Wardens’ Report: October 2021
The vestry met in our fellowship hall on October 26. Due to various travels and illnesses, three members were unable to participate in-person. Karen McNeilly led the vestry in collects and prayer in the shadow of our beautiful new Lord’s Table as we prayed for our church and specifically the needs of our community and congregation.
As you may know, our Rector David Hanke recently celebrated a big birthday and was able to leap the stairs at the front of the sanctuary in a single bound, not once but twice! To fete him properly, we enjoyed a special taco dinner and over-the-top decorations with a very special balloon. Of course, there was also cake, in case the chocolate candies and peanut M&Ms weren’t enough.
After appropriately appreciating David, we began a more focused discussion. After all, vestry can’t be all fun and games. We approved the September meeting minutes and discussed the monthly Rector’s report. We also received a staff update from Chris Stephens and prayed for the Stephens, giving thanks for Chris’ ministry to our congregation and with our musicians.
Karen McNeilly provided an update from the Outreach Steering Team (OST), as we finished out our FY21 Outreach grant process. These grants went to a number of local groups serving our community, domestic and international church planting efforts, as well as several international-based and/or focused missions. The vestry also chose to begin saving for the potential of Restoration’s next church plant. We look forward to seeing what new ‘good thing’ might grow here. Restoration sets aside 10% of our annual budget to making these outreach grants and we thank the congregation for your continued generosity in supporting so many Kingdom-focused groups.
Following this discussion, we received an update from our Treasurer and Personnel team leaders. Our giving continues to be above projections and spending below, and we are grateful to know our mortgage refinance (technically, a modification of our current loan) will be finalized in the next few weeks. The Personnel team continues to seek candidates for our Kids‘ Small Group Coordinator and Operations Coordinator. Please be in prayer that the Lord will provide the right people to join Restoration’s staff team soon.
Often in the second half of the year, the Vestry is able to focus attention on legacy and long-term projects. Last year, we worked on defining the procedures for more effective executive sessions. This year, we have prioritized our mortgage refinance and developing a leadership succession plan as a way for future vestries to have good policies in place for unforeseen or unplanned events.
Lastly, the Vestry Discernment Committee (VDC) provided an update on the process and progress of receiving and sorting through nominations for the next three members of vestry. In November, Restoration members who have signed the Big Green Book will receive the slate of nominations and bio book. Voting will be done via an emailed link from November 28 through December 5. We are thankful for so many wonderful candidates and ask for your prayer for discernment of the VDC and our congregation.
We welcome your questions and feedback. You can read an archive of past Wardens’ Reports on our website or Vestry Meeting minutes on CCB, under the ‘Files’ tab in the ‘Restoration Family.’
Lorene and Brad