Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Bethlehem: Cathedral Church of the Nativity

Vestry The Vestry meets at 7 PM on the third Monday each month. Raymond A. Arcario, Senior Warden 610-282-9509 James Vorosmarti, Junior Warden 610-798-7729
Larry Allen 610-530-1864 Jeff Bernardino 610-559-9735 Anne Day Clerk of Vestry 610-954-7933 Laura Drum 610-432-4170 Martha Capwell Fox 610-264-4141 Mary Ann Lynn 610-866-4269 Charles Montgomery, Jr. 610-691-4387		Robert Phillips 610-882-2388 Susan Sartoretto 610-837-7998 Kelly Smith 610-882-4141 Sally Snyder 610-867-6049 Cid Spillman 610-865-0437 William Yale 610-559-5959
VESTRY NOTES May 2005 The Vestry met on May 16 at 7:00 pm. The Treasurer's report for April showed that income for the month plus the beginning balance totaled $123,653.16. Total disbursements for April were $98,215.07. Pledge income through April is $171,150.82 toward budgeted 2005 pledge figure of $500,324.00. The Vestry adopted a budget for 2006 which will be mailed to the members of the Cathedral. The Vestry also agreed to seek ways to provide for the street ministry to be exercised by the Canon Missioner out of New Bethany Ministries in 2006. The Vestry concluded the meeting discussing issues dealing with the search process. The members of Profile committee, led by Pam Bayliss were approved. Dean Lane recused himself during this process. March 2005 The Treasurer reported that pledge income, as of the end of February, is at $90,879.70 out of a total pledge for 2005 of $500,324.00. Total income for February was $47,628.19 and total disbursements were $43,055.52. The Wardens nominated Pam Bayliss to be Chair of the Profile Committee for the search for the next Dean. The Vestry confirmed the nomination and Pam will join Barnaby Roberts, Chair of the Search Committee, in a leadership role for the search process. Cid Spillman, who is chairing the transitional celebration and welcoming process, reported that a Cathedral luncheon will be held on Sunday, July 31, Dean Lane's last Sunday before his vacation and transitional leave. After the Interim Dean is in place, an opportunity to welcome him will be provided. Mary Mulder, Larry Eighmy, Andy Warner, Kelly Smith, and Jo Trepagnier, whose terms on the Vestry are complete, were thanked for their good and faithful service. Kelly Smith is eligible to serve another term and has agreed to stand for election. The next Vestry Meeting will be held on Friday evening April 15 at the Annual Vestry Retreat. February 2005 The Vestry met on Monday evening February 21 beginning at 6:30pm with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Dr. Ned Wallace, Diocesan Missioner to Swaziland, attended the first part of the meeting to thank the Cathedral for its very important support of the Church's work in Swaziland. The Treasurer reported total income for January at $75,056.12 and total expenses at $74,980.87. Pledge income for January was $48,108.35. Total pledge for 2005 now stands at $511,051.00. The 2005 budget will be adjusted to reflect updated income streams and updated expenses which reflect the interim period. The Wardens nominated and the Vestry confirmed Barnaby Roberts as Search Committee Chair, and the Venerable Richard Cluett as Interim Dean to serve during the search period. January 2005 The Vestry met on Monday evening January 17 in Sayre Hall at 7:00pm following the celebration of Holy Eucharist. The Treasurer's Report showed pledge income for 2004 at $562,675.74 and total income for the year at $819,699.83. Total disbursements for the year were $799,376.20. All the special funds designated for the position of Canon Missioner have now been depleted. The Dean and Sr. Warden reported a possible major expense confronting the Cathedral with the discovery that there may be a leak in the Cathedral's water system and it may be in a line that runs under the lower parking lot between the Cathedral and Sayre Hall. That we had a problem was discovered by the alertness of the Cathedral's office staff upon receiving the latest water bill. The Wardens will nominate to the Vestry in February two people, one to serve as Chair of the Profile Committee and the other to chair the Search Committee. Cid Spillman of the Vestry was appointed to chair the activity(ies) in recognition of the conclusion of Dean Lane's tenure. Not all pledges for 2005 have been received, but projections point to a final total in the neighborhood of $525,000.00. This will leave us far short of the stretch budget established for 2005. A Vestry committee will work to reconcile the budget and report back in February. The Vestry also joined the Bishop in endorsing the Kids4Peace program that works for reconciliation in Israel/Palestine. More information about this in the March issue of the PV. December 2004 The Vestry met on Monday, December 20. The Treasurer