The vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish, was called to order on January 16, 2024 at 6:30 p.m Present were: Senior Warden Bill Beach, Junior Warden Jay Hogg, Treasurer Linda Curtis, Registrar Lynn Kirkland, Anne Abraham, Darden Barrett, Ron Kindley, Jim Klotz, Brad Norris, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and The Reverend Mark Riley.
The meeting opened at 6:30 p.m. with a prayer and reading from Jonah 3:1-5, 10.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the December meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report, Linda Curtis
Linda presented a preliminary budget that included a $10,000.00 error that she will correct. She stated that there will be an approximate surplus of $85,000.00. See Budget Report attached.
The Hoffman House went without heat for the month of December due to HVAC being replaced. It was suggested that the tenets be reimbursed for heat during that period. Linda will compare heating expenses for December 2022 and December 2023 for a credit.
Rector’s Report: On Hold
Associate Rector’s Report, The Reverend Mark Riley
- The Endowment Board – The Endowment Board would like to appoint H. Shaw to the board. A motion was made by Jay Hogg to appoint H. Shaw to the Endowment Board and was seconded by Bill Beach. The motion was approved unanimously.
- Summary/update since last meeting – Sunday updates – The first two weeks of the new year have seen increases in attendance numbers. There are quite a few new faces attending services and coffee hours.
- Stewardship Update / Latest Status – To date, $296,000.00 has been pledged from 91 family units. Twenty-four family units have not submitted their pledges. Bill is calling each member to have a personal conversation about their pledge commitments.
- Blood Drive – Potential Spring Date – Looking at March
- Racial healing workshop: Scheduling – The next workshop will be held January 27, 2024 at Church of The Ascension in Norfolk. Mark will send out a list of upcoming dates.
- Annual Council / Shrove Tuesday / Ash Wednesday – It should be noted that these three events are coming quickly: 2/12, 2/13, 2/14 respectively with Easter falling on March 31, 2024.
- Invitation / Reception / Event(s) – Inreach / Men’s Group / Community – Mark is in conversation with Rhonda Wheeler from Emmanuel Episcopal Church to provide a Lenten Program like we had pre-COVID for neighborhood Episcopal churches with soup, salad, bread and a program. Mark is still looking to have a movie night showing Hollywood Teach Us To Pray.
Warden Reports
- Senior Warden, Bill Beach –
- Bill is speaking with the Edgars to reinstate the Annual Oyster Roast. A tentative date is February 3, 2024.
- The Charitable Trust submitted their yearly report. A motion was made by Jim Klotz to accept the Charitable Trust yearly report and seconded by Ron Kindley. The motion was approved unanimously.
- Bill is meeting with Larry Cumming to discuss an Estate Planning Program in which Rick Bagley would help to initiate.
- Junior Warden, Jay Hogg –
- There is a water leak in the handicapped restroom that has doubled water usage. The leak is confined to the water tank of the toilet. Jay has replaced the flapper to see if that solves the problem. Next steps would be to replace the toilet.
- Looking at May as the best time to replace the floors in the tables and chairs closet.
- Floors in the church – The vestry has decided it best to postpone the floors at this time.
Committee Reports
- Ron is scheduling an Invite Committee Meeting in February.
The meeting concluded with a prayer and adjourned at 8:00 p.m.