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Vestry
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Parish Priorities 2008
(As established by the Vestry at the Fall Retreat, November 9-11, 2007)
To the Members of our St. Mark’s Community:
This statement of priorities for St. Mark’s sets forth the Vestry’s objectives for our parish in 2008. You will see the priorities introduce programs
to engage St. Mark’s more fully in the wider world. The emphasis on outreach responds to the parish’s yearning for greater collective involvement
outside our church, as reflected in the sabbatical theme and the conversations since Paul’s return.
In charting this course of outreach, the Vestry equally supports our individual and shared spiritual journeys that bring us together into community at
St. Mark’s. We believe that the work we do within our community – in effect, our reaching in – enables our reaching out to the world. Preserving and
strengthening our existing programs will remain a critical part of our communal life.
Thus, the Vestry intends to sustain the vigor and creativity of our pillars. We pledge to be faithful stewards of our financial and human resources.
We will also work to invest the necessary resources to safeguard and enhance our physical plant.
Our Specific Priorities for 2008 are:
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To move forward on our parish commitment to engage with others outside St. Mark’s and strengthen our engagement with each other, we will:
- Undertake a dialogue within St. Mark’s on racism and racial reconciliation;
- Support and assist Paul in the discernment of his ministry to the broader world;
- Seek to engage in sustained dialogue with a Muslim and Jewish community to enhance mutual understanding and acceptance;
- Seek to strengthen our strategic partnership with Capitol Hill Group Ministry; and,
- Seek to engage public schools on Capitol Hill in a new St. Mark’s arts initiative.
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To make St. Mark’s more visible and accessible to a wider community we will develop a communications strategy.
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To successfully bring our new Associate Rector in to the life of our community, we will follow an intentional course of action.
The Vestry has identified a series of steps by which we can successfully integrate our new Associate Rector including formally welcoming the new
Associate within the first month through a liturgical Welcome Rite with accompanying celebratory Pub Lunch. Further steps will include weekly meetings
with the Rector for purposes of general counsel and specific direction regarding joining and sharing in the parish’s liturgical, educational, and
pastoral ministry. The new Associate will enroll and participate in the Fall 2008 LCF Class and thereafter sharing more fully in ongoing Christian
Education programs. And within six months after the Associate’s arrival, an Advisory Committee will be formed to support, guide and help the Associate
with vocational development.
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To review and renew the roles and responsibilities of Vestry Members and Pillar Heads.
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To advance the development of a robust youth program.
Led by the creative and energetic efforts of St. Mark’s new youth director, the parish has begun to take long-desired steps toward developing a set of
coordinated activities for our children that will build community for them and enrich their spiritual lives. Critical to near term success is engaging
our youth, enlisting the active support of the parents, and linking with the appropriate parish pillars. For the future, there is a need to establish
and commit to maintaining a structure for the youth program to help ensure continuity and consistency of results into the future.
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To complete a needs analysis and begin the necessary repairs on our buildings so in the future they can be routinely maintained under a set of
maintenance contracts.
As the Vestry continues to develop specific details about the new programs which have been proposed as well as the revitalization of existing programs,
we will continue to keep our community updated through emails and postings on the vestry webpage.
Acts of Vestry
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Vestry Action Plan
St. Mark's 2006-2007 Vestry
About the Vestry
The governing board of the parish is the Vestry, which consists of nine parish members elected by the congregation for
three-year terms and the Senior and Junior Warden. The Vestry is responsible for orchestrating the life of the parish
as well as establishing policy for the budget and overseeing the care of the buildings. The Rector presides at Vestry
meetings but votes only in case of a tie.
In addition to the elected members, the Senior Warden appoints (with the Vestry's approval), four officers of the Vestry
who assist that body in its operation: the Treasurer, the Register, or secretary, the Personnel committee chair, and the
Manciple (selected by the Junior Warden with Vestry approval and who assists the Junior Warden as chair of the Fabric
Committee.)
The Senior Warden also appoints a Counsel to the Vestry, who handles legal questions for the parish. Delegates to the
Convention, who represent the parish at diocesan and national conventions of the Episcopal Church are elected by the Vestry.
To run for a position on the Vestry, one must be at least 15 years old, be a baptized Christian, have attended St. Mark's
for at least six months, and have made a financial pledge since the previous annual meeting. If you are interested in running
for the vestry, nomination forms are made available beginning in February. If you are interested in any of the appointments,
contact the Senior Warden.
The Vestry meets once a month (or more, as the situation requires). Items may be placed on the agenda by contacting the
Senior Warden. All business items must be in writing and copies placed in the Vestry members' mailboxes (located in the
hallway of the undercroft) at least one week prior to the Vestry meeting. Minutes of the meetings are posted on the
bulletin board in the foyer. In recent years Vestry Members have been designated liaison responsibilities, which typically
rotate yearly. Vestry members welcome input and feedback from the parish.
Vestry
Wardens
Senior Warden: Louise Walsh
Junior Warden: Jim Michael
Officers
Register: Susan Sedgewick
Acting Treasurer: Pete Carlson
Maniciple: Charley Donnelly
Human Resources: (vacant)
Vestry Counsel: Rosemary Harold
Members (terms expire in April 2008): Eileen Blumenthal, Lisa Sotir Ozkan, Margaret Wood
Members (terms expire in April 2009): Kathryn Gerhard, Don Mosher, Bruce Sherman
Members (terms expire in April 2010): Kenn Allen, Doris Burton, Kristen Hartke
Vestry Liaison Structure
Arts: Kristen Hartke
Christian Education: Lisa Sotir Ozkan
Communications: Kathy Gerhard
Outreach: Kenn Allen
Parish Life/Hospitality: Doris Burton
Financial Management and Endowment: Don Mosher
Stewardship (Canvass): Margaret Wood
Worship: Eileen Blumenthal
Youth: Bruce Sherman
Long Range Planning Steering Committee: Kenn Allen
Strategic Outreach: Vacant
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Risk Manager
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George Meng
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Elders Committee
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Betsy Athey, Bruce Sherman, Conveners
Clergy and Lay Delegates to Diocesan Committees and Groups
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Lay Delegates to Diocesan Convention
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John Barton, Raiford Gaffney, and Rick Rutherford
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Alternate
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Stuart Stiles
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Standing Committee of the Diocese
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The Reverend Paul Abernathy
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Clergy Deputy to General Convention
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The Reverend Paul Abernathy
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Adjunct Faculty, College of Preachers
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The Reverend Paul Abernathy
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Diocesan Commission on Peace, Environment Committee
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Jane Osborne
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Honduras Task Force
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Collie Agle
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St. Mary’s Court
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Lilly March
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Lay Assessor
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Teresa Trissell
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