Warden’s Report: June 2019

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our June 18th vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer before starting the meeting. This month, Brad Jones led us through prayer which included a time of intercession and prayer for Isaiah Brooms, our Director of Youth Ministries. We prayed that above all every middle school and high school student who enters Restoration would know how precious they are and how deeply loved they are loved by the amazing God who created them. We prayed over and gave thanks for our youth leaders without whom APEX would not be possible. We gave thanks for how APEX has grown in the last year. We prayed over Isaiah’s final coursework as he finishes seminary and gave thanks for all he has learned during his intensive year of study. We prayed for Isaiah and his family that they would grow together as a family and they would have peace and rest. Additionally, we prayed for those sick in our community, for the hiring of a new Director of Worship Arts, for wisdom in our budgeting process, and for the Strategic Plan (Restoration 2025). As always, we invite you to join us in praying over the staff, vestry and all of God’s work on Quincy Street.

In our meeting, we received an encouraging update from Incarnation Anglican Church and gave thanks for the hard work Incarnation has done to grow into the church that it is. We began thinking and praying about who will represent Restoration as Delegates at the DOMA Synod in November.

David Hanke led us in a discussion of our Strategic Plan (Restoration 2025). We spent some time reviewing the survey results we collected last month (thank you to all who filled out the survey–every comment was noted!) and then pivoted to next steps. We continued a discussion that we began during a vestry brunch with +John Guernsey about what we dream for Restoration in five years (and beyond) and what we believe God is calling our church to do and to be. We are grateful for the work of our Strategic Planning Advisory Team and welcome your prayers as we continue working on this plan.

Brad Jones, our treasurer, led us through a financial report that showed May giving was 24% over projections bringing our current annual offerings received to just 8.75% below projections versus the 12%-below that we’ve been experiencing for several months. We are grateful for this news and the generosity of our congregation–thank you. Brad also presented two options from our finance team for fiscal year 2020 (Restoration’s fiscal year runs September to August). The vestry will vote on the budget at their July meeting. They are currently looking to hold our budget steady (which is essentially the FY18 offerings budget) or make approximately 5% in cuts compared to the FY18 budget.

Johanna Montague, one of our wardens and our liaison with our personnel team, gave a brief update on the hiring process. We are thankful for the hiring of Ryan Goyer as our new Communications Coordinator. Ryan has been in the Restoration office for training and officially joins our team in July. We are in the interview process with several candidates for the Director of Worship Arts position and we ask you to join us in praying that we find the right candidate for this position. Finally, we are delighted to have Scott Buckhout back as our summer intern.

If you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

– Chris Belen and Johanna Montague, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: May 2019

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our May 28th vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer before starting the meeting. This month, Danny Lee led us through prayer which included a time of intercession and prayer for Louise Brooks, our Director of Kids’ Small Groups. We prayed that above all every child who enters Restoration would know how precious they are and how deeply loved they are loved by the amazing God who created them. We prayed over our nursery and the staff that care for our youngest children and, for our kids’ small groups, that we would be wise as we disciple our kids well. We gave thanks for our kids’ small groups leaders and how generously they serve each year. We prayed for new leaders to come this summer and fall (if you are interested in joining our kids’ ministry by leading a small group, please contact Louise). We prayed for peace, joy and clarity for Louise and her family as they pursue all that God has for them. Additionally, we prayed for those who are sick in our community, for the hiring of two new positions, and for the Strategic Plan (Restoration 2025). As always, we invite you to join us in praying over the staff, vestry and all of God’s work on Quincy Street.

In our meeting, we received an encouraging update from Incarnation Anglican Church and voted to approve their Articles of Incorporation. This is a big and exciting step for Incarnation as it is one of six requirements for moving from Mission to Congregation status in DOMA.

Brad Jones, our treasurer, led us through a financial report that showed April giving was better than originally expected and the budget shortfall this year seems to be holding steady at approximately 12% below budget. Our finance team has already begun budget preparations for fiscal year 2020 (Restoration’s fiscal year runs September to August) and is currently looking to hold our budget steady or make approximately 5% in cuts to the FY19 budget.

