The Annual Report of the Parish
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| 2/2/2008 |
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The Annual Meeting
February 3, 2008
11:15 A.M.
Agenda and Reports
312TH ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
OF CHRIST CHURCH
February 3, 2008
11:15am
Neighborhood House
AGENDA
1. Opening Prayer (said in unison)
Gracious God, we are thankful for your presence in the world and we are mindful that you are present through us. May we face the cares of this world in ways that give life to your truth in our communion with each other. May we serve as faithful stewards of the future of Christ Church as well as of its history. May we use the beauty to which we are heirs to sustain the spiritual lives of the parish. May we raise our children in the universal message of love brought to us by your son Jesus Christ. May we open our doors to inquiring minds eager to cross boundaries of belief and condition to discover your intentions for our civil society. These things we pray in your holy name. Amen.
2. Report of the Nominating Committee and Election for Vestry, Diocesan Convention and Deanery
3. Report of the Accounting Warden and Presentation of the Budget for 2008
4. Report of the Rector’s Warden
5. Report of the Rector
6. Discussion
7. Adjournment
THE RECTOR’S REPORT
I give thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed on Christ Church in 2007. Here is a partial list of the year’s highlights:
• The first Disciples of Christ in Community program runs for 14 weeks and graduates 44 parishioners in the skills of prayer and living in intentional Christian community.
• Christ Church is granted $71,000 over three years by Trinity Grants to support our unique ability and success in faith formation for adults in their 20’s and 30’s. Unified under the program name, The Bridge, special projects and programs are offered three weeks out of four to this critical demographic for the future of our church.
• Joan Bedell, upon returning from working three months in an orphanage for children with AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya, assumes the mantle of Rector’s Warden, the first woman in Christ Church’s 313-year history to hold the office.
• Our Youth program for grades 6 and above expands, and we now have an enhanced musical program for children under the care of Marzena Gulessarian.
• Ten parishioners complete a week of intense construction and direct social service work in New Orleans in the “Mission to the Gulf Coast.”
• The Pew Charitable Trusts issues what is considered an impossible challenge: complete by March 31 $2 million of secured payments and pledges to the historic preservation of the exterior and interior of Christ Church, and to the installation of its first interior fire suppression system, and Pew will contribute $500,000. A heroic effort of parishioners, Trust Board, community foundations, government agencies and Philadelphia businesses meet the deadline. Scaffolding is erected in April, and as of this annual meeting, the interior project is approaching completion, which will finish the most comprehensive preservation of Christ Church in generations, on time and on budget. In 2007, Christ Church’s multi-year, $10 million Capital Campaign for the church, Neighborhood House, and historic Burial Ground passes the $6 million mark, and the parish reaches its $2 million goal.
• The LGBT fellowship counts 18 members dedicated to service to Christ Church and to the witness of the power of God’s ministry of full inclusion in our midst.
• 26 baptisms, 15 confirmation and 49 new members.
• The First Friday Concert Series completes its thirteenth season, welcoming an international diversity of artists from concert organists to choirs to string ensembles.
• 167,000 guests visit Christ Church, and 88,000 visit the Burial Ground.
• Seventy five guests from our neighborhood who have no regular place to eat or live join our Wednesday in August Worship and BBQ, and each week there is enough food contributed to feed the unexpected multitude.
And that’s just a partial list. Read in the pages that follow of all the faithful and fruitful ministry that the people of Christ Church make possible.
All of us work together to realize the work given to secure God’s Kingdom in this unique branch of the Church. We are all served by a strong, wise Vestry. We pray for those who join this group of servants and give thanks for the gifts received from our retiring members, John DiPaolo, Pam Allingham, Marcy Hasbrouck, and Helen Niedermayer.
I want you to know that what is contained in this impressive report is not my work, but the work of God’s providence in our midst, executed through the careful ministry of the finest clergy colleagues with whom I have ever served. We all give thanks for ministry of our vicar, Carol Anthony, and our assistant minister, Susan Richardson who have brought to fruition much of the accomplishments on the list above. Each day, I look forward to the joy of working together. Palmer Hartl, as a volunteer priest and guiding board member of our Preservation Trust, and my own touchstone for guiding this parish, is so generous with his time and talents. The entire staff of Christ Church and the Christ Church Preservation Trust work long hours in less than ideal conditions for salaries lower than they would command in the secular workplace. On behalf of us all, I give them our deepest thanks and give thanks to God for them: John Binsfeld, Wayne West, Cecilia Wagner, Jeanne Stuardi, Leza Kramarenko, Donald Smith, Neil Ronk, John Hopkins, Anne McLaughlin, Jessica Schane, and 30 part-time and seasonal choir members, tour guides, nursery workers and custodial staff that join us through the year.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Timothy Browning Safford
Nineteenth Rector of Christ Church, Philadelphia
THE REPORT OF THE RECTOR’S WARDEN
I said to the man who stood
at the gate of the years
Give me light, that I may tread
safely into the unknown.
And he replied:
Go out into the darkness and put
your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light
and safer than the known way.
I don’t know the source of those words, but they seem to speak to where we, the Christ Church community of faith, find ourselves on our journey.
I think that Tim Safford’s ministry is gradually teaching us to trust God more and more…..to step into what God is imagining for us…that the Holy Spirit is calling us to be open to what lies ahead! Our other clergy, Carol Anthony, Susan Richardson, Palmer Hartl, call us forward, from their own special perspectives, to seek God and God’s will. But I’m going to risk taking a quick look back to this time last year, just for a moment.
