The November Vestry meeting, as planned, was held on December 2, 2015. The regular December meeting will take place December 16.

Following approval of the October meeting minutes and Treasurer’s report, the monthly San Jose liaison check-in focused on the ongoing need for communication and coordination. San Jose recently sold soup and sandwiches during coffee hour as a fund raiser but it was not promoted in advance to St. Georgians. Similarly a recent sale set up in the hallway between services created unanticipated congestion during coffee hour. After repeated conversations about fire safety and attempts to move the Spanish-speaking AA group from inappropriate meeting space in the basement of the building where San Jose has its offices (the Casita, formerly known as the Cathey House, between St. G’s parking lots) to a free meeting room upstairs at St. G, negotiations with the group failed and the group will no longer to be able to meet in St. G facilities after December 31. (This does not affect any of the many other AA and similar support groups that meet in our space.)

The Renovation Committee updated the Vestry on the status of the project. No Vestry decisions were requested at this meeting. If the decision whether to use chairs or pews can be made soon, a cost saving could be realized if an order were placed by the end of the year. More detailed cost estimates are expected next week, allowing Vestry discussion of the options at the December 16 meetings and on target for Vestry approval in January to allow construction to begin in the spring. Comments receive from the congregation in recent weeks range from positive support, to desire to see drawings that are not available yet, and concern about scope creep and available funding. The Vestry informally authorized the Treasurer and committee to begin the process of applying for a construction bridge loan from the Diocese. This would be construction financing in anticipation of receipt of the pledges that have already been made to the Capital Campaign over a three year period. Financing costs for this are already budgeted within the soft costs of the project. It is not the same thing as long term debt or mortgage. The exact amount of the bridge loan required has not been determined but it would be small enough not to require approval by the Standing Committee of the Diocese. The general contractor has identified about $20,000 of additional electrical work that will be required to bring the San Jose worship space up to code. That would fall within the amount budgeted for contingencies in the overall project. Any major capital project will have unexpected expenses and a significant amount for contingencies was built in to the Renovations Project budget. As the project progresses, these funds will move into other construction line items as unexpected tasks come up, or, if not needed, will represent a saving in the overall cost of the project. This is standard practice for construction projects. The overall scope of the project will be defined by the Vestry when it approves the project in January, and will be based on the pledges made to the Capital Campaign. The Vestry is well aware of our deficit operating budget and the limitations of our reserve special funds. Additional contributions to the Capital Campaign and Altar and Special Funds are received with gratitude at any time!

The Finance Committee presented proposed 2016 budget alternatives. We will continue to be in a deficit situation next year, despite a promising outcome to the recent stewardship campaign. The deficit is made up from transfers from Altar and Special Funds accounts, both accounts dedicated to specific purposes such as the Food Pantry, and undesignated funds. Most of our expenses are fixed, for staff and building. We knew when we decided to hire a full time associate priest that we would be in a deficit budget for the foreseeable future. As a parish we tithe to the Diocese from our pledges and offerings income.

In a special agenda item, we discussed what actions we might take as a parish to shed some light into a dark world in the wake of the terrorist attack in Paris (and the events of the day unfolding in San Bernardino as we met) and how we might, as concerned Christians counteract the blatant Islamophobia pervading the media and politics of our country. We agreed to send an open letter to the Arlington County Board and the Governor of Virginia commending their stance on acceptance of Syrian refugees (letter to be drafted and signed at next meeting). Our partnership in VOICE provides opportunities for collaboration with the local mosque. We noted the coat/blanket drive and solidarity march scheduled for the following weekend and took immediate action to communicate it in this week’s Dragon Bytes and social media. We will also highlight Bishop Susan Goff’s video (Be not Afraid - previously in Dragon Bytes) on the website. Future Adult Forums could also highlight the issue, similar to the well-received series on racial reconciliation last summer.

There will be five Vestry positions up for election at the congregational meeting in January. (4 full 3 year terms and one year remaining in a vacant term). Don George and Darren Hekhuis, both appointed to fill vacancies during 2015) have agreed to run. At least three more candidates are needed. We reviewed the Vestry Expectations prepared last year for prospective candidates and agreed that participation in the parish retreat at Shrinemont (in addition to regular worship, baptisms and funerals) should be included.

Significant items from leadership reports: Our senior warden personally undertook an effort to refresh the look and feel of our website, which is ready to go live (while some refinements continue to be made).

Our rector has been with us five years, as of the beginning of Advent. She just returned from a week at CREDO, a clergy wellness program.

Our Bishop’s visit, by the Diocesan Bishop Shannon, just back from sabbatical, will be January 10. Two vestry babies will be among the baptized.