Vestry Summary December 17, 2024
Vestry Members in Attendance: Dianne Audrick Smith, Lois Jackson, Anita Pruitt,
James Greene, Will Seifert Kessell, Jerome Rubin, Darcel Arrington, Carmen Wildgoose
Absent: Les Blakemore
Visitor: Brenda Shepherd
We began the meeting with our Prayer and a Bible Study. Following the Check-in the
Clerk Lois Jackson, presented the November minutes, which were accepted as
presented.
The Financial Reports were reviewed. The Treasurer successfully appealed $40,000 in
erroneous city invoices for grass cutting. We have received two notices/summons of
foreclosure on two plots on East 49th street due to the County’s statement that we are in
arrears on taxes from 2017/2018. Dianne Smith will contact the County to determine
whether the second summons is to be discussed at the January 27th phone conference with
the County. Clergy compensation and housing allowance were approved for 2025. The
current deficit of $15,800 was reviewed. The financial reports were received for audit.
New fundraising policies were introduced, and a discussion of depositing of funds raised
by all church groups was discussed. Funds raised for the church will be placed in the
general fund, as is the Episcopal Church policy for all parishes. If there are to be special
designations for special items, they can be so noted. Andrea will make updates to the
budget to reflect some of those changes.
At 8pm we received a presentation by Stewardship Realty, a development company that
works with parishes of several denominations. After the presentation, the vestry
determined to consider what they had heard and review the presentation and the nonbinding agreement presented after the holidays. Jerome noted his conversations with
the Cleveland Restoration Society, which will be developing two properties on East 46th
Street adjacent to St. Andrew’s properties.
February 2nd, 2025, will be the Annual Meeting date following the 9:30am service.
All guilds—MaDaCa, Altar Guild, DOK, Brotherhood, Ushers, Adult Forum and
Stewardship, as well as the Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and Treasurer, are asked to
begin developing their year-end reports to be submitted to Brenda Daniels by mid-
January to be included in the Annual Report. The Budget Committee will meet again on
January 15th to finalize the budget for 2025.
We discussed the Christmas Eve service and the musicians who will perform, including
two young people. We will also request support from the Cleveland Police Department.
We agreed to follow up on the visitor information cards that have been filled out over
the course of the last several months. Our meeting concluded with prayer at 9:50pm.
Blessed New Year,
The Vestry
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