As I write we are in the grip of uncertainty concerning whether the big storm is going to disrupt our Sunday plans, which this Sunday includes the Annual Parochial Meeting (APM). The best weather projections put the worst of the storm to the south of R.I. However, we are predicted to receive several inches of snow Saturday and into early Sunday morning. Nevertheless at the time of writing the Wardens have decided to proceed as planned unless the city imposes a parking ban, in which case all services will be cancelled on Sunday. Please check the website for updates.

 

The lay leadership and governance of an Episcopal parishes falls to a body known as the Vestry, which together with the Church Wardens, and Rector share the different elements of leadership responsibility. Each year a percentage of the Vestry complete their terms in office. It falls to the APM or often referred to simply as the Annual Meeting (AM) to elect new Vestry persons and Church Wardens to any vacancies. Elections take place in an open meeting of all parishioners, listed on the parish roll. An area for confusion lies in the fact that the Vestry has the responsibility of setting the annual budget, not the APM. The APM is asked only to ratify the budget.

 

This year Elizabeth Welshman is the outgoing Senior Warden and she will be replaced by Sean Mulholland, hitherto the Junior Warden. I want to take this opportunity to say that I am most fortunate to have come into tenure as rector during Elizabeth's term as Senior Warden. We all owe her a debt of thanks for leading the parish through the period of interregnum between rectors. I have felt very well supported by Elizabeth's personal warmth and sound wisdom. I hope many of you will take an opportunity to thank Elizabeth for her quiet and calm leadership. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Sean as he steps into the senior role, and together forging a creative working team to include John Bracken, who has kindly agreed to stand for election as Junior Warden on Sunday. I also thank Jill Scott, Edmund Leather, and John Lawlor for their service on the Vestry. Al Anderson is stepping down after five years as Vestry Clerk. We will miss his continuity of knowledge and thoughtfulness.  Dennis Stark, after a monumental 14 years as Treasurer has resigned to take up a job in West Virginia. We will miss his artful synthesis of financial acumen and wider community vision.

 

If you are like me, the prospect of the APM may not fill you with excited expectation. However, this year we have designed an agenda that will focus on:

Weather permitting I look forward to seeing you at St Martin's this coming Sunday.

Mark+