Jane White gave a comprehensive report about recent productive conversations between the vestry and mission and outreach leaders, emerging conversations around creating a more broader and more transparent culture of committee chair recruitment, our continuing efforts and plans to make the building more accessible (including a little bit about how we might supplement the $530,000 currently available to fund the elevator), and ongoing work to create a master plan for landscaping, which we hope to show off in September.
Suzanne Owayda spoke about the Diocese of Massachusetts, noting that Bishop Gates has created three positions to assist congregations and clergy (and he and Bishop Harris): regional canons. The diocese has been divided into three geographical regions, each will have its own canon. The Parish of the Epiphany is in the North-West Region. An announcement of these three appointments is expected this summer.
Suzanne Owayda also announced that Thomas Brown has been elected the chair of the board of trustees of the Church Pension Group. He has been a trustee since 2009; Thomas will become the chair in mid-July and serve for three years. In addition to Thomas, Solomon Owayda is also a trustee. At the General Convention in Austin, Texas, next month Solomon hopes to be re-elected to a second term as a trustee. In this context Suzanne spoke about the many people at the Parish of the Epiphany who serve our church beyond Winchester, describing the ways such service strengthens our entire church, locally, regionally, and globally.
Craig Benner updated us about the assistant director of music search. , which unfortunately, is now suspended. Over the past two months the assistant director of music advisory committee has been receiving resumes and conducting interviews. After the first round of interviews Craig and the committee felt that none of the candidates were a good fit for this new position. We are now in the process of rethinking the job description so that it might be more attractive to someone who has recently retired from a church music position, or someone who doesn't want to have a weekly commitment. Thomas Brown, on behalf of Carolyn Hughes (who was teaching the confirmation class), reported on the search that is just beginning for a youth minister. The position is posted, and an advisory committee is being formed.
Thomas gave a high-level “coming attractions report” about the Episcopal Church’s General Convention, which begins on 2 July. A handout about General Convention is available here.
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