Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - February 16, 2015

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry assembled in the church for evening prayer at 7:00 PM followed by offered prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were: the rector, Kristin Orr; the senior warden Diane Walsh-Madden; the junior warden, Anne Edwards; vestry members Bob Burgwald, Nichole Dailor, Cynthia Turnquest, Ted Stone, Jim Whitfield, and Hans Zigmund; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry members absent were: Rob Carrier, Bob DeOliveira, and Patti Pohrte.

Stewardship

Minutes
For the December vestry meeting minutes: Debbie Huggett noted that the heading “Information” was misspelled. Hans Zigmund moved that the minutes be accepted with the spelling correction. Jim Whitfield seconded, and the motion was approved. For the January budget meeting minutes: Hans Zigmund moved that the minutes be accepted. Jim Whitfield seconded, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that January was not an especially notable month. The internal variances are due to timing in paying the bills. In a discussion about how the detailed reports can be set up to make them easier to read, Hans Zigmund suggested a one-page summary sheet as well as another sheet with more details, and a three-to-five year rolling average. Diane Walsh-Madden wondered about building maintenance and repair expenses. Debbi noted that such things as unexpected expenses, maintenance expenses, office supplies, utilities, and so forth are budgeted in the third month of the quarter. Nichole Dailor moved that the treasurer’s report be accepted. Anne Edwards seconded, and the motion passed.

Rector’s Discretionary Account
Vestry members received copies of a report on the Rector’s Discretionary Account for the fourth quarter of 2014. Jim Whitfield moved that the report be accepted, Cynthia Turnquest seconded, and the motion passed.

Bank Accounts
Church checks are approved by the rector, written by the office manager, and signed by a warden. Because the senior warden is also a money counter, she prefers that a third-year vestry member become a signer along with the junior warden. The Rector is also a signer, but only in emergencies. Hans Zigmund moved to authorize junior warden Anne Edwards and vestry member Jim Whitfield as church check signers. The Rector, Kristin Orr, continues as a signer. Bob Burgwald seconded the motion, which then was approved.
The rector noted that all church accounts have been held by Great Lakes Bank, which now has become First Midwest Bank.

Parochial Report
Each parish is required to submit a report annually to the national church. The rector prepares the membership page, and the treasurer prepares the financial page. This year’s report documents membership numbers as steady or increasing slightly, while attendance has decreased. Pastor Orr said that this is typical of churches across the country. Faithful parishioners are not attending church as often, but they remain as committed as ever. Cynthia Turnquest moved that the Parochial Report be accepted as amended, Anne Edwards seconded, and the motion was approved.

Information

New Vestry Members
Newly elected members, Anne Edwards, Bob Burgwald, Cynthia Turnquest, and Rob Carrier (who was unable to attend tonight) were welcomed. Pastor Orr asked each person on the vestry to say something about his or her gifts, skills, and passions.

Rector’s Report
There was a major repair last week when the ejector pump in the boiler room failed resulting in three inches of water on the floor. It was repaired immediately at a cost of approximately $800.

Wardens’ Reports and/or Reports from Other Parish Organizations
There were no reports.

Upcoming Parish Events
--Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper tomorrow, February 17th. Any profits will be given to the youth group for their outreach projects.
--Ash Wednesday services on February 18th at 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 7:00 PM.
 --Lenten Study Series from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM on February 25th, March 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th. The classes will focus on the book, The Last Week by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan.
--Bishop Epting will visit St. John’s on June 7th.
--The Big Awesome diocesan junior and senior high event, at Camp Wonderland on the weekend of April 24-26.
--Happening #99 youth event at St. Mark’s Glen Ellyn March 6-8

Discussion and Decisions

Columbarium Project
Pastor Orr said that the spaces in our current columbarium are over-subscribed. We need ideas and concepts about what we can do. There are no legal qualifications other than what would pass the Flossmoor Plan Commission. Former vestry member Mark Moxley has said that he would like to continue to work on this project. During the next month, Pastor Orr volunteered to check with lift contractor, Derrek Pathmann, for any ideas he has. Nichole Dailor and Diane Walsh-Madden volunteered to research styles and architects, with Nichole researching online and Diane making phone calls.

Facility Needs
Pastor Orr reported that Jim Whitfield is compiling a list of projects that need to be done throughout the facility.

Vestry Retreat
The vestry tentatively set the date of April 11th for the annual vestry retreat.

Closing
Following prayer, the meeting ended at 8:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis, Clerk of the Vestry

Approved, as amended:  March 16, 2015