St. John’s Parish – Annual Meeting January 27, 2002 Table of … · 2015. 1. 27. · Mr. Pat DiMasi, Mr. Bill Drew, and Mr. John * One of today’s candidates Svehlak – Sextons

St. John’s Parish – Annual MeetingJanuary 27, 2002

Table of Contents

Page

Vision Statement 2St. John’s Staff 3Recipients of St. John’s Order of the Eagle 4Annual Parish Meeting Agenda 5Voting List – January 2002 6Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting, January 28, 2001 9Treasurer’s Report 11Rector’s Annual Report 15Parish Statistics 18Curate’s Report 19Senior Warden’s Annual Report & Budget 20Junior Warden’s Annual Report 23Report of the Deacon 24Liturgical Council Report 25Integrity 25Seminarians’ Report 26Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries 27Card Ministry 27House Committee 28Meatloaf Ministry 29Archive Committee 29Outreach Council/AmeriCares/Team 2000 30Earth Ministry 32Librarian’s Report 33Vergers 33Altar Guild 34Report of the Close Committee 34Annual Report of the Ushers 35Christian Education 36Minister of Music 37ECW – White Envelope Report 37Broadway on the Green 38Bazaar 2001 39LEM Report 39St. John’s Parish Bylaws 40

Vision Statement

St. John’s Episcopal ChurchIs an open, inclusive, God-centered parish:

+Recognizing Christ in every person,Supporting each individual’s Spiritual Journey,

Nurturing all God’s children in the Peace of the Lord.

+Creating a community of sacramental worship,hospitality, and compassion.

+Empowering people to serve and minister,Reaching out to heal and make new the broken world,

Proclaiming God’s promise in truth and courage.

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Vestry of St. Johns Staff of St. John’s

Senior Warden, Pam Toffey (2003) The Rev. Dr. James G. Bradley, RectorJunior Warden, Linda Pomeroy (2002) The Rev. Mary M. Gates, CurateTreasurer, Steven Minkler Mrs. Harriet Fotter, Parish AdministratorClerk, Patricia Daniels The Rev. Dr. Ronald Cebik, Deacon (retired)

Mr. Robert Havery, Minister of MusicClass of 2003 Class of 2004 Mrs. Diane Platt, Director ofRichard Lee Renee Baril Christian EducationStan Chesnas Donna Gervickas Mr. Stephen Arbogast, Seminarian AssociateVerdell Bush Edgar Young Mrs. Malinda Johnson, Seminarian Associate*Open George Zucca Mrs. Susan Pronovost, Parish Secretary

Mr. Pat DiMasi, Mr. Bill Drew, and Mr. John* One of today’s candidates Svehlak – Sextons will serve the unexpired term to 2003 The Rev. John Parker, The Rev. David

Gurniak, & The Rev. David Pritchard –Class of 2005 Priest AssociatesJames M. Anthony, Jr. The Rev. William Penny, Thursday AssociateLorene CastleFrank DaddonaSue JeffersonBrian Ladden

Chairs of Councils/Committees

Finance Council Pam Toffey, Sr. WardenProperty Council Linda Pomeroy, Jr. Warden

House Committee Dick Harris and Ted BojarskiLong Range Planning Steve Minkler

Liturgical Council Jim Bradley, RectorAltar Guild Gertrude PayneUshers Bill PayneLiturgical Assistants Mary Gates, CurateVergers Helen Pritchard

Music Ministry Robert HaveryEarth Ministry Sonja OsbornChristian Education Diane PlattStewardship Robert ToffeyWomen of St. John’s Dorothy LeavenworthLibrary Marcia HolroydMembership David and Jan GurniakAdult Education Mary Gates, CurateSeminarian Support Pinki Chillemi

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Recipients of St. John’s Order of the Eagle

1990 The Rev. Jeffrey Dugan 1996 Sue JeffersonGeorge Adams James TerrellMary Terrell Charles McManisLawrence Brown Dorothy LeavenworthEdward Jefferson Fr. Jack ParkerHenry Friez Margaret BaranoskiJudith McManis

1991 Doris Large 1997 Gertrude PayneRoberta Santa Maria Linda PomeroyAlice Mancinone Richard ClarkMary Treat Richard HarrisNancy Santopietro Curtiss Hunt

William and Kathleen Dobkins

1992 Mary Friez 1998 Brian LaddenMary Marlak Ted BojarskiLester Shepard Sarah HainesLucy Kellogg Pam ToffeyMargaret Crooks Kay BerginPeter Holroyd Dr. John ShearerWillis Payne Sonja Osborn

Jeanne LuedkeMarcia Holroyd

1993 Raymond Nole 1999 Kathy HainesAnne Allen Delmar NelsonLois Mraz John SabolLydia Shearer Jane Yuhas

1994 Donald Pomeroy 2000 Jim BradleySteven Minkler

1995 Elsie Flink 2001 Tom ButcherRobert Toffey Ron CebikLillian Brown Bill GarretsonDavid Couch Lucylle LaddenAlbert Lange Helen SinnottRobert Cook

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2002 Annual MeetingSt. John’s ParishJanuary 27, 2002

(In the 270th Year of St. John’s Life as a Parish)

Agenda

I. Opening PrayerII. Call to order and establishment of a quorum.III. Approval of the minutes of the 2001 Annual Meeting.IV. Report of the Nominating Committee and election.V. Presentation of the 2002 budget.VI. Acceptance of reports as printed.VII. Presentation of the Order of the Eagle.VIII. Other business as needed.IX. Dismissal and hymn.

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2002 Voting Member List

Rae Abell Dorothy ColeSandy Allard Virginia ColeAnne Allen Susan ColemanJay Anthony William CondaLillian Baldwin Mary ConklinMargaret Baranoski Norma ConnorRobert Baranoski Bob CookRenee Baril Tom CookSt. Claire Benjamin Jim CostelloGertrude Benjamin George CoulsonGeorge Bequary Martha CoulsonCarol Bequary Philip CoyleKay Bergin Dorothea CraneClara Bigelow Eleanor CreanLisa Blaszczyk Freda CzakoDonna Bock Frank DaddonaEvelyn Bodor Joseph DanielTed Bojarski Monica DanielPat Bojarski Patty DanielsJim Bradley Glenn DeCarolisBern Bradley Anna DeCarolisWilliam Breslin Marie DeRisoLaura Breslin Karyn DiTomasoJeffrey Brown Joseph DiTomasoBetsy Brown Lowell DwyerLillian Brown Greg EmmensVerdell Bush Arlene EmmensTom Butcher Milagros EscobarDiane Caggiano Dorothy FergusonCathy Caraballo Jan FigliaMichele Carrano Thomas FlanaganLorene Castle Bonnie FlanaganPhyllis Catuccio Michael ForresterRonald Cebik Maria ForresterRuth Cebik Harriet FotterStan Chesnas Joanne FrazineMaryann Chesnas Henry FriezPinki Chillemi Mary FriezShirley Chouinard Susan Friez

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Albert Gambino Brian LaddenTheresa Gambino Lucylle LaddenCatherine Gannon Lila LangeBill Garretson Burton LaveyElaine Garretson Constance LaveyMary Gates Denise LawsonDan Gates Dorothy LeavenworthPeter Gervickas Richard LeeDonna Gervickas Melita LucasLillian Gonzalez Jeanne LuedkeRichard Grandpre George MacDonaldDavid Gurniak Alan MancinoneJanet Gurniak Alice MancinoneSarah Haines Russell MarcyEileen Hamilton Mary MarlakGale Hamilton Tony MarquesDick Harris Jennifer MarquesSally Harris Galo MarriottPeter Hartley Michelle MastropietroBonni Hartley Jill MatteisBob Havery Gerard McDonaldDoris Hollenstein Michael McDonaldMarcia Holroyd Sharon McDonaldBarbara Howe Elaine McDonnellJoan Huggins John McNairCurtiss Hunt Susan McNairAmelia Iorio Steve MinklerMarcel Jeannin Karen MinklerAlison Jeannin Alison MirandoSue Jefferson Michael MisurelliSandy Jellinghaus Beth MisurelliJannice Johnston Janet MitchellJoan Kachergis Mildred MorroneCharles Kellogg Lois MrazGil Kirby Thomas NelsonThecla Kirby Delmar NelsonEdith Klein Gus NoonanPatricia Klein Joyce NoonanEugene Knight Tom O’BrienMatthew Kosky Sonja OsbornHolly Kosky Mae Osborn

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Vivian Ospalek Bob ToffeyCarol Parker Pam ToffeyJack Parker Anthony VaccarelliMarjorie Parker Anne VaccarelliBill Payne Charlotte VanasseGert Payne Elizabeth VermetteDon Pomeroy Jeremy VermetteLinda Pomeroy Vinnie ViegaDavid Pritchard Elena ViegaHelen Pritchard Louis WarrenZenith Punter Elaine WarrenDon Regan Christopher WebberSandra Regan Michelle WebberLynn Riemer Leo WebberKaren Rodgers Brenda WebberAlice Rosado Renatta WebberLucille Ryczer Lorraine WeidJohn Sabol William WeilerRoseanne Sabol Bonnie WeilerBobbie Santa Maria Roger WheelerElizabeth Santoro Ryan WhiteErnest Savoy Angela WhiteLinnea Savoy Howard WoodsMabel Schuster Jane WoodsMolly Sherman Mary Ellen YashenkoAnne Shove Flora YoungMichael Sims Loribeth YoungJudy Sims Edgar YoungHelen Sinnott Jane YuhasAndrew Skipp John YuhasLinda Snyder George ZuccaJune SpataRay SperringChristine StolfiPam StrassnerMontgomery TaylorRenee TaylorPeter TaylorSharon TaylorPeter TchakiridesMary Terrell

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ST. JOHN’S PARISHANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

JANUARY 28, 2001

The meeting was called to order at 11:40 a.m. by Pamela Toffey, Senior Warden.The Reverend Dr. James Bradley opened the meeting with a prayer.

The Senior Warden asked all voting members to raise their hand; it was then agreed that at least15 percent of the eligible voters were in attendance.

The Reverend James Bradley asked all to preview the annual meeting minutes of January 23,2000; minutes accepted as printed.

NOMINATIONS

The nominating committee, Jeanne Luedke, Glenn DeCarolis, and Bill Garretson, nominated thefollowing individuals for the Vestry:

Officers: Parish Clerk – Patricia DanielsTreasurer - Edward JeffersonSr. Warden – Pamela ToffeyJr. Warden – Linda Pomeroy

3 year term: Renee Baril, Donna Gervickas, Edward Young, George Zucca1 year term: Lorene Castle

All nominees were unanimously approved. All were sworn in by the Reverend Dr. Bradley.Steven Minkler was appointed and sworn in as the Asst. Treasurer by the Rev. Dr. Bradley.

The Rev. Bradley thanked outgoing Vestry members: Jeffrey Brown, Jeanne Luedke, HelenPritchard, and John Sabol.

The Rev. Dr. Bradley appointed Donald Pomeroy and Lillian Brown as Delegates to Convention andDeanery. Alternates are the Senior and Junior Wardens.

The Reverend James Bradley appointed Sarah Haines and Ted Bojarski as GWIM (GreaterWaterbury Interfaith Ministries) liaisons. Richard Harris and Ted Bojarski were appointed asco-chairs of the House Committee.

FINANCIAL REPORT – reviewed by the treasurer and accepted as printed.

