Vestry Meeting Minutes
Vestry News
Sabbatical/Renewal Leave Planning
St. Thomas’ Vestry and Sabbatical Planning Committee is using Dr. Robert C. Saler’s exceptional work, Planning Sabbaticals: A Guide For Congregations And Their Pastors (Chalice Press, 2019), to inform our planning and management of Fr. Ryan’s summer 2025 sabbatical leave. Among Saler’s key points from the book is this takeaway: “If you introduce the idea of renewal leave to the congregation and you encounter resistance or critical questions, do not become defensive; rather, embrace this as a time to have honest conversation about the shared ministry of the pastor and the congregation and how this opportunity might be fitted to the particularities of your context."
St. Thomas’ recently completed a rigorous grant application and submitted a request for funding through Lilly. The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program offers grants for clergy members who are seeking to replenish their spiritual reservoirs and regain energy and strength for their calling. Sabbath rest includes time for pastors to renew themselves physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. In addition to congregational renewal activities, the grant also provides for pulpit coverage. This is a highly competitive process, but we, your Sabbatical / Renewal Leave Planning Committee, et al., think that our proposal and justification are exemplary. We anticipate being informed of the selection committee’s decision in August. In the interim, we will continue to plan and organize for success.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the Sabbatical Planning Committee with questions: Mary Clark 832-332-5339, Pam Holley 727-481-4990, or Bill Barns 757-646-5146.
St. Thomas’ Vestry and Sabbatical Planning Committee is using Dr. Robert C. Saler’s exceptional work, Planning Sabbaticals: A Guide For Congregations And Their Pastors (Chalice Press, 2019), to inform our planning and management of Fr. Ryan’s summer 2025 sabbatical leave. Among Saler’s key points from the book is this takeaway: “If you introduce the idea of renewal leave to the congregation and you encounter resistance or critical questions, do not become defensive; rather, embrace this as a time to have honest conversation about the shared ministry of the pastor and the congregation and how this opportunity might be fitted to the particularities of your context."
St. Thomas’ recently completed a rigorous grant application and submitted a request for funding through Lilly. The Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program offers grants for clergy members who are seeking to replenish their spiritual reservoirs and regain energy and strength for their calling. Sabbath rest includes time for pastors to renew themselves physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. In addition to congregational renewal activities, the grant also provides for pulpit coverage. This is a highly competitive process, but we, your Sabbatical / Renewal Leave Planning Committee, et al., think that our proposal and justification are exemplary. We anticipate being informed of the selection committee’s decision in August. In the interim, we will continue to plan and organize for success.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the Sabbatical Planning Committee with questions: Mary Clark 832-332-5339, Pam Holley 727-481-4990, or Bill Barns 757-646-5146.
Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
One of the recommendations from the 2023 Safety Assessment conducted by the St. Petersburg, Police Department was to form a Safety Committee at St. Thomas’ and we have accomplished that. The committee is holding regular quarterly meetings and reviewing both material and procedural enhancements. We are in the process of obtaining dead bolt locks for the Sanctuary doors and a video camera to cover the Sanctuary and Chapel entrances along with the front parking lot, courtesy of a cost-sharing and Baynard Trust grant. The committee has also researched procurement of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be installed in the Sanctuary for use in the event of a medical emergency. A source to deliver and install such a device, Zoma Tech, estimates $1,670 for the expense. The Vestry has reviewed this requirement and supports the plan as a means for one or several parishioners to contribute directly to this unbudgeted item. Would you please give this some prayerful consideration and if you are inclined to contribute all or a portion of the amount, we would be grateful. It is as simple as making a check or cash offering. For checks please indicate AED procurement in the memo line and cash may be in an envelope with a similar notation and placed in the offering plate at a Sunday service. Thank you for your consideration and support!
One of the recommendations from the 2023 Safety Assessment conducted by the St. Petersburg, Police Department was to form a Safety Committee at St. Thomas’ and we have accomplished that. The committee is holding regular quarterly meetings and reviewing both material and procedural enhancements. We are in the process of obtaining dead bolt locks for the Sanctuary doors and a video camera to cover the Sanctuary and Chapel entrances along with the front parking lot, courtesy of a cost-sharing and Baynard Trust grant. The committee has also researched procurement of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be installed in the Sanctuary for use in the event of a medical emergency. A source to deliver and install such a device, Zoma Tech, estimates $1,670 for the expense. The Vestry has reviewed this requirement and supports the plan as a means for one or several parishioners to contribute directly to this unbudgeted item. Would you please give this some prayerful consideration and if you are inclined to contribute all or a portion of the amount, we would be grateful. It is as simple as making a check or cash offering. For checks please indicate AED procurement in the memo line and cash may be in an envelope with a similar notation and placed in the offering plate at a Sunday service. Thank you for your consideration and support!
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St. Thomas Episcopal Church
1200 Snell Isle Blvd NE St. Petersburg, FL 33704 727-896-9641 office@stthomasstpete.org Sunday Worship Schedule 8:00am - Spoken Holy Eucharist, Rite II 10:00am - Choral Holy Eucharist, Rite II |
