ST THOMAS PARISH

VESTRY MINUTES

APRIL 17, 2011

Members Present Others Present

Fr. Paul Gennett                      Teri Quinn Gray                      Stover Babcock

Sylvia Berta                              John Killingsworth                  Deacon Cecily Harmon

Kate Donnelly                           Karl Krauss                            Roby Roberson

Larry Duggan                           Annette Rickolt                     Jean Runge

Mike Grabowski**                     Alice Ryan                            Kelly Tompkins

Members Absent

*Senior Warden

Bernadette Blair          Jerry Schultz                           **Junior Warden

Teresa Coons               Debbie Supplee*

Teresa Doggett            Josh Turner

Mutual Invitation - The vestry mutual invitation study based on Romans 12:1-8 was “A Life in God’s Service.”

Opening Prayer - Mike Grabowski, Junior Warden called the vestry to order at 12:50.  Larry Duggan led the opening prayer.

Minutes of February 20, 2011 - The spelling of the name of Zhalen Gray was corrected.   Sylvia Berta moved that the Minutes of February 20, 2011 be accepted as corrected.  Larry Duggan seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

Minutes of March 20, 2011

Teri Quinn Gray moved that Minutes of March 20, 2011 be accepted as presented.  Kelly Tompkins seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

Rector’s Report

1. The opening meditations at vestry meetings will be shared by vestry members who will select the passage and open the discussion.  Fr. Paul will set up the passage selected so it can be emailed prior to the meeting.  Karl Krauss will lead the May meeting.

2. Fr. Paul requested that vestry members use Indian Road or the spaces at UD so that Easter parking for visitors will be more available.

3. The vestry conference is scheduled for June 4-5 at St. Thomas.  The Rev. Brad Hinton, rector of St. David’s in North Wilmington has been invited to be retreat leader.

4.  An Easter schedule was included with the Rector’s report.

Episcopal Campus Ministry

1.  The students have been very busy but enjoyed painting the Miriam Cups for the Seder Supper. The music presented by Erica Santos and Jason Lombardo at the supper was outstanding. They will play again May 8^th for Mother’s Day.

2. The students offered an inside labyrinth on April 11.  Twenty-five people walked it and 15 others who stopped but did not have time to walk.  Comments from those who walked were very positive.

3.  A one night retreat at Memorial House for seven students and two of their friends is planned for Friday evening.

Finance Committee Report

1.  Roby Roberson explained that the quarterly reports were more important than just the monthly report.  Generally nine months of the year were stronger than the three summer months.  Different categories vary monthly depending when payments are made or received.  Currently, the revenue and expenses are about the same as last year.  There is a large stock amount that will show next month.  He did note that the electricity expense was very high and the committee was investigating the cause.  The financial position of St. Thomas is strong because of the Kell’s Avenue sale.

2.  Roby offered to meet with new or interested vestry members to explain any questions they had about the financial sheets.  A date will be selected.

3.  The students under the supervision of the University of Delaware who have been conducting the 2010 audit have also studied what type of financial system is best for St. Thomas.  Out of the five systems, the second choice which is the financial package associated with Membership Plus which we are already using was selected.  The first choice was too expensive.  When the new system is implemented, training will be offered to those who need to use the system.

4.  Roby stated that the financial portion of the Parochial Report was not well designed.  Tracking of restricted gifts was not well done so it will not exactly match the figures in the December reports.

5.  A second account at Wilmington Trust has been placed into the checking account to keep the records in better order.

6.  A third account at Bank of America was inactive long enough that it would have been turned over to the State Escheat Fund.  An original signatory (1994), Elizabeth Masterson was located and with Stover Babcock the account has been closed.  The money in the amount of $83,000 will be placed in an account with ING, DIRECT which the vestry authorized Stover Babcock to open on behalf of St. Thomas.  Stover Babcock stated that he feels it is important for the vestry to set policy in these matters to keep the business current and with current signatories.

Ministry Reports

Stewardship and Service

1.  Bob Gilley and John Killingsworth will be co-leaders of the Stewardship program in 2011.

2.  May is the month that St. Thomas supplies the “To Go Bags.”

Property

1. Voting on the three window suggestions has been completed.  The second option which provides the most open space has been selected.  The colored glass will be reused if possible.  Tim Supplee will submit a bid for the work.

2.  A gift from a parishioner will provide for six doors with windows for the church offices as required by the Safe Church Program.  Tim Supplee will submit a bid.

3.  AA Mechanical has offered a bid to lift off the AC unit above the foyer so that a final determination can be made to fix the leak.

4.  The next clean up day will be in May.  A load of mulch for the flower beds will be ordered.

Worship/Outreach

1.  Sylvia Berta announced that about 90 people attended the Seder Supper.  She thanked the ECM for making the Miriam Cups and those from St. Nicholas and The Good Shepard Church who helped in the preparations. The supper was attended by some Jewish guests, some from the Presbyterian Church, and others from non denominations.  It was a wonderful evening.

2.  The next meeting of the worship ministry will be in September, however, plans for confirmation and the Pentecost celebration are underway.

3.  Musicians are needed.

Evangelism

1. Teri Quinn Gray asked for a vestry partner to help with evangelism to open the St. Thomas experience to other people.

2.  Newcomer’s gift bags have been made following the color of the liturgical season.  There have been 50 newcomers which need to have follow-up contact.  Of the 18 gift bags that have been prepared, 12 have already been given out.  Help is needed to prepare more gift bags.

3.  The ministry has also undertaken to develop a group of ushers and greeters for the services.  The Bill and Cindy Decs are helping with developing the lists.  Teri would like one vestry member to help 15 minutes before a service starts and 15 minutes after the service ends.  If a person has not been noticed within three times they do not return.

Education

1.  Karl Krauss reported that between 12-16 young people are attending the Sunday breakfasts at the I-Hop each month.  The sponsors are considering having them every other week. Greg Eynon and Sarah Picollelli are working with the youth.

2.  The Strategic Planning II group will have a report on the education phase of the youth ministry in May.  Sometime in May there will be a teacher’s retreat for planning the curriculum for September.  The possibility of an outside consultant has been suggested.

New Business

1.  Kelly Tompkins moved that Jean Runge be appointed Clerk of the Vestry.  Kate Donnelly seconded the motion.  Motion approved by acclamation.

2.  Larry Duggan moved that Stover Babcock be appointed Treasurer for the church.  Karl Krauss seconded the motion.  Motion approved by acclamation.

3.  Junior and Senior Wardens will be elected in May due to the absence of the Senior Warden and members of the vestry.

4.  Debbie Supplee will have a report from the Strategic Planning Committee.

5.  Members of the vestry were asked to sign the Parochial Report which will be placed in Fr. Paul’s box in the parlor.  The report must be filed by May 1, 2011

6.  Fr. Paul thanked Larry Duggan, Teresa Doggett, and Debbie Supplee for their service on the vestry.

Closing Prayer

Alice Ryan led the closing Prayer at 2:20 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Runge, Clerk

Motions:

1. The spelling of the name of Zhalen Gray was corrected.   Sylvia Berta moved that the Minutes of February 20, 2011 be accepted as corrected.  Larry Duggan seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

2 Teri Quinn Gray moved that Minutes of March 20, 2011 be accepted as presented.  Kelly Tompkins seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

3. Kelly Tompkins moved that Jean Runge be appointed Clerk of the Vestry.  Kate Donnelly seconded the motion.  Motion approved by acclamation.

4. Larry Duggan moved that Stover Babcock be appointed Treasurer for the church.  Karl Krauss seconded the motion.  Motion approved by acclamation.