Committees and Task Forces
CHAPTER RETREAT
February 17-18, 2006
The St. Paul’s Cathedral Chapter met in retreat Friday night and Saturday beginning with dinner Friday night. This provided the opportunity to meet the large new group of Chapter members. These new members make up seven of the twelve members of Chapter. The discussion was a foundation for the work that followed on Saturday, and provided an opportunity for all of the members to become better acquainted with one another.
As the Chaplain for the retreat, The Rev. Allison Thomas led the Chapter members in Compline before the retreat adjourned for the evening.
The following morning, the chapter members gathered at Christ the King, Alpine, for morning worship. Following worship, we gathered for a continental breakfast. Our hosts were the Senior Warden and his wife.
Cathedral Treasurer, Guin Kerstetter, made a presentation on understanding the Cathedral financial statements. Dean’s Warden, Jim Greer, followed with a presentation on the by-laws of the Cathedral. Interestingly, all of the Chapter members were active participants in the discussions that followed the presentations.
Following prayers and a lunch catered by a local company, our Cathedral Dean discussed the “state of the Church” including issues from the Diocesan Convention and the upcoming Triennial Convention of the Episcopal Church USA. The discussion was lively and frank with, again, all Chapter members participating.
The Chapter applied the remainder of the afternoon to planning for the upcoming year. Dean Richardson opened the planning by firmly establishing the framework for the year’s work. He described the year in terms of moving from “good” to “great” by concentrating on “Small Details and Big Vision”. He stated that it was necessary that we remain open to new opportunities for great ministries. At the same, time we must focus on doing better and better the small things that permit us to grow. The Dean likened this to building the root system of a tree so it can support the growth of limbs, branches and leaves.
The Dean’s Warden, Jim Greer, and the People’s Warden, Stephen Velez-Confer presented the “Truth and Consequences” of the “small things” that need attention and the possible effect of not paying attention to them. Following a discussion, the Wardens presented a proposed committee structure within which the “small things” were assigned to a committee, and the members made recommendations for some improvements.
Four committees were established. They are listed below along with the issues each will focus on.
- Strategic Financial Planning
- Income Diversity
- Cash Flow
- Staff Pay and Staff Size
- Reliance on unpaid Clergy
- No Savings
- Graying Population
- Capital Campaign
- Facilities
- Care of our rooms and furniture using volunteers
- Disaster Planning
- Risk Management and Security
- Maintenance Survey and Planning
- Video/Photo Inventory
- Peace and Justice
- Dorcas House assessment progress
- Develop Chapter and congregation understanding of P&J as one of our standing committees;
- Recommending monetary ways to enhance the working atmosphere for the staff
- By-Laws Review
- Examine the existing By-Laws and make recommendations for revisions
Dean Richardson will be selecting the committee chairs and making those assignments. We heard loud and clear the suggestions about holding on the by-laws committee until a later time.
Committee Membership (so far)
Facilities: Chris Harris, Barnabas Hunt, Dru Campbell, and Mary Rathbun
Strategic Financial Planning: Jane Vander Veld
ByLaws Review: Chris Harris, Steward Swett,
Peace and Justice: Dru Campbell, Andrew Rank
We found Christ the King Episcopal Church in Alpine and the lovely grounds around a wonderful site for our retreat. St. Mark’s City Heights, All Saints on Pennsylvania and All Souls in Point Loma have scheduled similar programs there. One of the historic firsts that weekend was the celebration of the Eucharist by Canon Allisyn Thomas. It was especially moving when Christ the King’s Senior Warden, Mr. Nathan Astelford and his wife, Helen, presented the elements at the offertory to Allisyn. It was the first time a woman priest consecrated the bread and wine made holy in that parish.
There is a set of pictures of Christ the King Church and grounds, and the chapter retreat on the cathedral website.
