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The regular monthly meeting of the
Vestry of R. E. Lee Memorial Church was held Monday, April 21, 2008, at
5:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall of the church. |
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Present:
Buddy Atkins, George Brooke, Molly Brown, John Burleson, Jay Crawford,
Roger Crockett, Susan Cross, Bob Glidden, Bridget Kelley-Dearing, Julia
Littlefield, Woody Sadler, Gretchen Walden, The Rev. Thomas Crittenden,
and Gail Dick, Clerk. Absent: Elizabeth Harralson, John Milford, and
Dick Rathmell. |
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Lesson and Eucharist:
The Rev. Tom Crittenden called the meeting order at 5:05 p.m. George and
Buddy read from the Gospel according to John 14:1-14. Time was given for
reflection and discussion. Tom asked for any prayer requests and
celebrated the Eucharist. |
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Approval of the Minutes:
The March minutes were approved as distributed. No discussion. |
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Committee Reports: |
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Finance Committee:
Woody was not able to be at the April meeting of the Finance
Committee. Bob reported that the church is in good shape
financially. The Campaign Committee will give a report to the
Finance Committee at their next meeting. The committee will then
report to the Vestry. Bob said he would personally prefer to wind up
the campaign this summer before the Every Member Canvass in
the fall. The Altar Guild asked the Vestry to approve the purchase
of a “permanent” paschal candle using funds from the Mary Owen
Griffith Memorial Fund. This was approved.
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Property Committee:
John Burleson report that he had received a call from Mr. Goodbar,
head of the Boy Scouts, asking for more space at the church for the
Boy Scouts. The possibility of the boiler room was considered. Bob
said we had just received an estimate today from a company who will
remove the old boiler, pipes, etc. for approximately $3600.00. This
will be discussed further with the Property Committee. John said the
committee considered the requests from the Vestry that were
discussed at last month’s meeting – visibility stair strips, lay
weeders, better lighting, etc. Discussion concerning the dirt
path/eroded area on the east side of the church property led to
consideration of building another retaining wall, mirroring the
existing one. The visibility strips will be considered and tied in
with looking into better lighting throughout the church, inside and
out. Bids are being obtained to replace the non-working heat pump
under the chancel which is also supposed to serve the Sacristy. This
will have a programmable thermostat. Discussion on heating and
cooling of the church followed.
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Worship Committee:
Bob had Elizabeth’s report from their April 1, 2008 meeting. It was
noted that May 1 is Ascension Day, May 4 is Youth Sunday and May 11
is Pentecost. For Pentecost Holt Merchant is arranging for readings
to be presented in several languages from the balcony. At their
meeting, there was much discussion about the Easter service and the
Bishop’s service.
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Endowments and Investment:
Jay Crawford reported on the committee’s meeting. There is still
some concern about the Sudanese investment involvement. Bob will
respond to this concern. Question was raised concerning the
categorical placement of the $186,000 in the Osburg Fund. Should it
be Vestry Discretionary, Mission, or Property? The committee decided
that it should be in the Vestry Discretionary category upon approval
of the Vestry. It was also discussed and agreed that the
disbursement from all funds except the Gadsden Trust would be at the
rate of 4%. (The Gadsden Trust is presently paying out at 4.5%.) Jay
noted that the investment performance with Edward Jones has been
good, especially considering the recent downturn in the market.
ACTION:
The Investments Committee recommended
that the Osburg Fund be placed in the Vestry Discretionary category of
endowments. All Vestry members voted in favor. No dissent. |
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Columbarium Committee:
Dick Rathmell was not present to give a report. There seems to be
some question as to matching the wood color for the niches to be
installed in the nave of the church.
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Stewardship Committee:
John Milford hosted last year’s
committee. According to last year’s report, there was a good
increase in pledging.
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Green Committee:
Molly related that the Green Committee had another meeting. We now
have recycling bins, including one to recycle old bulletins. This
Sunday being Rogation Sunday, Rev. Tom will bless these new bins and
the mission they represent. There will be an announcement in the
bulletin this week regarding the activities of the committee. Jerry
Nay is looking into the church lighting and ways to make it energy
efficient.
