St. Timothy's Church

Vestry Meeting Minutes – March 14, 2005

 

1.               The meeting began at 6:40pm.  In attendance were Sr. Warden Laurent Perkins, Junior Warden Scott Brown, Elaine Fox, Tom Duffey, Pat Camm, Carl McDaniel, Rebecca Sloan, Lisa Pickard, Kent Davis, Betsy Goff, Rector Fr. Russell Martin, Associate Rector Larry Eddingfield, Treasurer Gary Filer and Clerk Cindy Kaemmerer.  Fr. Russell opened with prayer and led a meditation of solitude and service.

 

4.               Lisa Pickard asked to address the Vestry first as she is ill and needs to go home soon.  She said our Yellow Pages ad was due for renewal and wanted to know if the Vestry intended to make any changes in the ad.  Specifically she asked about which heading we want the ad under – Episcopal, Episcopal/Anglican, or Anglican.  She suggested that if we do move our ad we may want to let other Episcopal/Anglican churches know of our intent.  Her other concern was to make sure our new signage and Yellow pages ad reflected the same information.

 

A motion was made to renew the Yellow Pages Greater San Diego as and place it under the heading of Episcopal/Anglican Churches.  The motion was seconded and passed.

 

Lisa also requested our prayers for the San Diego Food Bank because of the bad publicity they have been receiving.  She said that in spite of the fact that some of the changes are needed, their ability to serve the poor has been compromised at this time.

 

2.               Minutes (attached) from the February 19, 2005 Vestry Retreat meeting were presented by Cindy Kaemmerer.  A motion was made to approve the Minutes from the February 19, 2005 Retreat. The motion was seconded and passed.

 

Minutes (attached) from the February 19, 2005 Vestry meeting were presented by Cindy Kaemmerer.  A motion was made to approve the Minutes from the February 19, 2005 meeting. The motion was seconded and passed.

 

3.               Financial reports were presented by Gary Filer.  He stated that the Pledged income amount includes a sizable 1-year pledge that has already been paid in full.  That the plate offering has been good.  That rent from Teddy Bear was missing in February but will be paid twice in March.  That he was still awaiting paperwork in regard to the Associate's benefits.

 

A motion to accept the February financial report and file them for audit was made.  The motion was seconded and passed.

 

                  Stewardship total is at $180, 510.00 with a total of 71 pledges turned in.

 

Fr. Russell said that a donation of $400 had been given to St. Tim's to purchase a new dishwasher.  After much discussion about whether to wait until further kitchen plans were made or not, it was decided to go ahead and purchase a new dishwasher now with the $400.  Fr. Russell will ask Sandi to look into it.

 

Laurent Perkins asked that a Campus Maintenance Committee be formed to put together a list and schedule of all the regular maintenance that needs to be done on the campus.

 

5.               Building & Grounds update was given by Scott Brown.  Information from Sharlene Hower regarding the new signage out front was passed around.  Scott presented 4 sign choices from Sharlene and said he would relay any additional instructions from the Vestry to her.  Lisa said she would email Sharlene the correct crosses logo.  There were still questions about whether the sign would allow for additional changeable information bars at the bottom.

 

Laurent again asked the Vestry to consider repainting the cross atop the Sanctuary with a bright white, reflective paint and possibly lighting it at night as well.

 

He also asked for a Campus Improvements Committee to be formed to begin identifying and planning for further improvements to the campus – the kitchen area, patio area, youth spaces, additional classroom/meeting spaces, etc.  The following have agreed to serve on this committee – Laurent, Tom, Betsy, Carl.

6.               Fr. Russell gave the Rector's Report.  He said that he had attended the Consecration of Bishop Mathes and that overall he thought attendance was low for the event.  He said he also attended an ACN (Anglican Communion Network) meeting in LA on March 13th with David Anderson.  One of the concerns discussed was the idea that at the next General Convention in 2006, the Bishops would seek to establish more control over laypersons in the churches, granting themselves the ability to excommunicate individual lay people as they do clergy.  He said there are also possible plans to rewrite the ECUSA constitution so that the ECUSA is no longer a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.  Finally he reported that one parish in SD had applied to Bishop Hughes for Adequate Episcopal Oversight but he turned them down as it was too close to the consecration of the new Bishop.

 

Fr. Russell also presented and read the letter he sent to the legal counsel that the Vestry agreed to work with to look over our Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation and his Letter of Agreement with the Vestry.  That work is in process.

 

Fr. Russell indicated that he needed to change his Housing Allowance as it was voted on at the last meeting on the advice of his financial consultant.

 

A motion was made to change Fr. Russell Martin's housing allowance amount to $25,000 for the 2005 budget year, making it retroactive to January 2005.  The motion was seconded and passed.

 

7.               Fr. Larry Eddingfield gave his Associate Rector's report.  He stated that he had recently attended a Pastors' meeting at New Hope Church in PQ and had subsequently invited all the pastors to St. Tim's for their April 7th from 9-11am.  Fr. Larry also stated that May 5th in the National Day of Prayer and May 15th is the Global Day of Prayer and that he would be participating in both events.  He also said that St. Tim's would be participating in the Prayerwalk on Palm Sunday and that we had been assigned about 100 homes to pray for.

 

8.               Senior Warden's report was given by Laurent Perkins.  He asked the Vestry to begin considering a replacement vestry member for Lisa Pickard who will be leaving in May/June.  He would like to make that decision at the April Vestry meeting so as to get Betsy Goff a partner in the area of Discipleship.

 

9.               Portfolio review

 

Worship – Men's retreat will be June 11-12 in Tecate, Mexico with Fr. Frank Maguire leading.  The IHOP Bible study groups is growing.  The OSL Healing Mission audio tapes are being processed.  Pat Camm has begun making contact with the various ministry leaders in her area.

 

Fellowship – The concept and practice of Coffee Hour needs to be rethought and better executed.

 

Discipleship – Betsy just needs to get caught up!

 

Ministry – A ministry fair is being planned for the summer where parishioners would pledge their time and talents to one or more ministries at St. Tim's.  Laurent is also exploring what other churches are doing in this area.

 

Evangelism/Mission – Rebecca said Dolly Libby wants to do another outreach to help the youth group raise funds.  She also said there is still interest in doing outreach to the Salvatierra Orphanage in Tecate, Mexico.  She understands they may need a washing machine.  She is also hoping to begin outreach to the day laborers near the church and possibly the seniors who live nearby (Arbors).  The Arbors ministry still needs volunteers to lead services and Bible studies.  Kent would still like more help with the web page.  Elaine and Rebecca are also looking into ways to attract locals to St. Tim's event before they attend a service here such as through babysitting, mothers' programs, etc.  Alpha will most likely be scheduled in the fall again and Fr. Russell and Fr. Larry have been asked to do the talks.

 

Elaine said she is looking specifically into the idea of hospital liaisons and ministries such as prayer teams who go to local hospitals and pray for patients and families.

 

 

10.            General business – Fr. Russell asked the Vestry to continue to research the ACN and to consider joining.  He also asked Gary to look into the current copier machine contract as well as a new phone system.  Scott and Laurent said they would help with the phone issues.  Fr. Russell asked that Sunday Ushers begin asking people to turn off their cell phones when they enter the church.

 

Fr. Russell read a thank you note from Carol Powers for the Vestry's support of the recent OSL Healing Mission.

 

11.            The next Vestry meeting in Monday, April 11th at 6:30pm in the Parish Hall.

 

12.            The meeting closed in prayer at 9:15pm.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Cindy Kaemmerer

Clerk of the Vestry