Wardens’ Report: November 2016
The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to demystify our work and provide some information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.
The Vestry gathered on Tuesday for our last business meeting of the calendar year. As is our custom, we began with prayer in the sanctuary — this time led by outgoing Vestry member Michael Dodson. Our liturgy focused on the six candidates who have graciously agreed to serve, if elected. We thanked God for their leadership and all the ways they serve and love God and the people of Restoration. (As a reminder, Sunday, December 4 is the last day for members to vote for four of the six candidates on the slate. The results of the election will be announced via blog post on Tuesday, December 6). We also gave thanks for those rolling off Vestry and the ways that Ali Burke, Michael Dodson, Carolyn Weimer and Ramsey Wilson have used their gifts for the common good.
Our meeting included updates about our facility, including an accident that damaged the side of the building and doors adjacent to the parking lot. Our able Director of Operations and Facilities Team continue to keep a close eye on many aspects of our building, including routine maintenance and issues when they arise. We thank God for their technical skills and gracious manner as they represent us well among our engineers, contractors, county officials and service providers. We also received an encouraging Finance Team report and remain optimistic about our financial health two months into the new fiscal year.
We spent the bulk of our meeting on two strategic items. The first was the continued cultivation of healthy Vestry practices and ways we can help future vestries grow in faith, cohesion and leadership. We also reflected on our progress with Restoration2019 and some important next steps in the implementation of our strategic plan. We remain compelled by the vision to grow coherent disciples of Jesus on Quincy Street, in new neighborhoods in and around the beltway and around the world!
We realize our local church planting plans are still nebulous and maybe even scary for those of you who have finally found your home at Restoration, but we are excited by the opportunities that will emerge for our own discipleship as we create space for more people in more places to find their home in God’s work of redemption and restoration. You’ll hear more about our vision during Epiphany as our clergy lead us through a sermon series that describes our motivations for wanting to plant churches out of Restoration.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, we receive the Incarnation during Advent and rejoice that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.
If you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your feedback on all aspects of life together on Quincy Street.
You can read an archive of past Wardens’ Reports on our website or Vestry Meeting minutes on CCB, under the ‘Files’ tab in the ‘Entire Church Group’
-Carolyn Weimer and Hannah Royal, Wardens