A special meeting of the vestry of St. John’s Church, Elizabeth City Parish, Hampton, VA was held on July 26, 1999. The meeting was called to order by Letia Drewry, Senior Warden and the registrar was present.
Those present were Richard Hayes, Vestil Lewis, Leo Vaisvil, Keith Hatch, Mac McKinney, Lew Vermillion, Billie Einselen, Jane Heiby, Marian Blount, Frank Edgar, Connie Heath, Dan Clark, Nancy Adams, Letia Drewry, Rick Vinson, and John Eidam.
Absent was Rick Harman.
The devotion was given by Rick Vinson.
John Eidam discussed the pros and cons of the Church Profile being completed by the Vestry or the Search Committee. Either way, the Vestry is still involved in the process. If the Search Committee does the profile, ownership, unity and cohesiveness is further developed amongst the committee members. The parish profile meetings can be led by a member of the Search Committee and a Vestry member. A motion was made and seconded that the Parish Profile be developed by the Search Committee. The motion passed.
John reviewed his ideas for vestry involvement in the search process. The Vestry, selects a Search Committee and gives them a charge with some limitations such as budget, location boundaries, number of candidates, etc. The Chair of the Search Committee reports to the Senior Warden and the congregation in a timely manner. The Vestry is involved in the parish meetings, coleading discussion groups, reviewing the first draft of the Parish Profile, and approving the final draft. The Vestry will interview the candidate and decide whether to hire or not to hire.
The Search Committee should be composed of 8 – 10 members that should be representative of the congregation. Two vestry members can be on the Search Committee if they are appropriate to fill a “slot”. The Senior Warden should not be on the Search Committee. After the Search Committee is filled, there should be a commissioning service for parish awareness and approval.
Interest groups were identified for “slots” on the Search Committee. These include Youth, Christian Education, Music, Outreach, Building, grounds and history, Parish Events, Young Families, Worship, Women-Men, Elderly, Vestry, finance, and administration, Pastoral Care, Parish Growth, and Diocesan Involvement.
Confidentiality is essential during this process. If someone states they want to be on the Search Committee, take their name and say the process is underway. Do not give any indication that that person will be selected. Do not ask anyone if they want to serve on the Committee.
The next meeting with John Eidam will be August 24, 1999.
In other vestry business, Rick Vinson said a lease contract for a potential tennant in the Hoffman House has been given to him by John Gammill of Craig Read Reality. No planning has been done for the use of the building or possible tax consequences related to income. It was decided to refer this to the Property Maintainance Commission and Property Planning Commission. No action was taken on the contract.
Nancy Adams Registrar