The Vestry Resolution “To Provide for a Hopeful Future,” has been published to the parish. The Vestry meets this week to translate their resolution into action. But even in advance of the Vestry meeting, parish leaders have already began to act.

A parish, like any organization in our fast changing world, remains vital only in so far as we maintain a "bias for action." However, before we can act with confidence, we must take time to deliberate among one another and discern together what action we should take. This parish has invested 5 long months in deliberation. It is time to act.

Leaders among have begun to move.

1. I have cancelled the 5:00 PM liturgy. After I posted the Vestry Recommendations on May 28, a number of parishioners continued to call for deep cuts in the parish budget. A new, innovative liturgy takes at least a year to develop. I came to the conclusion that our parish lacks the financial tolerance to invest in the development of a new liturgy.

In its resolution the Vestry expressed its commitment to provide an appropriate worship environment for young people. Their resolution calls for the parish to “support a sustainable worship option for youth.” Our Youth Ministry has issued a call for parishioners, young and old, to serve on a youth worship task force, that will, in accordance with the Vestry Resolution, “investigate best practices for youth worship and recommend ways we can meet the spiritual need of our youth.”

2. I have given notice to David Kendrick that his position will end effective September 16, 2008. In the 2008 Budget, the Vestry reduced the funding for the Communications Director to part-time. (The Vestry removed funding for the Director of Lay Ministry in the 2008 budget as well.) Following our recent Truth or Consequences discernment process, and honoring parishioners desire to see additional cuts in the budget, the Vestry has removed funding for the part-time Communications Director. The Vestry chose to delay ending of funding for communications until September 16 in order to give time for a volunteer committee to form and take over the responsibility for parish communications.

3. Carrie Rush gave me her resignation as volunteer staff administrator following the Vestry Resolution. She has determined that she lacks the ability to support a volunteer communications team. She believes should could add more value to the parish serving on one of the new committees established by the Vestry Resolution. She was agreed to stay on until September 16 in order to give the Vestry time to find her replacement. She will be available to train the new person if he or she is in place by September 1.

I have asked Carrie (our volunteer Staff Administrator) and Jim Tracy (our volunteer General Manager) to recommend several different ways to redesign and/or reassign aspects of their jobs in order to create two positions that would be limited (with benefits) to the $90,000 cap determined by the Vestry.

4. Mignon Williams has organized a Welcoming Committee to empower the resolution to “enhance the experience of new members and accelerate their inclusion in the full life of our (covenant) community.” This group is planning to build on and enhance the current program in place, including the Newcomers Brunch, and the First Steps Class.

Our Vestry has worked very hard the past 5 months to listen very carefully to our parishioners. Please keep the Vestry in your prayers as they continue their hard work. Also, please pray for our parishioners who will respond to the Vestry call to take responsibility for ministry, serving on a variety of task forces and volunteering in the parish office.