Wardens’ Report: November 2022
November 29, 2022
The Vestry met at Restoration on November 29th for our last in-person meeting of the year. We gathered in prayer as Meaghan Maguire led us in giving thanks for this season of waiting in hopeful anticipation, for our three out-going vestry members, and for the Restoration members willing to stand in our ongoing election for the next class. We prayed for God to continue to grow good things at Restoration and some exciting events on the horizon in 2023: the Evening Service launching in January under the leadership of Nathan Dickerson and Chris Lugo, for David’s sabbatical, and Kat’s maternity leave.
Over dinner we shared our thoughts on what our vestry did well in 2022 and suggestions for improvement in 2023. A recurring theme emerged of the vestry’s desire to continue building an environment where disagreements and frustrations can be expressed without risking a rift in community or relationship. We recognized the value of the in-person overnight vestry retreat at the end of January to establish the personal bonds necessary to encourage members during what can be candid or potentially difficult discussions.
The vestry approved the October meeting minutes, the 2023 clergy housing allowances, and Comunidad as the recipient of our Christmas Eve offering. All offerings received during our Christmas Eve services will go toward their Rising Leaders program which supports high school students in the community who design a project intended to benefit their neighbors. We also entered into the minutes a motion approved earlier in November via email to create a Parish Discernment Committee for our Curate, Russell Vick, a key step as he explores a possible call to ordained ministry. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and energy Russell has brought to Restoration as a participant in our Clergy Development Program and are excited to partner with him in discerning what is next.
For the majority of our discussion time, the vestry explored various options for investment and opportunities for generosity with the resources God has graciously granted us. We made several key decisions over the course of the evening. First, we approved a $2,500 contribution to Bishop John’s Retirement Fund, a special fund set up and administered by DOMA as a way to thank Bishop John for his years of faithful service and leadership of our diocese. Our parish and vestry have personally benefitted significantly from Bishop John’s wise counsel for the past decade and in particular during the bishop election process. Second, we established a Strategic Investment Fund, deliberately setting aside the $200,000 Restoration members gave in 2019 in Giving Thanks for 10 Good Years. We are humbled by God’s continued, faithful provision of our financial needs and wait for His Spirit to lead us to the good things that will grow next.
Finally, the vestry approved a budget for the Evening Service, formally granted a four-month sabbatical for David Hanke (to be taken in two (2) two-month segments with an option for another two months by the end of FY2024), and agreed to a grant for David as he begins a Doctor of Ministry program during his sabbatical months in 2023. The vestry unequivocally recognizes our staff as one of our strengths and views the opportunities to support Nathan as he leads a team in launching the Evening Service and Lord willing, a Restoration campus and future church plant, and authorizing David’s sabbatical and grant to pursue the Doctor of Ministry are ways to make our strengths stronger.
We welcome your questions, encouragement, feedback, and most of all, your prayers. 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’. Finally, we encourage every Restoration member to vote and pray for the next three members of Vestry. You should have received the slate of nominations and bio book via email, and an individualized SurveyMonkey link to vote by December 4.
~Adam & Lorene
