St Brendan's Anglican Church
 

ST. BRENDAN’S ANGLICAN Church

Vestry Meeting

December 17, 2009

Vestry and Officers Present

Bruce Litherland, Sr. Warden

Cavin Philbin, Jr. Warden

Darlene Wagner

David Baines

Trevor Elliot

Graham Johnson

Moheb Ghali

Dan Howard-Snyder

Vestry Members Absent:

JoElla Erickson

Visitors:
Curry Miles

Clergy Present:

Fr. Kevin Allen, Rector

The Rev. Gerry Swieringa, Deacon

Opening Prayer was led by Dan Howard-Snyder.

Dan Howard-Snyder brought forth an addition to the agenda:  Robin Collins, Professor of Philosophy, Messiah College, will lead the second annual lectureship in philosophy and Christianity at Western Washington University, Fraser Hall 4.  The subject of his first lecture will be:  The fine-tuning argument for the existence of God; the subject of his second lecture:  The incarnation theory of the atonement.  Robin thinks the incarnation theory can be defended on both philosophical and scriptural grounds and has written several papers to that effect.  Robin will also lecture in two sections of Phil 113, Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, and he will present a paper to the philosophy faculty and majors.  Dan offered $500 to be matched by St. Brendan’s, to help support the lecture.  Vestry agreed to prayerfully consider the offer and will make their decision at the next vestry meeting.

There were no minutes to approve due to the November vestry meeting having been cancelled.

Financial Report – Bruce:

Total Income YTD:  $90,979

Total Expenses YTD:  $95,269

Net Income YTD:  $-4,390

Total Income budget vs. actual:  -$9,815

Net Income budget vs. actual:  -$4,662

Total Assets:  $104,486

Total Liabilities:  $16,066

Total Equity:  $88,421

It was moved and seconded (Moheb/Trevor) to accept the financial report.  Motion carried.

ACNA Retirement Plan – Bruce:

Bruce outlined the characteristics of the retirement plan.  It was moved and seconded (Cavin/Dan) that St. Brendan’s Anglican Church hereby resolves to participate in the Anglican Church in North America’s Retirement Plan Trust.  Any full time employee of SBAC may participate in the salary reduction program.  The amount of the salary reduction (deferral) will be established by the employee in December for the next year.  The maximum amount of the salary reduction may not exceed the plan limit in any calendar year; for 2009 this limit is $16,500.  Following discussion, the motion was carried. 

St. Paul’s Academy Upper School Update – Bruce:

SPA has received an offer to finance the 8 million dollar construction project, with the following caveat:  The lenders require the school community to supply the funds to furnish the classrooms, labs, offices, the chapel, etc.  Parents, grandparents and other interested people are being contacted to contribute either a one time cash donation or to make a pledge.  Members of St. Brendan’s are encouraged to contribute as well.  It was moved and seconded (Dan/Trevor) that SPA will accept funds in the name of St. Brendan’s for the upper school building fund.  Motion carried.

Clergy Report – Fr. Kevin:

The small groups are a healthy addition to our parish life.           

There was a good turn out for the Acts 29 presentation.  Beginning February 28, Fr. Kevin will begin a teaching series during the sermon time, based on Acts 29:  how to lead a person to Christ.   The series will lend itself to discussion in small groups and/or in Bible Study groups.  The leaders of the small groups and Bible Study groups who were present were polled for their interest in participating.  There were some yeas, some nays and some maybes. 

The Diocese of Cascadia is growing.  St. Elizabeth’s Everett will join soon.

In March Daryl Fenton, assistant to Arch Bishop Robert Duncan, will come to our first diocesan synod which will be held in the Shoreline area.

Special thanks were extended to Cavin for hosting the recent Five Talents dinner.

St. Brendan’s received special recognition regarding outreach efforts at the Lighthouse Mission. 

Clergy Report – Pastor Gerry:

John Allen’s leadership with the youth group is outstanding.

The Community Toy Store served 233 families representing 799 children, using $19,000 in donations, in which St. Brendan’s participated.  Each family spent an average of $18 for toys.

Gerry plans to hold an Inquirer’s Class in the spring.

Ministry/Committee Reports:

Children’s Ministries – Darlene:  Bible School is going well; child care is a success; we need to add toddler care to our ministry.

Communication – Kevin:  New service booklets are coming…….

New Member Ministry – Cavin:  Thanks were extended to vestry members who take turns greeting each Sunday.

Facilities – Cavin:  Another person is needed to serve on facilities.

Outreach – Cavin:  $3800 was raised at the recent Five Talents Dinner.

Pastoral Care – Kevin:  The prayer team that is available at the back at the church each Sunday is very effective.  Someone needs to be trained to take home communion to shut-ins.

Worship – Kevin (Graham):  We now have the capability to record services, sermons etc.  Then followed a highly technical discussion between Graham, Trevor and Cavin on the potential of the computer to enhance our worship service.  At least that’s what I think they were talking about.

Other Business – Curry:

A dinner will be held to pitch Alpha after Acts 29 is finished.  This would be in late spring.

Closing Prayer was the singing of the Doxology.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Hess

Vestry Clerk