Vestry Meeting Minutes

April 2021 Vestry Minutes

By May 1, 2021 July 22nd, 2021 No Comments

St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church | Vestry Meeting Minutes | April 20, 201

Vestry Members Present

Joe DeuPree, Senior Warden

Michael Legacy, Junior Warden

Andrew Besterman

Kathy Carson

Murray Followill

Todd Frary

Randy Hering

Lisa Pearson

Ruth Woodward

Staff Present

Father Christopher Thomas, Rector

Allen Junek, Seminarian-in-Residence

Officers Present

Paul McCright, Clerk

Rusty Rippamonti, Chancellor

Absent

Summary

These minutes contain the following Vestry actions:

  • Motion to join the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Churches.
  • Motion to approve an agreement with an independent contractor to serve as Church Controller.

Note: We are unable to meet in person due to the Covid-19 common sense physical distancing restrictions placed by authorities of the government and church.

Narrative

  1. CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING PRAYER Rector 

The Vestry meeting was called to order on Zoom at 7:05 p.m. by Father Christopher, who opened the meeting with a prayer.  The following agenda was covered during the meeting. 

  1. RESOURCE PERSON FOR MEETING NAMED – Ruth Woodward
  2. SHARED THOUGHTS

Each person had the opportunity to say anything that is on their mind. Ruth shared her good experience with a meal delivery service to replace cooking every night.  Fr. Christopher noted he feels justice happened in the results of the Minneapolis trial announced today.  Others expressed happiness about the results.  Andrew is looking forward to a vacation.  The tax notices that have just been issued was discussed.  Early voting is underway; Kathy encouraged all to go vote. 

  1. FINANCIAL REPORTS           Treasurer

There was no financial report available.  Joe discussed the absence of a financial report during this transition.  Joe asked the Controller to prepare a quarterly report when possible to bring records up to date.  In the future we expect reports to be available ahead of each Vestry meeting. 

  1. RECTOR’S REPORT Rector

< Fr. Christopher shared some thoughts about Sunday’s regathering.  He felt it was a joyful occasion with people glad to be back.  COVID Protocols were previously announced and were followed well.  The day was a rousing success.  Zoom went well, also.  Going forward, we plan to give out good information each week and follow that.  The Regathering Committee met last night.  We are now permitted to sing if people are socially distanced and wearing masks.  We will have a coffee time in the garden following service.  Fr. Christopher wants our gatherings to be joyful and a time to think outside the box about how we do things in the future.  This allows us to explore new possibilities and take a few chances.  Some people may not be in their comfort zones as we change.

< We are in the second year of the new Rectorship.  It is a new relationship for all of us.  This is the time of adjustment and will likely feel a bit different from last year.  The first year was about listening.  The second year is about considering changes, which may be challenging for some people.  Awareness will help us move through this time.

< Fr. Christopher made the Vestry aware that the Black Lives Matter sign in front of the church was bold and daring in a social justice way.  We have gotten some responses to that, some of which are not pleasant.  An anonymous letter was sent to Bishop Sumner against the stand taken by St. Thomas.  This may suggest some dangerous people are watching us.  We need to be conscious and aware as we move into social justice work. He wanted to make us aware of that.  He is setting up a file of any threatening information.

< We have been offered the opportunity to purchase a set of hand bells worth about $30,000 for a donation of $500 to Central Christian Church, which is closing.  Fr. Christopher is going to purchase it with his discretionary funds as an investment in our future music program.

< A Lay Discernment Committee has been organized to support Allen Junek in his discernment of his calling.  The Discernment will be under the leadership of Bishop Wayne Smith.  Joe DeuPree will head the committee with Lisa Pearson and Keith Carney plus three experienced persons from Transfiguration.  This will happen over the course of the summer with the Committee offering a recommendation regarding Allen’s calling.

< Bishop Smith will visit us in a reception on the evening of Saturday, May 22 in the South Room.  Fr. Christopher will be in Hawaii at that time, but the Vestry can do it without him.  He will be out of the area May 17 – June 1.  Pastoral care will be in the hands of Stephen Waller, Virginia Holleman, and Andrew McCarthy.

< The Installation of the Rector will occur in September or October.

  1. ENDOWMENT FUND REPORT McCright

< The Committee met last week for its quarterly meeting with the minutes previously dispersed to the Vestry.  Growth in the Fund continues strong due to climbing stock market prices.  The Committee is reviewing our existing investment accounts and will compare them with other possibilities.  This afternoon the Committee heard a presentation from an Account Executive with Merrill Lynch.  A presentation from a second potential investment company is scheduled for May 12.

  1. OLD BUSINESS DeuPree

< Some discussion was held about where to host the Bishop’s reception.  Kathy suggested a less institutional setting than the Church.  Joe asked for ideas.  Consensus was the Church would be best at this time.

