May Vestry Meeting
St. Johns Episcopal Church
Bangor, Maine
May 8, 2007
Present: Jeff Perry, Gary Creaser, Steven Brakey, Don Lewis, John Pickering, Jim Blanchette, Heather Souweine, Carolyn Leick, E.J. Hikel, Sue Gormley, Elizabeth Patches
Excused: Cassie Palmer
Opening Prayer: Fr. John opened the meeting with prayer and a reading from the Psalms.
Minutes of May 3 Vestry Meeting: There were no additions or corrections. Gary Creaser moved that the minutes be accepted as written.
E.J. Hikel seconded the motion. All approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Don Lewis reported the following:
Andy Tripp has been hired as our new bookkeeper. Andy must be away for a short time, and during that time, Jeff Kirsch will cover for him.
Don Lewis is working on a budget report lay-out that will be more effective and more understandable for those reviewing it.
Don stated that income currently is where he expects it to be. Expenses this winter have been a little higher due to oil prices. Some pledges have not been filled, but Don has been assured that they will be.
We have four more mortgage payments due on the tower.
Steven Brakey moved to accept the Treasurer’s report. Gary seconded the motion. All approved.
Warden’s Report: Gary Creaser reported that his time since the May 3 meeting has involved negotiations with Rev. Rita Steadman on the Rector’s compensation package.
Rector’s Report: Fr. Wingert asked that the Parochial Report be approved, and he and Don Lewis offered summaries of the financial and statistical sections. Don stated that $270,000 will be the amount on which we’ll be assessed by the Diocese. Fr. John reported the following statistics for St. Johns:
350 active members this year (last year we reported approximately 400 active members)
15 new members
8 Baptisms
9 marriages
9 burials
18 Sunday School children last June.
Gary Creaser moved to accept the Parochial Report. E. J. seconded the motion. All approved.
Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) Chair: Marisue Pickering has asked to be relieved of this duty. She will work with the new person taking over the position, and Fr. Wingert asked us to be thinking of individuals who might be interested in taking on this work.
Youth Group from Christ Church, Providence, R.I.: This group of approximately 15 teenagers would like to visit Bangor late in June and wishes to find a need and fill it. Various suggestions were given by Vestry members such as cosmetic projects in the church or the group home next to our side yard. The group wants to sleep in the undercroft of the Church. Father John will do some research to learn more about this group’s needs.
Report of the Diocesan Council: E.J. Hikel, elected representative to the Diocesan Council from our area, shared information from this council’s last meeting. The 2008 budget will be approved at the Convention in October. E.J. reported that 45% of the Diocese income is used for compensation of staff members. This percentage is about average for Diocese throughout the country, but New Hampshire and Iowa are states that use a lower percentage of income for staff compensation.
For those interested in attending, the next meeting of the Diocesan Council will take place in August.
New candidates for Bishop will be chosen and will visit various parts of the state during that month. They will come to Husson College sometime in September to meet with all interested Episcopalians in this area. In April or May of 2008, our new Bishop will be consecrated. The choice of our next Bishop is voted on at the convention in the Fall.
Finance Committee Report: Don Lewis explained that most of the recent Finance Committee meeting involved a discussion of the new Rector’s compensation package. He also talked about the Fort Fund which is used for camp scholarships for our youth, and he explained that if the money is not used in that manner, it is returned to the general budget for church use elsewhere. This year the finance committee has voted to award four children of the Chadbourne/St. Peter family scholarships to attend Bishopswood Camp. The vestry voted to award scholarships to additional St. Johns children if the need arises.
John Pickering moved that we accept these decisions regarding scholarships awarded. Jeff Perry seconded the motion. All members approved the motion.
Stewardship Committee: John asked about the procedure we follow for new members. Don Lewis stated that it is a good idea to offer a box of envelopes to new members and that when the all-parish canvassing takes place, they will receive the pledge cards that all parishioners receive.
Communications Committee: Steven Brakey reported that an ad was placed in the Bangor Daily News for Easter, and one was placed in the BDN the week before and the week after Easter as well.
Gary Creaser reported that Jenn is having difficulty with the web site and that Emma Creaser will provide any help needed.
Father Wingert reported that we had a larger attendance for Easter this year than we had last year. The total Easter attendance was 425, and the Easter Eve service included 75 in attendance with six Baptisms.
