journey, a follow-on to both the Parish Mission Statement and the Atlanta conference “Going Forward Together”. Fr. George expects to announce soon the four speakers who will help guide us with our Tuesday evening “soup and sandwich supppers”. The formal kick-off (i.e. commencement) will occur at the 8:45 service on Feb 6th, the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
That same Sunday, as part of its Black History month observances, the parish will host Bishop Wardell Avent of Kingdom Ministries Church as guest preacher at the 11:15 service, followed by luncheon.
And on Feb 20th, we will host a concert @ 5pm of the full choir of the Edward Waters College (some 25 members strong), an event which will surely fill the Church with joyful voices.
Reminders:
Bishop Howard will celebrate and preach at the 11:15 service on Jan 23, as well as conduct Bible study during the Education hour. Bishop Howard is also hosting a Diocesan Convocation (in lieu of the Annual Convention) Jan 27-29 at the Marriott Hotel in Jacksonville. A number of prominent speakers including The Rt Rev Mark Dyer are on the schedule; those interested in attending should contact the Diocesan Office (more information available on the Diocesan website).
The Annual Meeting of the Parish will take place January 30, 2005 at 5 p.m.
The Parish will observe Camp Weed Sunday, January 30th; offerings that day will be dedicated toward the $130,000 pledge St. Peter’s has made to Camp Weed’s capital campaign. This will also be YOUTH SUNDAY - an added reason for all to come to Church that Sunday and give generously!
Other Updates:
St. Peter’s website (Gary Bong & Bill Hayes) - Each Vestry member should visit the parish website at least monthly; feedback can be given to Gary or Bill, both of whom are anxious that more information be included on the website; but this can only be done if the information is provided. Monica Moore continues to serve as editor: webeditor@st.petersparish.org.
St. Peter’s Foundation (Bill Dickson) - At the last meeting (Nov 22), a decision was made to “streamline” the documentation and make it less cumbersome. Clyde Davis is working on that.
Inactives (John Dyal) - A list of the different types of “inactive” members is being developed with help from Jim Carpenter. A calling effort is being organized and will be launched as part of the Every Member Visitation.
Outreach - Gary Bong is heading up a review of the 21 or so different Groups in the Parish engaged in some type of outreach; a summary report will be forthcoming.
Young adults - (Ginger Mock) The Christmas party was very successful and will be follow by a wine tasting on Jan 22. The prospect of the St. Bart’s conference in NYC June 5-7 (Reinventing Church) is stimulating quite a bit of enthusiasm.
Associate Rector’s Report:
Ibba will be attending a family ordination in Mississippi Jan 23rd (the Sunday the Bishop Howard will be with us). Ibba is following developments on the Asian Tsunami disaster and can assist with suggestions as to how Parishoners might direct contributions.
Senior Warden’s Report:
The abandoned house on the corner near the cemetery has now been demolished. Toby plans to attend the Servant Leadership Training workshop in Greensboro, N.C. April 28-30 and can share information with anyone interested.
The two Christian Education classes that began last Sunday and were well-attended, as was Fr. George’s Newcomer’s class. An Alpha Reunion is being scheduled for February.
Junior Warden’s Report:
The dead tree by the kitchen is being removed (Myer Tree Service) and repairs to the roof and steeple cross hit by lightening last fall are beginning. The Rose Window is scheduled to be reinstalled by end of January. No progress to report on the West doors. Repairs to the plumbing in the Youth Building have been made but there is a residual odor resulting from moisture, which is still being worked on.
Joe Crim commented that rodent problems arise from areas not kept clean of leftover food items; and that the Youth and Youth Minister might use more diligence in avoiding such problems in the future.
Fr. George led us in Compline and we adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John C. Train, Clerk
