St. Peter’s Church - April 11, 2005
Fr. George Young opened the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Present: Toby Atkinson, April Davis, Cheryl Smith, Ginger Mock, Jeri Kolke, Bill Dickson, Bert Jenkins, Gary Bong, John Dyal, Early McCall, Vann Simmons, Ben Stephens, and guest Tom Basore. Absent: The Rev. Elizabeth Tappe.
Ben Stephens shared some spiritual reflections.
NEXT MEETING: May 9, 2005 @ 6 pm DEVOTIONAL: Bert Jenkins
Financial Report & Discussion: (Treasurer Jim Carpenter participating)
The first hour or so of our meeting was spent (without visitors) discussing the new candidate being considered for the position of Assistant Rector; and the financial implications of the transition from Ibba’s tenure as Associate Rector and the appointment of her successor. (NOTE: because of Ibba’s seniority and experience, she has enjoyed the title “Associate Rector” whereas the more traditional term is that of “assistant rector”). The person being considered is in her last year at General Seminary in NY; is energetic and articulate; and in the view of those who have met her, highly capable. She has been offered the position; is in consultation with her Bishop; and should be announcing her decision in the next several days.
Ibba’s last Sunday at St. Peter’s will be July 24. The new Assistant Rector is scheduled to be with us the following Sunday, July 31. Taking into account accrued benefits due the Priest departing and the transition expenses of the new Priest arriving, there is a pro forma NET requirement NOT included in the 2005 Budget of $23,569. After a frank and open discussion of the components of this transition, a motion was made (by the Junior Warden), duly seconded, and unanimously approved to modify the 2005 Budget to cover this incremental expense.
Jim Carpenter then reviewed the March and Year-to-Date Financial Report. Revenues are ahead of both last year and budget (this due in part to Easter’s falling in March this year and in April last ); and total expenses are lower by a somewhat similar amount (this due to a sizeable Diocesan contribution made by this time last year and not to appear in the ’05 numbers until April/May). On balance, the report is favorable.
Jim provided additional information on 1) the transition from Compass to First Coast Community Bank (together with some of the bookkeepinging and reporting changes he has initiated); and 2) preliminary results of our Every Member Visitation/pledge campaign, summarized as follows:
The switch to FCCB and upgrading of processing procedures (ie becoming more automated and electronic) will make the finance office far more efficient. In addition, parishioners will soon have the option (by signing an authorization form) to have their checking accounts automatically charged for pledge remittances. And, in the process of rationalizing the different accounts through which funds are managed, approximately $25,000 will be made available to the Operating Account (funds previously “frozen” in unnecessary “restricted” accounts).
The early results from the EMV/pledge campaign suggest we may show a modest rise (6 to 8%) in our pledge/plate offerings for the year. To date, we’ve received pledges of over $415,000 but haven’t as yet sent the letters to remind those (100 or so households) who did not respond to the appeal. Our total pledges last year were c. $426,000. The average pledge so far this year is higher by about 15% than last. Following the Treasurer’s Report & Discussion, the Regular Meeting resumed, with unanimous approval of the March 14th Meeting Minutes.
Vestry “Thank You’s”:
- Jim Carpenter - for his dedicated and professional service to the Parish’s financial affairs and admistration of the Finance Office.
- Leslie Tanner - for the very successful Easter Egg Hunt and young peoples’ Easter celebrations.
- John Cotner - for his extraordinary commitment and contribution to the work of the Caribbean Mission trip and the Cathedral Church that effort helped restore and preserve.
Rector’s Report:
Sesquicentennial - Fr. George reminded all once again that 2008, our 150 year anniversary, is fast approaching and urged all to develop ideas as to how we might organize in preparation.
With the unanimous support of the Vestry, St. Peter’s signed on as co-sponsor of the “0.7% Resolution” submitted by the Rector and Vestry of St. George’s to the Diocesan Convention, to be held next month. This Resolution deals with the undertaking and commitment of the Diocese to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for less-developed parts of the world.
