What is the purpose of the Vestry?
The Vestry serves as the governing board of the Church. Five new Vestry members are elected by the congregation each year at the January annual meeting to each serve 3-year terms, resulting in 15 Vestry members total. (Update: As of the January, 2012 Annual Meeting, the congregation will now elect 4 new Vestry members each year, which will result in a total of 12 members by 2014.)
How do the Vestry’s activities reflect the missions of St. Paul’s?
As the governing board, the Vestry approves monetary decisions through both the annual budgeting process as well as approval of significant individual expenditures. Decisions regarding new initiatives, whether focused on service to our community or enhancing worship and parish life at St. Paul’s, are prayerfully reached by the Vestry.
What is the Vestry currently up to?
While every aspect of church life at St. Paul’s is of utmost interest to the Vestry, recently adopted new initiatives undertaken and the resulting committee names are: Lay Ministry Development, New Member Ministry, and Young Adult (20-to-40 years of age) Focus. Annual stewardship campaign planning and budget preparation/monitoring are constants as well.
When does the Vestry meet?
The standing meeting time for the Vestry is 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.
Who can I contact with questions for the Vestry or to serve on the Vestry?
Randy Dean, Senior Warden, via telephone at (423) 552-6829 or e-mail randy.dean92@yahoo.com
*****
Vestry News and Updates
Vestry Minutes:
- Annual meeting (1/15/2012): Annual Meeting Minutes 01152012
- January 16, 2012 meeting: Vestry Minutes 01162012
- February 20, 2012 meeting: Vestry Minutes 02202012
- March 12, 2012 special meeting: Vestry Minutes 03122012
- March 19, 2012: Vestry Minutes 03192012
- April 16, 2012: Vestry Minutes 04162012
- May 21, 2012: Vestry Minutes 05212012
2011 Archives
- Vestry Letter to Congregation- December 31, 2010: Recent Vestry Budget Decisions 12312010
- January 17, 2011 meeting: Vestry_Minutes_01172011
- February 21, 2011 meeting: Vestry_Minutes_02212011
- March 21, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 03212011
- April 18, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 04182011
- May 16, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 05162011
- June 20, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 06202011
- June 27, 2011 special meeting:Vestry Minutes 06272011
- July 25, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 07252011
- August 15, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 08152011
- September 19, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 9192011
- October 17, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 10172011
- November 21, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 11212011
- December 19, 2011 meeting: Vestry Minutes 12192011
*****
Vestry Membership
Listed below are current Vestry members, their terms of service, and phone numbers. Please feel free to contact any of them with a question, concern, or idea about any aspect of our church or our life as a parish. Alternatively, you may post comments to this page, which will be periodically checked by the Vestry. Questions may be answered here; new ideas may be brought up on upcoming Vestry agendas. We welcome your input and are eager to answer any questions.
Terms Expiring 12/2012
Randy Dean 423-552-6829 - Sr. Warden
Michael O’Neill 423-335-1298
Treva Tarpley 423-245-1962
Terms Expiring 12/2013
Bob Jameson 423-378-4044
Con (Charles) Cave 423-276-5933
John McKinley 423-378-5271
Dave Nealy 423-343-9190
Anthony Peters 423-578-6807
Terms Expiring 12/2014
Charlie Herron 423-288-0336
Mary Ann Stout 423-245-7295
Jack Vaughn 423-239-0520
Hal Yungmeyer 423-247-8911 - Jr. Warden
I believe there might be opportunity to increase church revenues by having ability to make contributions online.
A live webcam,or even recorded webcam of services might be desired as well, for worshippers homebound or out of town.
Neither of the above is intended to replace active church attendance,but every little bit helps.
Thank you very much, Dr. Matthews, for your suggestions. I assure you they will be discussed at the next vestry meeting. One issue to resolve with the on-line donations is credit card fees. We have discussed this in the past but will revisit it to determine if anything has changed in that area. I do not recall a discussion regarding posted webcams but it sounds like a great idea if we can master the technology required and find someone to take ownership of the weekly process. Thank you again for your suggestions and please share others you have as they come to mind!
Alan Ragsdale, Senior Warden
I would add to the online donation discussion that I’ve done a bit of research there. Google offers a non-profit donation program that doesn’t require a commitment – can withdraw at any time. Fees per transaction would still apply because we are a religious organization, but it may be just the thing to use as a trial period – we can see if donations increase enough to justify the transaction fees. This would also be an ideal way for non-members (e.g., family members or friends of a deceased member) to easily make a charitable donation in honor of the deceased member. You can go to Google to learn more about it. The only concern I have with this particular system is it’s not clear whether donations can be specified toward any particular project (e.g., “organ fund”) or if it all automatically goes into one general pool without ability of the donor to specify further. — Alison
Alison, thank you for this information. I will engage the Finance Committee and others as needed to evaluate the Google option. Thanks again for the lead!
Alan R.