VESTRYMEETING—SEPTEMBER2016

VESTRYMEETINGAGENDA-SEP2016VESTRYMINUTESAUG2016SENIORWARDENUPDATE—SEPTEMBER2016JUNIORWARDENUPDATE—SEPTEMBER2016DIOCESANASSESSMENT—VESTRYVOTE—SEPTEMBER20ThefollowingdocumentscanbereviewedintheParishOfficeST.JAMESFINANCIALS.AUG.2016TRIMBLELETTERTOTHEPARISHAGENDAITEMONEELLENVONNAGELLMISSIONTRIP

VESTRYMEETINGAGENDA

DATE:September20,2016TIME:6:30pm

OpeningPrayerTime(DwellingintheWord)ConsentAgenda• Note:Treasurer’sfinancialsareincludedinthe“read-a-heads”fortoday’sAgenda.However,all

financialinformationwillbediscussedinNewBusiness,timepermitting.• VestryMinutesAUG2016• SENIORWARDENUPDATE_SEP2016• JuniorWardenSeptemberVestryReport• AgendaItemOneEllenvonNagell• DiocesanAssessment—VestryVote—September20• Rector’sLetter(AttachmentforAugustMinutes)• BalanceSheetasofAUG2016• IncomeandExpensesAUG2016• Pre-SchoolIncomeandExpensesAUG2016• LizzieDulaneyFundOld(orUnfinished)Business• FollowuponAlcoholPolicy(Cherish,Susan,andTerry).

• Note,thisisstillbeingworkedonandmostlikelywillrequirenodiscussionatthismeeting

• NominatingcommitteeforprospectiveVestrymembers[seeSeniorWardenUpdate]

NewBusiness• VoteonourDiocesanAssessmentfor2017[seeattachment]keepingfiduciaryresponsiblity

whilestilladheringtoourpledgetotheTrusteesandCouncilthatwewillincreaseourpercentageeachyearinordertoreachtheCanonicalRequiredAssessment

• VotefortwolaydelegatestotheDiocesanconventioninNovember(Fri11/11andSat11/12)• VotetochangetheAnnualMeetingthisyearfromthesecondSundayofNovembertothethird

Sundaysowewon’tbecompetingwiththeDiocesanConventionandcangiveourRectorandDeaconachancetoworkwiththewardenstoprepareforthemeeting.

• VotetodecidewhetherornottheVestryandSt.JameswantstosponsorEllenvonNagellwithamodeststipendforhermissionarytriptotheDominicanRepublicnextyear[seeattachment]

• BibleStudygroupwantingtouseGleasonHalleveryTuesday.• Stewardship2017.Fr.JohnFritschnerwillbepresentingastewardshipplanthatwasquite

successfulinAlabama,wherehewasarectorforyears,andthesameprogramintroducedtotheChurchoftheAdvent.

• VestrymembersandsomemembersofthecongregationwillbeparticipatingintheAlabamaPlan,whichinvolvesawritingsession.

ClosingPrayerNextRegularlyScheduledVestrymeeting:Tuesday,October18,2016@6:30pm

St. James Episcopal Church Pewee Valley, KY

Vestry Meeting Minutes - August 16, 2016 There was a Vestry Meeting of St. James Episcopal Church on Tuesday, August 16, 2016. In attendance were: Rev. Whit Stodghill, Joe John, Ed Heymann, David Gleason, Ann Schatzinger, Cherish Joostberns, Mary Harding, Susan Hinkel, Terry Quinlan, Corky Webb, and Sherry Sabin. A quorum was met. Opening Rev. Whit led us in an opening prayer. Consent Agenda Joe noted two items that were in his Update. One is our Church Parochial Report 2004-2016, which shows a steady decline and is a strong indicator that we need to be more engaged in moving forward. The other item is the question that was raised about having a non-Episcopalian serve on the Vestry. He reiterated that there is nothing in our canons or laws that prohibits a non-Episcopalian from serving. Corky reminded us of the upcoming events, one at Outback Restaurant, and then the Ladies of Liberty performance on September 24th. Mary Harding made the motion to accept the Consent Agenda; Corky Webb seconded it, and the motion passed. Old Business Follow up on the Alcohol Policy- Cherish, Susan, and Terry have drafted an Alcohol Policy that Rev. Whit will review, and we (the Vestry) will discuss at the September monthly meeting. Nominating Committee- we have three candidates who have agreed to be nominees and will be presented in the November Annual Meeting. They are Eric Martin, Bobbie Schadt, and Alan Lodge. New Business Stewardship- We all need to be involved in the Stewardship Campaign. Rev. Whit, Joe, and Corky will be meeting to map out the strategy this year. It needs to be a group effort. A strong Stewardship campaign is the responsibility of all Vestry members.