The annual budget for the year 2001 was reviewed.

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ANNUAL REPORTSAll reports in the Annual Report dated January 28, 2001, and its addendum were reviewed andaccepted.

Order of the Eagle – presented to Lucylle Ladden, Tom Butcher, Bill Garretson and the Rev. RonCebik, Deacon.

Good and WelfareThe Glebe Land has been sold; all transactions have been completed.

The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________Patricia DanielsParish Clerk

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Treasurer’s Report - 2001

This report is dedicated to the memory of Edward Jefferson, long-serving Treasurer of St. John’swho died this past year. I cannot imagine having served as Senior Warden without Ed there asthe brains and memory of the Parish leadership. His wise counsel, and patience with me, I shallalways remember. God bless, Ed.

In the world of finance, St. John’s Parish would be considered a small business if it weren’t aparish Church. Our building is open seven days a week for most of the year. We employ ninestaff members. Our annual budget is approaching $500,000. We hold over $3 million ininvestments, and own nearly $8 million in buildings and real estate. We have been debt-free formany years. And, if we were to count all of our tangible assets, we would find another $2 millionor more in property such as stained glass, organs, pianos, chandeliers, furniture, etc.

Our buildings and our wealth are gifts from the past. After all, we’ve been “in business” for nearly270 years! We rely heavily on this legacy today, to pay for most of what allows St. John’s tominister and serve the greater Waterbury community. Withdrawals from our investment accountspay for nearly two-thirds of our operating expenses. Our grandparents and great-grandparentscontinue to help us “pay the bills.” The good news is: They left us a rainy day account, and it’sraining outside.

The Officers, the Vestry, and the Staff are committed to being good stewards over the business ofSt. John’s. We struggle to ensure that the Parish lives into its Vision Statement, and that we havethe resources to do so. Our call to stewardship includes preserving our legacy – our buildings,grounds, and investments – so that they can be used today and for generations to come. Werealize that the long-term financial health of St. John’s rests on the commitment and contributionsof us in the present.

You and I – all of us who are members of St. John’s – need to start being responsible for morethan just one-third of our annual expenses. We need to strike an appropriate balance betweenliving in the present, and living off the past. I pray that we find that balance in 2002 and the yearsto come.

The following are Financial Statements for the 2001 budget year:• Financial Statement, Unaudited: income and expenses of our Annual Operating

Budget;• Off-Budget Account: a checking account that receives and disburses monies for special

donations and capital improvement projects;• Money Market Account: a high-yield savings account where special donations and

certain monies are placed temporarily to earn a greater interest rate.

Year-end results from our investments were not available at this writing. They will be presented inan addendum to the Annual Report.

Many thanks to Mary and Henry Friez and to Pat and Ted Bojarski for their dedication to counting,recording, and banking the weekly receipts, and to Harriet Fotter for keeping the records faithfully.

Respectfully submitted, Steven Minkler, Treasurer11

Financial Statement - 2001

Financial Statement -2001Unaudited

Income

Item 2000 2001 2001 Over

Actual Projected Actual (Under)

Pledges & Offerings 153,272.16 156,500.00 156,751.04 251.04Donations 11,275.60 15,750.00 17,822.50 2,072.50Investments 270,890.02 287,000.00 292,041.98 5,041.98

Other 2,354.07 - (1,720.18) (1,720.18)

Total 437,791.85 459,250.00 464,895.34 5,645.34

Expenses

Item 2000 2001 2001 Over

Actual Projected Actual (Under)

Salaries & Benefits 271,191.42 278,047.51 274,358.59 (3,688.92)Building Upkeep/Maintenance 83,826.01 90,000.00 97,080.31 7,080.31Office Administration 19,836.55 21,650.00 20,980.87 (669.13)Parish Programs 26,921.18 20,200.00 23,349.84 3,149.84Outside Parish 41,400.00 40,200.00 40,200.00 -

Miscellaneous 250.00 1,350.00 1,626.00 276.00

Total 443,425.16 451,447.51 457,595.61 6,148.10

***************************************

Operating Account: 2001 2001 Over

Actual Projected (Under)

Opening Balance 19,413.91

2001 Income 464,895.34 459,250.00 5,645.34

Total Receipts 484,309.25

2001 Disbursements 457,595.61 451,447.51 6,148.10

Closing Balance 26,713.64 (502.76)

Adjustment for withholding -505.13Adjusted Balance 26,208.51

* Investment Return: Vestry 2/12/01 meeting approved monthly increase in remittance as follows:Unrestricted Fund = increase to $17,500 (from $15,000)Budde Fund = increase to $1,700 (from $1,500)

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Off-Budget/Money Market - 2001

Off-Budget AccountBalance Balance

as of Receipts/ Disbursements/ as of

Category 1/1/2001 Transfers Transfers 12/31/2001Altar Flowers 593.93 2650.00 4457.65 (1213.72)Archives 97.73 127.27 225.00 (0.00)

Arts Ministry 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Bazaars, etc. 3841.73 7140.34 10080.90 901.17Bequests 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Bishops Fund 567.45 978.78 1526.23 20.00Budde Fund 633.68 2927.00 1310.68 2250.00

Camp Washington 66.35 620.00 620.00 66.35

Capital 206.14 161615.00 135802.75 26018.39Church School 180.41 62.00 0.00 242.41Close Fund 136.81 50.00 1299.80 (1112.99)Cookbooks (65.23) 125.23 60.00 (0.00)Donations 2120.57 10889.92 10705.34 2305.15

Earth Ministry 505.22 0.00 0.00 505.22

Furniture Fund 263.84 982.92 1246.76 0.00Memorial 3377.30 20536.53 10653.64 13260.19Nursery 865.83 0.00 0.00 865.83Organ Fund 235.28 149.68 0.00 384.96Piano Fund 3994.72 19428.57 23423.29 (0.00)Save Our Windows 23.93 60.00 0.00 83.93

Senior Ministry 204.56 0.00 0.00 204.56

Theological Education 706.76 0.00 0.00 706.76United Thank Offering (64.73) 75.23 75.23 (64.73)Wheeler 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Interest(Bank charge) 0.00 567.09 0.00 567.09

18492.27 228985.56 201487.27 45990.56

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Off-Budget/Money Market - 2001

Money Market Account (formerly High Yield)

Balance Balanceas of Receipts/ Disbursements/ as of

Category 1/1/2001 Transfers Transfers 12/31/2001Altar Flowers 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Archives 312.96 0.00 127.27 185.69Arts Ministry 789.53 0.00 0.00 789.53Bazaars, etc. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Bequests 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Bishops Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Budde Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Camp Washington 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Capital 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Church School 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Close Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Cookbooks 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Donations 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Earth Ministry 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Furniture Fund 2161.54 0.00 982.92 1178.62Memorial 9415.66 0.00 0.00 9415.66Nursery 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Organ Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Piano Fund 13070.38 0.00 13070.38 0.00Save Our Windows (Shepard Fund) 2169.49 0.00 0.00 2169.49Senior Ministry 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Theological Education 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00United Thank Offering 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00Wheeler 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Interest(Bank charge) 0.00 1092.84 0.00 1092.8427919.56 1092.84 14180.57 14831.83

Real Property

Church & Parish House $7,434,747.00 (Appraised January 1996)Parking Lot No appraisalGarage $20,192.67

Misc. Equipment $4,200.00Total $7,459,139.67

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The Rector’s Annual Report

A call for new disciples…

No matter what year it is, the Gospel reading for the day of St. John’s Annual Meeting isalways one of the versions of Jesus calling his first disciples. This year, we hear that call fromMatthew’s Gospel. Last year we heard it from the Gospel according to Luke. Next year we will hearit from Mark. No matter what year it is, this particular Sunday is the Sunday we hear about Jesuscalling his disciples to come and follow.

To come and follow….

This is my 13th Annual Meeting as the Rector of St. John’s. I’m not at all superstitious, sothe number 13 doesn’t phase me at all. But if you are superstitious, I would remind you that I washere for the Annual Meeting in January of 1987 because I was St. John’s supply priest for fourmonths while the parish searched for a full time interim priest. I was the bridge between Fr. JimWilson and Fr. Jeff Dugin. And then, in June 1989, I was called to be your Rector. So, for thesuperstitious among us, this is actually the 14th Annual Meeting of St. John’s I’ve attended. For thesuperstitious among us, last year should have been the year you felt a little uneasy—and for goodreason.

I have a confession to make. Confession, I’ve been told, is good for the soul. So, for mysoul’s sake, I have a confession to make to God in your presence. The last year, until a month orso ago, has been difficult and confounding for me. I have wrestled with my angel, doubted mycall, struggled with my vocation, wondered where I should be. Most of you don’t know what somefew of you do know. I seriously considered leaving St. John’s during the past year. I was one ofthe final candidates for the position of Dean of the Cathedral of St. Mark’s in Minneapolis.Members of the Search Committee for St. Mark’s Cathedral visited me here in Waterbury and wereguests in our home. The next step was for me to visit them in Minneapolis. For five months I wasdeeply involved in that process. I was seeking to discern where I would spend the last years of myministry—here at St. John’s or in Minnesota. I had become so confused about my call to be yourRector that I needed to “test it” by considering another call, another ministry.

On Tuesday, December 11 of last year, I phoned the Chairman of the Search Committee ofSt. Mark’s in Minneapolis to share some of my concerns after the visit of members of hiscommittee. I called to share my concerns, and what I heard myself saying to him was this: “Ireally feel called to stay at St. John’s. That’s what I think God is telling me. So, I want to withdrawfrom your process. I’m staying here. Here is where I’m supposed to be….”

Until I heard myself speaking those words I didn’t realize how true it was. Sometimesdiscernment happens in the unconscious part of life and comes unexpectedly bubbling to thesurface. In the six weeks since I made that phone call I have rediscovered my passion andexcitement about my ministry here with you. My “call” to be your Rector needed to be tested. Lastfall I was telling a friend of mine who is a priest in Washington, DC, that I was struggling withwhether I should leave St. John’s or not. He told me that there is a body of research that showsthat after 12 years in the same ministry, most priests begin to question their call. The researchersdiscovered that more often than would have been expected, the 12th year in one place is a time ofwrestling with your angels, questioning your purpose and effectiveness, wondering if you shouldmove on.

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One of the things I wish could have happened was to have involved the whole parish in mywrestling and questioning and wondering. I think we as a parish need to “discern” our ministrytogether. By considering another option, I got back in touch with the challenge and excitementand passion of my ministry here, with you. I believe it would be a healthy and holy thing if we allwrestled with our angels for a while. So, I am inviting you to a period of discernment about ourcommon life as a parish and about our shared vision for the future of St. John’s ministry. We willbegin by revisiting the work some 60 members of the parish did in December 2000 during aweekend with Alice Mann of the Alban Institute.

During that weekend, those who participated shared with great honesty and integrity abouttheir experience of St. John’s. It was a risky and challenging weekend. And when it was over,there was no “follow up” to the work we began. For my part, I think that where we stopped at theend of that weekend had brought us to a place of Risk and Challenge I was not ready to address. Ithink we all realized that we were being called to step out of the boat and follow Jesus in a newway. And the old way seemed safer and more comfortable. The line of least resistance was tosimply continue the established patterns and not step off into the unknown.

