Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Meeting Minutes - August 10, 2020

Trinity Episcopal Church

Vestry Minutes

Meeting via ZOOM video conferencing

August 10, 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

Vestry Members absent: Steve Van Allen

Clergy present: Peter D’Angio

Guests: John Deaver, Susan Blom, Shannon Gemeinhardt (via phone text)

Opening Prayer: Peter D’Angio

Call to Order: Peter D’Angio

Sharing by Vestry members

Adoption of Consent Agenda:

• Outreach Commission Report, July 2020 and Budget

• Family Ministry Report, August 2020

Moved: Paula Wolfe, Betty Mitchell (2nd); Motion carried

Adoption of July 2020 Minutes:

Moved: Nancy Grayson, Jean Brann (2nd) Motion carried

Old Business:

• Financial update

  • Giving continues to improve. Pledges have gone up over the last few months with people catching up. Received 50% of pledges over the last several months

  • Also received donations that were unexpected

  • Were only counting incoming checks once a month, will move to twice a month

  • More people giving using Trinity’s online tools available to them

Discussion

Moved: none

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

• Diocesan Apportionment

  • Our 2020 apportionment will be $125,398.80 which equals 18% of the 2018 income

Discussion

Moved: none

Motion was tabled until the Vestry approves the 2021 budget

New Business:

• Looking Ahead to Fall 2020

  • GENERAL INFORMATION

    • For now, Trinity has planned more outside services once a month – Sept. 6 and Oct. 4 Pet Blessing. Received compliments on outside service on Aug. 2. Why not more than once a month? It takes a lot of work to set up the outside services. Any changes to Trinity’s present guidelines must be approved by the Bishop. Peter and the staff are making the decisions about how many services will be held in the coming months due to COVID 19. There are no future plans for have services inside due to the Governor’s guidelines

    • Adding Wednesday night Evening Prayer via zoom and the website

    • May not be financially feasible to make Trinity signage to display in parishioner’s yards

    • Jim Swearingen had a suggestion to potentially provide “drive-by” wreaths for pickup before the first week of advent

  • SHANNON GEMEINHARDT, FAMILY MINISTRIES

    • The EYC will be split into two groups. Currently Trinity has 32 members

    • “Blessing packets” for the school children’s backpacks

  • JOHN DEAVER, MUSIC

    • Currently having hymn singing with the choir once a month. John wants to begin asking the congregation to join the Wednesday night choir party in hymn singing, starting in September and November. October will be the choir only

    • “Virtual” Midday Musical Menu live streaming will begin in September with an organ recital and continuing in October with a harpsichord recital, December will be a Christmas program

  • SUSAN BLOM, CARING CIRCLES, ETC.

    • The Caring Circles have been successful and many parishioners appreciate the program. All leaders were only committed to a few months and several of them are willing to commit to the end of the year

    • Many parishioners appreciate the gift bags. Thoughts about maybe sending gift bags out during the Thanksgiving holidays

    • Susan Blom will be leading a book discussion “Sisters of Scripture” in October

    • Vestry members wondered how Trinity was paying for the gift bags. Susan stated that most of this part of the program is run by volunteers and most of the items put into the bags are from the volunteers

Discussion; text from Shannon Gemeinhardt about Family Ministries; meetings with John Deaver about the music program and Susan Blom about Caring Circles, etc.

Moved: no; Motion carried

This was not a motion to approve, just a discussion

• Navigating political topics

  • For now, the vestry of Trinity will not discuss how to handle sensitive or controversial topics, most of which are political in nature like “Black Lives Matter”. The vestry will take up the discussion in the September meeting.

Discussion: no

Commission Reports:

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

• Outreach (Betty Mitchell) – consent agenda

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

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

• Financial Resources (Matt Swendiman / Josh Mitchell) – no report

• Physical Resources (Joe Creaghead) – consent agenda

• Communications (Dennis Blom) – no report

• Senior Warden (Nancy Grayson) – no report

• Junior Warden (Paula Wolfe) – no report

Adjournment:

• Moved: Jean Brann, Betty Mitchell (2nd); Motion carried

Next Meeting:

• Meeting, September 14, 2020, at 6:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Gina Russ

Clerk, Vestry