Financials- there were no questions. David reported that the Lizzie Fund has increased 4.4% over seven months (and reported in the Senior Warden’s update). At this point, we turned the meeting over to Rev. Whit for a roundtable discussion in preparation for our congregational meeting on August 21. The topic for discussion tonight and for Sunday is reviewing former rectors’ tenures to help us come to terms with our feelings of trust/mistrust of the clergy at St. James. Rev. Whit asked that we speak in “I” statements as much as possible: listen, don’t cross-talk, don’t speak for others, and keep our unity rooted in Jesus Christ. We began by looking at Fr. Jim Trimble’s tenure at St. James and the ramifications it had on us. We looked at “Letter From the Rector” (attachment) that Fr. Jim wrote to the congregation which illustrates some of the issues we had. Everyone agreed that he delivered good sermons and was a good person and priest, but as a rector, there were issues involving administrative details, phone calls, and home and hospital visits. This led to feelings of insult, anger, and betrayal. Tensions were high in the Vestry, and were compounded by a statement of “you can’t fire me . . . “ at one point. There was a letter of reprimand from our diocese placed in his folder. Individual members tried to help him but felt their attempts were futile. The diocese was approached but were ineffective. We moved on to discussing Fr. Paul Jeane’s tenure at St. James. We, again, looked at pros-and-cons, and the affects they had. Unpriestly-like behavior was an outstanding negative. He was a very personable and charismatic individual who was the priest here when our attendance was at its highest. His behavior however was unacceptable, and trust began to be undermined. During the transition period between Fr. Paul’s departure and Fr. Jim’s arrival these feelings of mistrust were never addressed. During Fr. Jim’s tenure, trust was further undermined. We can’t move on in a good, healthy way without having this discussion about our mistrust of the clergy, how it came about, and how we heal and move forward. Transition is an important time. It is what happens in the process of change, and involves an intentional, internal undertaking. It’s hard work but it’s work we need to do. The meeting with the congregation on Sunday is important. Rev. Whit wants to meet with as many parishioners as possible. For those who cannot attend the congregational meeting on the 21st, she is willing to meet with as many groups of people,( i.e. choir, ECW, DOK, parents, etc.) as necessary to achieve full participation. The matter of Fr. Jim stopping the 9:15 children’s service led to a brief discussion of having a regular 10:00 service that is more family/children oriented. We would continue to have an 8:00 service. We will continue this discussion.

Adjournment There being no further business, we adjourned, and Rev. Whit led us in a closing prayer. The Rector During the Interim’s compensation is $750 per week (paid semi-monthly), plus FICA, plus 18% assessment to the Church Pension Fund. Since Rev. Whit Stodghill is employed full time at Norton Healthcare, there is no medical coverage. Contract with the Interim Rector does not include a housing allowance. Respectfully submitted, ________________________ __________________________ Joe John Ann Schatzinger Senior Warden Secretary Attachment (Trimble Letter)

MEMORANDUM

TO: St.James’VestryFROM: JoeJohn,SeniorWardenDATE: SEPTEMBER2016RE: SENIORWARDENUPDATEFORSEPTEMBER2016VESTRYMEETING1. CorkyWebbinformedWhitandmethathecouldn’thandlebothStewardshipandFundRaisingthisyear

duetoFundRaisingcommitmentsandcommitmentsinhisbusinessenterprise.MaryHardingwillbethechampionandwewilllearnmoreabouthowthisyear’sstewardshipcampaignwillworkafterJohnFritschner’spresentationattheVestrymeeting.Thecampaignwillhelpdeterminetherealisticbudgetwecansetfor2017andthesalarywecanprovidethenewrector.AstrongStewardshipcampaign,whichistheresponsibilityofallVestrymembers,willbeadefiniteplusforourprospectivenewRectorandwillalsohelptodovetailintoafutureCapitalCampaignwhichwillneedtobeformulatedoncethenewRectorisonboard.

