Charles Edmonson, senior warden, called the vestry of St. John‘s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish to order after the annual meeting on January 20, 2015. Present were Linda Curtis, treasurer, Kay Olson, registrar, Doug Miller, Sylvia Edgar, George Cornwell, Vestal Lewis, Kevin Eley, Ann Templeman, and youth representative Jess Miller. Clergy Present the Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander, also present guest speaker Jeff Templeman.
Vestal Lewis open the meeting with the Psalm Reading.
Jeff Templeman of the Charitable Trust presented a talk on monies received from the Boykin Estate now called the Boykin Trust, and the difference of the rules of the Williams Trust and Boykin Trust, the Williams is a proactive trust, the Boykin trust is a reactive trust meaning the money is more readily available and will give aid faster than the Williams Trust. The handout from Jeff Templeman for St. John’s Charitable Trust is attached to these minutes.
Linda Curtis made a motion, seconded by Kevin Eley nominating Charlie Edmonson as a member of the Charitable Trust.
Doug Miller made a motion to approve the November minutes. Motion seconded by Vestal Lewis
Treasurer’s report, Linda reported pledging units for 2015 are down, but more money has been pledged so far. She also said that those who usually turn in a pledge card but have not have been followed up by the chairman of the stewardship committee.
The 2015 annual budget was approved as amended, motion made by George Cornwell and second made by Sylvia Edgar.
All outstanding loans have been repaid.
Finance committee recommends $2,000.00 be paid toward the debt owed to the Diocese for the 2012/2013 pledge. Doug Miller made the motion to send $2,000.00 to the diocese, Vestal Lewis seconded. Motion passed.
Clergy report: Samantha reported she will be attending a conference in Florida on church endowments.
Samantha has been asked about the blessing of same gender couples, she feels there will have to be conversation on this subject with our congregation in the future, perhaps going into the process study of the theology of marriage. Emmanuel Episcopal, Hampton, is going through the process of learning the Church’s rulings of blessing same gender couples. At this time the Episcopal Church does not have a marriage ceremony in place.
Senior Warden’s report: The Q Design project maintenance plan has to be put on hold because the Endowment Board is looking into the funding of the plan. There are still problems with getting the heat corrected in the church building.
New Business
There are three candidates for three open vestry seats, they are Mary Pat Croft, Bettyrene Pope and David Edmonson. The vestry members will furnish the food for the breakfast prior to the Annual Meeting on January 28, 2015. Ann Templeman is overseeing the breakfast, set up will be Saturday morning at 10:30
The February vestry meeting will be attended by the outgoing members and the incoming vestry members.
A vestry retreat will be planned for the coming year.
George Cornwell and the vestry members thanked Charlie Edmonson for all he has done as Senior Warden in the past three years.
Meeting was closed with prayer by Vestal Lewis.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 pm
Submitted by
Kay Olson, registrar
[Editor’s Note: The minutes of March 3, 2015 call this the “January 26, 2015” meeting. That date was left over from the heading of the January 26, 2014 minutes, which these were typed over. No later minutes record these minutes being approved.]