APPROVED VESTRY MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 2004

REALTY BUILDING

VESTRY PRESENT: Father Peter Courtney, Joe Napoli, David Kidd, Allison Clements, Lee Albright, Laura Cofer, Naomi Norman, Debra Harden, Jay Shinn, David Gossett, Brian Tison, Terri Tillman, Butch Bush, Lee Gaby and Larry McLeod. David Woodruff was absent.

OTHERS PRESENT: Mother Mandy Brady, Kat Ballard, Randy Parsons of the Pope Street Association, Jay Staines, a parishioner, and Dee Forester, Secretary to the Vestry and Clerk.

PRAYER, PRAISE AND SONG

Father Courtney began the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with song and prayer. He welcomed guests of the Vestry and opened the meeting.

DEVOTION

Naomi Norman gave the devotion honoring her mother who passed away two years ago.

RECTOR=S REPORT

Father Courtney asked the Vestry to let Lee Gaby, Senior Warden, know if they are willing to be a delegate to Council which will be held the first week-end in November (5th, 6th and 7th) at the Georgia Center in Athens. Five delegates and five alternates are needed.

POPE STREET ASSOCIATION

Jay Shinn, Chair of the Facilities Committee, introduced Randy Parsons, Director of the Pope Street Association, to the Vestry. Mr. Parsons told the Vestry that he is a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and thanked the Vestry and Emmanuel for the use of the Cobb House for the 37 weekly meetings helping 200 people a day who are tying to combat this devastating disease and other forms of substance abuse. He briefed the Vestry on the Pope Street Association and answered questions.

NEW CURRICULUM FOR YOUTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION

Kat Ballard reported that she and the Children=s and Youth Education program committee (Sherri Turnipseed, John Becker and Nancy Woodruff) have been hard at work researching a new and better children=s program for Sunday School next year. This program allows each lesson to be presented four different ways. Each teacher would teach 4 sessions allowing for rotation of teachers. The Design team (facilitator) would be a year long commitment. Shepherds would provide continuity and would nurture the teachers. The program costs no more than what is presently budgeted. The program would be geared toward 3-4 year olds to 5th graders. Kat will be presenting this new program to the parish at large and hopes to implement it in the Fall, 2004.

FINANCE COMMISSION REPORT

Butch Bush, Finance Chair, reported that there are 243 pledging units totaling $493,000.00. The negative deficit has been cut in half. Bob Wood=s statistical analysis shows pledging down 4.5%. The Emmanuel Day School has offered to supplement the church with a $20,000.00 gift. The Finance Committee declined the generous offer for the present time. The EEDS pays $400.00 a month rent to the Church. The discussion concluded that it might be better to raise the rent rather than take the $20,000.00 gift.

Butch asked for a volunteer to head up the Insurance Committee. Brian Tyson suggested David Woodruff for the position. Lee Gaby offered the suggestion that the committee address property and liability issues and reported that Mark Stewart might be interested in helping.

ARCHITECTURE, GIFTS AND MEMORIALS COMMITTEE REPORT

Father Courtney reported that the AGM Committee had completed the re-covering of the Rector’s Prayer Book and he displayed this for the Vestry to see the excellent quality of the work.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

Lee Gaby reported that the Executive Committee (Father Courtney, Laura Cofer, Debra Harden, Lee Gaby, Larry McLeod and Jay Shinn) met April 19. Lee Albright was unable to attend due to a conflict. He reported that plans would be made for a summer birthday party and recognition for Eileen Sisley with more information to come. Lee also reported that the Committee was grateful for the offer by Chrissie Marlowe, an Emmanuel parishioner and Boulevard Historic District resident, to attend meetings of a newly formed coalition calling itself the "Community Approach to Planning Prince Avenue.” (CAPPA) Lee added that the Committee felt her role in providing information would be helpful in neighborhood relations and at this time there should not be an official representative or spokesperson for Emmanuel. His report also included a comment that the Committee was supportive of the idea of inviting guest presenters for the Vestry meetings and it planned to invite Johnny Terrell, Treasurer, and Norm Wood, Chairman of the Emmanuel Endowment Board to the May meeting, while seeking suggestions of other possible guests from the Vestry. He concluded the report with comments on his meeting with Canon Rick Callaway concerning the Diocese’s role with the Property Use Master Planning Committee and asked for Canon Callaway’s help in securing the assistance of Rev. Russell Kendrick, St. John’s Parish, Newnan, as special consultant.

BYLAWS STUDY COMMITTEE REPORT

Naomi Norman had no report but advised the Vestry that the bylaws are on the website. Father Courtney noted that the bylaws could be changed at any time if needed.

ACTION ITEMS

1. Minutes of the March 24, 2004 Vestry Meeting. The minutes were approved. Larry McLeod abstained, having been absent from the meeting.

2. Williams Rhodes Screening Committee. The grant recommendations of Williams-Rhodes Screening Committee were passed unanimously.

3. Emmanuel=s Sponsored Candidates for Holy Orders. Upon the recommendation of Father Courtney, the letters of recommendation to the diocesan Commission on Ministry for Sarah Fisher, Patrick Skutch and Timothy Burger were approved unanimously. All Vestry members present signed the letters.

4. Bylaws Amendments. Upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, all amendments that were presented in the proposed Bylaws revision report at the March 24, 2004, Vestry meeting were unanimously approved.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE MAY DEVOTION

Larry McLeod

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Terri Tillman urged all Vestry members to participate in the "Relay for Life@ May 14 and 15. Team Emmanuel includes the whole parish and you can help by joining the team and walking, making a donation or purchasing a luminary or loaning the team chairs, tent, cooler etc.

Larry and Ann Joy McLeod attended church in the Falkland Islands on their recent trip and he bought a bulletin to Father Courtney.

Jay Shinn apprised the Vestry of key instructions for the new magnetic lock system on the Pope Street office entry door. He emphasized that there has been no change to keying, and that all other doors operate the same as before.

Debra Harden asked for prayers for her father who will undergo surgery this Friday.

Lee Gaby thanked everyone for working so well together and shared his joy and appreciation for the Rite 13 service last week in which his daughter Margaret was an honoree.

Father Courtney and Jay Shinn noted that appropriate action would be taken to correct the problem that is making it difficult to ring the Church bell.

Father Courtney is suffering with an injured toe due to his dropping a birdbath.

Mother Mandy noted that she and Father Courtney will both be away this week-end. Father Dan Brown, the University Chaplain, will officiate in their absence. Please contact Lee Gaby if there are any emergencies during their absence.

Father Courtney adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Dee Forester

Secretary to the Vestry