Asinyearspast,theStewardshipcampaignwillhelpdictateourbudgetfor2017and,asinyearspast,wewilldeferpassingafinalbudgetuntilthebeginningofthenewyearwiththenewVestryinplace.

2. BobbieSchadtdecidedthatshedidnotwanttobeontheVestryandwithdrewhernamefromthe

candidatepoolforthe“newclass”;thus,wehaveonemorecandidateweneedtofindforour2017class.EricMartinandAlanLodgeremaincandidatesandIhavereceivedAlan’sbiotobesharedwiththeVestryandthecongregationfortheNovembermeeting.Weneedyourassistancetodosomerecruitingateither8:00or10:30torecruitonemorepersonfornextyear’sVestry.

AswedidlastyearwiththenewVestrymembers,theywillbeinvitedtotheDecembermeetingfora“getacquainted”meeting.

3. ThereareseveralvotesthatneedtobetakenattheSeptembermeeting:

a. ProvidingastipendforEllenvonNagell’smissionarytrip[attachmenttoconsentagenda]b. VotingfortwolaydelegatestoDiocesanConventionc. Votingfordiocesanassessmentcommitment[attachmenttoconsentagenda]d. VotingtochangeAnnualMeetingfrom2ndweekofNovemberto3rdweekthisyeardueto

conflictwiththeDiocesanConventionandnecessarypreparationfortheAnnualMeeting.If,theVestryvotestochangefromNovember13toNovember20,thenthefirstofficialannouncementperthebylawscouldbeOctober11(fortydays).

4. TheLizzieFundbalanceinJanuarywas$660,586.AttheendofAugust,perDavid’sIncomestatements,thefundwas$688,836(a-$752fromlastmonth).Thisreflectsa4.3%increaseovereightmonths,whichisverycomfortingespeciallyduetothetopsy-turvymarketoverthefirsthalfoftheyearespeciallywiththeBrexitpanic.

RespectfullySubmitted

Joe JoeJohn

September 20 Vestry Meeting Bell Tower Light in and out has required repair. Oz Electric has been taking care of our electrical needs. I was unable to locate the problem while talking with Oz Electric, but to no avail. He tutored me via phone and worked with me to fix the problem. Slate roof repair continues with unknown issues appearing on the project. I visit with Merrick-Kemper team three to four days a week to keep my eyes on the work. We experienced today September 14 rotten wood by the stone chimney that needs replacing. I have the pieced of wood to show at our meeting. Merrick-Kemper could have continued the repair with the rotten wood and we would not have known any different. We are close to completing the roof repair. Next is the gutter on east side of Gleason Hall that needs to be shored up. Straps are not secure and that has led to water back up over the gutter. Glass pane in church was broken and repaired last week. Pane will be painted when painter touches up gutter next to water cooler room. Stone renovation is moving slowly which I knew would be the case when we got started. A piece of stone had to be crafted for replacing a piece that was deteriorated. I am hoping the front of church will be completed this week. That is the portion over the south porch. Security company Willis-Klein is planning to do a walk thru September 21 or 22 in preparation for instillation week of October 8. Cleaning company discussion Gleason Hall carpet was cleaned September 7. Notice stains have been removed. Projects requiring Vestry Approval Parking Lot sealing and stripping $7,000 Concrete Repair on steps and ramp to school Campus Clean up, someone to head up this project and I will assist with what needs to be done, should be done prior to winter Greenhaven update $ 3,050 suggested for January 2017

Diocesan Assessment — Vestry Vote — September 20, 2016 Below are our pledges the past two years, which we have met in good faith following our meeting with Trustees and Council: 2013 Revenues of $214,502 @ 7.5% = $16,087,65 2014 Revenues of $236,656 @ 9.0% = $21,300.00 In 2017, we would move to 10.5% ($24,175.72) if we kept the progression we discussed with Karl and the Trustees and Council: Or, per the Vestry’s vote, we could move the commitment up an additional .5% to 11% = $25,326.95 Per the new Canon, the Diocese wants 13% or $29.931.85 (the 13% will be required in two years, with no wiggle room). I believe that the next Vestry can move us to the Canonical requirement. The Vote for Diocesan Assessment for 2017 is as follows: 10.5% $24,175.72 or 11% = $25,326.95