vestry, vacation, and budgets…

So by the time you read this, I will be safely tucked away in the ‘mountains’ of western Maryland, sitting on my porch, picking David Whitfield’s mandolin, and wondering why I brought 7 bikes for 5 riders…  Aaaah, vacation. I am so thankful for a couple weeks away with just my family, a couple kayaks, and some cool water.  Thank you to our staff who lead with such excellence.  Thank you to our vestry who generously said, go!!

I wanted to make sure I told you about our vestry meeting last Tuesday.  We approved our budget for Fiscal Year 2012!! It goes into effect on September 1.  If you’ve been attentive over the last 6 months, you know that Restoration has been laboring to pray, listen, and discern ‘what’s next’.  We feel this budget funds the vision to which God is calling us and we’ll tell you all about it and give you a chance to ask questions at our parish meeting on September 27.  This budget will help us make disciples, here are some highlights:

• We budgeted money to pay for a modular unit that will go in our backyard.  Kathy K. has begun the (probably slow) permitting process with the county.  We hope to have it in place by September 11 when the fall programming kicks off. We also set aside money to fund research into more significant building changes.
• We created a new leadership position on our staff team.  We are receiving resumes and creating a hire team that will interview applicants.  We hope to have this person on-site in early 2012. One of the things I like about this budget is that we included some faith goals.  If our income is at a certain level this fall, there is an opportunity for us to hire a second staff person who might focus exclusively on our youth.  We’ll see what God does.
• The budget is a careful, disciplined, faith-full stretch.  It acknowledges the growth we have experienced while being prudent about the current economy and the growth limits our facility may place on us in the near future.  It comes in just over $800k. I am so thankful for the long hours and loving work that our finance team gave to this effort.  They have served us all so well.  Again, I look forward to our treasurer walking you through it and answering your questions on September 27.

Other highlights:

• We are starting to receive proposals for our seed fund!  People are thinking creatively about how they might build a relationship with their neighbor and Restoration is paying for it. One guy is handing out breakfast burritos!  Another group is using the grant to build momentum for an ESOL program here in Arlington.  The seed fund is a brilliant idea–  cause you guys are so smart and creative.  Go for it!
• You might have heard by now that our beloved Ken and Mary Vinson are moving to VA Beach this fall. Ken’s company was awarded a contract with the Navy–  but he comes with the package.  Ken and Mary have been gifted, tireless, stalwart pillars of service to Restoration.  They were on the original servant team back in 2008.  Mary has served as a warden and also directed our personnel team.  ‘Grateful’ just barely begins to describe how I feel.  Because of the move, Mary resigned from our vestry last month. In our bylaws, if someone is not able to finish their vestry term, we have an alternate who steps in for that person.  The alternate is the person who finished ‘4th’ in the most recent vestry election.  That was Cindy Darnell. In God’s foresight, Cindy had already joined our personnel team this year.  Consequently, she was able to both take Mary’s spot on vestry AND move into a facilitator role on the personnel team.  God is good.  The transition has been smooth.
• One more…  Restoration is served by 4 ‘Advisory Teams’: personnel, finance, outreach, and facility.  These teams have no governance power, but they serve the church by making recommendations to the vestry on policy and action.  These teams are a HUGE gift.  Folks serve on these teams for 3 years with a third of the team rolling off each year.  If you are interested in serving this way, feel free to contact the team facilitator or staff liaison. Most of them will be adding new folks this fall.  Here is the facilitator:
  • Personnel:  Cindy Darnell
  • Outreach:  Mitch Wallin
  • Finance:  Jan Ryerson
  • Facility:  Kathy Kenyon (team is forming, Kathy is staff liaison)

Thanks for reading this far.  I love being the Rector of this church.

Because I love the people with whom I get to serve, pastor, and partner in leadership.

Because I love Jesus and the way He is worshiped, proclaimed, and followed when we get together.

I’ll miss ya.  See you in August.

-David