APPROVED VESTRY MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2005

540 PRINCE AVENUE

Sr. Warden Lee Gaby called the meeting to order at 7:10pm.

VESTRY PRESENT: Lee Albright, Robin Bewley, Butch Bush, Allison Clements, Hal Cofer, Lee Gaby (Sr. Warden), Amrey Harden, Wren Howard, Robin Krause, Penny McLanahan, Tom Odom, Jay Shinn (Jr. Warden), Brian Tison, and David Woodruff. Excused: David Kidd.

OTHERS PRESENT: Kat Ballard, Emmanuel Director of Christian Formation of Children and Youth

PRAYER, PRAISE, AND SONG

Penny McLanahan opened the meeting with a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. Wren Howard led the group in song.

DEVOTION

Sr. Warden Lee Gaby (SW) led the group in reading Luke 1:46-56, Mary’s song to the Lord. Lee stressed the mentoring relationship between Elizabeth and Mary, and invited consideration of mentoring relationships in our personal lives, both as mentor and as the one being mentored.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SW: Asked permission of the vestry to move the March, 2005, vestry meeting from March 23 to March 30. The intent is to avoid a meeting during Holy Week. All agreed.

Reminded the group of the construction and intent of the Consent Agenda, and of the method by which the agenda packet is constructed. Brief discussion followed.

Reported Mo. Mandy Brady is in Baltimore in conference and reports doing well.

Briefed the group on the Diocese of Atlanta Ministry Fair coming up the weekend of March 5, 2005. Invited the attention and participation of all vestry members. Noted that flyers and other information are available through the church office.

SPECIAL GUEST

Wren Howard, Chair of the Education Commission, introduced Special Guest Kat Ballard. Kat spoke to several issues. Notable among them:

Upcoming opportunities to undergo “Safeguarding God’s Children,” church-sponsored sexual abuse training. Kat provided information reference the training which is available through her office. She noted that all vestry members must go through this training, consisting of two 1.5 hour sessions. This training will be available at the Ministry Fair, but will require use of two of the allowed three session sign-ups. Alternatively, Kat is qualified as a trainer and will be giving the sessions before Vacation Bible School. Wren Howard will coordinate vestry attendance at the training.

Kat is developing a mentoring program for the J2A (Journey to Adulthood) youth group. She is looking for suggested persons to be mentors. The program begins in April, leading to an opportunity for confirmation July 10, 2005. A short discussion followed reference duties and qualifications, and Kat offered the group examination of the mentoring books now in use. The program needs about thirteen mentors.

Kat introduced the idea of an Emmanuel Parent’s Organization (EPO), the purpose of which would be to involve parents directly in Emmanuel’s youth programs. This would differ from the existing Parents of Youth (POY) program in that POY is specifically for the parents and the EPO would involve parents and youth together. It could be an extension of POY, or a separate program. She will keep the vestry informed.

FINANCE

Finance Commission Chair Butch Bush introduced the Commission’s proposal for Emmanuel’s 2005 budget. He asked that the group defer specific questions reference the proposal until the Action Item portion of the meeting when the budget would be considered for approval. Butch pointed out that due to the expectation of a new rector the salary/benefit numbers will need to be revisited.

SW reminded the group that financial training for the new vestry members will be available soon. Butch reminded all that the Financial Notebook, an explanation of line items and budget composition, is available on the Emmanuel website.

STEWARDSHIP

Brian Tison, Chair of the Stewardship Commission spoke to his Sunday Bulletin item of last Sunday asking for volunteers for the Stewardship efforts. No takers. Brian reported that to date we have 243 pledging units pledging a total of $498,335 for 2005. Information re 2004 unpaid pledges is being developed, and methods of dealing with the unpaid pledges are being considered.

Brian asked that Commission chairs remain after tonight’s meeting to consider the opportunities presented by the Time, Talent, and Treasure cards returned by parishioners.

WORSHIP

Robin Krause, Chair, reported good commentary reference the revised Sunday worship schedule. One problem noted was that there is a conflict between the choir warming up and Christian Education, particularly where people have duties in both areas. Scott Goodwin, Director of Music, is studying the problem. Robin noted that many parishioners consider the changed schedule to be temporary, and expect we will return to three services when attendance builds. Folks like the 10:30 service, although some think it seems rushed. Compline is now available during Lent on Sunday evening at 7:30. Scott and Mo. Mandy are committed to this ministry.

DRY BONES STUDY GROUP

Penny McLanahan reported for the Dry Bones group. The group is now up to over 20 members. The next move is to divide into subgroups of six each to design small-group meetings. Home meetings, hosted by parishioners, may be the next step.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SW reported that no EC meeting ad been held since the last vestry meeting. He suggested the vestry consider a gift for Dee Forrester honoring her ten years service as secretary and clerk to the vestry. SW asked for thoughts for possible EC or vestry action.

