MINUTES - October VESTRY MEETING
St. Peter’s Church - October 15, 2007
Fr George Young opened the meeting at 6pm. Present: The Rev. Kimberly Still, Neil Blalock, Ed Grissom, Trey Warren, Mary Lynn Torchia, Norma Norris, Ben Stephens, Cheryl Smith, Early McCall, Neil Frink. Absent: Francis Flood, Cathy Kaltenbach, and David Lott. Also present: all four newly selected members (seated Jan, ‘08): Dolores Lord, Lena Watson, Jon Lasserre, Asa Gillette.
NEXT MEETING: Nov 5, 2007 @ 6 pm
Legacy Exercise:
In lieu of a devotional, Fr George led a discussion (using an outline borrowed from CREDO), about factors and influences (family, cultural) that contribute to our predispositions and attitudes toward money; giving; God’s grace; Jesus’ teachings; and how all of that might relate to our feelings about our own “legacy”: how we might to develop in ways different from our “past” and toward something that reflects God’s love; Jesus’s views; models we see and would like to emulate; legacies that might bring joy and peace.
A book entitled “Financial Peace” was recommended for further reading.
Vestry “Thank You’s”:
1) Tom Washburn, for his passion and leadership in the WFA sessions on the Millennium Development Goals. Attendance at these sessions as been excellent and the feedback, universally positive!
2) Jerrie Richardson, for her unwaivering dedication in coordinating photo sessions for the new Parish pictorial - no known souls missed!
3) Toby Atkinson, for facilitating, with skill and experience and sensitivity, the recent Staff Retreat - Fr Geo Young: “what a resource!!”
4) Rich Smith, for his good works generally but particularly on the recent Amelia Jazz Festival - “one of the people that makes the Rector look good”.
5) The Child Care Group - who make it possible for so many to participate and be a part of so much! “Well done and great thanks!”
Minutes of the September 10 Meeting were approved without exception.
Rector’s Report:
0 Music Program: There is a candidate with whom George has begun discussions who might be available as early as 2nd quarter of next year. Prospects ar exciting but still preliminary. Given the difficulty housing represents, that this person is “local” is a big plus.
0 Diocesan Pledge: As a gesture of sensitivity to those (few) parishioners who still have reservations about actions of the 2003 General Convention, 5% of the outreach portion of St. Peter’s ‘07 Diocesan Pledge will be allocated for outreach “other than” for the National Church.
0 St. Peter’s Foundation will hold its first Trustees meeting on Oct 29.
0 Our Sesquicentennial (year of) celebration will kick off Jan 6 with Bishop Howard as guest at two services and breakfast.
0 Our Thanksgiving Service this year will be moved to the evening before, Wednesday, Nov 21; Fr. McCarty will celebrate.
0 Cathy Kaltenbach and her husband Marshall have begun regular worship in their new home community of Hilliard. Cathy has asked to be relieved of her one-year remaining term on the Vestry; a motion to approve Bob White to complete Cathy’s term was made and approved without exception.
A number of important dates should now be in everyone’s calendar: December 9, Kimberly Still’s ordination, St. John’s Cathedral, 5pm; Jan 11 & 12, 2008, Vestry Retreat, Camp Weed.
Assistant Rector’s Report:
0 Kimberly reviewed the different Parish groups she is working with and getting to know, each of which leads her to feel quite optimistic about the prospects for growth and continued vitality in the life of the Parish. Coming up: 10/25 - ECW Retreat; 10/27 - Eucharistic minister training.
Senior Warden: No report
Junior Warden: Ed reviewed the large number of projects currently underway and complimented the participation of various parishioners in coordinating and assisting. It appears that most of these projects are under budget with the exception of the Youth building, where the scope of work has had to be broadened to include deferred/unanticipated items.
Repairs to the Church building from the August storms is nearing completion; all but about $500 will be covered by insurance. Work on the great West doors will begin soon and take several weeks to complete. The cemetery repairs & Hope Garden are nearly completed and well worth a visit.
Vestry Initiatives:
Neil Frink (Diversity) reported a very successful launch of the Study Circles on Race Relations. Initial sessions have garnered enthusiastic participation. There are 3 Circles of about 10 people each.
Mary Lynn Torchia (Millennium Development Goals): Under the able guidance of Tom Washburn, further exploration of the MDGs at our WFA sessions, under the topic What One Person can Do: Healing a Broken World have been enthusiastically attended.
Ben Stephens (Year round Stewardship): There will be an Intergenerational Event on Nov 7, to launch the new concept of “legacy giving.” This will include dinner, entertainment and guest speaker - no one will want to miss this!
There being no Other Business, Fr George gave a Closing Prayer; the meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
John C. Train, Clerk
