Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Minutes of the Vestry meeting
June 22, 2005
Present: Hal Cofer, Butch Bush, Brian Tison, Jay Shinn, Robin Krause, Lee Albright, Dave Woodruff, Robin Bewley, Amrey Harden, Allison Clements, David Kidd, Lee Gaby, Penny McLanahan
Mother Mandy Brady,
Absent: Wren Howard (teaching class) , Tom Odom (with mother)
Mother Mandy opened meeting with prayer and a hymn at 7 PM..
Mo. Mandy welcomed guests Naomi Norman, Bob and Blue Wood, Tom Camp
David Kidd introduced Tom Camp of Samaritan Counseling Center, a non-profit organization that covers Athens, Madison and Greensboro. He presented an overview of Center’s mission which includes psychotherapy, pastoral care and training of congregations and other organizations.
He said that Williams-Rhodes Foundation has donated much needed funds on several occasions, and that the Center would welcome Emmanuel as one of its sponsoring congregations.
He distributed a Covenant Agreement, which explains the church’s obligations if it is a sponsoring congregation. Financially, the congregations donate $3-$5 per communicant. This goes to a fund which provides reduced fees to people who need the Center’s services but cannot afford them. There are now ten sponsoring congregations. The Center serves about 2000 people.
No action was taken.
Reports
Mother Mandy reported that
• the ordination of the four priests was “a fantastic ceremony.”
• Lee Albright and Cathy Cofer did a wonderful job at the reception.
• She will attend the National Stewardship Conference in Charlotte the weekend of June 24. Robin Krause will go with her.
• There will be a “Gentle Stewardship” column in The Tower.
• There will be a running and anticipated count of parish income in The Tower.
• the parish may want to start a Homecoming Service in the fall (“Fall Hooplah”
to get the year started.
• She has asked Jon Appleton to be a consultant for the stewardship committee
Finance Committee: Butch Bush and Amrey Harden
• Lee G. announced that staff salary adjustments will be tabled till a later vestry meeting
• Amrey distributed Finance Committee report and said that income exceeded expenses for the month. The income for the year is short by $51,000, but he hoped it would catch up later. Pledges may be behind. Mo Mandy said that has been the pattern for the last 9 years.
• David W. said that 28% of pledges comes in December.
• Explanation of finances will be in The Tower.
• Mo. Mandy suggested that all employees’ performances should be reviewed.
Action Item: Rector Search Committee, Naomi Norman
• Parish profile draft was distributed to the vestry.
• Naomi Norman reported that everyone on the Rector Search Committee was given a specific part of the profile to research and complete.
The committee hired a statistician who gave a picture of the parish and “figured trends” of the parish
• Naomi said that the profile will give a “candid and honest view of the parish., including its challenges.”
• Naomi has hired a typesetter to get the profile ready for distribution in July.
• Brian Tison moved to approve profile. David K. seconded. Passed.
• Brian said, “We hope that the new rector will find some common ground in the parish.”
• Lee G. distributed two sheets showing proposed 2006 budget with low, medium, and high salary figures for the new rector—one with current budget and one with a 20% increase in stewardship. The salary range shown is from $85,000-125, 000. After discussion, Robin Bewely moved that the parish offer $95,000-$115,000 (salary and housing allowance) to the new rector. Jay seconded. Passed by majority.
• Lee G. collected printouts of parish profile.
Action item: Williams –Rhodes
Since there is no July vestry meeting, the vestry will allow the Executive Committee to act on recommendation of the Williams/ Rhodes Screening Committee.
Stewardship Committee: Brian Tison
Brian reported that
• The stewardship committee now has 6 members and will meet July 11. All are invited to attend. It will last one hour.
• The committee has received suggestions, some of which are
1. there be a stewardship home visitation team
2. stewardship might consider working through tithing.
3. the vestry should take a leadership role in stewardship
4. there be a stewardship campaign.
Hal said that one on one visitation is the only way to get an increase in stewardship.
AGM
David K. gave handout for AGM. Jay will get figures for cleaning the inside of the church windows.
Master Plan Committee
• Lee G. distributed Master Plan Committee Report Plan.
• Jay reported that the Cobb House Committee will soon have a board and that Emmanuel will have a seat on it.
• David K. reported that the contract will the Cobb board will have to be approved. There is a task force at work on it.
• Upshaw Bentley will assist with getting the applications for removal of 2 Pope Street houses.
There was no report from the Executive Committee.
Action Item: Diocesan Council Representatives
Mother Mandy proposed the following list of nominees and alternates to attend the Diocesan Council at Holy Innocents Church, Atlanta, November 11-12.
Nominees
John Ballard
Ron Bates
Leslie de Haseth
Duncan Krause
Terri Tillman
Alternates
Lee Albright
Lee Gaby
Frank Henning
Jim Jacobson
Cindy McAlister
Nancy McDuff
Penny McLanahan
Blue Wood
Approved
Robin B moved, Amrey seconded that the Men of Emmanuel Bible Study be under the Education Commission. Approved
Good of the Order:
Mo. Mandy
said that there are about 20 Emmanuel shirts for sale.
announced that the service music includes new compositions written by Scott Goodwin
reported that Bishop Alexander was asked to make a presentation to Council in England and that he will also go to Africa to ordain priests.
Penny suggested that there be a way be found to eliminate duplicate vestry e-mails and handouts.
Amrey announced that Safeguard God’s Children Training will be
July 10 and Anti-Racism Training for the vestry will be July 30.
Lee G. distributed bookmarks from the Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Meeting was adjourned at 10 PM.
Submitted by Clairelis Baxter, clerk of the Vestry
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