Johanna Montague, one of our wardens and our liaison with our personnel team, gave a brief update on the hiring process for the position of Director of Worship Arts and for the position of Communications Coordinator. Both positions remain open to applicants until May 31 and we invite any interested parties to apply. You can find more information for yourself (or someone you may think is interested) here.

We spent the remainder and majority of our evening preparing for the congregational meeting on May 29th about the termination of Matt Hoppe’s employment. If you were unable to attend the meeting and/or have questions about its content, please contact a member of our vestry.

If you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

– Chris Belen and Johanna Montague, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: April 2019

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our April 30th Vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together, and we prayed before starting the meeting.  This month, we read Psalm 145 together, and we prayed for our church. We prayed for the amazing Restoration staff team and we prayed for RILA.  We prayed that God would reveal His vision for our Church as we work on a new strategic plan, for energy and God’s love to be poured out on the staff who are serving our church-family in so many ways new and old, and for wisdom and provision as we seek to hire key roles in a time when our finances are tighter than in the past.  We also gave thanks and praise for RILA’s recent successes, which will bring both security and opportunity for clients and a sense of divine encouragement for the RILA staff and volunteers who serve so many in times of deep practical and spiritual need.  As always, we hope that you will pray with us for all the staff, vestry and God’s work here at Quincy Street.

In our meeting, we discussed the progress of the strategic planning process, as well as exciting ideas for how Restoration will celebrate its tenth anniversary (!) this fall.  If you can’t wait to share an idea, vision, or dream you’ve received for Restoration in 2025, use this email address or this form to submit that important information.  And be watching for other upcoming opportunities to pray and give input about the next chapter in our life together.  

We also received a great update from Incarnation Anglican Church.  Our Vestry serves as Incarnation’s vestry during this interim phase as Incarnation builds its own foundation within our diocese.  This month, we also approved Incarnation’s recommendation for one of their members to proceed toward ordination as a Vocational Deacon.  God is good! And it is so exciting to watch our friends at Incarnation to continue to build community together and share God’s love in South Arlington.  

The Vestry discussed conversations and questions received from the congregation in connection with Matt Hoppe’s resignation earlier this month.  The Vestry discussed ongoing efforts to gather information from and care for people inside and outside our congregation during this time of transition.

This month, the Vestry also received a financial update from Brad Jones, our Treasurer.  March giving was again below anticipated levels. Giving in March was 17% below our budgeted or predicted giving.  This continued a general trend that the Finance Team and the Vestry have been closely monitoring since the beginning of the fiscal year last September.  While Restoration’s expenses also have been running under-budget, the Vestry discussed how this may impact next year’s budget as well as hiring decisions in the coming months.  The Vestry also decided that we will not pursue a capital campaign in 2019, which had been previously considered after suggestions from Vision Night last fall.

David led a discussion about several staffing needs, some of which have gone unfilled for some time.  Our staff work so faithfully to serve our community in ways visible and invisible.  They are constantly taking on more responsibilities and opportunities to serve. We are so grateful for them.  Please pray for them and say “thank you” in whatever way you feel led over the coming weeks. Another way we can care for our staff is by identifying and hiring new colleagues to share the work involved in making Restoration an attractive and powerful place to experience God and a community of believers.  The Vestry discussed some proposals for specific potential job descriptions that would serve Restoration very well in the months and years to come. This was an initial discussion, but stay tuned for possible job postings that could be a perfect fit for you or your friends.

The Vestry also discussed extending the normal summer “time-off” for the 5 p.m. service in order to support our staff by changing their Sunday schedule. This break will begin on Sunday, June 23rd and continue through the end of August. If you have questions about this change in Sunday schedule or are looking for alternative ways to receive Holy Eucharist, please check out this blog post.

As you can see, our meeting included discussion of significant topics, but—through it all—we were reminded by the Psalm we started with.  God is with us, He is steadfast and faithful, and we are excited to see how He leads us forward in accordance with His plan. Want to be a part of what’s next?  Join a small group.  If you’re new-ish, come to the New To Restoration Dinner on May 7.  Give your time, talent, and treasure to what God’s doing.  And, above all, pray for our staff and vestry, and praise God for all He has done and is doing through Restoration.  

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group.’  You can also plan ahead to attend our next Parish Meeting on June 2nd.