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Christian Education Committee:
Bridget noted that Sharon Massie has been very active as program
director. Vacation Bible School will be at R. E. Lee Church this
year and will not be sharing this time with other churches. It will
be held June 23-27. Rev. Tom will be one of the teachers. The
committee has had great discussions on when to have the children’s
service. Currently the children have their own worship service in
Children’s Chapel with Dan Coffey during adult church. Adult Sunday
school was discussed and perhaps more classes will be offered in the
future. Sunday school will end May 18. There will be teacher
appreciation during the church service and a picnic will follow the
service. Next year, confirmation classes for 7th and 8th
graders will be a two year program held during the Sunday school
hour.
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Old Business:
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Mutual Ministry Review:
Bob said that he met with the youth on Sunday evening, April 20, and
had a good discussion. He reviewed the upcoming meeting times and
the Vestry members who have agreed to be at each meeting.
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New Business:
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Alta Fowler Memorial Fund:
Woody reported that Alta Fowler had provided for the church in her
estate, but that Ms. Fowler preferred that the funds be invested
through the Rockbridge Area Community Foundation with the
restriction that the proceeds each year be transferred to R. E. Lee
Memorial Church for world-wide outreach. (Ms. Fowler was with the U.
S. State Department during her career.) The fund is presently
$10,000, although Woody believes that it may be as much as $25,000
when the estate distribution is completed. The invested funds will
produce 4% per year. It was suggested that these monies be
administered by the Gadsden Committee since they already deal with
world-wide missions.
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Election of Delegates & Alternates
to Council: Bob
presented a slate of Delegates and Alternates for Diocesan Council
2009. Vestry members were offered the opportunity to serve as
delegates or alternates and several responded. Other nominees were
drawn from previous delegates and alternates. The slate is as
follows:
Suggested
Delegates:
Elizabeth Harralson
(Vestry)
George Brooke (Vestry)
Don Ellis (Delegate in
2008)
Don Whittington
(Alternate in 2008)
Suggested
Alternates:
Julia Littlefield
(Vestry)
Sharon Massie
ACTION:
Bob moved that the slate be approved as presented. Passed unanimously
without opposition or abstention.
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Parochial Report:
Rev. Tom said the number of baptized
members (888) is inflated on the report which is not unusual. The
significant number, which indicates the health of a parish, is the
average Sunday attendance. He said we would soon be working on
updating these figures. Discussion of the report followed.
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Comments by the Wardens:
Bob reported that the church bylaws are still in draft form, which he
will work on soon. Bob recommended that Tom’s e-mail system be changed
so that he will not have to sort through an enormous number of e-mails.
George had nothing to report or discuss.
Comments by the Rector:
Rev. Tom noted that he had been
traveling a lot with the Bishop and for diocesan activities. Rev. Tom
has applied for an interest-free $10,000 loan through the Diocese of
Southwestern Virginia. Tom read a resolution, asking for approval of
this loan which is a ten-year loan administered by the parish with the
Vestry assuming responsibility.
ACTION: George moved
that the Vestry approve this loan application and responsibility.
Woody seconded. Unanimously approved.
The Rector said that he will be starting
a newcomer’s class this spring and then again in the fall. The first of
these classes will be Sunday, April 27, 2008 from 9:30 – 10:15 and will
continue for three more Sundays. Judy Noell will be assisting in this
endeavor. He asked that each Vestry member attend at least one of these
classes. Tom announced that The Rev. Bob Crewdson will be our new
part-time chaplain. He will be contracted Sunday by Sunday during the
college school year. One Sunday a month he will preach at the 8:00 and
10:30 services. On that Sunday, Tom will preach at the 5:00 service. The
Rev. Crewdson will be invited to meet the Vestry at our May meeting. |
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Meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
Susan Cross offered the closing prayer,
which the Vestry read in unison.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail G. Dick |
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