MINUTES - FEBRUARY VESTRY MEETING
St. Peter’s Church - February 12, 2007
Fr George Young opened the meeting at 6 pm. Present: The Rev. Lisa Flores, Neil Blalock, Ed Grissom, Ben Stephens, Cheryl Smith, Francis Flood, Early McCall, Trey Warren, Cathy Kaltenbach, Neil Frink, Mary Lynn Torchia, Norma Norris, Ed Grissom, and David Lott.
NEXT MEETING: March 12, 2007 @ 6 pm; Devotional: Ed Grissom
Vestry “Thank You’s”:
1) Dan Roach and all who participated in and contributed to making the Oyster Roast and Silent Auction the most successgful ever!!
2) Emmitt Coakley, and facilitators Neil Frink and Early McCall - for their contribution to and participation in the adult Christian formation hour (Feb 11) observances of Black history month.
3) Thomas Morrison (for sharing) and the Youth who participated in the wonderful music and liturgy of Youth Sunday (Feb 4).
4) Aaron Morgan and the Randy Bell family for helping organize the Episcopals on the Go hocky game outing.
5) Karen Miller and her team members for their exceptionally fine culinary contributions to our Wednesday4ALL parish dinners.
Minutes of the January 8 Meeting were approved without exception
Treasurer’s Report: None
Rector’s Report:
1) Capital Campaign - the upcoming of the “feasibility study” has brought excitement and growing sense of priority to both Vestry and staff. George Casey of the consulting firm who will guide the Parish through this undertaking was with us for our annual meeting and will begin his 3-week “evaluation” on Feb 19.
George will make his report to the Vestry at its March 12 meeting, after which, Pete Rauchenstein, principal in the same firm that advised us on/during our last Campaign, will take over as lead advisor in the launch and conduct of the current Campaign. It is anticipated that the 10 to 12 weeks of actual sharing what the Campaign is all about, its goals and objectives, its rationale and requirements, will be an intense but exhilarating opportunity for all to examine and celebrate not only what we at St Peter’s are doing (right), but how we can do more of it, and better. The Campaign is expected to conclude in mid-May.
2) Reminders:
Carribean Mission Trip - March 15-24, about 15 of St. Peter’s finest will be participating.
Fr George’s application for a 2-year CREDO faculty position, if approved, will mean his being away for two, 8-day conferences (Spring and Fall - ‘08 & ‘09).
Millennium Goals - Don Parker would like to make a presentation to the Vestry on ways St. Peter’s might work with the Fernandina Beach Rotary to leverage the fund- raising efforts of each in this area.
The Rev John Rogers (together with wife Judy) is joining the St Peter’s community and has been licensed to assist with clerical duties. He thus joins Patricia Sheppard as an assisting priest and as a lead facilitator of our Wednesday evening Lenten series, “What Does it Mean to be A Reasonable, Holy, Living Sacrifice?”
Assistant Rector’s Report:
Lisa’s energy and enthusiasm are being increasingly recognised by requests that she take leadership roles in various programs and initiatives. She will be a presenter and session leader on the Millennium Development Goals at the Wardens and Vestry Conference at Camp Weed (March 2-3); she will be keynote speaker at a new program for Middle and High Schoolers called “Be the Church”; she will be guest preacher at Bethany Church - Hilliard later in the Spring; and she’s been asked to be prominently involved with Camp St Elizabeth July 31-Aug 4, a camp for kids whose parents are incarcerated.
Lisa reminded the Vestry that it had not taken the steps necessary to designate a portion of her and Fr George’s salary as “housing allowance” (and thus excludable from taxable income). Accordingly, the following resolutions were duly adopted by the Vestry of St. Peter’s Church at their regularly scheduled meeting on Feb 12, 2007, a quorum being present:
Whereas section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code specifies that the amount of ministers’ compensation that is designated in advance by their employing church as a housing allowance is not taxable in computing federal income taxes to the extent that it is used to pay for actual expenses incurred in owning or renting a home or apartment, and in the case of ministers who own their home, does not exceed the fair rental value of the home; and
Whereas Rev. George D. Young, III is compensated by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida, exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas St. Peter’s does not provide a parsonage for him; therefore, it is
Resolved, that of the total compensation paid to Rev. George D. Young, III for calendar year 2007, $30,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code.
And, whereas Rev. Lisa C. Flores is compensated by St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida, exclusively for services as a minister; and
Whereas St. Peter’s does not a provide a parsonage for her; therefore, it is
Resolved, that of the total compensation paid to Rev. Lisa C. Flores for calendar year 2007, $20,000 is hereby designated as a housing allowance pursuant to section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Senior Warden’s Report :
Neil is working with Victor Worth to develop a scope/cost plan for repairs to the cemetery and various headstones.
Junior Warden’s Report:
Ed is forming two committees comprising about ten people total, each to assist in developing needs and cost assessments in the buildings and grounds area, and in the church and parish hall interior. There is much that needs doing and this work will figure prominently in the Capital Campaign feasibility work.
Vestry Initiatives:
Each Vestry person is gearing up to energize and give direction to his/her initiative. Other than Ben Stephens’ coordinating the visit/presentations of Terry Parsons, there is nothing specific yet to report.
Conclusion:
Fr George led us in closing prayer and we adjourned at 8:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
John C. Train, Clerk
