MINUTES OF THE VESTRY OF ST. PHILIP’S CHUCH IN THE HIGHLANDS
JUNE 18, 2023
NOON
ATTENDANCE: The Rev. Amanda Eiman, Rector; Sarah Bayne, Senior Warden; Will Felder, Junior Warden; Margy Gerber, Clerk; Jamie Copeland; Charlie Dupree; Paul Kantor; Fred Osborn; Marilyn Palefsky; Jennifer Sandlund; Charity Shumway. Not present: Kari Jo Cates
OPENING PRAYER: Margy Gerber
MINUTES: The Minutes of the May meeting were approved without changes.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE: The Holy Spirit is always reinventing us, celebrating us, the Rector said. She then asked how have we experienced the Holy Spirit working with us? Jamie spoke of overcoming his apprehensions on visiting a Pentecostal church in the city where there are large numbers of homeless people. Marilyn talked about the challenges of dealing with the illness and death of her husband and having to take over the business, noting that we are never asked to do something we cannot do. Fred spoke of having difficulty dealing with Annie’s crippling arthritis, asking for our prayers.
RECTOR’S REPORT:
1. The Rector distributed a summary report for the month of June.
2. The Rector asked vestry members to sign the parish’s recommendation for Janine Thwaite’s postulancy for the diaconate; the document was signed.
3. Daniel Bentley will leave for Virginia Theological Seminary soon; on completion of his studies, he will remain in the diocese.
4. Plans are in the works for the celebration of St. Philip’s 250th anniversary, delayed because of Covid
WARDEN’S REPORT:
The Rector, Sarah, and Will meet every Friday as an Executive Committee. Using the Vestry Handbook as a guide, they are considering how to evaluate themselves as a leadership team looking to arrive at a mutually agreed upon set of goals upon which to be evaluated. Fred asked if there had been a discussion of metrics for assessing how well we’ve done. Will replied that we expect to generate an appropriate framework as we plan for the vestry retreat. Sarah added that the diocese would like to see that we have started the process. There was general agreement that the “radically inclusive” statement in the mission was very important, but also that at the retreat we need to talk about how to promote understanding of the statement more broadly, as well as talking about how we can best live up to it.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
1. Will: We are ahead of last year’s donation pace, but unfortunately our expenses have outpaced our income by $110,000. The parish has had approximately $22,000 of unexpected maintenance expenses already, depleting our contingency fund. In addition, nursery school expenses are $10,000 in excess of money received YTD, plus we also approved an increase in the music program budget. Consequently, there are cash flow issues that necessitate a special vestry session in August [an ad hoc Zoom meeting was held on July 31].
2. Paul (Buildings & Grounds): Paul explained the urgent need to remove trees/stumps from the property; there followed a discussion of possible options as to who should be contracted to do the work.
3. Will offered a motion to take down the trees, deferring stump removal; the motion passed.
4. The vestry voted to repair as many windows as could be covered by a $4,000 grant from the diocese.
5. Charlie: We need to have approved policies in place with regard to the endowment; a draft Endowment Charter will be sent to vestry members to be voted on at the August meeting.
6. Marilyn (Outreach): Chuck Linsmeier is now chair of the committee. There followed a brief discussion of a request for additional funds for outreach, specifically for Rural and Migrant Ministry. There was general agreement that an additional donation is not possible at this time. Individual parishioners currently support scholarships. Charlie offered to pay for a scholarship ($1,000).
7. Will: $1,600 was approved for the concert series. Chris Fasulo has begun work on planning for the series.
8. Sarah: Nursery School: Allison Pataki is taking over as chair. Fred, on behalf of the vestry, thanked Sarah for her years of working with the Nursery School.
Bids have been received for a fencing project. The Nursery School will break even, in
part because of fundraising efforts, but also as a result of additional gifts from non-parents (grandparents, e.g.).
9. Margy: History & Archives: David Gordon and Charity will be working on updating the history of the parish.
CLOSING PRAYER: Paul offered the closing prayer.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 2:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted.
Margaret Leahey Gerber, Clerk