Special Meeting of the Vestry of St. John’s Church
A special meeting was held in the parish house office of the vestry of St. John’s Church, Elizabeth City Parish, Hampton, Virginia on Sunday, May 19, 2002 at 8:30 AM with Bob Harper, Senior Warden, presiding. Vestry members present were: Frank Edgar, Sr., Bob Harper; Senior Warden, Hansi Haufler, Connie Heath; Treasurer, Bill Kirkland, Bill Mace, Elizabeth Phillips, Bettyrene Pope; Registrar, Mary Ellen Sawyer, Jim Shoemaker, and W. L. (Bill) Terrill. Absent were: Nelson Durden, Eric Stewart, and Lew Vermillion.
Bob said he hoped the search process would be short. We need to see how we go about it? — do we recommission the old search committee?–do we form a new committee? Names will be sought from the Bishop.
Skip Hutton will serve as our supply priest next week. We are paying him for Sunday only. Could he be our interim? The answer is not known. There are three weeks in June he cannot commit to.
Hansi, Eric and Lew are without e-mail and were notified about this meeting via telephone.
Congregational meeting concerns: The Interim and Search process will be talked about.
For pastoral visitations, Bob will talk with the Bishop. Howard Saunders was suggested as a possible candidate. He may not be available as he is working.
Specific questions concerning what happened with Keith — Bob will say that things are murky and that no one is to blame. We are moving on with the life of St. John’s. Direct questions — opportunity to say why it didn’t work or what we didn’t do? How do we manage the change? The vote outcome was talked about. The vestry answer is that the vote to accept Keith’s resignation was favorable.
A parishioner is concerned by a disparaging remark made to that person by the Bishop.
Severance package discussion: Keith’s contract would have been up for review in September at his year’s anniversary. Money is a consideration since we have committed to the Journey to Adulthood curriculum. Suggestions made: go to end of the contract May to August, then negotiate perhaps two more months since contract is up for renewal in Sept.; support for health insurance until the end of the year, pay Keith up through August, with our deficit budget – need to look at money; in reality our budget is 5% over the expenditures from last year. The Finance Committee will have to look at the numbers and make suggestions to the vestry. We may have to go the extra mile and give 2 months extra money. There needs to be a cap so that the benefits cease when he gets another job. This is a lot of money, rather extravagant, Four to six months health insurance possibly may be enough. Crisis seems to challenge this church. The members are good stewards and will be tied to the healing process. We want a package that will be fair to the Adams family.
Administrative leave and the severance package will be included in a talk with the diocese and the Bishop. The Finance Committee will be an integral part of the discussions.
B. J. Taylor is serving us as a resource and consultant. Her fee is $50 per hour. She will be available for our retreat to help us get organized and field questions.
A presence of the vestry in and around St. John’s at this time is critical. If members of the vestry would be able to be in the parish office daily for a period of time to field questions, it would be desirable. The following people volunteered to help out: Frank, Hansi, Connie, Bill Kirkland (after June 4th), Bill Mace, Elizabeth Phillips, Bettyrene, Jim, and Bill Terrill. Bettyrene volunteered to set up a schedule.
The meeting was adjourned.
Bettyrene Pope Registrar