Property Committee Report: Jeff Perry has ordered changing tables for the undercroft and Vestry room bathrooms. He hopes to replace the rug in the wigglers’ room this summer, and he recommends that we carpet the entrance hall and stairway also. The frames of several of the entryway doors will be done after Rev. Steadman has arrived and has determined how she wishes to use the office space. The Choir vesting rooms need cosmetic attention. Jeff has not yet found someone to do the undercroft repairs and will talk about lighting and tower leaks with several vendors.
Education Report: Carolyn Leick reported that in September 20 children were enrolled in Sunday School. The number of children attending Sunday School has increased to 38. The children are collecting coins for their UTO boxes and are learning how the money is used around the world. The Sunday School teachers met for a meeting Sunday morning and made plans for Recognition Sunday. They are also working on a brochure for all families with children which will be given to all parents and visitors with children. Carolyn reported that the teachers are considering the possibility of changing to the Lectionary Curriculum in order that children will be studying the same scriptures their parents are hearing each Sunday in church. In this way, family conversations will take place more naturally and easily. The vestry members discussed the amount teachers would be given on gift cards from Borders, and we agreed that teachers would be given $50 each, and helpers would be given gift cards of $20. A motion was made, seconded and approved by all.
Worship Committee: John Pickering, Chair, asked Fr. Wingert if he had anything he wished to discuss before leaving his position as Interim Rector at St. Johns. Fr. Wingert said he had no concerns needing to be discussed at this time.
Tower Leak: Jeff Perry has been in conversation with various companies and has an estimate of about $10,000 for the work. However, he is planning to ask Huntley to add a drain which may take care of the leak and will cost only several hundred dollars. Jeff hopes to have this work completed before Memorial Day.
Contact with Detective Small: Fr. Wingert shared his conversation with Detective Small about the possibility of his sharing information re. sex offenders at a special meeting for all interested parishioners. Carolyn Leick suggested that this meeting might be more effective and better attended if it is held in the Fall because Sunday School will adjourn soon, and parent concern does not appear to be high. Don Lewis suggested that Det. Small attend another meeting in the Fall and that his visit be placed on the agenda of that meeting in order to assure good attendance. At that time, enthusiasm and interest in the new year of Sunday School will be more apparent.
Vestry Training: Fr. Wingert explained that he had cancelled the Vestry training session because of difficulty in sorting out sections of the Canons and state laws in a PDF format. He now has help with that and asked whether the Vestry wished to do Vestry training soon.
Carolyn Leick recommended that Vestry training be done when our new Rector is on board. Sue Gormley recommended that Rev. Steadman be asked what her recommendation would be. Gary Creaser will ask Rev. Steadman for her recommendation on when it would be best to do Vestry training.
Lighting at 234 and 225 French Street: Jeff Perry shared ideas for possibly changing the lighting fixtures in the Parish House, and he led a discussion on lighting in the sanctuary where it is inadequate. Many people have difficulty reading their hymnals and prayer books.
Termination Date for Fr. Wingert and Supply Arrangements: Fr. Wingert’s last Sunday will be June 8. He has contacted Rev. Ian Backus to do Supply Work the last three Sundays of July, but he has not yet heard back from Rev. Backus.
Office Hours: Since office hours were changed to four days per week to save on heating and oil charges, Fr. Wingert suggested that we now return to office hours 5 days per week.
Don Lewis moved that this take place, and Gary Creaser seconded the motion. The motion was accepted by all.
Summer Vestry Meetings: It was decided by the Vestry that we meet in July and August but not in June.
Adele Inferrera’s Music Camp Scholarship: Don Lewis voted that this scholarship be supported by the choir fund and that the vestry support the scholarship based on the recommendation of the Choir Committee.
Steven Brakey announced that he has decided to leave St. Johns. He has made arrangements for the advertisement materials of the Communications Committee to be available to the next chair of that committee. The Vestry will appoint a Vestry member to take Steven’s place at its next meeting in July. John Pickering asked for a strong applause for Steven’s very hard work and for the many hours of time he has given to St. Johns. The Vestry applauded heartily and warmly Steven’s much appreciated and dedicated work.
It was moved, seconded and approved that the meeting be adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carolyn Leick