MINUTES - OCTOBER VESTRY MEETING
St. Peter’s Church - October 16, 2006
Senior Warden Bill Dickson opened the meeting. Present: The Rev. Lisa Flores, Toby Atkinson, Ginger Mock, Lynn Grant, Neil Blalock, Neil Frink, Early McCall. Absent: Fr George Young, Cathy Kaltenbach, Francis Flood, Ben Stephens, Cheryl Smith, Francis Flood, John Dyal. Visitors (incoming Vestry Persons): Mary Lynn Torchia, Norma Norris, Ed Grissom.
Following the “centering” exercise, Lynn Grant shared spriritual reflections.
NEXT MEETING: November 13, 2006 @ 6 pm; Devotional: Toby Atkinson
Vestry “Thank You’s”:
1) All who helped schedule and make so successful the Island Book Festival and the Jazz Festivial.
2) Rich Smith and his team, for planning/organizing the farewell party for Pat Burns.
3) Pat Burns for her ten years of dedicated service to the Parish.
4) Caroline Morrison and Margaret Tassey for agreeing to step into Pat’s position.
5) John Cotner for assisting with new signage approvals and with new cemetery designs.
Minutes from the meeting of the September 11 Meeting were approved without exception.
Assistant Rector’s Report:
St. Peter’s Cares program had a great kickoff with all shepherds present. Shepherds have begun making telephone calls - responses so far are been informative and positive, though there is not universal understanding what the prgram is all about. The suggestion was made that any parishioner knowing of a person in need contact that person’s shepherd or his/her own shepherd.
The Katrina Relief trip will depart Oct 25 (six folk have volunteered so far). While there, Lisa will celebrate and preach in her home parish and present the monetary gift collected by/from the people of St. Peter’s. A Diocesan task force will meet October 20 to help plan other aspects of the trip.
On October 23 there will be a 6 pm liturgy and prayer/healing service for Micah’s Place.
Rector’s and Senior Warden’s Report:
The Charitable Foundation By-Laws were given to the Vestry. Clyde Davis, Margaret Tassey, Betty Dickson, Bill Dickson, and Toby Atkinson have asisted with the development of this document. Neil Blalock recommended changing the last sentence of Article VI, Section 2 to allow “reselection for addional terms after a hiatus of one year” (or similar such wording from Vestry By-Laws). A motion was made and approved to accept the By-Laws (incorporating this change).
The schedule for the 2007 Vestry Meetings was presented. The remaining 2006 meetings will be Nov 13 and Dec 4. The Dec meeting will be brief with an Advent party following at the home of Betty and Bill Dickson.
Jim Carpenter is working on the 2007 Budget and has requested a special meeting in December with the Vestry to discuss. The date (yet to be determined) will be set soon as the December calendar fills quickly.
We will soon have a new (Atlantic Ave) hopefully by the beginning of Advent. John Cotner has worked with the Historic District Council to procure necessary approvals. St. Peter’s practice of keeping that group informed of all changes in both our historical and non-historical activities helps in this regard.
The Pente Group is in the process of developing new (’07)Vestry Initiatives, initial copies to be distributed at the November meeting. Each Vestry member will then select three areas of interest with specific assignments made in December.
Rush Smith (national Church’s Foundation Office) has met with Fr George and offered to coach and mentor the Foundation’s Board during its inititiation and formation process.
The offer being developed on the Broom St property is being working on. The possible addition of adjacent property is causing some delay.
John Dyal has resigned from the Vestry due to an increase in the demands of his businesss. A motion was made and unanimously approved to ask Trey Warren to serve the remaining 14 months of that term.
The Brotherhood of St Andrew is sponsoring a project to sell notecards with a picture of the historic St. Peter’s red-roofed building on the front.
Junior Warden’s Report:
Fr George and Neil Blalock represented the Parish in Tallahassee during the State historic grant evaluation process. There were a record number of applicants and while St Peter’s was not among those selected, there are still a couple of possibilities being pursued. There is little disagreement as to the value of historic buildings such as ours and the expense of ongoing maintenance required.
The base for Angel of Hope is in place in the new part of the cemetery (designed by John Cotner). The statue should arrive in early November followed by a Dec 3rd dedication service. Contributions from Bereaved Parents ($17,000) the Francis Harrison Memorial Fund ($1,500) have made this project possible. The Church is contributing toward walkways and landscaping. A committeee will be appointed to develop a master plan.
The old part of the cemetery needs restoration work on some of the monuments and headstones to reduce the possibility of injury (children visit on Sunday mornings). A Cemetery Committee with guidance from the Junior Warden ought be established.
With guidance and input from Jim Carpenter, the cost of these repairs is currently being explored; the Vestry may be requested to include funds its budget deliberations.
There remain some issues regarding the Parish Hall kitchen, ie a sanitizing devise, the supply of hot water, a new oven, and plumbing and wiring. A committee is needed to consider these issues and their costs/priority.
Vestry Initiatives:
1. Parish diversity/inclusiveness (Cheryl Smith/Neil Frink): “Gospel music explosion” will be the Oct 29, 3:00. Two FB churches (Elm Street/God’s Deliverance and Church of God) and possibly one other will participate.
4. Enhancing Music Program…(Early McCall): While resources to advance significantly beyond present offerings are limited, a job description/selection criteria of the Music Director is being developed; as well as how the noise level in the Parish hall might be reduced. The $18,000 approximate cost of the latter may be included as part of the “capital campaign wish list.”
7. Spiritual formation…(Toby Atkinson/John Dyal): brochure describing model for formation is being reworked to make it more “user friendly”.
8. Pastoral Care… (Cathy Kaltenbach/Toby Atkinson): Toby echoed Rev Lisa’s comments on the exciting beginning achieved by the Pastoral Care Team.
Other Business:
Nov 12 is Celebration Sunday and Fr George will deliver his “I have a dream” sermon. Stewardship packets are being prepared. As a reminder, this part of the Stewardship effort will deal only with the “pledge” portion as the “time and talent” piece was covered at the time of the Regifting Dinner back in late August.
The Bus Committee has concluded that it is too costly to repair the bus. Other options are being considered (eg, leasing).
Conclusion:
Rev Lisa led closing prayers andthe meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
With great thanks to Toby Atkinson who nobly assembled these Minutes in the absence of the undersigned…
Respectfully submitted,
John C. Train, Clerk
