ST THOMAS’ PARISH IN NEWARK

VESTRY MINUTES

OCTOBER 17, 2010

Members Present Others Present

Fr. Paul Gennett                      Mike Grabowski**                             David Coker

Sylvia Berta                             Karl Krauss                                       Roby Roberson

Bernadette Blair                       Alice Ryan                                       Jean Runge

Teresa Coons                          Debbie Supplee*                              Josh Turner

Larry Duggan                           Kelly Tompkins

Members Absent

Teresa Doggett

Teri Quinn Gray

Jerry Schultz

Meditation The meditation for today was entitled “Feed Our Soul for Leadership.”

Opening Prayer

Teresa Coons led the opening prayer at 12:50 pm.

Minutes of September 19, 2010

Larry Duggan moved that the Minutes of September 19, 2010, be accepted as presented.  Bernadette Blair seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

Rector’s Report

1.  Father Gennett thanked Kelly Tompkins and Vivian Scott for the October 3^rd kickoff Breakfast and Fellowship between the 8am and 10:30am services for commitment Sunday, November 7, 2010.  It was very successful and well received.

2. Father Paul requested that he would like the vestry leadership to turn in their pledges so they will be 100% committed before November 7^th.

3. Fr. Paul thanked Sylvia Berta for her work with the Good Shepherd music team to provide the music for the Blessings of the Animals service. The Rev. George Kearney from the Good Shepherd Parish preached the sermon..

4. The Unchartered Youth Conference and their leaders, sponsored by the Baptist Church, will be offered space at St. Thomas on November 5-6 for a sleepover.  Karl Krauss and the St. Thomas youth will serve as a welcoming group to our visitors.

5. The Diocesan Convention is scheduled for February 25^th & 26^th at the Sheraton Inn in Dover.  Connie Malin  [1^st] and Joan Bennett [2^nd] are our delegates.  At least one alternate delegate (male preferred) is needed.

6. The 169^th Annual Meeting for St. Thomas’ Parish is set for Sunday, March 20, 2011, at 12:15.  Larry Duggan and Teresa Doggett will serve as co-leaders to secure vestry nominations, information and meeting preparation, plus manage the voting process and counting of ballets.

ECM Report

1.  Fr. Paul reported for Deacon Cecily who is in Denver.  A committee is meeting to make plans for an instructed Seder Supper on April 11^th.

2.  The students plan to host a Halloween party for the teens and children of St. Thomas from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on October 29^th.

Finance Committee Report

1.  Roby Roberson stated that finances are pretty much on target except for a few minor things.  The net surplus is a little lower as ECM expenses rise.  He encourages all parishioners to keep their pledges current as pledges are down slightly which usually takes place at the end of the third quarter.  The cash balance will be reduced as the bills for approved capital projects are submitted.  Some of the Kell’s Avenue proceeds will be used as previously approved by the vestry.

2.  Roby presented the first draft of a 2011 budget.  All budget requests received were considered and most of them are in the budget.  The committee assumes that the income lines will include a 4.5% increase in pledges and decreases in the investment incomes, diocesan income for ECM, and a conservative number for the rental of the rectory in case it is empty for a couple of month.  Expenses reflect the salary increases.  The largest increase will be $9,400 for outreach taking into account $600 for Hope Dining Room.  The Diocesan acceptance remains steady.  Ten percent is about the middle of the range although our fair share should be 11-14%.

3.  The finance committee considered the idea of presenting two budgets—one for operation and one for capital projects.  The budget submitted by Mike Grabowski included capital items totaling approximately $25,000.

4.  Several more sources need to provide information prior to a final draft budget being complied.  Fr. Paul requested that Christian Education be allotted about $500 to return it closer to its previous level.

