Cathedral Church of St. James, Chicago Chapter Meeting August 11, pm 8.00pm. Minutes of the Meeting

Transcription

1 Cathedral Church of St. James, Chicago Chapter Meeting August 11, pm 8.00pm Minutes of the Meeting Present: Dominic Barrington (Dean elect), Graham Bell, Bill Cosper, Beverly Cox, Don Frye, Timm Holt, Laura Jenkins, Charley Peterson, Alanna Pierce (by phone), Jim Steen, Judith Tribbett, Amy Young (by phone) Also Present: George Culver (Assistant Treasurer) Absent: Michael Kitt, Jim Lenz, Katie Reardon A quorum being present, Graham called the meeting to order at 6:05. Opening Prayer Don led us in an opening prayer. Welcome the New Dean We welcomed Dominic. Opening Comments Graham noted that he is working on a list of members terms. Dominic said he is grateful for the warm welcome he s received. Thrive Laura reported on recent activities (see attached.) There was conversation about the CAT report. People remarked on some items of interest (hunger for connection, clergy-centric focus, and low emphasis on outreach.) In relation to a discussion on the previous clergy-centric focus followed by a year of a nearly-opposite laity focus, Dominic noted that partnership and collaboration is what excites him, and what he looks forward to. Communications Task Force Graham read Alanna s report, because of her laryngitis. They are working on the new website. Some people have received the survey from Canticle; thanks to all who completed it. The Task Force is currently in meetings with the designer; the target launch date is September 4. Stewardship Activities Laura reported (see attached.) Summer in the City In Ed s absence, Jim reported that the fundraising goal was exceeded, but more expenses have also come in, so there is not a surplus. When the available funds were below projections, Ed said he would not take his budgeted salary of $3K but would take only $1K. He worked very hard, and enthusiastic expressions of gratitude should be offered to him. Our bookkeeper Christine has a revised report which wasn t retrieved in time for this meeting. It was a very ambitious goal to expand the program by an additional week.

2 2016 Budget Update Graham reported that the Budget Committee consists of the Senior and Junior Wardens, Graham and Timm; the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, Paul and George; and the Director of Administration, Robert. The Committee (except George) had an initial meeting to discuss the 2016 budget. They are using the 2015 budget as a base, though it s not cast in stone. The staff profile will likely stay the same. The Committee has looked at projected expenses, though not income. Still to be determined is what our Diocesan pledge will be. Laura asked about beginning to repay the line of credit, rather than the apparent assumption that it will be part of a future capital campaign. Jim said that, since the expenses are, indeed, capital, it would be appropriate for the debt to be repaid as part of a capital campaign. There was some discussion. At Graham s request, George will develop proposal(s) for repaying the debt, including beginning to repay just the interest. Dean Transition Judith reported on the Installation Committee. They have begun laying out needs for the service. Chapter may be asked to serve as ushers. There have already been very many responses from area clergy. The maximum occupancy is 600. Small group dinners will be arranged for Dominic to meet the congregation. Updates from the Junior Warden Masonry Project The scaffolding is going up. There is no update from the Diocese, but the last report from Courtney was that work should be finished by the end of October. At its recent meeting, the Bishop & Trustees recommended that one section be completely repaired. That will cost an additional $100K, but that section wouldn t need additional attention during the eventual restoration. Doing this would provide people the opportunity to see what the finished work will be like, and possibly be a help for a capital campaign. The Bishop & Trustees ask that St. James split the additional cost with the Diocese. We agreed to defer a decision on this request until the Finance Commission can develop a proposal for the additional $50K, or whatever it would deem to be appropriate. Undercroft Remodeling Work on the classrooms and the additional entrance to the new vesting sacristy is going very well. Sunday School teachers have voiced their pleasure with the larger space. Organ Renovation Committee Most of the pipes have been removed from the organ cabinet. The next step is disposing of those that we won t keep and moving those we will keep into Guild Hall. Jim noted that Brandon is testing different organ registrations to make it easier to hear voices. Treasurer s Report Review of Financial Statements and Investment Reports George was present in Paul s absence. He noted that cash flow continues as an issue at this point in the year. There have been many transition expenses, most of which were foreseen and are being paid. Bookkeeping is going well; Christine has settled into her position.

