MINUTES OF THE VESTRY MEETING OF
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was held
Absent: Peggy Donnan, Beverly Euculano
The meeting opened with a prayer by Tracy Witmer.
The minutes of the
The treasurer’s report for December 2009 was approved as presented.
The checkbook balance on
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance and Investments
A brief 2009 review of finances showed that pledges were behind due to parishioners leaving, death, or economic downturn. Mail-in non-pledges were way behind -- reason is not known but
Property
Committee did not meet this month. Many volunteers helped to clean up the upstairs and basement on Clean-up Day, January 9.
Stewardship
Committee will meet the end of January.
Outreach Ministry
Committee has not met but will focus on the needs of the coming year.
Inreach and Hospitality
Joanne Berntheizel and Jan Wood will try to assign a coordinator for each event. Members are asked to please help if contacted.
Nomination
No report needed.
Renovation
All ceiling lights, emergency lights, exit lights, door bells with three different tones are installed, sound system is up, doors are in place. Ceiling tiles will be installed Tuesday, then painting begins. New chairs and tables will arrive January 18. After the Sunday service on January 24 all furnishings in the parish hall will be removed except the Food Bank cabinets so the floor can be installed. The Food Bank will be closed the last week in January. All work is scheduled to be finished by the end of January. The locks throughout the buildings will be re-keyed in February; the master keys will open all but the rector’s office and the administrative office. The chimneys are being taken down.
Our
Grants
No report
Marketing and Publicity
No report
Capital Campaign
Money received for the Capital Campaign Fund will be updated weekly in the Sunday bulletin.
OLD BUSINESS
- Vestry members are reminded to check their assignments to be available to talk to members at the service by the baptismal font and at the service in the Groome Room. In March the assignments will be reduced from weekly to the first Sunday of the month.
- A financial audit will be conducted in February 2010.
- Vestry Retreat will be Friday, January 29 at St. Johns Herr Estate Chapel from to and Saturday, January 30 from to .
- Father Patrick presented his sabbatical proposal for a vote of approval. His letter of agreement with St. Paul Episcopal Church provides for a sabbatical of 90 days (three months) after each period of seven years of ministry. It is his wish to take a one-month period of time for each of three years in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Spreading the sabbatical out over three years serves both his purpose and the parish’s cost to be spread over three years instead of all in one year. The dates in 2010 will be August 2 through August 31. Vestry approved the proposal unanimously by voice vote. The signed copy of the proposal must be sent to the bishop for final approval.
Father Patrick has prepared a document of three resolutions that will be sent to the 2010 Resolutions Committee in February 2010. It was developed by Father Patrick, David Morath and Dorothy Kapnic. It is being sent to all rectors and senior wardens in the hope they will be willing to co-sponsor the proposed resolutions. Preliminary discussion briefly describes:
Resolution #1 begins to reduce the percentage of fair share from the current 18% to 10% over four years beginning in the fiscal year 2012.
Resolution #2 suggests a change to the Canons of the Diocese regarding the president of the Standing Committee so that it does not require that the president be a priest.
Resolution #3 proposes that the calculation of delegates to the Diocesan Convention be calculated by the actual fair share paid by the parish in the previous fiscal year and not on membership.
These resolutions will be discussed at the Vestry Retreat.
RECTOR’S REPORT
- Christmas services attendance was excellent. Many guests received follow-up by Lee Machan and Father Patrick. We must continue to invite visitors.
- The year ended well. We had a successful Capital Campaign, the parish hall will look great and be warm. We are not in debt.
- The concern with the empty oil tank is still being researched. It needs to be taken out or the preferred solution is fill it with appropriate material. A recent proposal by Tridan is to fill it with Petrofoam at the cost of $900. This is a liability issue if it would collapse so action needs to be taken. A vote will be taken at the Vestry Retreat on receipt of three proposals for the job.
Meeting adjourned at following prayer by Father Patrick.
Respectfully submitted,
Evelyn Martin