THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE CREATOR
Regular Meeting of the Vestry
February 21, 2022
Present: Bob Blanton, Priest in Charge; Beth Braley, Ross Turner (Senior Warden), Tommy Mills (Treasurer), Isabel Mills, Jennifer Duncan, John Lanford, Dianne Martin (Clerk), and Bob White.
Call to Order: Ross called the meeting to order and Bob led the opening prayer at 6:30 P.M.
Ross thanked Bob White for becoming our new vestry member.
Approval of Minutes from Last Vestry Meeting and Annual Parish Meeting: John made a motion to accept the January meeting minutes. Tommy seconded. The motion passed.
Treasurer Report
Tommy gave the treasurer report. We started out the year with a $1,634 loss. We now have 2.8 months cash reserve.
The vestry had a discussion concerning the growth in our expenses over the past few years and the relative use of the facilities by Creator and Safe Harbor. Jennifer made a motion that we evaluate our expenses and then approach Safe Harbor about increasing their monthly donation. John seconded the motion. The motion passed. Pastor Bob and Beth will study the matter and Pastor Bob will email the vestry on what he considers a fair proposal.
We discussed the need to have someone buy supplies for the church and be reimbursed and/or get a credit card for the church. Tommy and Beth will look into this.
Jr. Warden Report
Beth reported that the two cedar trees purchased for the Christmas Eve service have been planted on our property.
Old Business
Pastor Bob has let Bishop Seage and Canon Brian Ponder know about our desire to have The Children’s House on Raymond Road preschool program locate on our property. Canon Ponder will take the information to the chancellor to let us know what we need to do. Also, Bob is in conversation with the City of Clinton for conditional use permission for the preschool. Neither of these activities lock us into continuing with the preschool project but will prepare us to continue with the project should we decide to do so.
New Business
Music
We discussed options for music in our worship services. Ross and John explained an option available from Church Music Solutions SOS. With this option, we would choose our service music, Church Music Solutions would assemble our selections, and we would download the music to a tablet attached to our sound system. Someone would touch play for each track as needed throughout the service. John made a motion that we make a trial run of this system on the second Sunday of Lent. Tommy seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Another option may be to hire a guitarist for some services.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 P.M.
Dianne Martin
Clerk of the Vestry Senior Warden