Vestry update

The Vestry is a group of elected volunteers that serves as the parish’s functional Board of Directors. Vestry members, who serve in three groups for three-year terms, provide leadership and oversight of the mission and ministry of the congregation, and manage the church buildings and property, finances, and personnel. Photos of current Vestry members can be found on Saint Philip’s website by clicking here.

Saint Philip’s Vestry gathers for a hybrid meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Below is a summary of the meeting, prepared by Junior Warden, Bonnie Winn, that took place on Wednesday, September 21.

Present: Michael Anderson, John Bremond, Herb Burton, Barbara Cone, David Hass, Meghan Hodge, Erika Johnson, Meredith Mullins, Roger Rainbolt, Bonnie Winn, Liz Wood, Fr Robert Hendrickson, Mtr Mary Trainor

Guests: Susan Black, Mike Humphrey, John Waszczak, Dcn Susan Erickson

John Bremond called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer. The August 17, 2022 Vestry Minutes were approved as submitted. John announced that Tamzin Sugiyama has accepted the nominating committee’s invitation to fill the Vestry vacancy created by Alex Swain’s departure from Tucson. John also announced Susan Koza’s appointment by Vestry email vote to the Ministry Endowment Fund Trust (MEFT) Board. 

Susan Black and Mike Humphrey presented a Church Campus Safety Report. Susan and Mike, representing the Saint Philip’s Gun Violence Prevention Committee, made recommendations based on the information obtained from other churches, as well as input from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The committee is currently soliciting bids to improve the security of the school area and continues to study safety issues pertaining to the campus as a whole. 

Herb Burton presented the third quarter financial report. The Finance Committee continues to project a year-end budget deficit for 2022 although pledge receipts/contributions remain strong. The Finance Committee is beginning the line item budgeting process for 2023; the timeline has the Vestry approve the budget at its December meeting. Stewardship Pledges are vital to budget planning.

Herb recommended that audits for 2021 and 2022 be combined as audits for 2019 and 2020 audits were; it is less expensive and less time consuming.

John Bremond reported he was part of a good discussion with the Preservation and Endowment (P&E) Board regarding prioritizing funding for church campus projects. He noted that P&E approved the AV invoice that was negotiated to complete the AV installation project. There was also discussion about the renovation and tile mosaic installation of the horse fountain.

John Waszczak and Fr Robert brought information to the Vestry from the Strategic Planning Group. Vestry members discussed the “Membership Generational Profile” and the “Top Reasons for Joining Saint Philip’s” per the Newcomer’s Focus Group reports. Following that discussion, the Vestry reviewed draft mission statements developed by the Strategic Planning Group.

Three Commissions have been formed as part of the ongoing organizational restructuring as adopted by the Vestry in the fall of 2021. The three commission leaders (Meghan Hodge representing Children Youth and Family Ministries, Roger Rainbolt representing Music Ministries, and Dcn Susan Erickson representing Outreach Ministries) updated Vestry members on past and future activities of the commissions.

John Bremond adjourned the meeting and gave the closing prayer.

—Bonnie Winn, Junior Warden