I just wasn’t ready to take the next step. Maybe we weren’t ready as a parish to riskenough and go to unsafe places and involve ourselves in difficult dialog about St. John’s problemsand issues. Discernment is never “safe”. God may just call us to a future we didn’t expect. AndGod will always call us to risk loss. The call and promise of Jesus is clear: “You must lose yourlife to find it.” I had to consider and risk “losing my ministry” here, with you, in order to find itagain, all new and transformed.

That is the experience we need as a parish and a community—we must “lose our life” aswe know it, in order to find it again in a new and powerful way. We must redefine and rediscoverour call in this time and this place so that we might “call” others to join with us. The Promise ofChrist to his disciples, someone once said, consisted of three things: “they would be remarkablypowerful, astonishingly joyous and always in trouble!” I know, for my part, I’ve been willing to be“a little” powerful and “a little” joyous so that I could avoid the trouble altogether.

That simply isn’t good enough for me any more. I need to get out of the boat and followJesus where he might lead. It seems to me, we as a parish need to do that as well. And it won’t besafe or easy and we’ll find trouble enough along the way. But we will be “creating a future thatwouldn’t have happened anyway….”

You see, there is a “future” for St. John’s that will happen anyway unless we decide to getout of the boat and lose our life so we can find it new. That future that will happen anywaywould be pleasant enough for many of us. That future would be safe and comfortable andwouldn’t involve much risk or trouble. But it simply isn’t good enough for us. We need to live intothe call Jesus gave his new disciples when they stepped out of their boats and followed him intothe unknown. If those first disciples had stayed in their boats, their future would have been easyto predict. By following Jesus they created a future that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

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(I’ve asked Bill Garretson, the new Junior Warden you will elect today, to work with me andMary Gates and a small number of others to begin to create a process of discernment andvisioning for St. John’s that will lead us to create a future that wouldn’t have happenedotherwise. We will seek God’s help in “starting something” that we aren’t sure where it’sgoing….And we will, rapidly, begin to involve others in the conversation. We will start in the middleand work in both directions. And the goal is to involve every member of the parish eventually.There’s not much more than that I can say, because the very nature of discernment is that there’sno way of telling where it will lead us and no way of knowing what the future will hold. Getting outof the boat and following is simply like that…..Whenever you agree to “let God be in charge” thingsget out of hand right away!)

We’ve been “stuck” for the past year. Maybe 13 is an unlucky number after all! But Jesus iscalling us to get out of the boat now. We are invited to become fishers of men and women—to callnew disciples to journey with us to the Lover of Souls. Power and Joy and Trouble lie ahead. Holdonto your hat. The best is yet to come. Finding our Life as a Parish in a new and transformedway—a way blessed and led by God—will be more than worth what we first need to lose.

I have never looked forward to a year of ministry and life the way I look forward to thisnext year. I am so humbled and so privileged to have been given the challenge and excitementand passion of this ministry again. And I can hardly wait for the future we will create—a futurethat wouldn’t have happened otherwise…..

God bless you and keep you in this new year. There’s some trouble out there with ournames on it….some trouble we need to get into….and Joy and Power like we’ve never known.What Grace! What Glory! Amen.

Shalom,

Jim

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ANNUAL REPORTPARISH STATISTICS

Year BaptismsConfirmation

Reception Marriages Burials1997 26 15 11 161998 25 * 16 181999 16 5 11 222000 15 6 13 252001 20 18 10 20

*No Bishop’s visit in 1998.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT ALL SERVICES

Year Attendance% Increase(Decrease)

1997 18,8371998 18,987 +.8%1999 16,085 -15.3%2000 16,519 +2.7%2001 17,450 +5.6%

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Annual Report of the Curate

It ‘s been a strange year. Typically my report to you is just that: a report. I recount for you all ofthe things I have done in the past year. I report the details and statistics of all the areas ofministry that I am responsible for. Those things have not changed. There were parenting groups,young people confirmed (including a pre-Confirmation sleepover in the church which reminded mejust how old I am.) We expanded the Sharon House Garden Project to three times its original size,and got the Lutheran Church involved in that project. And we had a Harvest Festival to celebratethat ministry and our connectedness to the earth. We hired a new church school director andbegan to plan for a future that would be more child-friendly. All of these things are very importantto the life of St John’s and to my ministry as a priest, but somehow they were all overshadowed bywhat has happened in our world since September 11th.

Recently a friend who works for Trinity Church on Wall Street in New York City told me that he issick of hearing about Sept.11th. He wanted to move on and let it go, but the world around him didnot seem to want the same thing. On the one hand I agree with him, it’s time to move on. Onthe other, I would be remiss if I pretended that Sept 11th had not happened and had not coloredmy ministry both here and other places.

For ten weeks in the Fall I was a volunteer Red Cross chaplain at Ground Zero and the morguelocated there. It was a ministry of listening. Listening to the anger and rage and sadness andlonging that Sept 11th evoked. I heard the desire for revenge and the longings for peace – apeace that would not simply be the absence of war, but a peace that would include the peoples ofthe world who are poor and oppressed; a peace that would ultimately free us from the threat ofterrorism. I listened to people’s fears and hopes. And I was forced to face my own feelings: myinitial revulsion when I saw the graveyard that had once been the Twin Towers; and the sadnessand anger and confusion surfaced by my own helplessness. As you can imagine, I was changedby the experience.

Since Sept 11th I have been a little more reflective. I have wondered more often what it is thatGod desires of me. I have thought more often about how I spend my time and my money, andbeen aware of how often I live as though I had all the time in the world. Sept 11th has given me agreater sense of urgency about life, and I am grateful for that.

I think my friend at Trinity Wall St is right: it’s time to move on. But if we move on simply to put itbehind us, to forget, to get on with our lives without reflecting on what we have learned, or whatwe need to learn, then Sept 11th will simply be another date, another chapter in history that likelywill be repeated. And those who died will have died in vain.

My prayer for all of us is that the new year will be less anxious and fearful than the one that haspassed. And that we will each have the courage to ask where we are going and what is it thatGod desires of us. Thank you for allowing me to live out my priesthood at St John’s.

Faithfully, Mary

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Senior Warden’s Report

The past year at St. John's has been quiet from a Sr. Warden's point of view. There have been nosabbaticals, no towers or parking lots to worry about as prior Wardens did. We did have thelibrary and parish hall cleaned and repointed, and it made a big difference in the look of thebuilding. At this point, we've completed the major repairs that will keep our building standing wellinto the future. This is something we need to acknowledge ourselves for. We have been verygood stewards of our physical building, and we, and those that follow us, will reap the rewards ofthat stewardship.

Our financial picture is something of concern to me. We have an endowment which supports two-thirds of our budget. In order to do that, we annually use not only the interest and dividends, butwe remove large amounts of principle. This is not principle used to fund capital projects, but tokeep the doors open. In past years, while this has been a concern, our investments have done sowell that we have hardly noticed it. That is not the case this year. Our endowments are not anever-ending source of funds that will always be there. If we continue to remove money from theendowments at our current rate, we will eventually (not in our lifetime, but maybe in the life timeof the children of St John's) use it all. This is a challenge that we all have to consider prayerfully.We need to turn around our percentages and fund two thirds of our budget with parishcontributions. The Vestry and Financial Council will be discussing this in our plans for the future ofSt. John’s, but it is not a problem that can be fixed by committees, it is a commitment that needsto be faced on an individual level.

St. John's is an amazing place. If you came in here during the week, you'd see a whole differentSt. John's than the “Sunday St. John's”. You would see many people who call St. John's theirparish, who are never seen on Sunday. You'd see groups meeting, people cleaning, the office staffworking, Jim and Mary coming and going on their various rounds and meetings. The work donehere is important to everyone it touches. I want to thank Harriet and Sue, Bill, John and Pat for allof their work in keeping St. John's running. The staff at St. John’s is a remarkable group and weall owe them a big THANK YOU!!

On a personal note, I want to thank two people in particular. Linda Pomeroy, who is leaving thepost of Jr. Warden this year, has been an invaluable asset to this Parish and to me in particular,and I will miss her as Jr. Warden. Thanks for all of your work, take a well-deserved rest!!

I also want to thank Ed Jefferson. Ed was a mentor to me in the financial workings of St. John’s.I still expect to see him in the office when I show up on Friday mornings. There will always be ahole in the heart of St. John’s, filled with Ed’s spirit. He is missed greatly.

I wish to thank the members of the Financial Council; Kay Bergin, Ted Bojarski, Jim Bradley, DickHarris, Richard Lee, Steve Minkler, Willis Payne, Don Pomeroy & George Zucca; for all of theirhard work this year.

If you are interested in serving on the Financial Council, please see me or call me or e-mail me atany time. It’s a great way to get a real understanding of the financial picture at St. John’s and tohave a voice in shaping our financial strategies for the future.

Respectfully submitted,20 Pamela Toffey

Saint John’s ParishBudget-2002 – Proposed

INCOME ProjectedItem 2002 Notes

1 Plate Offering 5000.002 Pledge Payments Current 145,000.003 Pledge Payments Prior 0.004 Easter Offering 3,000.005 Christmas Offering 4,000.006 Special Services 500.007 Total Pledges/Offerings 157,500.00

8 Parking Lot 14,000.009 Room Donations 3,750.00

10 Total Donations 17,750.00

12 Elton/Chipman Funds 32,000.0013 Griffith’s Outreach Endowment14 Total Investment Income 32,000.00

15 Miscellaneous 0.00

16 TOTAL INCOME 207,250.0017 DISBURSEMENTS 466,518.8218 SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) (259,268.82)

Available from investments (8%) 259,650.00Needed from other sources/budgetdecreases

(381.18)

DISBURSEMENTS ProjectedItem 2002 Notes

1 Rector & Assistant 69,478.172 Sexton & Assistants 23,812.483 Organists 17,769.314 Office Administration 44,212.755 Christian Ed Director 5,143.146 FICA (Employer’s Share) 5,058.587 Group Med & Dental Insurance 43,800.008 Pensions 22,070.439 Travel 5,020.00

10 Clergy Housing 40,723.9611 Continuing Education 2,460.0012 Nursery – Babysitting 570.0013 Salaries & Benefits 280,118.8214 Property Insurance 30,000.00 a15 Fuel, Electric & Water 30,000.0016 Maintenance & Repairs 8,400.0017 Cleaning Service 15,200.00 b18 Snow Removal 6,000.0019 Housekeeping 7,800.0020 Total – Buildings 97,400.00

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Saint John’s ParishBudget-2002 – Proposed

DISBURSEMENTS ProjectedItem 2002 Notes

21 Postage 3,300.0022 Telephone/Internet Access 3,250.0023 Office, General 4,000.0024 Office Equipment Rental 5,500.0025 Payroll Preparation 2,600.0026 Archival Supplies & Services 1,500.0027 Computer 1,800.0028 Total – Office Administration 21,950.00

29 Christian Education 2,500.0030 Adult Education 1,500.031 Parish Development 750.0032 Publicity & Advertising 750.0033 Library 100.0034 Liturgical Supplies 2,500.0035 Music & Choir 2,000.0036 Maint. Of Instruments 3,500.00 c37 Publications 1,000.0038 Outrider 4,000.0039 Stewardship 1,000.0040 Celebrations 2,000.0041 Earth Ministry 100.0042 Youth Ministry 500.0043 Total – Parish Programs 22,200.00

44 Diocesan Pledge 36,000.00 d45 Gr. Waterbury Interfaith Min. 7,500.0046 Community School 0.0047 Griffiths Outreach Grants 0.0048 Total – Outside Parish 43,500.00

49 MEEP 250.0050 Legal 500.0051 Audits 600.0052 Miscellaneous/Rounding 0.0053 Total – Other 1,350.00

54 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS 466,518.82

Notes:a Includes 25% increase in rate from the Dioceseb Includes $1,200 for stripping and waxing hall, Library, Nursery, Bathroomsc Reflects need for outside maintenanced Includes increase over 2001 to begin working back up to 12.5%

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Junior Warden’s Annual Report

Defining the role of the Jr. Warden continued to plague me this year as it has in the past twoyears. This is mainly due to the fact that we have an excellent Parish Administrator in HarrietFotter. She handles so many of the everyday emergencies calling in the necessary vendors orvolunteers (not necessarily in that order) to get the job done in an expedient manor. All of thesecalls fell on the shoulders of the Jr. Warden prior to my term making the position a verydemanding and exhausting three years. I did not have to deal with these kinds of issues on adaily basis.