< Stewardship Chair – No one has volunteered to chair, but two have volunteered to be on the committee.  Joe asked for everyone to think about who could serve as chair.

< Lambda AA Group – This group is asking if they might return to St. Thomas for their regular meetings.  Their current location is up for sale.  Joe asked if we would be interested in having them return to St. Thomas.  Discussion covered which room would be dedicated for their use.  Lisa suggested they submit a proposal as to what they would need from us.  She also remembered Bishop Smith suggesting a church open to community groups would help the church connect with the community.  Several members suggested support for the idea with concern about interference with the Church’s needs.  Michael noted we already host Step Up AA once per week.  Others also expressed concern about how much time Lambda had used the room in the past.  Joe summarized that we are open to some use, but not as much as before.  Rusty noted compensation to the Church should be relative to the time used.

  1. JUNIOR WARDEN’S REPORT           Legacy
  • A new phone system has been installed for the offices.
  • The windows have been cleaned both inside and out.
  • The gutters have been cleaned.
  • The last two air scrubbers have been installed in the Nave HVAC units.
  • Forney Air will be coming back to perform the Spring tune-up and inspection of all units. They will also fix the control panel in one of the Nave units.
  • Next week there will be a walk through with Total Texas Roofing to inspect all the drains, downspouts, and gutters. We want to screen the gutters to prevent buildup of debris. Some of the downspouts are plugged as are some of the underground drains forcing water to overflow onto the ground around the Parish Hall or to back up even more and overflow the gutters.
  • Our tree service will be cleaning up and trimming along the back drive. The drainage ditch is overgrown.  They also removed the cedar tree on the north side that was split in half from a severe downburst of wind during a storm in March.
  • The unavailability of spring/summer plants means we are behind in planting the interior garden to provide some color for our return to in-person worship.
  • We are planning a new crushed stone or stone slab path from the south parking lot directly to the office door. A few new plantings will accompany the path.
  • Several sages are dead from the freeze as are all the pittosporum shrubs. They will be removed. We are considering planting sea oats, like we have across the front of the church, in the space under the cross where the late pittosporums resided.
  • The espalier on the Parish Hall wall has freeze damage. We will cut it back significantly and hope that it will recover and fill in.
  • The fern ivy on the north wall and the fountain wall is dead from the freeze. It needs to be removed.  The plan is not to regrow the ivy as it eventually damages the mortar.
  • The shrubs along Inwood are in poor shape from not only the freeze but a lack of sun as the trees shade more area. The trees also suck up most of the water.  We will be considering several options.
  1. SENIOR WARDEN’S REPORT DeuPree

< Flower Costs – Sunday flowers have gone from $120 to $140 weekly.

< CEEP Network Membership for the Parish – CEEP is the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes.  A small fee is charged for membership.  They have a conference annually and supply wonderful materials to CEEP Network members.  Fr. Christopher recommends we join.  It is a great way to learn about what is happening within the national church.  The fee is determined as a proportion of your endowment fund, but is $500 initially.  The Vestry would need to authorize the Endowment Fund Committee to join the organization.

Motion to authorize membership in CEEP with the allocation of funds from the Endowment Fund in the amount of $500.

Moved by Joe DeuPree

Seconded by Kathy Carson

Motion approved unanimously by show of hands.

< Controller’s Agreement (Action) – The agreement is between the Parish and an independent contractor to perform accounting services for the Church.

Motion to adopt the agreement to be signed by Joe DeuPree as representative of the Parish.

Moved by Michael Legacy

Seconded by Ruth Woodward

Motion approved unanimously by show of hands.

< Joe announced the second part of the Vestry Retreat will resume Saturday May 1 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

< In-Person Vestry Meetings – Joe suggested we consider having in-person Vestry meetings in the South Room.  A Zoom option will be provided for anyone not comfortable meeting together yet.  We need to be sensitive to all regardless of their feelings.  Michael volunteered to set up a Zoom option for anyone else.  Joe announced we will move the May 18 meeting to the South Room.

  1. GUILD LIAISON REPORTS

< Acolytes – Todd Frary — We need additional people to serve as we move back to in-person services.

< Altar Guild – Murray Followill – Performed in a funeral in the garden and through Holy Week as well as our Sunday service.

< Community Garden – Randy Hering – No report

< Greeters/Ushers – Andrew Besterman – Group is getting organized for the new arrangement.  Fr. Christopher commented the group did great last Sunday.

< Kitchen/Social – Randy Hering – No report

< LEMS – Lisa Pearson — No report

< Readers – Ruth Woodward – No report

< Outreach – Kathy Carson – Two have volunteered for this new group.  She is seeking 2 more members.

  1. RESOURCE PERSON FOR MAY MEETING – Lisa Pearson
  2. CLOSING PRAYER

The meeting was closed with a blessing and prayer by Father Christopher Thomas.

  1. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

The next meeting will be held on May 18 in person and on Zoom.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Paul McCright

Paul McCright, Clerk