CONSENT AGENDA

(See meeting agenda.) SW asked if any items should be pulled from the consent agenda for individual consideration. Item 4., Appointments to Architectural, Gifts, and Memorial (AGM) Committee, was pulled for discussion. SW asked for a voice vote to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda. Carried, no nays and no abstentions.

Tom Odom, Chair of the Resources Commission, spoke to the AGM Committee item. He stressed the need for staggered terms as included in the appointments proposal, and the need for more definitive AGM operations directions. The one-year hiatus between terms of service on the committee, called for in the published SOP’s, is not being observed. Tom complimented Peg Wood, sitting Chair of AGM, for her leadership. One member of AGM should be and is on the Facilities Committee. Consider whether the St. Francis Guild should be represented on Facilities. The issue is communication. The chair of AGM is a Rector appointment, assumed to be annual, although term is not specified in Emmanuel’s documents. Peg Wood will continue through this year. New rector will then consider the appointment. Need to revisit all committees reference mission definition and structure.

Following discussion, SW called for a voice vote on the AGM Committee Appointments item. Carried, no nays and no abstentions.

FINANCE

Butch Bush, Finance Commission Chair, spoke to the proposed 2005 Budget (attached). The budget is balanced and the Diocesan pledge has been restored to the full ten percent. Pledge income has increased. Non-clergy staff have been given a three percent raise. Scott Goodwin has been moved to full-time from part-time and appropriate benefits included. Technical correction to line 530; change “Workman’s Compensation” to “Worker’s Compensation.”

SW spoke to his Canonical requirement to “cause to be made” an annual financial audit. Absent vestry direction to the contrary he will proceed with plans for a 2005 audit. Discussion followed noting last full audit having been done in 2001 with intent for repeat every three years. Also noted was Diocesan practice of not demanding an annual audit. Allison Clements noted that it is important for a new rector to have a current audit available. Butch noted that budget line 750 700 shows funds to pay for an audit are being accumulated. SW called for a voice vote in favor of a 2005 full audit. Carried, no nays no abstentions.

APPOINTMENT OF RECTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE (RNC)

SW called for executive session to discuss appointees and committee duties.

Tom Odom offered a motion to approve the slate. Amrey Harden seconded. Approved, no nays, no abstentions. Return to regular session.

Members of the Rector Nominating Committee for 2005 are Peggy Allen, John Becker, Jeanette Bowers, Ann Cabaniss, Hal Cofer from the vestry, Walter Jarrett, Horace Newcomb, Naomi Norman, and Jay Staines.

Discussion followed reference the vestry’s requirement to elect a chair for the committee. A slate was developed and approved by unanimous voice vote. SW will contact the vestry’s selection and advise the results.

SW noted written information to be included in a mailing officially inviting the committee members to duty. SW and Robin Bewley, assisting the Communications Commission, will produce a letter to the parish announcing the formation of the RNC.

APPOINTMENT OF VESTRY CLERK

Removed. No candidates presented.

APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The slate as presented was Lee Gaby, Jay Shinn, Robin Bewley, and Lee Albright. Discussion followed. Allison Clements and Wren Howard were added to the slate. The slate was approved by voice vote. No nays, no abstentions.

APPOINTMENT OF WELCOME COMMITTEE

Report attached. Mo. Mandy suggested and supports this ministry. The report and the committee membership were accepted by unanimous voice vote.

APPOINTMENT OF DRY BONES STUDY GROUP COMMITTEE

Following discussion, removed from the agenda. The committee is very active and doing good work, but specific structure and process needs further consideration.

VOLUNTEER FOR MARCH DEVOTION

Robin Bewley volunteered.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

Brian Tison: Reminded commission chairs to remain for a few minutes.

Allison Clements: Keep Jane Kidd in our prayers reference the recent death of her father, S. Ernest Vandiver.

SW: Complimented Robin Bewley and Merry Stovall for keeping Interfaith Hospitality Network in the attention of the parish. Also, reminded vestry that Pere Bruno will be entertained at breakfast tomorrow morning at 7:30 at Zim’s Café. SW and group thanked Butch Bush for heading up successful Vestry Holy Cooker’s Night at the regular Wednesday night congregational dinner. Butch thanked parishioner Tinker Boatright for preparing his excellent BBQ pork and chicken.

Hal Cofer: Parishioner George Turner is in the terminal stages of his disease. Keep George and Betsy in our prayers.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00pm.