Vestry

The Vestry* is the church board. The basic responsibilities of the vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed, to select and support the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances. Generally, 1/3 of the nine Vestry members are elected each year at the annual parish meeting and serve a three-year term. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. The officers include two wardens, a treasurer and a clerk.

*The origin of the term vestry is from the early church in England. Parishioners met about church business in the vestry, the room off the chancel where the clergy vested. The assembled parishioners came to be known as the vestry.

Vestry Members

  • Roni Portillo

    Roni Portillo

    Senior Warden

    Email

  • Keely Clifford

    Keely Clifford

    Junior Warden

  • Elizabeth McCorkle

    Elizabeth McCorkle

    Clerk

  • Jackie Frey

    Jackie Frey

  • Ellen Jahn

    Ellen Jahn

  • Mary Hood

    Mary Hood

  • Robert Daunt

    Robert Daunt

  • Ray Ramirez

    Ray Ramirez

  • Coburn Palmer

    Coburn Palmer

Vestry Meeting Highlights

  • On March 22-23, the Vestry met for its annual retreat. On Friday evening, Roni Portillo talked about the role of the vestry and discussed group norms. On Saturday morning, Pastor Kristine facilitated a discussion of the joys and challenges for St. Mary's in the past, present and future. Our treasurer, Kathy Stoner, presented an overview of church accounts and finances. The retreat agenda also incorporated evening prayer, morning prayer and sharing delicious food together.

    In the business meeting portion of the retreat, Andrea Noble presented an update on the labyrinth garden. She explained that a soils engineer advised that the sinkhole appears to be isolated, and it should be able to be mitigated as a beginning phase of the Labyrinth Garden project. Andrea is preparing the plans to send to potential landscape contractors, requesting bids in April.

  • The vestry reviewed group norms and set the dates for the Vestry Retreat in March and the monthly meetings. The regular meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month 5:30-7pm.

  • In the January 17th Vestry meeting, the highlights were:

    • Approved Operating Budget for 2024

    • Approved Capital Budget for 2024

    • Appointed Kathy Stoner as Treasurer

  • The vestry received the draft budget from the budget committee chaired by Ann Roberts. The vestry briefly discussed ways of addressing the gap between income and expenses and will continue the conversation in January. The 2024 budget will be voted on in the January vestry meeting, before the Annual Parish Meeting on January 28th.

    The group also discussed the monthly ministry report and expressed admiration for the service and outreach freely given by so many in the St. Mary’s community.

    The nominating committee is considering nominees to replace the four vestry members whose terms are ending. If you have suggestions, please contact Mickey Welsh, senior warden and chair of the nominating committee.