The rescheduled Stategic Planning session is confirmed as commencing the evening of June 24th and concluding in the afternoon of the 25th. The facilitator will be Richard Grim (Ed Harrison’s brother-in-law), professional organizational consultant who successfully led a similar effort for St. George’s a few months back. Vestry, staff, and a handful of Parish leaders will be invited to participate.
Vestry meeting scheduled for July 11th is canceled.
Vestry Initiatives:
- Planned Giving; the St. Peter’s Foundation: Bill Dickson - Little new to report. Attorney Clyde Davis continues working with the By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. We still hope for completion/submission of documents sometime this summer.
- Adult Education: April Davis - Committee being formed to explore what different programs Parishioners might like to have offered. Suggestions are encouraged.
- Young Adults: Ginger Mock - The Parish picnic will be held May 29th at St. Peter’s; a luncheon honoring graduating seniors will be held May 15; there is growing excitement over the trip to St. Bart’s and New York in early June.
- Property: Vann Simmons reported on his examination of the 5.92 acre land parcel the Parish owns behind Atlantic Elementary School. While no formal appraisal has been conducted, a reasonable estimate of the market value in its current, undeveloped state is $500,000+. Vann mentioned Jay Mock as a potential partner in helping develop alternative options the Parish may wish to consider. Fr. George expressed appreciation for Vann’s work and suggested that the matter be tabled until he had discussed the matter further with individual members of the parish community.
- Reaching out to the Community Unchurched: Cheryl Smith - effort is being organized.
- Community Outreach: Gary Bong - the Parish’s new membership in the Chamber of Commerce is being enthusiasticly received; they, as well as the History Museum, show eagerness in helping distribute our brochures, for which we are grateful to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
- Year-Round Stewardship: Ben Stephens - Bert Jenkins has agreed to help form a committee; Ben is enthusiastic about the interest being shown.
- Lapsed and Inactive Members: John Dyal - With list in hand, a strategy to begin making contact and exploring the problem and possibilities is being developed.
- Music Program Enhancement: Early McCall - a group is being formed to give wider range of suggestions as to future offerings/alternatives. Ideas are encouraged.
Senior Warden’s Report:
Toby thought it a good idea to include in last month’s Vestry Highlights the invitation for any interested parishioner to attend Vestry Meetings. We hope more folks will give it a try.
Bishop Howard will host his 2nd laity get-together on Saturday May 7 (1 to 4pm). Toby attended the last one and felt it extremely worth the effort. Note that clergy are not invited - this is purely an opportunity for lay people to meet Bishop Howard; ask questions, voice concerns, probe issues.
Junior Warden’s Report:
Bert reported that the new railings on the Church porch are now properly installed and seem to be helpful; also, a new (professional-grade) dishwasher made possible by a bequest from Edna Daugherty’s estate is in place though not fully operational.
Bert is working on estimates for a number of projects: 1) coating for the Church exterior (last done 15 years ago, this is past due and will be costly); 2) reworking the upper level (clerestory) windows, much as the Rose window was last year (again, this hasn’t been done in a great many years and further deferral involves risk); 3) repairs to/replacement of the west doors to the Church; 4) the addition of a playground between the youth and administrative buildings, originally planned for last year.
These projects alone could easily amount to more than $150,000 and properly belong in any discussion of the longer term, capital requirements the Parish needs to be planning for.
In closing, John Dyal raised some of the issues that befell him as Vestry Person of the Day recently, when the ESP was delayed and the information contained was inconsistent with other sources people were relying on as to who had what duties that Sunday. While the ultimate solution may be the incorporation of this information on the website (via a “calendar” of who is scheduled for what when), in the meantime, we are all urged to be diligent in double checking service assignments and making sure all bases are covered. With a final reminder that all Vestry members should regularly visit the website and provide feedback as to how it might be made better, Fr. George gave us a parting Easter blessing and we adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
John C. Train, Clerk
