ST. MARK’S VESTRY MINUTES

February 15,2007

Caroline Hall   Jim Halverson   Bob Haverland   Sally Little

Rick Powell   Jonathan Renfroe   Rose Renfroe     Ty Ross

Cindy Sarratt   Chris Stearns   Thierry Urbain   Erin Witt

Others: Rev. Dean Taylor, Rector   Rev. Elizabeth Roles, Assistant Rector

Barbara Yarbrough, Clerk   *Kathy West, Treasurer    Sally Huggins, Financial Secretary
*denotes absence

The Rev. Dean Taylor opened the meeting with prayers for sick and homebound parishioners.

VESTRY ORIENTATION: FINANCE — Kathy West & Sally Huggins
Copies of the 2006 Year End Financial statement were distributed to the vestry members. Although plate receipts were $12,789.19 over the budget estimate and pledge receipts were $ 19,929,39 under the budgeted amount, the fiscal year closed with a positive balance of $16,416.47. This was due to overbudgeting on certain line items and cutting expenditures in some areas. Kathy next presented an in-depth explanation of the 2006 Trial Balance Report and reviewed line items in the Restricted Account. Following the presentation, the vestry thanked Kathy and Sally for their work in the financial area.

RECTOR ‘S REPORT: Rev. Dean Taylor
Diocesan Ministry Fair
Dean distributed copies of the Ministry Fair 2007 scheduled workshops to be held February 24 at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. The overall theme this year is “Renewing Our Baptismal Covenant” and the special guest leader will be the Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray, III, Bishop of Mississippi. He will speak on Darkness into Day, a program of assistance for churches and clergy in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Vestry Publications
Dean requested vestry information for the upcoming publications to be turned in immediately. It is hoped to have “Volunteer Opportunities” completed by Lent and “Giving Opportunities” ready by Easter.

COMMISSION REPORTS
Pastoral Care: Cindy Sarratt
Cindy distributed a list of Pastoral Care Ministries with the chairman’s name and a brief description of each ministry. Currently these include: Card Ministry, Visitations, Lay Eucharistic Ministry, Prayer’ Chain, Transportation Ministry, Food Ministry, Phone Ministry and Funeral Receptions. Each ministry area is open to any member of the parish and anyone interested should contact Cindy for further information. Several requests have been received to publish names of hospitalized parishioners in the Sunday bulletin and Dean will investigate this further.

Outreach: Thierry Urbain
The Carter Hope dinners on Tuesday nights are going well. Several dates are available for April and May and the schedule is in the reception area.

The St. Mark’s Food Bank is being utilized on a regular basis and lately was a valuable community resource when the Salvation Army Food Bank supplies had been depleted. More shelving has been added to accommodate the growing needs. Peanut butter donations are now distributed from the St. Mark’s location.

 
The DEO Clinic has been so well received that it has outgrown the current site. Dr. Rod Rodriguez, Deborah Cunningham, David Blaybock and Thierry met to discuss securing a larger location and would like to move to St Mark’s Parish Hall temporarily until other arrangements can be made. The clinic is open from 5:00-6:30 pm. 2 evenings a week and averages 20-40 clients per night.

Adult Education: Caroline Hall
The Sunday Adult Education program for February is “King David, Yahweh, and the Mid-Life Crisis” (What the David chronicles can teach us about the stages of life). Leaders for this series are Susan Ewing, a Chattanooga psychotherapist and Rev. Dean Taylor, who will discuss both the psychological and spiritual insights from this major figure of faith. The March program will feature Dr. Joseph Monti, a professor from the University of the South, who will focus on religion and violence.

Children and Youth: Sally Little
A Youth Advisory Committee has been formed and will be working with this commission. Up-coming events include: the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper’, trip to the Heifer Ranch in mid-July, Senior High “mini-mission” trip to Jubilee (a refugee camp) at Comer, GA and a casserole fund raiser. House Communions are held monthly and have been very successful. Vacation Bible School will be held the mornings of June 11-14th.

Buildings: Jonathan Renfroe
More parishioner requests for an elevator have been received. Jonathan met with Lowell Kirkman, the parish hall architect, and a shaft was included when this building was constructed. Initial ballpark figures for an elevator are in the $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 range and one parishioner has stated he would contribute $10,000.00. (Currently there is $900.00 designated for an elevator.) Discussion was held on installing a handicap lift designed for a wheelchair and an attendant, but it was felt this would not be as satisfactory to meet long term needs. A suggestion was made for Jonathan to form a committee and further investigate the feasibility, cost, etc.

Grounds: Chris Stearns
Tree evaluations are being made around the church grounds and David Potts is developing a landscape plan for now, 5 years and 10 years. A meeting was held with representatives from Play World, Siskin and Ellen Andersen to discuss developing plans for the Preschool Playground. Chris stated the storage shed next to the dumpster needs to be removed.

Newcomers: Ty Ross
Ty is planning some special events for newcomers.

Parish Life: Rose Renfroe & Erin Witt
A schedule of Parish Life Events was distributed to vestry members. Topics covered included a brief description of Wednesday Night Suppers, dates for the 2nd Sunday Pot Luck Dinners, dates for upcoming planned adult and family oriented special events and general information from the recent Parish Life Commission Meeting.

Worship: Rick Powell
At the March Pot Luck Luncheon, vestry members will have information concerning each Commission and will encourage parishioners to participate in areas of interest to them.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
February 20th 6:00p.m. Mardi Gras Jazz Service followed by Pancake Supper
February 2Ist 7:15 a.m,, 12:15 pm., 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Services
Sung Compline: 6:30 p.m. each Monday during Lent
Stations of the Cross: 6:00 p.m. each Friday during Lent
The Master Schedule is now available on the Web page.

The next vestry meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 pm.

Dean adjourned the meeting with the Benediction

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Yarbrough, Clerk