In the past few weeks I have come to the realization that the title of Warden was not importantbut rather what I did with that title. It has been a time for me to step up, to be a leader, to leadby example, to be a visible and integral part of this Parish. Since the “9/11 attack on our Nation, Ithink many of us have stopped to look at our lives, to see where we have been and where we aregoing. Now is the time for us to take a close look at where we have been as a Parish. Where dowe want to be at the end of 2002? What have we done to cause growth both in parishioners andfinancially? What have we done to spread The Word?

Our buildings are in great shape. The painting continues (thanks to Bob), and the roof doesn’tappear to be leaking. Now is the time to concentrate on our Vision Statement. I believe this willbe a focus of the incoming Vestry. They are only a handful of people who need the commitmentof a lot of others to make it all work. Without ALL of us working together, we will only be abuilding.

I need to thank Pam Toffey and Steven Minkler for the endless hours of time and energy they giveto the Parish and for their love and support these past three years. I will miss working with themin this capacity.

It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your Jr. Warden.

Respectfully Submitted,

Linda Pomeroy

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Report of the Deacon

This report is somewhat anticlimactic given the wonderful send off given me upon myretirement from the active ministry last November 25th. However, a retrospective on the past yearis still in order.

The focus of much of my energy went into planning events centered in the program ofSaint John’s Center for Ministry and Spirituality. In addition to another successful Summer Sessionon Cape Cod, two parish programs were held with Brother Robert leading us in the Fall and MinkaSprague leading us in the Spring. While I shall no longer be directly involved in the Center’splanning, an expanded board of directors will be involved in taking the Center into a life designedto develop the spiritual life of the parish and wider community.

Two Thousand and One will not soon be forgotten. It was a year in which new realitieswere thrust upon us. It was a year in which deep thinking and solemn reflection upon our missionas a Church took place. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share in this activity with JimBradley and Mary Gates. They and you shall continue in my prayers.

Old deacons, in this case, don’t just fade away. Saint John’s will continue to be the placethat I shall continue to call the base and source of my ministry as I continue to counsel andprovide spiritual direction. May the challenges of Two Thousand and Two find us with a deepenedcommitment to Christ and a faithfulness that transcends our fears.


The Rev’d Ronald J. Cebik, Deacon

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Annual Report of the Liturgical Council

A parish church exists in order to be the Body of Christ in the world. And there is no areaof congregational life more vital to that mission and vision than when we gather as the people ofGod to worship through our liturgical tradition as Episcopalians. Worship is thelife-blood of a church. It is how visitors and strangers most often encounter our common life. It iswhat we are meant to do before all else. Our pastoral care, our community identity, our outreachto the world, our call to bring others into the Body, our education and formation of children andadults – all that grows out of and is inspired by our times of worship and ritual.

St. John’s Liturgical Council brainstorms with the Rector about worship and helps plan theliturgical life of the parish. The group meets on the 4th Monday night of the month, September -May. The special worship services and many activities framed and formed by our corporateworship are designed by the Liturgical Council.

In 2001-as in all other years-the Liturgical Council has designed the worship for high, holydays as well as influencing the on-going rituals of the parish. We are blessed with members of theCouncil who are either familiar with traditions, anxious for innovation or personally committed totheir own worship lives. It is an exciting group and makes my being responsible for the worshiplife of the parish a joy and adventure.

This year the Council consisted of the Rector and Curate, Bob Havery, Minister of Music;Helen Pritchard, Doris Hollenstein, Fr. Jack Parker, Diane Caggiano, Hollis Hart, Edgar Young, Fr.Warren Skipp, Marcia Holroyd, and Malinda Johnson. I thank them greatly for their service,energy, and imaginations.

If you have an interest in exploring worship and liturgy, let me know. There is a place foryou on the Liturgical Council.

Jim Bradley, Rector

Annual Report of INTEGRITY

The only Connecticut Chapter of INTEGRITY (the national organization forgay/lesbian/transgendered Episcopalians at their friends) meets at St. John’s on the secondSunday of each month at 5:30 p.m. for Eucharist and conversation. Jim Bradley, St. John’s Rector,is the Chaplain of the Chapter. There is usually a visiting celebrant who leads the worship andbrings something to fuel the conversation. Each year, one of our bishops comes to Integrity tocelebrate and engage the members in conversation. In 2001, Bp. Smith came and Bp.Ramos-Orench is scheduled to come in 2002. Charles McManis has been our musician for yearsand since he moved to Vermont, Fr. David Gurniak – an organist/pianist as well as a priest – hasfilled that role.

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Members come from all over Connecticut. Most are active members of parishes around theDiocese, but for some, Integrity and St. John’s is their church home and community. Besides themonthly Eucharists, the Chapter also holds an annual picnic and a Christmas Party. Integrityregularly discusses Diocesan politics and seeks to support openly gay and gay-friendly candidatesfor Diocesan positions. Lynn Meyer, a member of St. James’, Danbury and President of Integrity,is a member of the Diocesan Standing Committee. Fr. Bradley will be one of the Deputies to thenext General Convention in 2003 in Minneapolis.

This is a vital and important ministry of St. John’s to the gay and lesbian community of theDiocese.

Jim Bradley, Chaplain

Annual Report on Seminarian Interns

One of the great ministries of St. John’s to the larger church is the opportunity we give tothose preparing for ordained ministry to be interns in our parish. Since I’ve been Rector of St.John’s, we have had nine seminarians/interns. Of those: Michael Battle completed his Ph.D. andis a priest in North Carolina and professor at Duke Divinity School; Carrie Patterson is a priest inCalifornia; Anne Wolf is a priest in Indiana and will be married in Hartford, at the Cathedral, nextsummer; Ruthanna Hooke is completing her Ph.D. at Yale and is associate priest at St. Paul’s,Wallingford; Mary Gates is St. John’s Curate; Nancy Gossling is curate at a parish in FairfieldCounty; Jennifer Hornbeck was ordained to the priesthood in December in San Francisco. Ourformer seminarians cover the country and are having remarkable ministries.

Jennifer was at St. John’s for the first academic semester in 2001. She has beensucceeded by two interns. Malinda Johnson graduated from Harvard Divinity School several yearsago. She is a Candidate for Holy Orders in Connecticut and will be ordained in June. StephenArbogast is a middler (second year) student at Yale/Berkeley from the Diocese of Massachusetts.Both Malinda and Stephen will continue into the Winter Semester. Hopefully, Stephen will be withus in 2002-2003 as well.

I urge you to hold these folks in your prayers and hearts. I also want you to know that anastonishing gift you give to the larger church by supporting and guiding and, most importantly,loving, the seminarians and interns who come to us for a time.

And I want to thank the members of the many support groups who have worked with ourseminarian/interns over the years. Your ministry has been rewarded many fold by the differenceMichael, Carrie, Anne, Ruthanna, Mary and Nancy have made in their ministries-and I have nodoubt that Malinda and Stephen will leave St. John’s with many gifts you have given them for theirfuture priesthood.

Shalom,

Jim26

Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries

Annual Report

Delegate meetings are held every month. The meeting takes place at different churches ofGWIM. The monthly report is read, discussed, and announcements are made. Refreshments areavailable. A guest speaker is chosen. This year some speakers were: Patricia Wass, Agency onAging. Ms. Ann Pratt, Prospect Coordinator for Service Employees International Union, on nursinghome care.

In the spring a musical benefit concert was presented. Good Friday service was held. Wesaid goodbye to the Rev. Dr. James Bradley.

GWIM operates Operation Fuel for those in need, Annual Hunger Walk, assistance availableafter September 11th tragedy, distributed many turkey baskets, sponsored a free flu shot clinic,welcomed our new president, The Rev. Dr. William Zito, Thanksgiving Service was held at Mill PlainUnion Church, annual toy sale held in December, the mitten tree and coat collection are inprogress. GWIM collects staples also.


Sarah Haines

Card Ministry Annual Report

Each month on birthdays of the elders, birthday cards are sent to them on their specialday. Cards of other occasions are sent as needed to the elders also.


Sarah Haines

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House Committee Report

The House Committee met monthly to review problems and opportunities for thepreservation and maintenance of the building and grounds of St. John’s Parish. Many thanks tothe loyal and sometimes outspoken members of this group.

Two major areas were involved this year:

The repairs and pointing of the masonry of the New Parish House and Library Buildings,including work on the windows and roofs. This was satisfactorily completed by Dahill, Inc.Hopefully, these repairs to the exterior of the church buildings should last for the foreseeablefuture.

The completion of the installation of the new steam boiler was effected, not without somedifficulties. A new boiler maintenance firm has been taken on for future work. At the present wehave two operating steam boilers in ready operation, and the heating system is in good order.

The committee scheduled two clean up days for the Close and parking lot and one plantingday. Good progress was made in these areas.

At year’s end the committee recommended to the Vestry that no major capital projects beplanned for the year 2002, as none appeared to be in an “emergency” nature. The Vestryapproved this recommendation.

The Chairman would like to commend their committee, especially Harriet Fotter for herguidance and assistance, Pat DiMasi, our wonderful Sexton, and our faithful building, fence, etc.,repairer, Bob Cook, for his good work throughout the year.

Respectfully,

Ted BojarskiDick HarrisCo-Chairman

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Meatloaf Ministry Annual Report

Every third Sunday of the month, parishioners volunteer to make meatloaves for theGreater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries dining hall. Parishioners donate a 2 lb. cooked, frozenmeat loaf or casserole. The following are volunteers: Sarah Haines, Cathy Gannon, EleanorCrean, Jan Gurniak, Bern Bradley, Sandy Allard, Sue Jefferson, Pamela Toffey, Lila Lange, LoisMraz, Renatta Webber, Doris Hollenstein, Verdell Bush, Henry and Mary Friez, Linda Pomeroy,Patricia and Ted Bojarski, Shirley Chouinard, Barbara Curry, Bill Garretson, Karen Minkler,Roseanne Sabol, and Cynthia Skipp. The following had meatloaves made in their names with adonation of five dollars: Marjorie Parker, Vivian Ospalek, Dorothy Ferguson, Ruth Truelove,Christopher Webber, and Barbara Klobedanz.

Meatloaves, casseroles, and pies for the year totaled $270.00.


Sarah Haines

Archive Committee

Because of my husband’s illness and death, work on the archives came to a halt in March.Since that time we have been waiting to move into our new space on the third floor. Becauseeverything was packed up to paint the original archive room, it seems foolish to unpack before ouranticipated move.

