Vestry Meeting

December 16, 2008

Call to Order
Following a 6:00 potluck dinner, Father Tom called the meeting to order at 6:35.

Present: Dunbar Ashbury, Simon Arndt, Darren Andrews, Ian McGreevy, Waymon Wright, Fr. Tommy, Jim Cox, John Aulls, Bill Gibb, Hunt Hendrickson, Eleanor Peckham, Gary Crump, Fr. Tom, Jennifer Mariano, Denise Parker, Donna Seniff
and Tom Litras.

Absent: Dan Lajewski

Rector’s Report
Fr. Tom opened the meeting with a discussion about the diversity of services that happened last Sunday. The Youth conducted the entire Great Hall service while a traditional Advent Lessons and Carols was offered in the Historic Church. There was general agreement that discussion needs to continue about how we do what we do with respect to the types of services we presently offer and what we can offer at All Saints’ in the future. Worship will continue to be a priority for 2009.

John Aulls drafted a “position description” to better inform both candidates for vestry and the congregation at large about the role of the vestry. Fr. Tom added a covenant of life clause that includes the four components of the “cross model” for ministry: Worship, Formation, Stewardship, and Administration. The vestry agreed that having a written statement of responsibilities is a good step in communicating to the parish the responsibilities and duties of the governing body. The position description will be included in Saints’ Alive prior to the Annual Meeting and in the Annual Report.

Devotional - Denise offered the opening devotion, a perspective on the presence of angels in our lives, and particularly during the Christmas season.

Minutes - A motion was made to accept the minutes that were distributed electronically prior to the meeting. The motion was seconded and approved.

Treasurer’s Report
Dunbar made a motion that Fr. Tom’s monthly housing allowance for 2009 be $2500, and that Fr. Tommy’s allowance be $2170. The housing allowance statement is part of IRS requirements and is done annually at this time. (The housing resolution is attached to the minutes.) For January, Tom Litras and Denise will make deposits. The final payment on our annual diocesan pledge for 2008 in the amount of $29,750 has been made this month by using funds from other accounts. To date, we have not had to borrow any money to meet expenses, but that may be necessary before the end of the year. The stewardship campaign to date has resulted in 239 pledges totaling $562,500. To date, this is $100,000 less than the 2008 pledge amount, although Dunbar believes the total will normalize by end of year.

Senior Warden’s Report - John submitted a written report that summarized the current details of the sale of real estate that is part of the Wisner bequest. He also acknowledged the work of Bill Gibb as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

Junior Warden’s Report - Dan provided a written report that highlighted the success of the recent rectory cleanup. About 50 parishioners worked in and around the rectory on Dec. 6th, cleaning window sills and the kitchen, and hauling away about 900 pounds of trash.

Standing Committees
Executive Committee-Gary announced the officers for the 2009 vestry. Nancy Hennessey will be the Senior Warden. She and John Aulls will continue to serve on the Rector’s Development Committee. Dunbar will continue as Treasurer and Dan Lajewski will remain as the Jr. Warden. Gary Crump is stepping down as Registrar so a replacement will be selected early next year.

Budget & Finance-The deficit budget will carry over to 2009. There will be a special vestry meeting on February 3rd to review the status of the budget. Rector’s Development Team- Sacred Conversations, a discussion on how to talk about difficult subjects, will be held during the month of January.
Communications-The Adult Forum this Sunday will present what the committee is and what they do, and will include a PowerPoint presentation.

Stewardship--Will meet again to follow up with those who haven’t pledged this year but who did pledge last year. The Committee is looking at a new approach, including having stewardship in each ministry area rather than as a stand-alone ministry. A mission statement is under draft.
Memorials-Fr. Tom is trying to identify a chairperson for the committee. There is several thousand dollars in the fund that can be used for permanent memorials.

Options- Photos of the rectory are being taken this week, and the layout for the marketing brochure is in production, and should be ready in about three weeks. We still plan to have a social event in the rectory, possibly before the Annual Meeting.

Bylaws –The proposed changes are being prepped for distribution at the Annual Meeting.

Nominations- Bill Gibb, Chair, and his committee of Mary Morgan, Helen Gregory, and Tony Rizzo, and hopefully a parishioner who attends the 8:00 service, have met twice and now a slate of eight solid candidates. Bios and photos will hopefully be completed by Dec 28th. The youth will elect their own nominee/alternate. The details should be finalized by the first week of January.

Personnel- Tom Litras has undertaken a comprehensive analysis of staff salaries and compared them to other like positions in the region and country, as well as by specific demographics of churches similar to All Saints’. The Personnel Committee then developed a plan to address staff salaries that are not consistent with the results of the analysis. Fr. Tom asked for a resolution of support to direct the Personnel and Budget &Finance Committees to address those staff salaries that fall below the median.

These changes will result in a 4.1% COLA adjustment, which is consistent with the diocesan guidelines, plus other adjustments that will bring the staff salaries closer to the median of the range of their salaries as indicated in the comprehensive analysis. The net effect on the budget will be about a $50,000 increase in salary line items. The motion was made to adopt the recommendation from the Personnel Committee, seconded, and opened to discussion. Ian asked for clarification that Fr. Tom's current salary is not included in the proposed action. There was considerable discussion and concern expressed about the timing of the action and the potential effect on the deficit and on the 2009 budget. Tom Litras proposed to amend the motion to give priority to the salary adjustments upon completion of the 2009 budget process. The amended motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The vestry acknowledged the diligent efforts of the Personnel Committee for their ongoing work on staff salaries.

New Business - A change to the flexible spending program was made by email last month that increases the amount that can be set aside in the program from $5000 to $6000. A motion was made to formally endorse the previous email approval. The motion was seconded and approved.

Following a brief evaluation and closing prayer, the meeting adjourned at 9:50.

Respectfully submitted,
Gary E. Crump, Registrar

RESOLUTION

The vestry of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, on the 17th day of December, 2008, after discussing the amounts to be paid to clergy as housing allowances, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted the following resolution:

Whereas, the Rev. Thomas Momberg and the Rev. Thomas S. Rogers, III are employed as ministers of the Gospel of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Frederick, Maryland, which does not provide residences for them, the vestry resolves that, of the total compensation (TCC) to be paid to each of them during 2009, the following amounts are designated as housing allowances within the meaning of that term as used in Section 107 of the I. R. S. Code of 1986. These amounts of compensation are designated as housing allowances for this and all future years unless otherwise provided.

Rev. Thomas Momberg $40,000
Rev. Thomas S. Rogers, III $26,040

Gary E. Crump, Registrar