Present: Taylor Butler, Larry Hlad, Katherine Kemner, Nancy Lancaster, Steve Libby, Joe Mayton, Rev. Bob and Ruth Partlow, Kerr Ramsey, Sarah Southall.

Absent: Jennifer Gallagher

Meeting began at 6pm with two guest speakers:

Mr. Brad Watson from Davenport and Co. came to speak about Church investments.

Handing out a generic investment plan to review, he suggested that the Vestry have this type of long-term plan in place. The plan should not be too specific. He recommended not taking out any more than four to five percent of the investments per year. He also distributed a portfolio highlighting the Davenport accounts and investments Johns Memorial currently owns. He discussed the three accounts available – the restricted account, the value and income portfolio, and the operating account. There are three accounts and two check books. One checkbook is for regular monthly expenses and the other checkbook is for larger expenses.

Mr. Robert Winthrop from the architectural firm Winthrop and Assoc. of Farmville came to discuss plans for adding a handicap-accessible ramp to the Parish house. He stated that there were obvious problems with accessing the Parish house as well as the Parish house bathrooms. There is no mandated requirement that the Church has to change anything. He did, however, highlight the overall architectural issues facing the Church. He asked the Vestry if they thought the Church was welcoming to outsiders. Are we about worship and worship only? He thought from reviewing the facilities that the focus is not on welcoming new members but on worship. The Church and the Vestry need to decide what is important and where the focus should be placed. He urged that we work on promoting the growth of the Church by adding additional physical features to the Parish house in order to attract young families. He suggested putting the handicap ramp, bathrooms, and main church office in the back near the parking lot. He stated that the Parish house’s physical problems were mostly superficial. It would cost roughly $500,000 to $750,000 to move the bathrooms and office to the ground floor. To add a wing with a bathroom and elevator would be about $450,000. He suggested forming a Building Committee and starting a Fund Raising campaign. He also thought putting a terrace with a ramp on the front of the Parish house would work. He said he’d be happy to come up with different schemes, and offer opportunities for the congregation to discuss these ideas.

At 7:15pm, Rev. Bob Partlow opened the meeting with prayer.

The minutes of the March 13, 2007 meeting were accepted as corrected.

The minutes of the April 10, 2007 meeting were accepted as presented.

Treasurer’s Report – Accepted as presented.

A Johns Memorial Certificate of Deposit at the BB&T Bank of Farmville will renew May 8, 2007. Mrs. Nancy Lancaster asked for the Vestry’s permission to move this CD from BB&T to the Davenport and Company Investment Fund in order to receive a higher interest rate. Mrs. Kemner moved, seconded by Mr. Ramsey, to give Mrs. Nancy Lancaster permission to transfer the Johns Memorial CD from the BB&T Bank of Farmville to the Davenport and Co. Investment fund. The motion carried.

Mr. Ramsey asked for the Vestry’s permission to change a line item in the budget to include Account Fee in the Treasurer’s report. Mrs. Southall moved, seconded by Mr. Hlad, to make this change to the budget. The motion carried.

The Church’s Internet service has been upgraded to DSL and put on a router. An Internet policy is needed for parish members using this network. Mrs. Lancaster moved, seconded by Mr. Hlad, that no one is allowed to access this network except Church users. The motion carried.

Mr. Ramsey stated that we need an Inventory of Church property to be reported on the Balance sheet. There is one available. Mr. Ramsey will contact Mrs. Margaret Lindsey to get a copy of this inventory.

New Business:

A new Treasurer is needed. Mr. Ramsey is resigning as Treasurer effective July 1st. There was discussion about who should be the new Treasurer. A Vestry member can be the Treasurer. Mr. Libby moved, seconded by Mrs. Southall, to have Mrs. Lancaster and Mr. Ramsey investigate who would be interested in being the new Treasurer. The motion carried.

Vestry Assignments – Commissions: Vestry Members to act as overseers of each area.

Mr. Libby detailed how vital it was to actively use this committee structure. Vestry members were assigned to specific committees.

Christian Formation – includes Adult and Youth Christian Education (Mr. Hlad)

Parish Life – Coffee hour, babysitting provided for special occasions (Mrs. Kemner)

Pastoral Care and Outreach – (Mrs. Gallagher)

Long-range Planning – (Mr. Mayton)

Stewardship and Finance – (Mr. Ramsey)

Worship – Sunday Schedule, Update contracts for Chris and Peggy (Mr. Butler)

Young Adults and Youth – (Mrs. Southall)

Buildings and Grounds – (Mrs. Lancaster)

Communication and Administration – (Mr. Libby)

Old Business:

The Discernment committee for Mr. Butler has been formed. Everyone who was asked to serve accepted to work on the committee. Rev. Ruth Partlow will help set up the initial meeting with Mr. Butler and the committee.

Vestry Retreat review – A big Thank You to Mrs. Lancaster for hosting the Vestry Retreat. The Retreat was a success.

Senior Warden report: Mr. Libby reported that the Search Committee was beginning to conduct the Focus Groups. An insert in this Sunday’s service leaflet would provide information about these groups, meeting dates, etc. Rev. Ruth Partlow recommended having a Post card go out announcing when the Focus Groups would be meeting.

Junior Warden report: Mrs. Lancaster stated that Pete’s Roofing replaced the slate and fixed the roof leak. She also asked for input on which company should install the Parish boiler. The Vestry approved for the Buderus unit to be installed by Putney Mechanical of Farmville for $13250. Also, the new sound system should be in by the end of this month. The company installing this system is backed up.

Co-rectors report: The Partlows handed out copies of Healthy Congregations by Peter Steine to the Vestry to read. They recommended that the Vestry read a chapter each month and talk about it at the beginning of each Vestry meeting. The Partlows also gave a list of important upcoming dates. Cindy Barnes is not coming to the June 12th Vestry meeting. Mike Ferguson from the Diocese will be attending. Rev. Bob Partlow invited the Youth Minister and the Adult Education Minister from the Diocese to speak to the Church this summer.

The meeting adjourned at 8:50pm after Compline. 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah P. Southall, Register