We have gone through the blueprints and sorted through the times in the safe in the office.The three volume History of Waterbury by Joseph Anderson has been rebound, as has thebeautiful Life of Christ with engravings by Tissot. Because these volumes are now restored, theymay be examined and read by those interested. Contact the office if you wish to do so. Becauseof their value, these books cannot leave the building.

Finally, I have submitted my resignation as Chair of the Archive Committee to the Rector,but plan to remain with the committee.


Sue Jefferson

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Outreach Annual ReportJanuary 2, 2001 – December 31, 2001

The Outreach Council meets the second Sunday of the month in the Kellogg Room after the10:15 services.

This has been a busy and productive year and once again Team 2000 and the AmeriCaresProjects are the favorites of the St. John’s community. The Council is exploring a new prisonministry and will continue to support a mitten tree for the GWIM Soup Kitchen. Please bringdonations of new hats, gloves, scarves, and socks to the GWIM Soup Kitchen to be placed on thetree for their guests. We have had a very warm winter so far but New England will not disappointus and this is a needy project.

Outreach will be welcoming a new chairperson: Lorene Castle. Christine and I willcontinue to be on the Council and I know Lorene welcomes any parish input and also anyone whowould like to meet with us.

In the upcoming year let us continue to share our wealth, time, and talent with others inthe community.

Christine StolfiSandy Allard

Team 2000

In the year 2001 Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury provided shelter to 74 women and 71children. There were 350 restraining orders served and the victim advocates provided services to1800 victims just in the Greater Waterbury area. In Connecticut 25 peopled died at the hands ofsomeone who was supposed to love them. They ranged in age from 6 weeks to 79 years.Although the shelter receives financial support from state and federal funding, and organizationslike United Way, it could not continue to operate without the support of the community.

Team 2000 is beginning its third year. Your kindness and generosity is an inspiration toothers. If you are not a part of this ministry and would like to be, you are most welcome to joinus. Over these past few months, as always, St. John’s has taken a very visible roll in meeting theneeds of the City of Waterbury, especially in this time of crisis. As depicted in our new stainedglass windows, the wings of the eagle reach out over the community we call home, and provideand protect those most vulnerable. Thank you for your continuing support.

Jan Gurniak &Diane Caggiano

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St. John’s Third AmeriCares Project

This is the third year that St. John’s has participated in an AmeriCares project. AmeriCaresis an organization that helps low income families keep their homes safe, warm, and dry. St. John’sAmeriCares is one of the projects sponsored by the Outreach Committee of St. John’s. St. John’scontributes $1500 and many volunteers for this project. Each year home owners apply toAmeriCares to help with their homes. The home owners who will receive help are selected byAmeriCares. St. John’s members can apply to AmeriCares if they would like their house to be arecipient of this project. The families who are selected have low incomes and expect to stay in thehouse at least five years. The volunteers do as much work as possible for the home owner on thefirst Saturday in May.

The home we worked on this year is owned by Mary Monteiro. She lives at 322 BishopStreet in Waterbury. Mary has sent a note thanking the volunteers for all their hard work and foodfor the volunteers. This year the St. John’s volunteers filled up a dumpster with things thatneeded to be thrown away, created several perennial flower beds, installed a new railing on thefront porch, added motion lights to the sides of the house, installed a new faucet, replaced somegutters, repaired flooring under a sink, replaced windows, painted the trim on the house, andrescued two kittens. It would have taken one person over two months working 40 hours weekly toaccomplish what 45 volunteers did in one day.

Volunteers: Sue Audietis, Jeff Brown, Lorene Castle, Dick Harris, Peter Taylor, MarieDeRiso, Glenn DeCarolis, Bob Toffey, Paul Figlia, Montgomery and Renee Taylor, Bill Garretson,Geoff May, Anne May, Chris Antoci, Justin May, Ian Taff, Jason Elmore, Brian Connery, HeadleyThomas, Paula Hardy, Dejon Nowell, Sarah Haines, Albert Dwyer, Howard Cook, Mary Monteiro,Cathy Gannon, Faye Thomas, Evanson Dover, George Zucca, Pat Bojarski, Greg Emmens, HollisHart, Dot Raleigh, Jan Gurniak, Cheryl Moody, Thad Ribner, Justin Quan, Frankll Diggy, JohnRussell, Ena Dover, Emily Gates, Melissa Clark, Tom Cook, Pinki Chillemi, Theresa Moriarty, TedBojarksi, Phyllis Catuccio, Shoprite of Waterbury, Super Stop & Shop, Barbara Corbin, HelenPritchard, Faye Thomas, Mary Marlak, Donna Deitch, Elizabeth Rao, Jeremy Vermette, and DianeCaggiano.

We appreciate all the volunteers who made this project successful!

Jeff Brown, House CaptainGlenn DeCarolis, Assistant House CaptainLorene Castle, Volunteer Coordinator

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Earth Ministry Report

We are all called by God to take care of creation. We, as people of God, set the example for goodenvironmental stewardship. Early in the year, during refreshment time between and after theworship services, Earth Ministry introduced organic, shade grown coffee from South America,bought from a fair-traded inter-faith company. Rainforests are rapidly being deforested by thefarmers’ slash and burn technique needed to grow non-shade grown coffee. As well as destroyingthe forests, bird and animal species are rapidly disappearing.

The Diocesan Committee on the Environment sponsored The Earth Household Clothesline Project.Instructions for making a square muslin panel (to be hung on the line) depicting environmentalconcerns were sent to all parishes. Four of St. John’s parishioners: Sarah Haines, Lucylle Ladden,Marcia Holroyd, and Michele Carrano completed panels. They were displayed at St. John’s duringEarth Sunday and then in October at the diocesan convention at Christ Church Cathedral, admiredby all.

In April, Earth Sunday’s theme was non-recyclable trash. Each parishioner was given a clearplastic bag to collect one day’s trash before Earth Sunday, and asked to bring it back to churchthat Sunday. During the education hour, children and adults glued trash to a large poster boardwhich was then placed in the sanctuary during the liturgy. Tables were set up in the auditoriumwith Green Choices; consumer products which are environment friendly. In the library a videoentitled, Greening of the Faith was played for those interested.

Each Sunday, at offertory time, an Earth Ministry volunteer leads the Earth Prayer written byparishioners. The Earth Ministry bulletin board brings to the attention of the parish, current issues,and events. It also displays the many images of this planet, our island home. The Ecolog is amonthly column in the Outrider. Thanks to The Rev. Jack Parker and Lucylle Ladden for providingus with insightful commentary on the protection and preservation of God’s creation.

St. John’s continues its use of non-styrofoam and paper products during meal events; mugs atcoffee hour, recycling office paper, and supporting junk mail recycling days. Parishioners areencouraged to do the same at home.

The fourth Sunday of each month, following the 10:15 a.m. service, is the Earth Meditation andgeneral meeting of earth advocates. This was put on hold for the past year and upon notice willresume.

All are welcome to join this vital ministry to care for God’s Creation.


Marcia H. Holroyd

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Librarian’s Report

As well as the many activities that take place in the library, it is a place for waiting, reading, quietreflection and prayer. The library purchased several new books for Lenten study on the theme offorgiveness and reconciliation. The books, along with a visual display, were set upon the tablenear the piano. During Advent, a visual display of the four Advent wreath themes, plus bookschosen from the library’s collection were also set up on the table.

The library cart has been placed near the reading area for accessibility. Donated books and booksreturned should be placed in the appropriate bins, rather than returned to the shelves. As soon asbooks are read, they should be returned to the library for others to enjoy. Several copies of newbooks are still out.

Donated books are welcomed at any time and suggestions for new acquisitions appreciated.Consider giving a book in memory of a loved one. Books may be borrowed at any time. In orderto keep a record of books borrowed and returned, a sign in/out log is provided on the cart.


Marcia Holroyd

Verger’s Report

Vergers are present to help the service run smoothly, and let the clergy enter more fully into theworship.

The staff of vergers has been depleted this year, in part due to the illness of Rae Abell and LucilleRyczer. Evanson Dover is a new recruit. Most of the Sundays a verger was present to assist.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this ministry, please speak to Mary Gates or HelenPritchard, who will joyfully see that you are trained, and added to the roster.


Helen Pritchard

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Altar Guild Annual Report - 2001

It is a great honor and privilege to be a member of St. John’s Altar Guild. The care of the altarand its appointments is vital to our parish worship, and the members of our guild carry out thistask with tireless commitment, and quiet devotion. We continue to look for new persons to offerthemselves for this important and rewarding activity.

We carry out these duties by preparing the linen and silver and seeing that this flowers are placedon the altar for all services of worship. If anyone wishes to have flowers placed on the altar inmemory of a loved one, or if they wish to have this service continued, they should contact theAltar Guild or call the office.

I am very grateful and wish to thank the following people who are on the Altar Guild:

Diane Caggiano Lila Lange Christine Stolfi Eleanor CreanVirginia Cole Alice Mancinone Pam Strassner Patricia DanielsElizabeth Santoro Eileen Hamilton Lois Mraz Jane WoodsElaine McDonnell


Gertrude Payne

Report of the Close Committee

The planning committee for this group consists of Linda Pomeroy, Junior Warden, Helen Pritchard,and Harriet Fotter, staff person. Members of the committee who have volunteered through thepast year for work days include: Dick Harris, Donald Pomeroy, Ted and Pat Bojarski, DavidPritchard, Bob Toffey, George Zucca, Chris, Jordan and Shelby Webber, Renetta Webber, Lucylleand Brian Ladden, Lorene Castle and Jan Gurniak, as well as the planners.

Bob Cook has sanded, repaired and painted the fence and gateway, which greatly enhances thelooks of the area. Other members have donated plants, including Margaret Baranoski, the DanGates family, the Pritchard family, George Zucca, the Fotters, and others. Our sincere thanks goout to these people who have helped to make the face of St. John’s shine for the public.

Planting has also begun in the parking lot. Work was interrupted by the repointing, but will go onagain in the spring. During the fall a painted labyrinth was on the lawn for a while, so that peoplecould experience walking it.

It is hoped that each member of the parish will consider his or herself a member of thiscommittee, and participate in future work days or donate to the plant material. Work days will beannounced in the spring, as we unwrap the garden. There is something good about being incontact with the soil, coming close to the earth God has created. Join us, please.


Helen Pritchard

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Usher Annual Report – 2001

St. John’s Ushers have served their church with pride and devotion throughout 2001, as they havein all years past. We have 31 ladies and gentlemen who perform the following duties each Sundaymorning:

• Parishioners are greeted as they arrive, presented with a service bulletin and, if desired,assisted with seating.

• Members of the parish are enlisted to present the elements for communion.• We collect and present the regular offering, as well as donations for the food bank and

soup kitchen.• We take an attendance count and stand ready to assist parishioners, visitors and staff,

should there be any need.

We want new members who will find it a wonderful opportunity to participate with fellowparishioners and get a full view of our church service.

