MINUTES---BISHOP’S COMMITTEE

July 28, 2008

6 p.m.

Present: David Greene, Gail Moreman, Thomas Sumners, Fielding Reiner, Tom Peterson, Marie McShane, Don Gray, Betsy Stephenson, Tom Peterson.

Absent: Bob Keith and Corby Craig

Also present: Liz Manning, Tommy Bye, Joe McShane,

1.       The meeting was called to order with a prayer shortly and a Scripture reading after 6 PM. 

2.       Minutes: The minutes of June 16 were approved.

3.       Vicar’s Report (Tommy Bye):

a.       The Confirmation ceremony will take place on the evening of October 22. It will include a dinner and/or reception, to be held on the same date or possibly the evening before.

b.      A Bishop’s Committee Retreat will be held on September 5 and 6. Location to be kept a surprise. Spouses welcome, but meetings will be limited to those serving on the BC. 

c.       David Greene will work with Tommy Bye to plan for a “Rally Day” event to be held soon, possibly September 14 and 15.

d.      Paige Halbert’s wedding will occur at the Church on September 20^th, with a rehearsal on the 19^th.  Paige lives in Austin and is associated with Tommy Bye from Trinity Church in Fort Worth.

 4.       Treasurer’s Report (Bob Keith):

a.       The report’s prepared by Bob Keith were distributed to the BC by Liz Manning (Bob was not able to attend). The reports consisted of the balance sheets for 7/1/07 and 7/1/08, statement of income and expenses for 7/1/07 and 7/1/08, and statement of income and expenses for the period of 1/1/08 through 6/30/08 (including the prior year’s same period for comparison).  Tom Peterson asked if the revenues received and earmarked for the columbarium could be shown in a different manner on the financial reports so as not to distort the amount of unreserved income. Treasurer Bob Keith will be asked to share his thoughts on this topic at the August 25^th BC meeting.

b.      The Audit Committee was asked to submit their report for signature as soon as possible. At last month’s BC meeting it was said that the audit committee’s report was to be finalized in September. However, since then, it was learned that the report was actually due in May.

5.       Junior Warden’s Report (Don Gray):

a.       The path connecting the first several Stations of the Cross will be completed in August. Separate workdays have been scheduled for volunteers from the Church and from the Boy Scouts/FFA.  To date, rock donated by Joe Stewart of Sandy, TX have been picked up in the field and brought to the site by volunteers, several of the rock retaining walls have been started and the stones to be along the path have been laid out in several areas.

b.      Don is having difficulty in obtaining bids for renovating the walls of the old stone building for use as the Vicar’s office. It was suggested that Don speak with John Stephenson to get John’s thoughts as to various materials to be considered and who to contact for bids. Don will report to the BC on his progress via email ASAP.

c.       David Greene and Don will research the availability of church signs for the intersection of 281/Spur 962 and for the front of the church. They will submit a report at the August 25^th meeting (possibly in advance via email).  

d.      Don reported that the BBQ pit is no longer on the premises. Since the pit is owned by Bob and Frana Keith, Don will check with them to see if the pit might have been returned to them. Otherwise, it will be assumed that the pit was stolen.  

e.      Don will determine whether or not the Church has a contract for pesticide services and what services are included.  Marie McShane will provide Don with the name of the contracted firm, if it turns out that there is a contract in place.

6.       Bishop Warden’s Report (Liz Manning):

a.        Consideration is being given to updating the Church Directory. ________ agreed to head up a committee to consider various methods. This would include options such as simply updating the Directory in its present style, looking into the use of a photo directory prepared by firms who offer such services, etc. Further, it was suggested that the updated directory would be more useful if it somehow distinguishes active members from others listed in the directory.

b.      In an effort to control expenses, a question was raised as to whether the Church should continue issuing monthly newsletter or whether the mailing list should be trimmed back to include only current members. It was agreed that the serves a valuable purpose, and that it is a great community outreach tool. Further, it was noted that the interest level of the items contained in the newsletter of late have been very well received by its readers.  Christie Schroeter produces and mails the newsletter.

c.       Liz Manning and Rita Reiner have created a list of duties to be done by the cleaning service utilized by the church and have shared that list with the service. 

d.      Vacation Bible School will not be held this summer.

e.      Discussion of when to start the process for searching for a permanent Vicar will be postponed until the BC’s meeting on August 25^th. 

7.       Other: Don Gray passed around a copy of the prayer list from the Church’s website in order to inform the BC of the on-line prayer list.

                8.       The next meeting of the Bishop’s Committee was scheduled for August 25 at 6 PM.

9.       The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.