St. Martin-in-the-Fields Vestry Meeting March 17, 2024
For a pdf of financials, please click here
Present: Alan Bentrup – Rector, Mary Beth Butler – Senior Warden, Rick Schutz – Jr. Warden, Dick Seeber – Jr. Warden, DJ Mitchell – Treasurer, Bob Bess, Carlie Briggs, Shawn Casey, Eloise Frye, Bob Garrity, Bryan Hedrick, Elizabeth Jordan, Glenda Morehead – Clerk, Gary Wilkinson – Finance Committee Chair.
Also Present: Tony Kroll, Linda Seeber, Kathy Wilkinson, Scott Liston.
Not Present: Gavin Tomlin – Curate.
A meeting of the Vestry of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church was held Sunday, March 17, 2024, in the West Parish Hall.
The meeting opened with prayer at 12:00 PM by the Rector who chaired the meeting.
Consideration of the Minutes
DJ Mitchell moved the minutes of the February 18, 2024, vestry meeting be approved as distributed. Mary Beth Butler seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Prayer Shawl Ministry Fundraiser Proposal
Kathy Wilkinson, chair, presented the Ministry’s proposal for a fundraiser to be held on or about the first Sunday of Advent – December 1, 2024. The Ministry is not funded in the operating budget but is entirely dependent upon donations and the sale of items at periodic fundraisers. Gary Wilkinson serves as financial advisor to the Ministry. DJ Mitchell moved the vestry approve the fundraiser, Dick Seeber seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Master Plan Consideration
DJ Mitchell introduced Scott Liston, a member of the committee working on St. Martin’s reconstruction. As Mitchell reported at the last vestry meeting the committee met on February 21 to consider the 3 bids received from contractors. Committee members had received the bids prior to the meeting, and the vote on which to present to the vestry was a unanimous one. The committee recommends that the vestry approve the acceptance of the bid from The Christman Company of Irving, TX.
Liston, who has extensive experience in construction, will be vetting all invoices from the contractor and sub-contractors.
Dick Seeber moved the vestry accept the recommendation of the committee. Rick Schutz seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Since the initial phase of the church renovation project will not change the church’s footprint, resolution of questions regarding the ownership of church property will not have to be resolved prior to the start of construction. Nonetheless, EDOT has been advised of the project, and we will continue to keep them informed as to developments.
Finance Committee Report and Acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report
Finance Committee Report: Gary Wilkinson reported the following from the committee’s meeting via
Zoom yesterday:
Update on Savings Account: Funds were transferred to purchase Treasury Notes as approved by the Vestry at its February meeting.
Treasurer’s Report Accepted: It is still too early in the year for the financial report to show any discernable trends. Bob Bess moved the report be accepted as distributed. Mary Beth Butler seconded the motion and the report was accepted.
Junior Wardens’ Reports
The written report is attached to and made a part of these minutes.
Replacement of Chair Seats: The seats of twenty of the chairs used in the parish hall are ripped or severely worn, making them unusable Linda Seeber has agreed to assist Jr. Warden Seeber in replacing the seats with marine based material at a cost that should not exceed $100.00 The vestry endorsed the plan.
Installation of Remote Control of Worship Screens No update.
Senior Warden’s Repot
The written report of Senior Warden Mary Beth Butler is attached to and made a part of these minutes. She will be bringing the VPiC sign-up sheets to every meeting for the foreseeable future.
Curate’s Report
In the absence of the Curate the Rector reported that the two priests are transitioning to a sharing of duties. He stated they work really well together.
Tony Kroll Ordination
Tony Kroll, the Seminarian assigned to St. Martin’s, has received curacy options and will be ordained to the diaconate June 15. No information is available at this time on whether there will be limitations to how many may attend the service.
Rector’s Report
The Rector’s written report is attached to and made a part of these minutes.
Mission Vision Values Plans: On April 3 the Vestry will meet at 7 PM via Zoom to continue the work begun on the vestry retreat. The results will be shared with the congregation during the Forum time on April 7.
Off-Site Services to Begin: The Rector announced that starting in the fall St. Martin’s will explore the possibility of holding services – possibly once a month – off-site in North Tarrant County in what is commonly called the Alliance Corridor. Ideally a site might be found at no cost or a nominal cost. He and the Curate are committed to trying out the idea, which already has the enthusiastic endorsement of The Rt. Rev. Andrew Doyle.
DJ Mitchell moved the meeting be adjourned, Carlie Briggs seconded the motion and the motion carried. The meeting closed with prayer by the Rev. Alan Bentrup at 1:20 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Glenda Morehead
Clerk