St. John’s Ushers are as follows:

Sandy Allard Rich Grandpre Brian Ladden Andrew SkippTed Bojarski Henry Friez Gerard McDonald Sarah HainesPat Bojarski Bill Garretson Elaine Garretson Tom NelsonVirginia Cole Tom Cook Bill Conda Delmar NelsonPam Strassner Chris Webber Elena Viega Tom O’BrienThecla Kirby Gil Kirby Janet Mitchell John SabolVerdell Bush Frank Daddona Evanson Dover Ena DoverChris O’Brien Linda Snyder Michael Misurelli


Willis C. PayneHead Usher

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Christian Education Annual Report

St. John’s Parish Creative Church School is a creative, caring, faith-filled environment for childrenin preschool through 7th grade. The program has undergone some changes this year, butcontinues to work toward meeting the faith needs of the families of St. John and the greaterWaterbury area. This report is based on church school since September. Our enrollment is about 30 with the average attendance of 16-20 students each Sunday. This yearwe are using THE WHOLE PEOPLE OF GOD curriculum. The curriculum is lectionary based, sowhat the children learn in church is also what is preached on that Sunday in the worship service.The preschool-5th grade classes are using the curriculum. The 6th grade is studying JOURNEYINGTHROUGH THE BIBLE and using the Whole People in conjunction with their Bible study. The7th grade studies THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER - this is the pre-confirmation class. Thestudents will need to pass a test at the end of this class to take part in confirmation class. The children attend church school from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m.; they are then able to attend worshipwith their families. We have started a children’s choir; the children have sung twice in church andwe look forward to their singing again. The older children act as Acolytes each Sunday during theservice. We look forward to developing more opportunities for including children and youth inworship. The teaching staff consists of faithful, dedicated teachers who service the children of St John’s.Our thanks to Carrie Misurelli, Beatrice Burns, Jordan Webber, Arlene & Greg Emmens, AngelaMisurelli, Emily Brown, Roger Wheeler and Shirley Chouinard.


Diane Platt

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Report from the Minister of Music

The music program continued to provide music for services at St. John’s with special musicat services on Maundy Thursday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Eve. The choir currently has 14members, including 5 Sopranos, 4 Altos, 2 Tenors, and 3 Basses. They are an unusually devotedgroup of singers who add greatly to the quality of services at St. John’s.

We offered three Augmented Choir Sundays in the fall which did not attract many extrasingers. There are no plans to continue these opportunities because of this.

Broadway on the Green gave its funds to purchase a new grand piano for the Library. Thisis a significant addition to the music resources available at St. John’s and I thank them for it.

Our Organ Curator, Charles McManis, moved out of state last spring. He is sorely missed.We have contracted Foley-Baker Organ Company to maintain our organ.


Robert Havery

2001 White Envelope Fund

St. John’s Parish White Envelope Fund contributed $395.00 to the CT ECW White EnvelopeFund this year. We had 22 individuals and/or families contributing regularly to the fund. In 2001our White Envelope Fund went to Freedom Calls (a prison ministry in CT) and to Grace Camp inNew Mexico (for the children of prison inmates).

In 2002 the CT White Envelope Fund will help support an after school children’s program(tutoring, mentoring and enrichment) at the one homeless shelter in New London, CT – CovenantShelter. The Out of Diocese recipient is the Karen Fund in Burma. We will be helping abusedCambodian women in the camps there with necessary medical care, counseling and teaching. SixEpiscopalians from our diocese started the Karen Fund.

At this time I want to acknowledge the help of my husband in rolling (and returning to thebank) the change contributed to the White Envelope Fund. A small box of white envelopes hasfound a permanent place in St. John’s Library. Please help yourself. Surely we can increase thenumber of parishioners contributing to these worthy causes.


Phyllis A. Catuccio37

Broadway on the Green

Another successful presentation of Broadway on the Green took place Friday and Saturday, May 4th

and 5th. The Broadway 2001 cast and crew once again gave their all and produced a great show.We are grateful for the support and enthusiasm of the church membership both in theirattendance of the show as well as their generosity in purchasing ads for the program booklet. Wehope you will continue this support again this year.

Each year for the past seven years Broadway on the Green has made a significant contribution to afund that was developed to purchase a new piano for the Library. This year we were able to reachour goal and a new Yamaha 6’ 1” grand piano was purchased for the Library. It is truly a specialpiano with great tone and touch and having it there makes it possible for small recitals and othermusical activities to be held in the Library. As part of an ongoing effort to upgrade the church’smusical instruments, the show revenues will continue to be given to the piano fund in order toprovide funds to replace the piano in the choir room.

Rehearsals are under way for the eighth Broadway on the Green. Music from the following showswill be presented this year:

Annie Get Your GunOliverSongs of FaithAmerican BrassLes Miserable

This year we are premiering a new musical play called American Brass written by Roy O’Neil, Jr., alocal composer. American Brass is the history of Waterbury put into words and music. The playis clever and lighthearted and those of you who have lived here for some time will especially enjoyit.

The 2002 show will be presented Friday, April 26th at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 27th at 1:00p.m. (matinee) and 8:00 p.m. Please put these dates on your calendar and join us for the 2002production of Broadway on the Green.


Jeanne Luedke, Director

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Annual Report – Bazaar 2001

The Annual Bazaar of St. John’s Parish was held on Saturday, November 3, 2001. The Bazaar wasa grand success! Many thanks to all of the people who gave their time and energy to help set up,clean up, prepare soup and sandwiches, bake goods, and prepare craft items for sale. Manythanks also for the numerous donations of silent auction prizes, tag sale items, books, music, andvideos. By the end of the day, we were virtually sold out of everything!

Over $6,200 was raised from the Bazaar. Ten percent of the net proceeds were given to theGriffiths Outreach Fund at St. John’s. The bulk of the remaining funds were transferred to theRev. Samuel Budde People’s Endowment Fund of St. John’s, which helps fund the Parish’sday-to-day operations. In addition, a donation in memory of Freda Golden was made to the BreastCancer Center at St. Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bobbie SantaMaria, Molly Sherman & Karen MinklerBazaar Coordinators

LEM Annual Report

Lay Eucharist Ministers assist the clergy of the Parish. The LEM assigned each week iscommissioned on Sunday, and receives the concentrated elements to take with them to thehospital or a home for those unable to attend services because they are ill or are in a crises.

St. John’s LEMS are: Rae Abell and Lucille Ryczer, Sandy Allard, Kay Bergin, Pat and Ted Bojarski,Doris Hollenstein, Sue Jefferson, Sandy Jellinghaus, Helen Pritchard and Bob Toffey.

If you are interested in assisting with this pastoral care ministry, please contact the clergy or speakwith one of the LEMs. Training and helpful resources are available.


Doris Hollenstein

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SAINT JOHN’S PARISH BYLAWS

PREAMBLE

Saint John’s Parish in the City of Waterbury, Connecticut, is a parish of the Diocese of Connecticut,a diocese of The Episcopal Church.

The purpose of these bylaws is to establish the structure of and the rules by which the business ofthe Parish is conducted and to promote a better understanding among the parish membership asto how its business is carried out.

ARTICLE I

Canonical PrecedenceSaint John’s Parish operates under and acknowledges the authority of the canons of the GeneralConvention of The Episcopal Church and the “Constitution and Canons” of the Diocese ofConnecticut (1989 Ed.) hereinafter referred to as the Canon(s). Nothing in these bylaws shall beconstrued to conflict with the foregoing and if such conflict is deemed to exist, the higher authorityshall prevail.

ARTICLE II

All existing Standing Resolutions are hereby rescinded except the Standing Resolution datedJanuary 21, 1980, The Rev. Samuel A. Budde People’s Endowment.

ARTICLE III

MembershipAny person who has received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism which has been recorded in thisParish and otherwise meets the requirements of Canon I, Sections 4 and 5, is a member of thisParish. A member who is sixteen years of age or older is an adult member. Any member who hasreceived the sacrament of Holy Communion in this Church at least three times during thepreceding year is a Communicant. All communicants sixteen years of age or older are adultcommunicants. An adult communicant who meets the requirements of Canon I, Section 6, isentitled to vote at any Parish meeting.

Within one month of the annual Parish meeting, the Parish Clerk shall submit to the Vestry the listof members previously entitled to vote along with recommendations for additions to or deletionsfrom said list. The list as may be amended is then subject to approval by the Vestry, and theapproved list shall be presented to the annual Parish meeting.

The Rector is considered a member of the Parish.

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ARTICLE IV

Parish MeetingsA Parish meeting of the membership shall be held annually for the purpose of electing theWardens, Parish Clerk, Treasurer, members of the Vestry and lay delegates to the DiocesanConvention and Deanery as well as conducting such other business as lawfully may come beforethe meeting.

Said meeting shall be held on the fourth Sunday of January, or in the event of postponement forgood cause; e.g. inclement weather, as determined by the Rector and Wardens, shall be held onanother date not later than thirty days following the fourth Sunday in January as determined bythe Rector and Wardens, shall be held on another date not later than thirty days following thefourth Sunday in January as determined by the Rector and Wardens.

Special Parish meetings may be called by vote of the Vestry or by written petition of 10 percent ofthe members entitled to vote. The purpose for which the meeting is to be called shall be clearlystated and shall be in accordance with the canonical purposes for which a Parish meeting may becalled.

A quorum for any Parish meeting shall consist of 15 percent of the members entitled to vote.

Notice of all Parish meetings shall be signed by the Parish Clerk and posted on the door of theChurch at least one week prior to any such meeting. In the absence of the Parish Clerk, the noticemay be signed by one of the Wardens. In lieu of the aforementioned posting, notice may be givenby letter to all Parish members, or may be published in a Parish newsletter issued within theprescribed period.

Parish meetings shall be conducted in accordance with “Robert’s Rules of Order” except as may bemodified by these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VNominationsAt the October meeting of the Vestry, a nominating committee shall be selected for the purpose ofnominating officers of the Parish and others.

The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than three or more than five members, two ofwhom shall be members of the Vestry other than a Warden, and one to three members from otherthan the Vestry.

Nominations shall be made for the following: Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Vestry members,Parish Clerk, Treasurer, and lay delegates to Diocesan Convention and Deanery. Nominations shallbe reported to the Parish Clerk not less than thirty days prior to the annual Parish meeting, andshall be published and available in the Parish office not less than fifteen days prior to the annualmeeting.

Anyone under 18 years of age cannot be a warden, officer, or member of the Vestry.

Nominations for any office may be made from the floor at the annual Parish meeting.41

ARTICLE VI

ElectionsElections at the annual Parish meeting shall be held for each office separately except the electionsof Vestry members for the same term of office may be made collectively.

No proxy votes shall be permitted.

In the event of contested elections, the Parish Clerk shall distribute paper ballots and membersshall write in the names of those for whom they wish to vote. No member shall vote for morenominees than the number of persons to be elected for a given office. Any ballots not cast inaccordance with the foregoing shall be disallowed. To be elected, a nominee must receive amajority of the votes cast and if this is not the case, additional ballots shall be cast for those notreceiving a majority vote until all offices are filled.

ARTICLE VII

Officers of the ParishThe officers of the Parish are the Rector, the Wardens, Treasurer, Parish Clerk, and the Vestry.

The Wardens are elected at the annual Parish meeting for a term of one year, and may bereelected for two subsequent one year terms. One Warden shall be known as Senior Warden andthe other, the Junior Warden. Wardens may be elected either to Senior Warden or Junior Wardenafter an interval of one year following completion of their allowed terms. Notwithstanding theforegoing, the Junior Warden may succeed to Senior Warden after three terms or less as JuniorWarden.

The Treasurer and Parish Clerk are elected for one year terms and may succeed themselveswithout limitation. Although not officers of the Parish, the lay delegates to the DiocesanConvention and Deanery along with alternates are elected for a three-year term and may bereelected for one additional three-year term.

