Dear People of Saint Paul’s:

At the regular vestry meeting this week, we continued to discuss many of the same issues, including our current budget situation and the ways to prioritize the congregation’s interests as stated at the 2020 listening sessions. Two weeks ago, 40 people attended a formation class when Finance Committee Chair Monty Osteen and Treasurer Will Rice presented at formation on the updated status of the 2021 budget. Thank you, Will and Monty, for your continued efforts for this Church.  We are committed to increasing our transparency and the flow of information about all of the happenings at the Church. All of support is vital to continuing Saint Paul’s mission. We continue to be hopeful about the decreasing rate of infection from COVID-19 in the community and the opportunities that it affords us as we re-gather in our beautiful and beloved spaces. At the time of the meeting, we had 111 reported pledges. We remain grateful to everyone who has given their gifts of prayer, time, and financial support to the Church over the last year. We are hopeful that with your help, our Church community will strengthen in ways yet to be seen. As we approach the holiday season, the Vestry began its celebrations with an evening of thanks for the joy and ministry that Fr. Bowden brought us and for the excitement that we feel with the arrival of Fr. Biddy.  

During this week of thanks, I am thankful for each of you who support Saint Paul’s in every way!

Yours,

Ashley Wright

Senior Warden

Our 2022 annual pledge campaign has concluded. The Finance Committee and the Vestry will now begin the work of preparing the 2022 budget. Your pledge allows them to prepare a more accurate budget. If you did not receive a pledge appeal in the mail or have simply misplaced yours, please email the parish office or contact by telephone at (706) 724-2485 ext. 225. You may also pledge online using the link below.

as of 11/17/2021

Offerings received this Week $4,860.00

Operating Expenses to Date $772,144.40

Total Income Received to Date $790,085.22

The Vestry Nominating Committee is seeking candidates whom you believe would make outstanding Vestry members for Saint Paul's. If you'd like to suggest someone, including yourself, please contact retiring Senior Warden Ashley Wright. Prior to nominating someone else, please discuss with them their interest and willingness to serve in this role.

The basic responsibilities of the Vestry are:

We expect to elect for three full three-year terms and the remaining year of Matt Gullette’s unexpired term. If the new senior warden comes from the current vestry, we may have an additional unexpired term to fill.

To be eligible for the Vestry, a nominee must answer "yes" to all of the following questions.

Each nominee slated to run for election to the Vestry will be invited to share a profile with the parish via our regular parish communications including the weekly newsletter.

A Note on Eligibility: It was recently brought to our attention that some of our election practices vary from what is required in the diocesan canons (church law in our diocese). Conversations with the Bishop’s staff have clarified the language that will bring our practices into alignment with diocesan canons. On page 19 of the attached Constitution and Canons, those eligible for election are those “confirmed adults in good standing eighteen years of age or older enrolled in the Congregation” (Canon 2.1). Those eligible to vote in an election are “those confirmed adults enrolled in the Congregation who are in good standing and who have reached the age of sixteen” (Canon 2.3). Those already in the process of being confirmed or received and otherwise eligible, are eligible to run and vote while waiting for the bishop’s next visit.

Please contact the Parish Office to update our files.