Highlights from recent Vestry meetings
February 2019 Vestry Meeting Notes
Transition issues continue to consume much of the Vestry’s energy as it deals with scheduling supply priests and preparing to interview interim candidates. The preaching calendar is now available online here: https://bit.ly/2Xke5er. The committee to interview prospective interim candidates reported that it has developed a draft list of key questioning points and a draft parish profile. Both will receive further work.
Treasurer, Joanne Heaton, requested the Vestry authorize changes in signatories on bank accounts, with the change of Senior Wardens and the departure of the clergy. The Vestry complied.
Murray Rosenthal, the President of Genesis, the corporation that maintains our building, presented an outline of a plan for a capital campaign with a goal of $180,000. The campaign, if approved by the two Genesis board members (St. Clare and Temple Beth Emeth), would run over several years. The fund would be used for infrastructure maintenance (such as roof repair, boiler maintenance, carpet replacement), energy saving investments (solar panels, perhaps), security enhancements, and to create a long term sinking fund (the goal being to have capital earning interest so future capital campaigns would be less necessary.
The Vestry approved a revised letter of agreement for our Parish Administrator, Karen Slagell.
Junior Warden, Linda Klimach, reported that May 5th will be a “Sunday of Service/Mitzvah Day” including the congregations of Temple Beth Emeth, Blue Ocean Faith (the congregation that meets in the social hall) and St. Clare’s. The program is currently in the planning stage. So far plans include a joint service with all three congregations at 11:00 AM, followed by a lunch at 12:00, noon. The service projects will follow.
Finally, the Vestry approved the publication of these Vestry notes shortly after each Vestry meeting. For the time being, they will end with the following prayer:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
March 2019 Vestry Meeting Notes
Transition Process: The interim interview team (Linda Henny, Joanne Heaton, Sara Noda and Rachid Hatem) have interviewed a candidate, provided by the Diocese, to serve as St. Clare’s interim rector. Several steps, including checking references, are involved before the Vestry can
vote on a call.
Raindrops keep falling on my head: Our building has a leaky roof. As a matter of fact, two roof areas are in need of serious attention at a price tag total of an estimated $32,000. Our treasurer, Joanne Heaton, will seek support from grant funds available through the Diocese of Michigan.
Genesis capital campaign: Genesis is our building management company with a two-member board, Saint Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church and Temple Beth Emeth. The Genesis leadership is considering a capital campaign to take care of current and deferred maintenance and to create a
sinking fund to support future maintenance needs. Senior Warden, Knut Hill, and Junior Warden, Linda Klimach, have offered to serve on an ad hoc exploratory committee. They are seeking a few others to help with the discernment process.
What’s up, doc? The process of communication with members of the congregation is evolving. The primary communication channels are the weekly service leaflet (bulletin) and the weekly parish email. Additional sources are the monitor at the top of the stairs from the gathering area (near the tree sculpture), the monitor in the adult lounge, and vocal announcements at the end of Sunday services.
Where’s my St. Clarian? You may have noticed that the monthly newsletter, the St. Clarian, is missing from the list above. That’s because much of the monthly publication’s content had already been in weekly emails and we have so much going on that the monthly newsletter cannot keep up. The plan is to provide more content through our website and the weekly email, renamed “The St. Clarian.” Vestry can post through the Wardens or staff.
Finally, Pray for St. Clare!
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
adapted from BCP