At its December meeting, the vestry:

- Received and engaged in significant discussion of the recommendations of the finance committee for steps needed to balance the budget in light of anticipated pledge revenues that do not meet the needs of the request budget

- Approved the recommendation of the rector and finance committee that, effective January 1, 2003, the policy of contributing the cash value of health and dental insurance benefits to a tax-sheltered annuity if the employee chooses not to enroll in the diocesan plans will be discontinued

- Approved the recommendation of the rector and finance committee that, effective January 1, 2003, the position of parish administrator be reduced to _ time in accordance with budget needs, the duties of the position, and the wishes of the present parish administrator

- Discussed and deferred to the January vestry meeting the recommendation of the finance committee that the work week of the administrative assistant and the publications assistant be reduced from 40 hours to 35 hours and that the salaries be adjusted accordingly

- Discussed the issue of responsibility and accountability for those individuals responsible for line items in the budget

- Received from Mary Agnes Rawlings, Director, and Watty Bowes, Chair of the Board of Directors, a report on the Johnson Intern Program and learned of efforts at coalition building

- Accepted with gratitude a gift of $84,000 from parishioner Jim Crow from the sale of stock, the first $50,000 of which he designated for the Johnson Intern Program, and deferred the decision on designation of the remaining $34,000 of the gift

- Received thanks from Timothy Kimbrough, Rector of the Church of the Holy Family, for the role of the Chapel of the Cross in nurturing Holy Family and especially for the donation of 1% of its recent capital campaign

- Learned that the parish database has been updated to 94.2% accuracy

- Learned that the parish has invited the congregations of the Durham Convocation to the Epiphany Evensong on Sunday, January 5, and to the kings’ cake reception following the service.

The vestry meets the third Thursday of each month. Minutes of the meetings are at www.thechapelofthecross.org/pubsdocs.htm. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.