APPROVED VESTRY MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001

UGA EPISCOPAL CENTER

VESTRY PRESENT: Father Courtney, Chris Saye, Cindy McAlister, Lisa Yarn, Susan Galis Phillip Cofer, Jan Wheeler, Duncan Krause, Clay Gilbert, Peg Wood, Joey Green-Student Representative, Carol Winthrop and Bob Wood.

NON-VESTRY PRESENT: The Reverend Sean Ferrell and Dee Forester.

WELCOME

Father Courtney introduced Joey Green the student representative sitting in on the Vestry for Leigh Preston. He announced that Nancy McDuff (due to car trouble), Paul Anderson (due to unexpected surgery for his infant son this afternoon), Walter Jarrett and John Waters would not be attending this evening's Vestry meeting. Father Courtney led the Vestry in the singing of The Servant Song.

DEVOTION

Cindy McAlister began her devotion by telling the Vestry that while there are many books about war there are few books about peace for children. She read the story “The Treehouse” by Lois Lowery from the book The Big Book of Peace. The story illustrated the thought processes of two young girls. Each girl had a treehouse but refused to let each other or anyone else inside. The girls decided to build a bridge between the two treehouses and thus learned the meaning of friendship and sharing.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Clay Gilbert reported for the Finance Committee that YTD there is an $11,768.00 net to the good despite the shortfall in pledges. The Finance Committee is looking closely at all Line Items and making and accepting suggestions of how to cut. Clay reported that the pledges are ahead of the 5 year average for the month of September but still behind 3 percentage points for the year.

Bob Wood reported that there is progress on the purchase of Choir and Acolyte robes. The cost for the entire project is $ 9,400.00. The Memorial Guild and the Altar Guild will contribute. The robes will not be ordered until a report from Debra Lassiter is received.

Johnny Terrell is researching to see if it would be cost effective to refinance the consolidated loan used to purchase the Outreach Building and complete payment for the Music Building and the building rented to the Athens Association of Realtors.

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP)

Duncan Krause reported that the SOP has been retitled “Guidelines for Commissions and Committees at Emmanuel Episcopal Church”. It is a framework under which the commissions and committees will operate. Duncan stated that this is a work in progress and as the guidelines are applied changes can easily be made. Phillip Cofer moved to adopt the Guidelines as a work in progress. The vote was unanimous in favor of adoption.

Bob Wood asked the Vestry to take time to look over the Bylaws of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, check their accuracy, and compare with the Guidelines for consistency.

VESTRY NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

Lisa Yarn reported that 22 names have been submitted to the committee for consideration and that all have not yet been contacted to determine their interest. The Vestry charged the Committee with the task of determining the Slate to be voted on at the Annual Parish meeting in December.

STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

Jan Wheeler noted that today she mailed letters to the Vestry with suggestions of what to say to Parishioners they will call regarding pledging. The deadline for returning pledges is October 28th. Thus far 113 pledges have been received totaling $ 243,631.00. There is a pledge (gauge-thermometer) in the back of the church.

BUDGET FOR 2002-FIRST DRAFT

This draft budget is not an action item. The staff and commission chairs have put together their budget requests without any cutting thus far. The Finance Committee will take the information from the Stewardship Campaign and look at the requests and determine what can be funded and what must be cut. The Pledge income is an unknown at this point. Bob Wood noted that there are some new lines added to the budget. They are marked in the budget draft. The Vestry is asked to study the budget and offer comments and suggestions to the Finance Committee before the November Vestry meeting.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The following reports were accepted and are in the Vestry minute book in the office: Thrift House, Chaplain’s Report, Parish Life Report and Architectural/Gifts/ Memorials Committee Report. There were no comments.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chris Saye is meeting with the Athens Clarke Co. Planning Review Committee and hopes for a permit. He has met with Community Connection.

Bob Wood stated that there is a copy in the agenda packet and in the church office of the revised Organization Chart showing staff, committees etc.

Bob Wood reported that at a meeting of the Endowment Fund Trustees it was noted that the terms of Bob Wood and Jim Bowers end this year. The Executive Committee will receive suggestions from the Vestry for replacements. He announced that the Endowment Fund performance is up over 2% net over the last three years due to a good, conservative investment policy.

Father Courtney announced that the Vestry Retreat will be January 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2002 at Mikell Conference Center with the Rev. Dick Ullman leading the retreat.

Father Courtney thanked everyone for their e-mail regarding flags in the Church. The flags are now in place in the sanctuary.

Father Courtney [[[has been]]] invited to participate in “Happening” the Diocesan program for Senior High Youth that will be held November 25th ,26th,27th , and 28th 2001.

Father Courtney told the story of the newlyweds who wanted to pledge but did not know how to go about it. Please, Vestry, direct anyone expressing an interest in any area of the Church to the person who can help them.

Father Courtney will be on a “Spiritual” woodworking retreat in Ohio this week-end.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Jan Wheeler thanked everyone who spoke in church regarding Stewardship.

Lisa Yarn announced that her husband is playing with his Irish Band tonight at Borders and invited the Vestry to attend.

Sean Ferrell thanked everyone for joining him at the Episcopal Center for Eucharist, dinner and the Vestry meeting.

DEVOTION FOR NOVEMBER

Phillip Cofer

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Dee Forester

Secretary to the Vestry