God’s peace to all of you,

– Chris Belen and Johanna Montague, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: March 2019

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our March 26th vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer before starting the meeting. This month, Kevin Marshall led us through prayer which included a time of intercession and prayer for Nathan Dickerson, our associate rector. We prayed over Nathan’s work as he cares for our small group leaders and recruits leaders for the upcoming Spring trimester (which begins the last week of April). We gave thanks for Nathan’s work among the men in our congregation and how he cares for and shepherds them so well. We prayed that Nathan and his family would have a restful time away next month and that God would bless and guide each of them in their daily work and life. Additionally, we prayed over our strategic plan and the work being done to prepare it. We prayed that we would hear God’s voice as he leads Restoration in the process of discerning our next five years. As always, we hope that you will pray with us for all the staff, vestry and God’s work on Quincy Street.

In our meeting, we received an encouraging update on Incarnation and approved a memorandum of understanding with Incarnation providing them with back office support. This a generous and helpful gift we are giving to our friends and we are grateful to be able to help them in this way for six months into the next fiscal year. Additionally, we approved changes to our advisory teams and the hiring of a contractor during an upcoming maternity leave.

Brad Jones, our treasurer, led us through a financial report that showed February giving was again below anticipated levels. The vestry has prepared a letter for members updating them further on our financial situation. You can expect to see if in your mailbox early next week.  If you are not a member of Restoration and would like to see a copy, you can email Kat Downs.

David led a discussion with the vestry about the strategic planning process. We had a chance to hear feedback from the first congregational input session that occurred on March 17th and hear an update from the strategic plan advisory team. (Our current strategic plan ends this year.) As we celebrate ten years as Restoration Anglican Church, this is an appropriate moment to pause and look ahead to 2025. We are grateful for what God has done and anticipate His continued good work in the next five years.

We look forward to hearing from you: what is God saying to you about Restoration 2025? We invite you to join the Strategic Planning Advisory Team this Sunday, March 31st from 1-2pm (immediately after the 11 o’clock service). Food and childcare will be provided. You can also submit your ideas, feedback, questions and things you are hearing in prayer to this email address or using this form. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

– Chris Belen and Johanna Montague, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: February 2019

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our February 26th Vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together, and we prayed before starting the meeting.  This month Johanna Montague led us through prayer which included a time of intercession and thanksgiving for David Hanke and the Hanke family.  We prayed that David would feel God’s presence as he emerges from working so diligently on the Matthew 25 Gathering that Restoration hosted last week.  We prayed that he, his wife Laurel, and their kids would find rest in God’s comforting hand as they reconnect in the midst of a season of transition.  Finally, we prayed that David would hear God’s voice as he leads Restoration in a process of discerning plans for our church over the next five years. As always, we hope that you will pray with us for all the staff, vestry and God’s work here at Quincy Street.

In our meeting, we approved the Outreach Steering Team’s recommendation to give away our Ash Wednesday and Holy Week offerings to Caminemos Juntos, a ministry cultivating Anglican church-planting throughout the Americas.  We also received another good report from Incarnation, and approved RILA’s board, a step that, in part, was a celebration of a milestone in RILA’s development: it recently received approval to become an “integrated auxiliary,” which will expand its opportunities to receive wide and sustaining support.  We also approved this year’s rosters for our invaluable advisory teams, and we adopted an Emergency Response Plan.

Brad Jones, our Treasurer, walked us through a finance report that showed January giving was again below anticipated levels.  Although giving was generous in December 2018, we have been below anticipated giving levels for all of the months since the fiscal year began in September 2018.  The vestry discussed possible explanations and options looking ahead to the rest of this fiscal year. (Restoration’s fiscal year runs from September to August.)

David led a discussion with vestry about the strategic planning process, and he shared an update from the team that is facilitating the development of Restoration’s next five-year strategic plan.  (Our current strategic plan expires at the end of this year.)  As we pass our tenth anniversary this fall, this is a great moment to reflect and to look ahead as a church.  We are grateful for all God has provided, and we recognize ways the Holy Spirit is already beginning to guide the development of a new strategic plan that will help Restoration be faithful in the next chapter of our lives together.  

