Vestry Minutes
October 17, 2007

Present: Betty McWhorter, Nicole Chapin Duke, Sally Fowler, Jeff Groh, Peter Jobusch, Charlie Johnson, Tony Lee, Karen Melchar, Keith Powell, Stephen Rodocanachi, Kathy Sommerkamp, Claire Smith, Ellen Teplitz, Mike Tongour, Nancy Vaughn, John Wnek Maurice White

Absent: Timothy Bitsberger, Paula Clark Green, Marjorie Gerbracht-Stagnaro, Todd Purdum, Craig Small

Nicole Chapin Duke led the group in prayer. The Vestry recited the Lord’s Prayer.

Minutes from the September meeting were unanimously approved.

Ellen Teplitz gave an update regarding the Holy Ghosts and Goblins Auction. She urged Vestry members to attend and rsvp as soon as possible. She reminded the group that the auction is a critical component to our budget and that this is an important opportunity for us to build community. Nicole Chapin Duke seconded Ellen’s plea for Vestry support and asked all assembled to donate more items.

The spiritual container for the evening was to prayerfully consider, make, and then collect our 2008 pledges. Betty thanked the Vestry for their financial leadership.

John Wnek gave the Stewardship Update. He presented the Vestry with language which will be laid out in a document similar to last year. New for this year are testimonials from several parishioners about what St. Patrick’s means to them as well as providing more financial transparency as to where our money goes. Some Vestry members suggested including transitional expenses, wanting more financial numbers, showing the average pledge, explaining how much money it takes to run the church, and printing the mission statement.

Stephen Rodocanachi gave the Financial Update. He presented the audit report. A motion to accept the report was made and unanimously approved.

Steve led a discussion on allocating the remaining $55K for our budget, presenting both a liberal and a conservative option. Mike Tongour urged the Vestry to follow our June proposal and reminded them that the budget “only passed because it was mitigated by the restoration” mechanism. A motion to restore funding in the amount of $15K to the Diocesan pledge and to restore $10K to Outreach was made, seconded and unanimously approved. It was then the sense of the Vestry to decide on the remaining $30K at the November meeting. Areas under consideration include endowment, transition expenses and capital expenses.

Betty led a discussion of Episcopal School Sunday. Nicole Chapin Duke pointed out that there were not enough K-2 graders present during the singing who were not already parishioners. She explained that an e-mail to parents went out Friday and didn’t allow families time to plan. Charlie Johnson liked Peter Barrett’s speech and suggested that the Headmaster have a few moments for an annual message.


Keith Powell and Charlie Johnson reported on the Hornblower property. They will meet with the Diocesan Finance Committee and Standing Committee next week seeking approval to increase our debt by $3.7million. There will be an October 30 th joint Board-Vestry meeting to vote on this issue. Keith presented the Vestry with a resolution regarding the purchase. The motion passed, with one abstention. Keith recapped the Trustees retreat, where he acknowledged Trustee identified areas for improvement. These included increased clarity regarding decision making, as well as how the Board operates, meets, and deals with particular issues. Also, the Trustees are looking to form a strategic planning process.

Mike Tongour gave an update on the transition. Since the last Vestry meeting, Mike sent out an all parish letter assuring the congregation that the Vestry and its officers were working diligently to ensure a cohesive transition. He reported that Nancy Vaughn is the Vestry liaison for Betty’s last day celebration. Invitations have been mailed. The Cannon for Deployment, Mary Sulerud, has been very helpful in providing a pool of candidates for the interim position. On November 7 th , Mary Sulerud, Paul Cooney, the current Vestry, nominated Vestry members, clergy, and staff will meet with the Bishop. On November 11 th, Cannon Sulerud will celebrate and preach at our service. A search consultant call has gone out; names of interested candidates will be forwarded to the Senior Warden. Mike is working to fill the gaps in the liturgical schedule through the end of the year.