3 There have been several transfers of funds ($150K for the masonry project, two separate draws of $20K for the organ, and regular draw of $50K for the operating budget) but nothing unanticipated. George will prepare a seasonal projection for fall to see what the budget will look like. Laura asked about the balance in line Special Appeal in the Restricted Funds Balance Report. George will find out why the funds have not been sent to the Diocese. Judith asked why Meals Ministry shows no expenses for the year. George will find out why. Judith noted that new revenue in this category is from some guests who are making financial contributions themselves. Judith noted that both meals continue to grow in attendance, and that she is concerned about the ability to handle any additional increase. There are neither sufficient volunteers nor space to serve additional guests. (Bill arrived at this point.) Charley asked about working with the Greater Chicago Food Depository; we don t meet their requirements for the number of meal programs per month. Attendance Figures There was discussion of the Attendance Figures report. It was agreed that this report is more useful than the previous detailed report. Bill asked about our practice of recording communion statistics, to which Jim replied that it is an anachronistic report and not really needed. There was some discussion about what and when ushers are counting for attendance at services. Resolution The motion to approve the 2015 Housing Allowance Resolution for The Very Rev. Dominic Barrington was made by Judith, seconded by Don and carried unanimously. Typos will be corrected in the official copy. Investment Committee George noted the Endowment Funds History Report, with a balance as of the end of July of over $5M. In response to Bill s question, George said that the report provides a three year trailing average. Judith asked if there is a formal investment policy. George responded that there is, which he will share with Chapter, but noted that he is also planning to revise it before the end of his term in January. Overall, he said, what guides decisions is simplicity. For example, U.S. investments are exchange-traded, indexed mutual funds. In response to a question about what level of risk the Investment Committee is comfortable with, George responded that 70% of the funds are in stock (15% in international funds, the rest in index funds.) The Investment Committee s philosophy is similar to that guiding the Diocese, although the Cathedral s investments perform a little better. Bill asked whether the Committee considers socially responsible investing, to which George replied that it has been many years since there have been questions about that. He believes that as a social instrument they don t really work, in part because there are so many different issues that different people are concerned about. George reported that, at the end of 2015, he will be rotating off as chair of the Committee, which will be looking for at least one new member. Suggestions of candidates are welcome. Chapter approves appointments at its January meeting.

4 Resolutions of July 2014 Four resolutions that could not be approved at the July meeting due to lack of a quorum were approved by Housing Allowance Resolution for The Rev. Lisa Hackney-James Resolution authorizing the sale of two donated Oriental rugs Resolution authorizing use of a line of credit for the masonry and organ projects Resolution creating a fund for renovation of interior Cathedral spaces Consent Agendas The motion to approve the Consent Agendas for July and August was made by Don, seconded by Timm, and approved unanimously. Adjourn The motion to adjourn was made by Timm, seconded by Bill and approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

5 Thrive Team Report to St. James Cathedral Church Chapter August 11, 2015 For several months the Accountability Team meetings have consisted of members telling their stories whatever members felt was important for the others members to know about them. The stories focused on how and why people found themselves at St. James. At the July 19 meeting we identified threads heard in the stories: Being called by the Spirit Searching for community Looking for a better place Longing, seeking, acceptance Beyond welcome being part of a community To be seen, to be acknowledged, to be known To be recognized To be allowed to be included Love (God loves us, looking for love) Hunger for relationship You are wanted/you are needed Healing/desire for wholeness Hospitality/welcome Being a place where God can grow Being the fringe of Jesus garment (Lisa s sermon on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56) Being a place where we can grow into our full stature Hospitality beyond the newcomer also to those who are here Feeling comfortable/comfort We distilled these down into a list of themes: Love Growth Nourishment Healing Belonging/being together Deep investment Joy Family Inter-spiritual glue Body of Christ Living into the resurrected Christ And then we decided that all of these can be summed up in love, captured in 1John 4:19, We love because he first loved us. We decided that perhaps we have found our why (as in the Sinek TED talk) and we ll spend the next few weeks trying it on for size. Members are now charged with being observant of and reporting on what they see or experience at (or related to) St. James that would demonstrate hows for this why. The Thrive Team and several members of Chapter met on August 9 for a review of the 2013 CAT survey, conducted by Jim Steen. At its upcoming meeting on August 23, the Thrive team will examine where the CAT results and the recent work of the team intersect, and plan next steps. Submitted by Laura Jenkins

6 Stewardship Committee Report to St. James Cathedral Church Chapter August 11, 2015 The Stewardship Committee has added Timm Holt as a member. Jim Steen has very graciously offered to serve as an advisor to the Committee and will hold a planning session, tentatively scheduled for August 17. The Gala Subcommittee, chaired by Jilliann Smith, has several members and welcomes more. Its first planning meeting took place August 10 and included newer parishioners Jessica Figueroa, Alex Purvis and Katie Bridgman, as well as the Smiths, the Petersons, and Laura Jenkins. Among the decisions were: to be mindful of our stewardship responsibility, paper invitations and save-the-date cards will not be used, except for a select group of older parishioners; donations for the silent and live auctions will be limited to experiences (e.g., tickets for sporting or theatrical events, vacation home use, restaurant certificates) rather than objects (i.e., no art.) Enthusiastic and vigorous solicitation of donations, and donations themselves, are needed. Ticket prices for over-30 guests will rise slightly to $60. Also needed are volunteers to sell tickets after services September 13, 20, 27 and October 4. Submitted by Laura Jenkins