Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Meeting Minutes - September 14, 2020

Written By Parish Administrator

Trinity Episcopal Church

Vestry Minutes

Meeting via ZOOM video conferencing

September 14, 2020

Vestry Members present: Nancy Grayson, Dennis Blom, Jean Brann, Joe Creaghead, Lisa Edwards, Betty Mitchell, Josh Mitchell, Gina Russ, Matt Swendiman, Paula Wolfe, Jim Swearingen, Steve Van Allen

Vestry Members absent:

Clergy present: Peter D’Angio

Call to Order: Peter D’Angio

Sharing by Vestry members

Hearing from the Parish

  • Esther Parton met with Peter D’Angio and Paula Wolfe, in a separate meeting, to respond to the listening questionnaires sent out a few months ago. Groups within the parish miss the face-to-face contact of their members. The groups are encouraged to meet via zoom.

Adoption of Consent Agenda:

  • Family Ministry Report, Sept 2020

  • Financial Fact Sheet 9/2/2020

  • Income and Expense Statement Jan 2020 – July 2020

  • Physical Resources Project List

  • Revised Stewardship Plan

  • Bishops Coordination Call, August 10, 2020

Moved: Nancy Grayson, Josh Mitchell (2nd); Motion carried

Adoption of August 2020 Minutes:

  • Moved: Dennis Blom, Nancy Grayson (2nd); Motion carried

Moved with minor corrections to the financial portion of the Minutes

Old Business:

  • Financial update

    • Not changing outlook, but continuing to look at expenses

    • Most commissions spending below their budget, looking at committee forecasting

    • Income – 57% of the budget; pledges – 62% of the budget

    • Still monitoring members in their pledging

Discussion and documents

Moved: none

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

  • Stewardship Plan Episcopal Network for Stewardship “Faith Filled Generosity”

    • Discussed the chronology of the upcoming Stewardship campaign using the Episcopal Network’s for Stewardship plan

    • Every week starting at the end of September stewardship will take place. There will be a sermon, videos, etc.

    • Pledge cards will be mailed out. Vestry members will write thank you notes to pledgers

    • At the end of Stewardship, a “narrative” budget will be introduced. Josh Mitchell will develop a pie chart

Discussion and documents

Moved: none

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

  • Worship

    • There was an ongoing discussion about worship, specifically concerning “inside” services. How do we accommodate people in the church and how many people can attend? Will people come to an “inside” service? What happens during Advent and Christmas, what will that look like? Will people return if the church doesn’t open for several more months? Peter said some of these questions could only be answered by the Bishop

    • Some vestry members wanted to find out if maybe other churches in northern Kentucky were already having services

    • Asymptomatic people may increase the risk for worshipping in the church

    • Vestry suggested having conversations with other non-vestry members who have strong views on both sides of the issue: worship inside or not having worship at all

Discussion

Moved: none

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

  • Navigating Political Topics Update

    • Peter talked with Andi Tillman and she had some suggestions

    • Someone from Christ Church is willing to serve as a resource to build on discussions of equity, racial reconciliation, etc.

    • There is a need to have a balanced approach to such issues as “black lives matter” with parishioners. This should include a structure to make sure everyone is heard and respected

Discussion

Moved: none

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

New Business:

  • Looking Ahead

    • CAPITAL CAMPAIGN – the actual kickoff date may change due to COVID

    • HISTORICAL MARKER – A historical marker for Eugenia Farmer, a suffragist and member of Trinity in the late 19th century, will be installed on Trinity grounds sometime in October. Jim Swearingen discussed the marker design and placement. Trinity’s own historical marker may be moved next to this new marker

    • ASSOCIATE RECTOR – If the congregation of Trinity is smaller after COVID ends, there may not be a need for an Associate Rector

    • SABBATICAL – the sabbatical was rescheduled for October 2021. This is still the plan to move forward with this date

Discussion

Moved: no

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

  • Recruitment of New Vestry Members

    • The outgoing vestry members will recruit for the year 2021. One person has already shown an interest in running for one of the four vacancies. It was suggested that people who plan to run for a vacancy, submit a video for the upcoming live streaming worship services

    • There will be a “remote” annual meeting to follow

Discussion: no

Moved: no

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

Commission Reports:

  • Rector’s report (Rev. Peter D’Angio) – weekly updates

  • Outreach (Betty Mitchell) – no report

  • Family Ministry (Shannon Gemeinhardt / Nancy Grayson) – consent agenda

  • Nurture and Parish Growth (Lisa Edwards) – no report

  • Financial Resources (Matt Swendiman / Josh Mitchell) – consent agenda

  • Physical Resources (Joe Creaghead) – consent agenda

  • Communications (Dennis Blom) – no report

  • Senior Warden (Nancy Grayson) – no report

  • Junior Warden (Paula Wolfe) – no report

Prayer: Peter D’Angio

Adjournment:

  • Moved: Joe Creaghead (2nd); Motion carried

Next Meeting:

  • Meeting, October 21, 2020, at 6:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Gina Russ

Clerk, Vestry

Parish Administrator
Previous

Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Minutes - October 21, 2020
Next

Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Meeting Minutes - August 10, 2020