Present: Katherine Kemner, Joe Mayton, Larry Hlad, Margaret Lindsay, Sam Shield, Jennifer Gallagher, Mary Ann Archer, Molly McClellan, Fr. Chris Cunningham

Absent: Mary Meade Edwards, Sarah Southall, (Jennifer Gallagher was taken ill and excused herself at the beginning of "old business").

The meeting was called to order at 6:00. Molly McClellan offered the blessing in Fr. Cunningham’s momentary absence.

Pastoral: Katherine Kemner reported that she was disappointed in the response for providing meals, transportation, and babysitting for Taylor Butler and Jennifer Gallagher during their upcoming hospital stays.

Christian Education Larry Hlad reported that there had been a good response for the request for more teachers. All levels have teacher commitments through April & May. The PreK and Kindergarten classes had been combined into one class to lessen the need for additional teachers.

Stewardship: Sam Shield reported that the congregation appears to be happy with the increased "transparency" in our financial accounts and the posting of the financial reports in the Bell Tower and on the bulletin board.

Worship: Mary Ann Archer reported that the Worship Committee had met on Feb. 10 to discuss several proposals for upcoming worship services. She also reported that the Women’s Group would like to hold a retreat, the details of which will be worked out later.

Sr. Warden: Molly McClellan reported that she had done very little in the previous three weeks, but would try to call Nelson Troyer in the next few days to see when he would be able to begin his evaluation of the church’s brickwork.

January 2009 Financial Statements

Margaret Lindsay explained the new format to the vestry. She further informed the vestry that the Town of Farmville would be assessing the church building for the first time. This does not mean that the church will be taxed, simply that a value will be placed on it. Both she and Fr. Cunningham said that Kathy Carps was handling the bookkeeping very well.

Joe Mayton moved, and Katherine Kemner seconded, the approval of the January Financial Statements. Approved unanimously.

Administrative Business

Jennifer Gallagher moved, and Joe Mayton seconded, the approval of the January minutes. Approved unanimously.

Fr. Cunningham reviewed the calendar and especially the annual meeting schedule with the vestry.

Old Business

The nominating committee (Joe Mayton, Katherine Kemner, and Larry Hlad) reported that the following members of the congregation comprised the slate of candidates: Mark Lenker, Jonathan Keohane, Jeff Halliday, Augusta Arthur, Julie Shield, Mike Utzinger.

[Before the vestry could consider the voting procedure, Katherine Kemner, asked to revisit her report on Pastoral Care. She again asked the vestry to consider subscribing to the automated call system that would telephone all members with news or announcements. There was a discussion about the kind of information that would be suitable for an "impersonal" call, about why the current telephone tree has not worked, and about the possibility of keeping a record of the number and types of calls that would have been made in the upcoming month. Fr. Cunningham said that he and Mrs. Kemner would talk further about it.]

Vestry Elections

Discussion of the Vestry elections resumed.

• The canons of the diocese state that only confirmed/received members may vote or serve on the vestry.

• All candidates will be asked to sign a qualifying declaration.

• One current candidate who has not been received would be eligible for election on the understanding that she would be received by the bishop when he visited in April. It was also agreed, that if elected, she would refrain from voting in the vestry until her reception.

• Fr. Cunningham will post a list of eligible voters (i.e., confirmed and/or received members of JMC). He will also invite those who are ineligible, but who would like to vote and be confirmed/received, to talk to him. If they plan on being confirmed/received in April, they will be added to the list of eligible voters.

• An election panel of three judges will be named. Retiring members Katherine Kemner and Joe Mayton will serve and pick the third judge. These judges will distribute the ballots to the eligible voters at the annual meeting after checking their names off the eligible voter list.

• Each voter will list three names on his ballot. The three candidates with the greatest number of votes (majority unnecessary) will be declared the winners. If there is a tie for 3rd & 4th place, a run-off will be held immediately between those two candidates.

• At the March 10 vestry meeting, the first following the election, all continuing and new members will be asked to sign the Qualifying Declaration.

• Positions of Sr. Warden and Jr. Warden will be chosen by ballot at the March 10 meeting. All committee assignments will be made after discussion with Fr. Cunningham and with other vestry members.

• Fr. Cunningham asked that all nine vestry members write short "job descriptions."

This procedure was agreed to unanimously.

Annual Meeting Agenda

The election of new vestry members will be held. While the election judges tally the results, the following reports will be made:

• The senior warden is to make a "state of the church" report.

• The junior warden is to make a "state of the buildings" report.

• The treasurer will present the financial statements through Feb. 28 and invite questions and comments.

• Fr. Cunningham will make the rector’s report.

• Election Committee reports the results of the election. Run-off election held immediately if necessary.

Parochial Report

Margaret Lindsay, treasurer, presented the parochial report for approval, commenting that this was the earliest it had been completed in 18 years.

Joe Mayton moved and Larry Hlad seconded that the report be approved. Approved unanimously.

Ash Wednesday Service at Hampden-Sydney

Fr. Cunningham reported that plans were being made to hold an Ash Wednesday Service in College Church at Hampden Sydney.

Appreciation of Retiring Members

Molly McClellan, joined by Fr. Cunningham and to general agreement, thanked the retiring vestry members (Joe Mayton, Larry Hlad, and Katherine Kemner) for their service to JMC.

Compline

Fr. Cunningham led Compline, and the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.