Vacancies in any of the above offices, excluding the Rector, shall be filled in accordance withCanon I, Section 7. A vacancy shall be deemed to exist when after an examination of the facts ofeach case and notification of the officer in question, the Vestry shall so vote.

ARTICLE VIII

Duties of the OfficersRectorThe Rector is the Executive Officer of the Parish and is responsible for the general oversight ofParish activities and canonically is the final authority on all matters relating to Liturgy, Music,Christian Education and activities related thereto. The Rector may establish standing or ad hocCommittees or Commissions relating to the foregoing and may appoint or remove membersthereof.

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The Rector or Priest in Charge shall be ex officio a member of all Parish commissions andcommittees, but shall not be included in the count when setting the size of the commission orcommittee.

The Rector shall preside at all Parish and Vestry meetings. In the absence of the Rector, theSenior Warden or Junior Warden in that order shall preside.

WardensWardens shall perform all duties as prescribed in these bylaws and shall in the case of a vacancy inthe Rectorship perform the duties as set forth in Canon I, Section 10.The Senior Warden shall chair the Finance Council and carry out other assignments of the Vestrywith regard to the business and financial affairs of the Parish. The Senior Warden may serve as anon-voting member of any other committee of the Vestry.

The Junior Warden shall chair the Program Council and carry out other assignments of the Vestrywith regard to the business and financial affairs of the Parish. The Junior Warden may serve as anon-voting member of any other committee of the Vestry.

Parish ClerkThe Parish Clerk shall keep records of all Parish and Vestry meetings and in addition perform theduties set forth in these bylaws and in the Canons.

TreasurerThe Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Parish entrusted to his care and shalldisburse funds, pay bills, etc. in accordance with the approved budget or otherwise as directed bythe Vestry. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of a report for each Vestrymeeting and for the annual Parish meeting. The report shall detail income and expenditures forthe period and shall indicate significant deviations from income or expenses as projected b thebudget.

The Treasurer shall see that proper accounting procedures are followed, shall arrange for requiredaudits and shall implement recommendations made by the auditors. During the temporaryabsence of the Treasurer, the Senior Warden shall carry out the duties of the Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall chair the Investment Committee, sit as a non-voting member of the FinanceCommittee, and carry out other assignments of the Vestry with regard to business and financialaffairs.

The Treasurer shall attend Vestry meetings with the right and obligation to speak.

Officer AuthorityThe Senior Warden, the Junior Warden, and the Treasurer shall each of them have the power andthey are hereby authorized on behalf of the Parish to sign, countersign, and endorse all checks,notes, bills, certificates, bonds, deeds, mortgages, conveyances and instruments and documents ofevery kind coming to or going from this Parish in the transaction of its business, and to sell,transfer and assign any and all stocks and securities standing in the name of the Parish, andreceived by the Parish as contributions to said Parish, and to execute any and all instrumentsnecessary, proper, and desirable for the purpose. 43

ARTICLE IX

The VestryThe Vestry shall support ministries and missions set forth in the Parish Vision Statement.

The Vestry, as Trustee, is charged with the responsibility for the direction, management andcontrol of the business affairs of the Parish and for overseeing the maintenance and upkeep ofchurch properties.

The Vestry shall establish and promulgate written rules of procedure including the establishment ofstanding or ad hoc committees, the scope and responsibilities of which shall be clearly stated. TheVestry may also dissolve said committees.

The Vestry shall consist of the Rector, ex officio, the Wardens, the Parish Clerk, and twelve electedmembers, all of whom shall be members of the Parish entitled to vote. The twelve elected Vestrymembers shall be elected for a period of three years, and may not succeed themselves exceptafter an interval of one year. The terms of Vestry shall be staggered such that four members areelected each year.

An elected member of the Vestry may also be elected to the office of the Parish Clerk.

In the event of a vacancy, the Vestry may appoint a new member to serve until the next annualParish meeting. The appointment shall not preclude the election of the appointed member for athree-year term at said meeting. However, if a vacancy occurs in the first or second year of theterm of office, the appointed member, if elected at the next Parish meeting, may serve only theterm of that vacancy.

Proxy votes shall not be allowed at Vestry meetings.

ARTICLE X

IncomeAll monies received by the Parish shall be subject to the control of the Vestry and disbursed asapproved by the Vestry except donations made for specific purposes which are the prerogatives ofthe Rector.

All monies received by the Parish shall be turned over to the Treasurer and held in account for thepurpose intended. All disbursements shall be subject to procedures established by the Vestry.

ARTICLE XI

AmendmentsAmendments to these bylaws may be adopted at any Parish meeting and shall be effective afterthe adjournment of such meeting. Amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of themembers present and entitled to vote.

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Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Parish Clerk not less than thirty daysprior to an annual Parish meeting. They shall be available in the Parish office not less than fifteendays prior to the meeting and notice thereof shall be posted along with the notice of the meeting.

ARTICLE XII

Adoption and Effective Date ThereofThese bylaws shall become effective after the adjournment of the Parish meeting at which theyare adopted. They shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present entitled to vote.

ARTICLE XIII

Review of BylawsThe bylaws should be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Vestry no less than once everythree years.

APPENDIX

Standing Resolution adopted at the annual Parish meeting – January 21, 1980.

The Rev. Samuel A. Budde People’s EndowmentBeginning in 1981, the income from the Endowment Fund may be withdrawn and applied towardthe Parish operating deficit or other purposes, with the consultation of the Finance Committee andby vote of two-thirds of the Vestry. Principal of the Fund may be withdrawn and used by a two-thirds vote of the Parish meeting.

Standing Resolution adopted at the annual Parish meeting – January 23, 1994.

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THE CONSTITUTION AND CANONS OF THE DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT

CANON 1 - OF THE ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT OF PARISHES, AND OF THEIRMEMBERS AND OFFICERS.

Section 1. Parishes may be constituted by the Bishop, with the advice and consent of the StandingCommittee on the written application of not less than ten baptized adult persons. But ifapplication be made for the formation of a new Parish in any town or city wherein a Parish orParishes then exist, the Rector and Vestry of each such Parish or Parishes shall be notified by theStanding Committee of such application and may within two weeks make such response as he orthey may deem appropriate.

The site of any existing Church or Chapel shall not be changed by any Parish without the approvalof the Bishop, acting with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee; and notification ofapplication for such change of site shall be given by the Standing Committee to the Rector andVestry of any other Parish or Parishes within the same town or city.

Sec. 2. When permission to form a new Parish has been granted, the Standing Committee shalltransmit to the applicants with the certificate of permission (1) a form of organizing the Parish, (2)a form of recording the action of the first meeting of such Parish, and (3) a form of application foradmission into union with the Convention of the Diocese of Connecticut. The act of organization,executed in accordance with form (1), shall be entered in full upon the records of the Parish, andattested by the Clerk as the original act, or a true copy thereof, as the case may be. The threeforms above named shall be in substance as follows:

(1.) We the subscribers, baptized persons, residents of the town of ________ in the County of_______ , in the State of Connecticut, do hereby unite form and do hereby form ourselves and oursuccessors into an Ecclesiastical Society under the Constitution and Canons of the ProtestantEpiscopal Church in the Diocese of Connecticut, for the purpose of supporting the Worship ofAlmighty God according to the Doctrine, Discipline and Liturgy of said Church in these UnitedStates, said Society to be known in law as _______ Parish in the Town of ______,in the County of ________ and State of Connecticut.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this _____ day of _____ A.D. 19 ___ .

(2.) At a legal meeting of _______ Parish, in the Town of ______ held on the _____ day of______, 19 __ , A.B., was duly elected and sworn in as the Parish Clerk; and C.D. and E.F. wereelected Church Wardens, and G., H., I, J., etc., Vestrymen of said Parish for the ensuing year.

At the same time it was resolved that this Parish apply to be admitted into union with theConvention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Connecticut, and that K.L. bechosen Agent of this Parish to ask for such admission; and if the application is granted, then andthere to represent this Parish in the said Convention as its Delegate.

(3.) To the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Connecticut – Thesubscriber respectfully showeth that he has been appointed Agent and Delegate for the purposesspecified in the following extracts from the minutes of the Parish of ______ , in the Town of_______ , to wit: “At the lawful meeting of the Parish of _____ , in the Town of ______ , State of

Connecticut, held on the ______ day of ____ , 19 __ , it was resolved that this Parish apply to beadmitted into union with the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese ofConnecticut, and that K.L. be chosen agent of this Parish to ask for such admission; and, if theapplication be granted, then and there to represent this Parish in the said Convention as itsDelegate.”

Extracted from the minutes. Attest, _______ A.B., Parish Clerk.

And now, in pursuance of said agency, the subscriber submits to the Convention an attested copyof the act of organization of said Parish, taken from the record of their proceedings; and applies inthe name and behalf of said Parish of _______ , this in the Town of ______ , that it be admittedinto union with the Convention.

Dated at _____ , on the _____ day. Signed, ______ K.L., Agent and Delegate.

Sec. 3. All persons who under the existing laws are members of any of the Ecclesiastical Societiesor Parishes belonging to the Protestant Episcopal Church in this Diocese are hereby recognized assuch, and entitled so to be and remain, with all the privileges and subject to all the duties of suchmembership. Rectors of Parishes for the time being shall be considered as members of theirrespective Parishes.

Sec. 4. All persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with water in the Name ofthe Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in this Church or in another ChristianChurch, and whose Baptism has been duly recorded in this Church are members thereof.Members sixteen years of age and over are considered to be adult members. All members of thisChurch who have received Holy Communion in this Church at least three times during thepreceding year are to be considered communicants of the Church, and all communicants sixteenyears of age and over are to be considered adult communicants.

It is expected that all adult members of this Church, after appropriate instructions, will have madea mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptismand will have been confirmed or received by a Bishop of this Church or by a Bishop of a Church incommunion with this Church.

Any adult member of the Church, registered as such in any Parish, shall become a member of suchParish, provided that no person may be a member of more than one Parish or Mission Station inthe Diocese at any time. The requirements of this shall be deemed to be met by any adultmember by having been registered in the Parish register of said Parish, or b having beenConfirmed or Received by a Bishop in communion with this Church in the Parish, or by having beentransferred to the Parish upon presentation of the certificate required by Title I, Canon 17, Section4(a) of the General Convention in the manner prescribed by Connecticut Canon II, Section 2.

Sec. 5. When any person has become and is a member of any Parish he shall remain such untilthe relationship is terminated by death, or by written notice of withdrawal, or by vote of the Parishat the annual Parish meeting, the reason for the termination of such relationship in the lastmentioned case to be determined by the Vestry, and reported to the Parish in accordance with theprovision of Section 8 of this Canon; provided, that notice of the proposed action shall have beengiven to such member, either personally or by letter addressed to said member at the member’s

residence or last known place of residence by the Vestry of the Parish, at least seven days beforethe time of said annual meeting.

Sec. 6. Of the members of the Parish only those shall be entitled to vote at any Parish meetingwho shall be adult communicants and who for at least six months prior to that meeting shall havebeen faithful attendants at the services of the Church in the Parish, unless for good causeprevented, faithful contributors to its support, and faithful in working, praying, and giving for thespread of the Kingdom of God; these facts to be determined in each case by the Vestry, inaccordance with the provisions of Section 8 of this Canon.