Code Purple Presentation

1.  David Coker presented an overview on a proposed Code Purple project including a short history of the project and what demands would be made on St. Thomas if the vestry approved participation in the project.  Five churches currently participate and three more (including St. Thomas’s) are considering joining.  The Newark Empowerment Center under the direction of Friendship House of Wilmington has run the program which provides a winter shelter only when the temperature is expected to fall below 20 degrees.  Participating churches provide space, simple sleeping arrangements, hot drinks, and an evening meal   The churches  provide their own volunteers which have been trained to staff the shelter on the night it is located at their church.  David will get additional information and visit some of the other churches to assess their programs.

2.  Bernadette Blair moved that the vestry affirm that St. Thomas’ property and resources can be used for Code Purple subject to approval by Fr. Paul and David Coker.  Teresa Coons seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

Commission Reports

Stewardship and Service

Bernadette Blair reported that the committee had served two funeral receptions and that a reception following the service for Jane Groo on November 26^th at 2:00pm is planned.  The reception will be catered.  Coffee hour for this month has been sponsored by the two committees.

Property

1.  Mike Grabowski requested a 2-5 thousand dollar increase in the property budget.  He also submitted a request for $25,000 toward the second phase of the capital plans which will be used to repair the steeple, the foyer, exterior painting, and brick re-pointing,   The existing $28,200 in the first phase was spent to run the gas lines and connect them to provide heat, the heat pump and duct work in the downstairs and replacing the window in the back, and decommissioning the boiler.

2.  Mike stated that he had Thomas Brothers evaluate the roof and it is in good shape.  The leak in the foyer could be coming from the rain coming straight down through the fan area on the A/C unit and into the foyer ceiling.  For $300 Thomas Brothers will make a 3 x 3’ opening in the foyer ceiling to see if that is the problem.  For $800 they will make a stainless steel hood to prevent the water from coming down to the ceiling if this is the problem.  Larry Duggan moved that Mike be authorized to spend $300-$800 to have the proposed work done.  Bernadette Blair seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

3.  Debbie Supplee offered a packet with three ideas for taking care of the problem with the window at the back of the church.  She asked vestry members to make suggestions too and added a fourth sheet that could be used to sketch out their ideas.  She and Mike feel that they need to decide and get the work done for security reasons and to prevent the window panes from falling out.

Worship

Alice Ryan inquired if St. Thomas planned to discuss the Anglican Covenant as presented in the Diocesan paper.  Fr. Paul stated that the information was being addressed and discussed on the Diocesan level and then disseminated for discussion at the local level.  He has not yet received it.

Pastoral Care – No report this month

Youth – Josh Turner had no report at this time.

Evangelism/Outreach

A program to encourage the parish to give their ideas for outreach has been planned for October 24 between the services with a special coffee hour. Teri Quinn Gray, Kelly Tompkins will lead the discussion.  David Coker will talk about Code Purple and answer questions.

Education

Kelly Tompkins, Teri Quinn Gray, and Josh Turner are surveying the needs of the children and youth.  A number of proposals are under consideration.  The committee feels that any changes should be finalized by January 2011.

Strategic Planning

Debbie Supplee gave a quick overview and explained that the committee had divided into sub-committees to study the Grove and the type of building St. Thomas might want,  property issues, education, and  outreach,   The committee as a whole has been discussing demographics, and the SWOT information available from the last survey.  The committee  hopes to have their work completed by February 2011 so that an implementation and finance committee can begin their work.

Adjournment

Bernadette Blair offered the closing prayer and the vestry adjourned at 2:15pm

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Runge, Clerk

Motions:

1.  Larry Duggan moved that the Minutes of September 19, 2010, be accepted as presented.  Bernadette Blair seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

2.  Bernadette Blair moved that the vestry affirm that St. Thomas’ property and resources can be used for Code Purple subject to approval by Fr. Paul and David Coker.  Teresa Coons seconded the motion.  Motion approved.

3.  Larry Duggan moved that Mike be authorized to spend $300-$800 to have the proposed work done.  Bernadette Blair seconded the motion.  Motion approved.