Updates from the Rector and Vestry

Dear Friends,

On October 1, as Lorna began her new ministry in our midst, you and I marked the start of our ninth month together as rector and parishioners.  I am grateful.  I am delighted to be welcoming Lorna as a colleague and companion, and I look forward to the ways her particular gifts will nurture and enhance St. Andrew’s ministry to children and youth. 

As we celebrate Lorna’s arrival, I want to pause for a moment and give you a quick glimpse of a few things that have been happening behind the scenes here at St. Andrew’s during the past eight months.  The wardens, vestry, and I have set up new infrastructure to help shape our work and ministry:  clarifying vestry organization and roles so that every aspect of parish life and ministry is covered; producing liaison reports to keep the parish informed about what various Teams are doing; aligning our parish health insurance policy to be in compliance with church canons. None of those tasks is exciting, but all have improved our ability to carry out our ministry together.

Meanwhile, we have worked long and hard in concert with the Head, Board, and Foundation of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School to address various challenges and plan a way forward.  As rector of St. Andrew’s, I serve on the school’s board, meet regularly with Head of School Janna Outlaw, lead school chapel services once a week, and participate regularly in special events and fundraisers. 

The wardens and I meet weekly to pray, talk, and discern together as we seek to be faithful leaders in this place.  I am deeply indebted to them for their generosity with their wisdom, time, and talent.  The staff and I meet weekly also, and I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with a number of parish leaders about their plans and vision for Outreach, Parish Life, Congregational Development, Communications, and Stewardship.

Of course, Pastoral Care is a cornerstone of our ministry. The Pastoral Care Team, other clergy, and I are working closely together to develop and follow a schedule of regular visits to our home-bound members as well as to ensure that parishioners who are in the hospital receive visits. In the past eight months I’ve made 35 hospital visits and 64 pastoral care visits to parishioner homes, and I’m already way behind on my visitation schedule! Lorna will be sharing clergy pastoral care responsibilities with Kathy and me, and that will enable the three of us to get around to more of our home-bound folks.

This is really only a snapshot, and it covers only some of what the vestry and I have been working on. We are grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to serve God and to serve you, and we ask you to hold us in your prayers.

Every blessing, 

Anne+

From the Vestry: Some Clarifications about the Alcohol Policy Discussion

The vestry is grateful to everyone who provided us with feedback about developing an alcohol policy. Your comments will help to shape our discussion and decision. Thank you.

Why are we changing the existing alcohol policy?

There is no existing alcohol policy at St. Andrew’s. Neither the vestry nor the parish office currently has any written policy about alcohol use. We’re not changing the policy; we’re creating one.

Why are we doing this now?

Because we have been serving alcohol, we need to clarify what our policy is.  Also, in 2015, The Episcopal Church’s General Convention asked all dioceses and parishes to develop and follow alcohol policies. We have not been in compliance.

Has the vestry already decided what the alcohol policy will be?

No. That’s why the vestry sought input from the whole congregation.  After reading all congregational comments, the vestry will gather in November to decide on an alcohol policy.

Will we stop serving wine during Holy Communion?

No. 

Since Anne doesn’t drink, is she going to insist that we ban alcohol at all parish social functions?

The decision about whether or not to allow alcohol at social functions is a vestry decision, not Anne’s decision alone. Every parish Anne has served has allowed alcohol at social events. Each parish has also had a clear policy.