We look forward to hearing from you: what is God saying to you about Restoration in 2025?  Come out next Tuesday, March 5 to Pancakes and Parish Meeting, where we will talk about the strategic planning process.  First, we will enjoy fellowship and pancakes starting at 6:00 pm. Then, around 7:00 pm, we will open up our spring Parish Meeting so that we can share more about God’s provision for our church to date and how you can join in that journey.  See you there!

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

– Chris Belen and Johanna Montague, Wardens

Below is a recording of our March 5, 2019 Parish Meeting.

Wardens’ Report: December 2018

At our December 5th Vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer before starting the meeting.  This month Dietrich Kuhlmann led us through prayer which included a time of intercession and thanksgiving for Beth Tipps, our new Associate Rector (she joined us on October 1^st) . We prayed gratitude that Beth was truly an answer to Restoration’s prayers and that Restoration has been an answer to Beth’s. We are grateful for the way Beth has spent time intentionally getting to know Restoration and our parishioners, and we pray for God’s direction for the next few months as Beth continues to learn what it means to be a vocational priest and a leader at Restoration. As always, we hope that you will pray with us for all the staff, vestry and God’s work here at Quincy Street. 

In our meeting we approved the Outreach Steering Team’s recommendation to give away our Christmas Eve Offering to Ras Morbat Clinic in Aden, Yemen, a ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. We also received reports from Incarnation about their first three months meeting together, and from the personnel team regarding a gracious in-kind donation we have received from some unified communications consultants.

Meredith Taylor, our Treasurer walked us through a finance report that shows we are under on anticipated giving for the months of September-November 2018. The vestry will wait to hear a report on giving in December 2018 before making any necessary adjustments to the FY2019 budget, which was approved in August of 2018 (Restoration’s fiscal year runs from September to August.)

Chris Belen raised a motion to clarify a previous point in our outreach granting decision that will allow us to plan on three-year granting relationships with some of our local and global outreach partners. Additionally, Becky Mohr lead discussion concerning our maternity leave policy and our plan for staffing outreach needs in 2019.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

–Dietrich Kuhlmann and Becky Mohr, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: May 2018

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our 22 May Vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer before starting the meeting.  This month Danny Lee led us through our compline which included a time of intercession and thanksgiving for the ministry of Louise Brooks and the Kids’ Small Groups at Restoration.  Our joy and thankfulness overflowed as we prayed for all God is doing at Restoration through Louise as she shepherds our ever growing population of young believers.  We welcome your prayers for all the staff, the Vestry and God’s work here at Quincy Street. 

In our meeting we discussed the monthly update received from the Incarnation core team, the June commissioning of Liz, Morgan and Amy and the beginning of 5pm Prayer Services on 3 June at the Gray’s home.  We continue our focus on ways to assist and enable the launch of Incarnation Anglican Church on September 9, 2018. 

Brad Jones, our assistant treasurer, provided an update on next year’s budget process and facilities reserve.  Additionly the Vestry approved an MOU with RILA for continued back office support.  We are thankful for the congregation’s generosity and God’s faithfulness in supporting the ministries of Restoration, Incarnation and RILA.  All remain on sound financial footing. 

Becky Mohr provided further updates on several personnel related proposals to include an update on efforts to hire a female associate rector, updates to our Sexual Harassment policies, and previewed some of the compensation changes that would be incorporated into the budget review in June and July.  We agreed that some of the Church Plant resident funding would be available to the Rector to allocate for a summer intern.

As part of Restoration’s oversight of the Integrated Auxiliary, Restoration Immigration Legal Aid, the Vestry approved RILA’s first governing board for a period of one year.  Additionally, we received the report from the Rector that the staff intends to continue 5pm services throughout the summer. 

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

–Dietrich Kuhlmann and Becky Mohr, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: April 2018

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our March 20^th vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer at the rail in the sanctuary before starting our meeting. This month, Chris Belen led us through prayer for Director of Worship Arts, Matt Hoppe, and RILA Program Manager, Michelle Swearingen. We prayed that Matt would continue to be blessed in his ministry, especially as he takes ownership of Restoration’s prayer ministries. With grateful hearts, we praised God that He is using our church community to care for the legal rights of the sojourner in our midst. We are thankful for Michelle and all she does to support and further the work of RILA.

