November 5, 2011 BC meeting, second half minutes my edits highlighted ERF

At the end of the discussion of the Capps property, the BC and congregants agreed to email one another with ideas and paragraph drafts for the letter to the Standing Committee for potential uses to which the funds from the property could be put, such as: the narthex and safer access, outreach of the types we have done in 2011 and maintaining a significant Episcopal presence in La Veta.

Alex agreed to get the requirements, including criteria and forms for the sale of the property and the modification of the church building

Vicar's Report: Alex Howard reported on the convention, at which the Bishop emphasized four areas for the coming several years: living missionally at the grass roots level, which is more important than building or institutional survival; radical generosity, in which we consider what we do not need in the context of sacrificial giving; engaging substantively with the suffering of the world face-to-face; and, committing to evangelize young adults.

With regard to our identity as an Episcopal church, we have everything we need to welcome people of any denomination without an oath of loyalty. The slowness of the diocese in responding to St. Benedict's needs may have been upsetting to him and others. St. Benedict's should be a place where seekers can feel comfortable.

There has been no success in finding the coalition of tentmaker clergy; Alex will try his connections.

Alex needs to spend more time with his wife and family. He cannot chooses not to continue as full-time interim vicar. He would be willing to serve St. Benedict as a supply priest once a month next year. He envisions Eleanor offering morning prayer Eucharist from reserved sacrament once or twice a month and others, like Walt, offering morning or evening prayer. He offered that we use supply clergy also.

At the December meeting of vicars in partnership churches, he will inquire about staffing issues.

The BC needs more members. Alex has chosen Michael Scott as Bishop's Warden pro tem. Ordinarily, when a new vicar arrives, the entire BC offers their resignations.

Lay Leader's report: Eleanor Foley. Eleanor feels that St. Benedict's must reaffirm some "givens." We must answer to the diocese. She feels that the diocese is committed to St. Benedict's continued presence in La Veta, as it was to her earlier Trinidad church until it closed and Limon church until it combined with the Lutheran church.

Discussion and general agreement of adding to the website (or to the weekly updates) the minutes from BC meetings, once the minutes have been reviewed and approved.

Discussion and general agreement on adding to the website helpful items, such as the Over-55 Ministry, a list of the 2011 outreach gifts, and the short form budget.

Discussion of advertising in the Signature: MSA: The present ad in the Signature was approved alternate weeks. The regions may have funds available for advertising in newspapers: Alex will ask our new regional missioner when he/she is named. Lou Blanchard, Carl Andrews, and Neil ________ about this possibility. There was discussion and general agreement to advertise in the Walsenburg newspaper as well; there was an Episcopal presence there at one time, is not now, and those persons should be invited by St. Benedict's. There was discussion about reaching out to Episcopalians in Trinidad, whose church closed. It was decided to alternate ads in the two papers until the end of the year.

Interview Committee: Alex recommended the St. Benedict portion of the committee include three people, and St. Thomas' portion include two. Eleanor reported that Lou asked her, as Lay Leader to serve on the committee. Alex recommended that Michael Scott serve. The BC and congregants agreed on Don Lowell as the third member; Don agreed to serve. Alex will serve as advisor, chaplain.

Barbara Scott reported on her ideas from convention. She feels the ideas from convention should be discussed on an ongoing basis by the BC and the congregation. She discussed a book which she heard about, Unbundling the Gospel, on meditation, which was available for purchase there.

The Letter of Agreement on the partnership with St. Thomas was executed.

For lack of time, next steps in our vicar search were not considered at this meeting

The next steps were outlined thus:

The named committee will meet with Lou Blanchard next Sunday at St. Thomas to outline our steps forward and discuss possibilities.

The committee has forwarded to Lou the profile and other materials while she has sent to the committee training materials on preparing for interviews.

Closing prayer was given by Alex.

Adjournment.