reported 94.10% of pledged income has been received ($502,059.55 out of $533,550.00) as of the end of November. Copies of the November Treasurer's Report are available in the Narthex and on the table at the back of the Cathedral. The Every Member Canvass report showed as of December 17th, 219 pledges had been received for a total of $415,000.00. Of these, 199 were pledges from those who had pledged for 2004 and showed an increase of $14,873.00. The report gave an analysis of pledges made for 2004 but not yet made for 2005. If these pledges are neither decreased or increased, another $147,000.00 in pledge income would be received for 2005. This would still leave a significant shortfall for the 2005 goal, causing the Vestry to examine ways of dealing with the deficit, including adjusting the budget and the mission and ministry it supports. This possibility was shared with the Cathedral parish last summer when the 2005 budget was mailed to each household. The Vestry also received a report from the Property Committee that the engineering study of the Cathedral's parking lots was almost complete and would be ready for January's Vestry Meeting. Members of the Vestry committed to being on the Cathedral's parking lots on Christmas Eve to direct overflow parking to the public lot behind Ginny's Restaurant. Also, a Cathedral van will be available to shuttle those who use the public lot to and from the Cathedral. November 2004 The Vestry met on Monday evening November 15 in the Dining Room of Sayre Hall. The Treasurer reported that, as of the end of October, total income for the Cathedral's operating budget was $663,180.02 or 84.76% of anticipated income for 2004. Pledge income for the same period was $462,269.97 or 86.64%. Copies of the October Treasurer's Report are available in the narthex and a copy is posted in Sayre Hall. In accordance with the By-Laws, the Vestry set Wednesday, March 30 for the date of the 2005 Annual Meeting. The evening will begin with the Holy Eucharist at 5:15pm followed by supper at 6:00pm and the meeting from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Childcare will be provided. Absentee Balloting will be available and the guidelines for that are as follows: Absentee Balloting Guidelines for 2005 Annual Meeting .All persons who meet the By-Law qualifications for voting at the Annual Meeting are eligible for voting by absentee ballot. .During the third week in January, the Cathedral Office shall VESTRY NOTES mail out to everyone on the active and newcomer's mailing lists: A roster of eligible voters as determined by the By-Laws; a print out of those qualifications; a form for requesting a ballot; and the list of nominees. .Anyone not finding her/his name on the roster may, by the 10th of February, request reconsideration by one of the three election judges selected by the Vestry. That judge's decision shall be the final and determining one. .Requests for ballots by eligible voters may be sent to the Cathedral Office beginning February 1, 2005 until March 22, 2005. .Ballots must be received back in the Cathedral Office by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the Annual Meeting. The Warden's presented a report of their meeting with the Bishop about the search process for the next Dean. Senior Warden, Jim Norwine presented a path forward plan that looks to having the next Dean elected by the Annual Meeting of 2006. October 2004 The Vestry met on Monday evening October 18, 2004. Bishop Paul was present for the first part of the meeting and lead the Vestry through the transition process that will culminate with the election and call of a new Dean and Rector sometime in 2006 (Click here for a report about this process from the Sr. Warden). The Vestry reviewed the Treasurer's Report for September. Pledge income as of the end of September is running at 77.60% ($414,020.69 toward a total pledge of $533,550.00 for 2004). Copies of this report are available at the back of the Cathedral and a copy is posted in Sayre Hall. In response to the over all favorable review of the experiment with absentee ballots and holding the Annual Meeting mid week, the Vestry amended the Cathedral's By-Laws. First, to allow for holding the Annual Meeting at a time and day set by the Vestry during the seven days following Easter Day. The Vestry must publish the time and day to the members of the Cathedral no less than three months ahead of time. The Vestry also amended the By-Laws to mandate providing for absentee balloting. The Vestry will be responsible for setting the rules and guidelines for absentee balloting and publish them no less than three months before the Annual Meeting. These rules and guidelines shall conform to the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, and the Diocese of Bethlehem, and to the By-Laws of the Cathedral. Call for a New Dean.