The vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish, was called to order on September 20, 2022 at 6:32 p.m. Present were: Senior Warden Jay Hogg, Junior Warden Bettyrene Pope, Treasurer Linda Curtis, Registrar Lynn Kirkland, Bill Beach, Dan Clark, Doug Perry, Elizabeth Zimmerman, The Reverend Mark Riley and The Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander. Absent: Anne Abraham and Jim Klotz
The meeting opened with a prayer and reading from Amos 6:1a, 4-7
Treasurer’s Report, Linda Curtis
Linda reported that we were in good shape and that non-pledges and plate offerings were up for August. Linda and Jay have gone through the Summary of Restricted Accounts and will have some recommendations at our next meeting. One recommendation was made for the Reserve Fund of $162,545.86 that $100,000.00 be used to purchase CDs in a laddered approach to always have funds available for withdrawal if needed through Old Point National Bank. A motion was made by Jay Hogg to purchase CDs with $100,000.00 from the Reserve Fund in a laddered approach from Old Point National Bank and seconded by Bill Beach. The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes were approved
Rector’s Report, The Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander
Rescheduling Vestry Retreat – Looking at Oct. 14-15 or Dec. 2-3. Samantha will check with Jim and Anne on their availability.
Invite, Welcome, Connect – The Newcomers Committee met this past week and have planned an event for October 20, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall for all newcomers and the Vestry is invited. We need to look at ways to increase attendance. Currently we have 168 home units and Samantha has asked the Vestry to divide these units up, about 16 or 17 per Vestry member, and pray for them for a week following up with a note letting them know we are praying for them and hoping to see them return to St. Johns. This would be done over a 6 week time span and Samantha will provide us with a template for what the note should say.
Creating a Personnel Committee – Samantha just returned from a continuing education seminar on personnel matters and has asked that we form a new Personnel Committee consisting of 4 members to include the Sr. Warden, Jay Hogg, Lynn Kirkland and two others. This committee will review Letter of Agreements and look into personnel matters as needed. Lynn will be the contact for this committee.
Update – Samantha will be attending a week long continuing education seminar on Empowering Female Leadership in the Church in Richmond, VA November 8-11, 2022. She is also excited to announce that she will have 2 books published within the next two years that she has been working on for sometime.
Assistant Rector’s Report, The Reverend Mark Riley
Mark will send us his updates at a later time.
Warden Reports
Senior Warden, Jay Hogg
2nd site dig – The dig continues. See the attached report from Alain Outlaw.
Jay met with Rick Bagley who provided information on Qualified Charitable Contributions. This information will be shared in the upcoming newsletter and also with the Stewardship Committee.
Junior Warden, Bettyrene Pope
Security Cameras – Bettyrene received an estimate of $85,043.13 from Sentry Security Systems for 8 video cameras that would be installed on the outside of the church and one on the parish hall. The video recorder would be installed in the mechanical room in the church. The system records up to 30 days worth of footage. A motion was made by Doug Perry to present the estimate to the Mary Williams Trust for funding of the project and was seconded by Elizabeth Zimmerman. The motion was approved unanimously.
The new telephone system has arrived but is not up and running yet
Lights and switches have been replaced in the Hoffman House and one new light has been replaced in the choir loft with 6 remaining to be replaced.
The bushes have been sprayed for spiders
Warwick Mechanical serviced the water heater and boilers. They made the suggestion that we should consider switching the systems from oil to gas. It would be cheaper in the long run and more environmentally friendly. We will ask for estimates.
Nights Welcome will be held at First Christians Church on Todds Lane November-March. St. Johns will provide meals the 3rd Thursday of each month.
Committee Reports
Stewardship – Bill reported that there would be an interactive stewardship breakfast between services on October 16th.
The meeting concluded with a prayer and adjourned at 7:54 p.m.