The reports of the Long-Range Planning Committee were presented to the vestry for consideration at the retreat. The reports and recommendations have not been adopted or approved, only received for discussion. The vestry is considering steps to take to facilitate parish input and additional information gathering. The reports are attached:

Defining Characteristics of the Chapel of the Cross
LRP Program Report
Report of the LRP Subcommittee on Worship
Report of the LRP Subcommittee on Facilities

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Summary (Areas of Agreement and Challenges)

1. Worship

Agreements
1. Add services (#?)
2. Diversify types
3. Willingness to experiment (publicize it, no surprises, not at 9; 11:15)

Challenges
1. Whether we grow
2. Finding best time
3. Determine what parish worship needs are
4. Identify the goal
5. Need church mandate

Issues Regarding Growth
1. Moderate vs. marginal
2. New church?
3. What is God’s call?
4. Growth as part transition over 10 years
5. Growth of area is a reality
6. Invitational vs. receiving
7. University is growing
8. Need to proclaim gospel
9. Another parish??
10. Maxed out (space use)

2. Program

Agreement
1. Need program assessment
2. Willingness to act on it
3. Willingness to take hard look
4. Tying it to budget
5. Adequate assessment tool

Challenges
1. No inventory
2. “Letting go”
3. Attachment to space
4. Pre-planning for assessment
5. Identification of parish’s programmatic priorities

3. Facilities

Agreement
None

Challenges
1. Office space, Fellowship hall [what do we really need?]
2. Professional studies are needed
3. Overcome “institutional thread bear” appearance
4. Stewardship for budget and endowments
5. Move forward with facility planning while working on program/worship/facility
6. 3-5 year plan for facility/program/worship
7. 5-10 years to be in position to do facilities

Next Steps

1. Create an experimental service
2. Transport elderly to Chapel of the Cross
3. Publicize the new service
4. Look other church’s appearance
5. Tour our building (Rob)
6. Feasibility study (architect and engineer)
7. Define needs for office/program space
8. Set up committees: program, hospitality
9. Define method for program review
10. Decide if we need hospitality committee
11. Incorporate hospitality into all parts of parish

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Minutes
The Vestry of the Chapel of the Cross met at the Summit for its business session beginning at 8:45 a.m. on May 22, 2004 during the second session of the spring retreat. Vestry members present were Chris Bowes, Paul Carew, Bunnie Collura, Jim Crow, George Evans, Joe Khoury, Steve Lackey, Jack Scarborough, Mary Schoenfeld, Dick Taylor and Kevin Trapani . Also present were outgoing vestry members Suzanne Sauter, Ted Vaden, and Robert Wright as well Stephen Elkins-Williams (Rector), Vicky Jamieson-Drake (Associate for Pastoral Ministry), and Barbara Hastings (Parish Administrator), who acted at clerk.

Mr. Elkins-Williams nominated Dick Taylor as senior warden. He was elected unanimously by voice vote.

Mr. Elkins-Williams opened the floor for nominations for junior warden. Mr. Taylor nominated Paul Carew. The nomination was seconded by Mr. Trapani. There were no other nominations. Mr. Carew was elected unanimously by voice vote.

Mr. Elkins-Williams asked for nominations for clerk. Mr. Taylor nominated Nancy Kelly. The nomination was seconded by Mr. Lackey. There were no other nominations. Mrs. Kelly was elected unanimously by voice vote.

Mr. Elkins-Williams asked new vestry members to stand for commissioning.

New materials for vestry notebooks were distributed to all members. Notebooks, name tags and The Vestry Handbook were distributed to new vestry members.

Mr. Elkins-Williams informed the vestry that new money was available for the Johnson Intern Program. The Stroud-Rose Foundation has awarded a grant of $10,000 to contingent upon continuation of the program and its connection to the parish. Parishioner Don Williams, executor of a family foundation, will contribute $30,000. The agencies served by interns would contribute $50,000. The total of the three items is almost enough to operate for a year. Mr. Elkins-Williams has been unable to talk with Mary Agnes Rawlings, program director to get updated information about the possibility of having the program for another year. He asked if vestry members would be available for a called meeting on May 30, 2004 at 10:20 a.m. to receive a full report and make a decision about the program. Other possibilities were discussed.

Mr. Taylor asked if the parish would agree to another year of the program. Mr. Evens noted that the parish could have the same financial problem next year. Mr. Wright stated that the vestry’s motion included consideration of the Johnson Intern Program as part of the long range planning process, but it was not mentioned in the report. Mr. Crow replied that no specific programs were identified in the report.

Mr. Trapani discussed that the program benefits not only young adults but the community as well. It is a way of serving others and he would like to see it continued with a focus on service.

Mr. Crow stated that if we have the money we could continue for one more year and then close the program if funds are not available.

Mrs. DeSaix supported the program for one more year by stating that the comments are persuasive and that the JIP board should make a recommendation.

Mr. Vaden said a decision needed to be made if the vestry is confident full funding can be found, the director will continue, and interns can be found. He suggested a vote by phone or email.

Mr. Elkins-Williams polled the vestry about a meeting time at which to make a decision. Wednesday, May 26 at 5:30 was selected.

Mrs. Collura shared with the vestry that the diocesan council will make a decision on the future of the Summit on Friday and asked for responses. It seems that the decision will be to sell the Summit or to scale back operations.

Mrs. Jamieson-Drake said that one of the propositions is to continue the youth and HARP programs and be open for adult programs on weekends only. Under those conditions, the Summit might not need diocesan support.

Mr. Elkins-Williams stated that the decision will be made on Friday and that the parish would not have time to mobilize significant responses from the parish.

Mrs. Hastings distributed a list of confirmands and asked Vestry members to take two or three names to write them notes of welcome on their confirmation.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.