Sec. 7. The officers of a Parish shall be a Rector, a Vestry composed of two Wardens and suchnumber of other members of the Vestry as the Parish shall determine, a Clerk and a Treasurer,who may be members of the Vestry; and the Rector shall be Chairman ex-officio of the Vestry, andthe Rector, or such other member designated by the Rector, shall preside at all meetings of theVestry. No Parish shall elect to the office of Warden, nor for the first time to the Vestry, a memberof the Parish who is not also a Communicant of the Church and age eighteen or over.

The members of the Vestry, the Clerk and the Treasurer shall be elected by ballot at the annualParish meeting from the members of the Parish who are eligible to vote in accordance withSections 6 and 8 or this Canon; the Wardens shall be elected in a like manner from members ofthe Parish so eligible to vote; they shall all hold office for one year, except as hereinafter provided,and until others are chosen and qualify. Any vacancy occurring by death or otherwise in the officeof Warden during the course of the year may be filled at a special Parish meeting duly called forthat purpose. Any vacancy in any other office may be filled for the unexpired balance of the termat the next annual meeting, or at a special meeting duly called for that purpose, and may be filleduntil the next annual meeting by the Vestry, as the Vestry in its discretion may determine.

In place of an annual election of all members of the Vestry, that is to say the members of theVestry other than the Wardens, any Parish may by special vote provide that the Vestry chosen atany specified time shall be divided into classes holding office for one, two and three yearsrespectively, and that thereafter the election of members of the Vestry (except to fill vacancies)shall be for three years; and any such Parish may also by special vote provide that no members ofthe Vestry shall be reelected at the end of a full three years’ term of office but only after aninterval of at least one year; provided, however that any such Parish may by Parish bylaw orspecial vote provide that any or all of the officers of the Parish shall be members of the Vestryduring their respective tenures of office, of whatever duration and whether the same be for asingle term or successive terms, and provided further that the adoption of such bylaws or specialvote shall not operate to reduce the number of members of the Vestry otherwise provided for.

If at any Parish meeting there shall be removed from the roll of the members of the Parish thenentitled to vote, presented to such meeting in accordance with Section 8 of this Canon, the nameof any Warden, member of the Vestry, or Parish officer, except the Rector, the term of office ofany such Warden, member of the Vestry or Parish Officer shall terminate upon the adoption ofsuch roll, provided that the Vestry, in revising the roll of members entitled to vote, in accordancewith Section 8 of this Canon, shall have notified the person affected by such removal at leastseven days before such meeting; and provided that such person shall have due opportunity to beheard before the meeting with respect to such roll.

The Term of any Warden, member of the Vestry or Parish Officer except the Rector may beterminated at any time by vote of the annual Parish meeting or of any special Parish meetingcalled for the purpose, provided that notice of such proposed action is included in the call of suchmeeting and written notice is given simultaneously to the person affected thereby, and that suchperson be given due opportunity to be heard at such a meeting. A vacancy occurring as a result ofsuch action may be filled by election at the same or subsequent Parish meeting.

Sec. 8. The Parish Clerk shall be Clerk of the Vestry ex-officio; shall be sworn to the faithfuldischarge of the Clerk’s duties; shall make and preserve a full record of the proceedings of allParish meetings and of the meetings of the Vestry; shall, under the supervision of the Vestry, keepan accurate roll of the members of the Parish and of those entitled to vote, and have such rollpresent at every Parish meeting; and shall be custodian of the files, records and archives of theParish.

The Vestry of each Parish shall from time to time, and always within one month preceding theannual Parish meeting, revise the roll of the members of the Parish and of those entitled to vote atParish meetings in accordance with the provisions of these Canons, and such roll shall bepresented by the Vestry to the annual Parish meeting, and when adopted by said meeting shall bethe roll of that meeting.

Sec. 9. The property and all business affairs of the Parish shall be subject to the direction,management, and control of the Vestry; except that the election of a Rector, the disposition of thereal estate of the Parish and the borrowing or lending of money shall not be within the control ofthe Vestry, unless by special vote of the Parish; provided, that in accordance with Title III, Canon15, Section 1(c) of the Canons of the General Convention, the Rector shall be at all times beentitled to the use and control of the Church and Parish buildings, with the appurtenances andfurniture thereof, for the purposes of his office and for the full and free discharge of all functionsand duties pertaining thereto.

Sec. 10. When a Parish or Congregation becomes vacant the Wardens or other proper officersshall, in accordance with Title III, Canon 18 of the Canons of the General Convention, at oncenotify Bishop of the fact, and in the case of the resignation of an Assistant Minister the Bishop shalllikewise be notified, and no election of a Rector shall be held, and no selection by the Rector ofany Assistant Minister and approval thereof by the Vestry shall be made until the name of theMember of the Clergy whom it is proposed to elect or select has been made known to the Bishop,and sufficient time, not exceeding thirty days, has been given to the Bishop to communicate withthe Parish thereon.

Sec. 11. There shall be an annual meeting of the members of every Parish on the third Monday inJanuary, or some other day appointed by the vote of the Parish, for the purpose of electingWardens, members of the Vestry, Clerk and Treasurer, and of transacting such other business asmay legally come before such meeting.

Special Parish meetings hall be called by vote of the Vestry, or upon the written request of 10% ofthe voting members of the Parish.The warnings of all Parish meetings, except the annual meeting, shall contain a statement of theobjects for which the meeting is called; and at all meetings the Rector of the Parish, if he bepresent, shall preside.

Sec. 12. Every Parish is responsible to live within a system of support and accountability that linksits life and ministry with that of the Bishop and with those of other Parishes in the Diocese.

Sec. 13. The Bishop shall make available to the parishes of the Diocese a system of support andaccountability to encourage and enable the development of their life and ministry. Specificprovision shall be made to assist parishes not served by full-time clergy, or unable to meetfinancial obligations. Such assistance may be in the form of financial subsidy included in thediocesan program budget, permission to make use of different forms of ordained ministries (e.g.,cluster, shared or part-time clergy leadership, and the like), or pastoral intervention. Suchparishes shall be subject to the following conditions: a.) They shall work with the Diocese within asystem of accountability and support in close relationship with the Bishop’s Office with specialemphasis on the development of their life and ministry. b.) Their clergy shall be designated Vicarsand shall be appointed by the Bishop in consultation with the Vestry.

Sec. 14. Any parish desiring to terminate or to suspend its parochial organization, may do so byvote of two-thirds of the members present at a Parish meeting legally warned for that purpose,with the approval of and under such conditions as shall be required by the Bishop and StandingCommittee provided that such conditions shall include the valid transfer by the Parish to theMissionary Society of the Diocese of Connecticut of all right, title and interest of such Parish to allproperty, real and personal, therefore owned or controlled by it, and the valid and effectivesuccession of said Society to all fiduciary rights and obligations of such Parish.

Sec. 15. For the purpose of this Canon the word “member” shall mean a member of a particularparish corporation qualified as such under Section 4 of this Canon, whether or not such membershall be entitled to vote at any parish meeting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6 and8 hereof.

Sec. 16. Two or more parishes may merge or consolidate into a single parish with the approval of,and in such manner and under conditions as shall be required by the Bishop and StandingCommittee. Such approval shall be effective upon and after the adjournment of the DiocesanConvention next following such action by the Bishop and Standing Committee, upon a finding bysuch Convention that such requirements by the Bishop and Standing Committee has been fullycomplied with. The resulting parish shall be a single ecclesiastical corporation possessing all of therights, privileges, immunities, franchise and obligations of each of the merging or consolidatingparishes, and all rights and interests in property belonging to or due to each of the parishes somerged or consolidated shall be vested in such resulting parish without further act or deed. AnyDiocesan Convention shall have full power to take any and all action to implement effectively thepurpose and intent of this section.

Sec. 17. All Parishes receiving aid to carry on special ministries or projects shall make quarterlyfinancial and progress reports on these special ministries and projects as shall be required by theDiocesan Executive Council.

Sec. 18. All Parishes receiving grants or no-interest loans for capital projects shall submit suchfinancial statements as may be required by the Executive Council and in addition such grants aresubject to such restrictions as may be voted by the Diocesan Executive Council.

CANON VIII – OF BUSINESS METHODS IN CHURCH AFFAIRS

Sec. 1. The fiscal year shall begin January 1.

Sec. 2. In every Parish, Missionary Station and Institution connected with the Diocese through itsConvention, the following standard business methods shall be observed.

(1) Trust and permanent funds and all securities whatsoever kind shall be deposited with aFederal or State Bank, or a Diocesan Corporation, or with some other agency approved in writingby the Bishop and Finance Committee of the Diocese, under either a deed of trust or an agencyagreement, providing for at least two signatures on any order of withdrawal of such funds orsecurities.

But this paragraph shall not apply to funds and securities refused by the depositors named asbeing too small for acceptance. Such small funds and securities shall be under the care of thepersons or corporations properly responsible for them.

(2) Records shall be made and kept of all trust and permanent funds showing at least thefollowing:

(a) Source and date.(b) Terms governing the use of principal and income.(c) To whom and how often reports of conditions are to be made.(d) How the funds are invested.

(3) Treasurers and custodians, other than banking institutions, shall be adequately bonded,except treasurers of funds that do not exceed five hundred dollars at any time during the fiscalyear.

(4) Books of account shall be so kept as to provide the basis for satisfactory accounting.

(5) All accounts shall be audited annually by an independent Certified or independent licensedPublic Accountant, or by such an audit committee as shall be permitted by the Bishop and FinanceCommittee of the Diocese. All audit reports, any supplemental memorandum, and summaries ofactions taken or to be taken to correct any deficiencies or to implement other recommendationsshall be filed with the Bishop not later than 30 days following the date of such report, and in noevent later than September 1 of each year, covering the financial reports of the previous calendaryear.

(6) All Parishes, Mission Stations and Institutions connected with the Diocese through itsconvention shall participate in a Diocesan Property/Casualty Insurance Program approved by theBishop and Diocesan Executive Council, which provides adequate coverage as deemed necessaryby BDEC; and that the premiums for said insurance program shall be paid by the parish or missionstation; and that waiver of this participation may be approved by the Bishop with the advice of theInsurance Board.

All full-time Clergy of Parishes and Mission Stations shall participate in a Diocesan Group Life,Medical, Dental Plan(s) approved by the Bishop and Diocesan Executive Council, which providesadequate coverage as deemed necessary by BDEC; and that the premiums for said insuranceprogram shall be paid by the parish or mission station; and that waiver of this participation may beapproved by the Bishop with the advice of the Insurance board.

(7) The Bishop and Diocesan Executive Council shall take such steps as it may deem desirable tosecure compliance with this Canon and may require copies of any or all accounts described in thisSection to be filed with it and shall report annually to the Convention of the Diocese upon itsadministration of this Canon.

Sec. 3. No Vestry, Trustee, or other body, authorized by Civil or Canon law to hold, manage oradminister real property for any Parish, Mission Station, Congregation, or Institution, shallencumber or alienate the same or any part thereof (save for the refinancing of an existing loan),without the written consent of the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese, except insofaras such requirement is inconsistent with provisions of the particular charter, trust, devise or deedof gift affecting ownership of such real property.

Documents

St. John’s Parish – Annual Meeting January 27, 2002 Table of … · 2015. 1. 27. · Mr. Pat DiMasi, Mr. Bill Drew, and Mr. John * One of today’s candidates Svehlak – Sextons