In our meeting, we discussed our plans to provide back-office support for Incarnation after they begin holding hold services away from Restoration in September and look forward to someday becoming their own parish. Restoration was blessed with back office support from The Falls Church Anglican when we were launched in 2009, and we hope to provide similar support to Incarnation through their launch period.

We heard updates from the Incarnation Servant team, and we approved their first budget (Fiscal year 2019). We also heard updates from the Personnel team, approved a motion from the Facilities team which updated our building use policy, and approved some off-cycle spending from the outreach budget.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group.’

– Becky Mohr and Dietrich Kuhlmann, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: March 2018

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our 20 March Vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer before starting the meeting.  This month Kevin Marshall led us through our compline which included a time of prayers and thanksgiving for the ministry of Associate Rector, Nathan Dickerson at Restoration over the past year.  We are grateful for all God is doing at Restoration through Nathan as he leads and coordinates Small Groups, RestoMen, and local Church Planting.  We welcome your prayers for all the staff, the Vestry and God’s work here on Quincy Street. 

In our meeting we discussed the monthly update received from the Incarnation core team.  These monthly updates will be discussed at each Vestry meeting as we focus on ways to assist and enable the launch of Incarnation Anglican Church on September 9, 2018. 

Meredith Taylor, our treasurer, led us through the financial reports through February 2018.  Average Sunday attendance year to date is up approximately 8% from 2017.  FY 2018 offerings through February 2018 were 97% of budget and spending 93% of budget and we have 4.1 months of Cash on Hand.  We are thankful for the congregation’s generosity and God’s faithfulness.  Restoration is on sound financial footing. 

Becky Mohr led a discussion on several personnel related proposals which included an update on efforts to hire a female associate rector.  We voted to approve a small change to our retirement plan and to recommend a member as a postulant for Holy Orders. 

Additionally, we discussed how our clergy might lead us to respond to the many local opportunities to engage effectively in the issues and opportunities surrounding race and diversity. 

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group’

– Becky Mohr and Dietrich Kuhlmann, Wardens

Wardens’ Report: February 2018

The Wardens’ Report: a brief summary of highlights from monthly Vestry meetings, designed to provide information about our growth, finances, priorities and progress towards our strategic plan.

At our February 28^th vestry meeting, we enjoyed dinner together and prayer at the rail in the sanctuary before starting our meeting. This month, Leigh McAfee led us through compline and prayer for Associate Rector, Liz Gray. We thanked God for Liz and the fruitfulness of her work in prayer, women’s ministry, and outreach at Restoration.  We also prayed for her new role as she leads the planting of Incarnation Anglican Church next fall: that God would protect and lead her as she bravely answer’s God’s call to be a church planter.

In our meeting, we discussed our plan to build on Liz’s legacy at Restoration as she prepares to leave Restoration for Incarnation. We are asking God to help us to hire a priest who can lead women’s ministry and also to help us find leaders to continue to grow our outreach programs.

We voted to approve several motions, these include:

– Responding to Bishop John’s request to gifting the ACNA with funds from our outreach budget to help travel Bishops from Uganda, Rwanda, and Myanmar to the GAFCON conference in Jerusalem. 

– Approving rosters for our 5 advisory teams: Personnel, Finance, Facilities, Outreach Steering, and Incarnation Anglican Church Servant Team.

– Authorizing David and Liz to sign a lease with Greenbrier Baptist Church for Incarnation’s worship services to be held there beginning next fall.

Lastly, we had a discussion on the future of Restoration Immigration Legal Aid. Nearly two years since its first legal clinic, RILA has filed 73 asylum cases and currently has 22 scheduled court hearings. RILA has flourished within the “incubator” of Restoration. Even so, both the vestry and the RILA leadership team have been aware that a more self-sustaining model is necessary for RILA to continue to grow and best serve its clients. About a year ago, vestry asked RILA to begin considering what that model would be.

After research and consultation with Restoration’s chancellor, RILA ultimately proposed becoming its own legal entity, an integrated auxiliary of Restoration. Vestry approved this proposal for RILA to gain the flexibility needed to best serve its clients, while still continuing strong ties to Restoration’s leadership.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, words of wisdom or encouragement, please know that we are open to your 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 ‘Entire Church Group.’

– Becky Mohr and Dietrich Kuhlmann, Wardens