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January 27, 2006

Annual Meeting Minutes

Trinity Parish Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 22, 2006, 7 pm

Vestry Co-Senior Warden David Arscott called the meeting to order. He thanked outgoing Vestry members Debbie Eastburn, Elaine Hammond, Jess Love, and Margie Stehle, and welcomed new members John Crevelt, Jay Dean, Carl Ditmore, and Jeannie Thomas.

Treasurer’s Report
Jennifer Fitzmorris presented a brief overview of Parish finances, as contained in the Annual Report, pages 17-21. It appears that we will finish 2005 with a $20,000 deficit ($36,000 deficit was predicted), but that the expected deficit in 2006 will only be $6,000. This includes small salary increases for staff members. We have 4 months of operating expenses in reserve.

Election of Parish Treasurer and Clerk
It was moved and seconded that Jennifer Fitzmorris be appointed Parish Treasurer and that Margie Stehle be appointed Vestry Clerk (Secretary) for the year 2006. Motion carried unanimously.

Diocesan Delegation
Interim Rector Anne Jensen presented the proposed slate of members of our Diocesan Delegation: Paul Bolton, Virginia Debs, Debbie Eastburn, Shirley Hagey, Terry Moore, John Strandberg, and Lucy Strandberg. These delegates will take part in the election of the new Bishop for the Diocese of California.

The Rev. Anne outlined the process for choosing the next Bishop. A search committee has been at work, with a process much like that which we will follow in choosing a new rector. They prepared a profile of the diocese, received applications, and are choosing finalists. The names of the candidates will be released on February 20th. The finalists will meet with the delegates in each Deanery in March, and the vote will take place in May. To be elected, the new Bishop has to win a majority of votes in both orders (clergy and lay), and then be approved by all the Bishops at the General Convention in July.

Our parish is allowed to have seven Diocesan Delegates and up to seven alternates. Anne asked for volunteers or nominations for alternates. The following names were presented: Rani Fischer, Haydi Sowerwine, Sara Bostock, Violet Lyon, and Charis Quay.

It was moved and seconded that the slate of delegates and alternates be approved, and the motion carried unanimously.

Vestry Goals for 2006
Vestry Co-Senior Warden Frances Nuelle presented the Vestry’s goals for 2006, formulated at the very successful retreat at Mercy Center on January 6th and 7th. They are:

1. The New Rector Search, which is expected to take about 12 months. The Search Committee is hard at work, and will be meeting weekly for the next few months.

2. Communication: the establishment of an e-mail database, to facilitate communication among parish members. This will be under the leadership of new Vestry member Jay Dean, who is a communication specialist and our Webmaster.

3. Commission Health. We need to avoid burnout among the “faithful remnant” who are running most of the everyday activities of parish commissions. We need to energize the people who haven’t yet felt called to do the work of the church. Commissions in special need of help and new members or leaders include Stewardship, Membership, Buildings and Grounds, and the Casserole Brigade.

Frances expressed the incredible gratitude of the Vestry for Anne Jensen’s ministry as our Interim Rector.

New Rector Search
The Rev. Anne outlined the New Rector Search process, which is set by the Diocese. Diocesan Representative Michael Hansen has met with the search committee, which is meeting weekly. The Search Committee will be trained to lead the Town Hall meetings, which will be held on two Sundays in March. Input received from all parish members at these meetings will form the basis for the Parish Profile. Names of possible candidates will be solicited, and the profile will be sent to these candidates. The applications will be received and evaluated by the Committee. We would expect to have between 25 – 40 applications. The Search Committee will visit perhaps 6 to 8 candidates, and will decide on finalists (up to 3 names), any one of which would be acceptable. These names will be presented to the Vestry, and the candidates will visit Menlo Park to meet with the Vestry and to see the area, but not to preach or take part in our church services. The Vestry makes the final decision of which candidate to call to be our new Rector. Then it will be the job of all of us to welcome the new rector and his/her family. This is a process of prayer and spiritual discernment, not a business deal. Our prayers will be requested throughout the process.

Interim Time
The Rev. Anne explained a bit about what is expected for a Parish during the interim time between the departure of a rector and the arrival of a new one. It is a time to come to terms with the history of the parish and to discover our identity. We are a community with history, and we need to figure out who God is calling us to be. Rectors come and go, but the community endures. The Interim Rector is expected to facilitate shifts in leadership, to bring in new faces, to invite new people into the process. We need to reconnect with the Diocese, and have a healthy partnership. We need to concentrate on stewardship as an avenue of spiritual health and well-being. We need to commit to a life of prayer and study and worship. If we do this, the spirit of generosity, service, and caring will follow. We need to be serious about our faith, and live it every day. We need to make a commitment to the new leadership which we will have in the future.

Wardens
New Co-Senior Wardens are Frances Nuelle and David Arscott. New Junior Warden is John Crevelt.

The meeting concluded with prayer at 7:50 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Margie Stehle, Clerk