Kathy Sommerkamp told the Vestry that the next Newcomers Dinner is being planning for either November 18 th or 25 th. Paula has agreed to be the clergy representative. The list of invitees is being finalized.

A resolution for the Thanksgiving Day offering was offered. It was approved unanimously.

Charlie Johnson read his resolution regarding The Rev. Paula Clark Green and The Rev. Marjorie Gerbracht-Stagnaro.

Be it resolved,

That it is the sense of the Vestry of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church that in light of the departure of The Rev. Betty McWhorter as Rector on November 4, 2007, and in recognition of the faithful and devoted contributions of The Rev. Paula Clark Green and The Rev. Marjorie Gerbracht-Stagnaro as Clergy and the affection held for them by the entire St. Patrick’s community, every effort be undertaken to secure a continuation of their services during the forthcoming period of transition consistent with Diocesan and By-law requirements.

A motion to accept this was made, seconded, and unanimously approved.

Other reports were filed by title.

Nicole Chapin Duke closed the meeting in prayer.

The meeting adjourned at 9:07pm.


Proposed Resolution of the Vestry
of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church

Whereas St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School desires to purchase approximately 70,700 sq. ft. of property on the north side of Whitehaven Parkway (Hornblower property) that will allow for the expansion and growth of programs and facilities to meet future needs and,

Whereas St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Berkley LLC (property owner) for the purchase of said property at an amount of $5-million and among other conditions the LOI calls for a 30-day study period and,

Whereas St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School is negotiating with the Lab School of Washington to purchase a portion of said property and,

Whereas, if the contract to purchase said property is approved by the Board of Trustees for St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, the Vestry of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Washington and the Bishop of Washington; a mortgage in an amount not to exceed $3.7-million will be required to partially fund the purchase. The balance of the purchase price will be funded through donations to St. Patrick’s and possibly proceeds from the sale of a portion of the property to the Lab School of Washington and,

Whereas in recognition that the Finance Committee and the Standing Committee of the Diocese only meet on a monthly basis and their next scheduled meetings are October 22, 2007,

Therefore Be It Resolved that:

Subject to the Sale and Purchase contract being fully approved by the Board of Trustees for St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, the Vestry of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Washington and the Bishop of Washington; the Vestry hereby authorizes the representatives of the Church and Day School to negotiate with SunTrust (or other suitable lenders) and obtain a mortgage obligation in an amount not to exceed $3.7-million.

Said proceeds from the mortgage are to be used solely for the purposes of funding any difference between the purchase price of the property plus closing and associated costs (estimated to be $ 5.2-million) and funds donated to St. Patrick’s in support of this project and any proceeds received from the Lab School in the event Lab School purchases a portion of said property.

Respectfully submitted,
H. Keith Powell,
Chair, Day School Board of Trustees
Oct. 17, 2007

Approved Oct 17, 2007 Signed _______________________
Ellen Teplitz, Clerk

Resolution for Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007 Offering
November 17, 2007


Be it resolved that the Vestry of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church
allocates all undesignated monies collected as part of the Thanksgiving
offering on Thursday, November 22, 2007 at St. Patrick’s Episcopal
Church be sent to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund as
assistance to those in need throughout the world.

EXPLANATION: Our Thanksgiving Day offering is designated each year to
go to an organization beyond our community. In 1996-2001 and in 2004-
2006, we sent the monies to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund of
the Episcopal Church. This organization is one of the first to respond when
disaster occurs anywhere in the world as well as providing ongoing
assistance to help those in developing countries. (In 2002, the churches in
the Palisades area pooled our offerings and made a donation to SOME. In
2003, we designated the monies to go to Forward Movement Inc. in
thanksgiving for its almost 70 years holding up the ministry of prayer
throughout our Church and beyond.) You can learn more at www.er-d.org


Passed at the Vestry meeting on November 22, 2007


____________________________________
Ellen E. Teplitz, Clerk