In February 2007, our rector sensed that Christ Church was called to be, more fully, a place of intentional Christian practice and spiritual formation, with a growing study of scripture and a deeper and wider prayer life. And he pictured our church as a place of welcome to strangers, a place of healing and increasing witness to the faith. Should we ask ourselves if we, the people in the pews, have lived into this vision? Are we truly a people who seek God?
For anyone who climbed the external scaffolding this summer, I wonder if it is possible to capture in words the thrilling realization in our taken step of faith. Here was clear evidence of the daring task of preserving the beautiful building that continues to draw people to God and shelter our witness. Who would have thought that the internal scaffolding that now shapes our worship space could shape us as well? We move away from the expected and the usual, sitting closer together, experiencing and healing each other in new ways. Great courage has been given to us to repair and try to rethink Neighborhood House, the place that is bursting at the seams in supporting nourishment for our own and our children’s faith journeys and sustaining outreach to others.
We found a quiet confidence in Christ as we discerned with Tim, who was a nominee for bishop, a possible change in his calling. What joyous affirmation we felt for Tim and his family to continue with Christ Church on our shared path of spiritual growth! With the assistance of our church’s faithful and talented committees and staff, we actively pray, study and strive to be faithful stewards of God’s many gifts to us. Those who shared in the Lenten series and in the Disciples of Christ in Community course have become especially aware of the joy of deep Christian friendship and community love. And indeed we have an exciting time ahead with a project of full congregational involvement in the focus of our rector’s sabbatical, scheduled for this summer of 2008, to the Galapagos Islands and into the mind and faith of Charles Darwin.
From where Christ Church has been this past year, we can understand the meaning of stepping out into the unknown; for where we have to go, let us heed the message of finding the true way forward.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Bedell
ACCOUNTING WARDEN’S REPORT
Finance Committee Members: Tom Suddath - Chair, Nancy Allen, Harvey Bartle, Walker Brown, Ken Frantz, Ayo Gansallo, Tim Safford, James Timberlake, Richard Waldo, and Wayne West
We are in the midst of an exciting and dynamic time at Christ Church. As the scaffolding inside and outside the church reflects, there are many positive signs of growth and strength in our church. The DOCC program, the children’s music program, our missions to New Orleans, and the growing Bridge program are a few of the new offerings that have enriched our parish life. Our membership and weekly attendance continues to grow. As we began to implement the Vestry’s growth strategy by adding additional clergy and expanding our parish programs, our expenses this year increased accordingly. These additional programming costs represent sound investments in the spiritual life and the future of our congregation.
The increased cost has been covered by increased pledges, drawing upon our reserves, and a temporary increase in our endowment draw from 4.5% to 7%. We have also begun a “Replacement Reserve” fund which will allow for a more orderly spending on capital improvements and property repairs. Our talented and dedicated staff continues to monitor our costs closely in order to maximize the prudent use of our financial resources and to maintain a balanced budget.
We have had our most successful Stewardship campaign this year with an expected total of in excess of $400,000. We are blessed by this generosity of our congregation which allows us to continue our growth in parish programs and outreach.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Suddath, Accounting Warden
Financial Statements are at the end of this report.
ACOLYTE REPORT
Acolytes play an important role in our worship, assisting clergy and helping bring focus and movement to worship. Under the leadership of the Rev. Susan Richardson, this year our seasoned teen acolytes continued to strengthen and lead, while we introduced and trained a new group of younger acolytes, with several of our younger ones from last year moving to new levels of responsibility. Acolytes, as well as their parents, have done an excellent job of carrying out this visible ministry with dedication and reliability. We welcome new members. If you are interested in becoming an acolyte, helping as a coordinator or as a parent helper, please contact the Rev. Susan Richardson.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Susan Richardson
ALTAR FLOWER GUILD REPORT
We are grateful to the many members of the congregation who generously donate memorial flowers at Christmas, Easter and throughout the year. You make it possible for the joy the members of the Altar Guild feel in our flower ministry at Christ Church. Arranging the flowers for the wedding of our member Anee Lee to Audun Haglo was a high point of our year. For the first time, we also had a joint luncheon meeting with the Hospitality Committee in June to celebrate the commitment and contribution of our members. Lastly, we miss Anee Lee Haglo who moved to Norway this fall.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Bodine, chair; Jen Miller, Sherry Johnson, Sandy Karger, Helen Niedermayer, Angela Sabol, Jane Frantz, Kären Kaiser Falone, Enny Cramer, Tobi Walker, Carol Hauptfuhrer, B. J. Heppenstall, Cecilia Wagner
ALTAR GUILD REPORT
Over the past year the Altar Guild has continued to remain steady in our membership. We are happy to welcome Annita Stirba to join our long time members – Joan Bedell, Don Bentley, Eleanor Bravo, Eugene Frohlich, Eleanor Hall, Marcy Hasbrouck, Jennifer Miller, Julia Bergmann, Jill Rawnsley, Michael Giansiracusa, Rhona Merrill and Bill Meyers. The Guild continues to be mindful and dedicated to the work of preparing our church for services not only within the church walls but also in our church community. We are excited to be introducing more streamlined approaches to everything from weekly schedules to management of replacements, additions and ordering that can take place on a weekly or monthly schedule.
Our group of dedicated and respectful members continues to contribute to the beauty of our worship of God.
However, we are sad to report that this year the Altar Guild lost a lifetime member of over 50 years – Jean Frohlich. Jean was a dedicated member of the church who served quietly and faithfully. She served Christ through her work on the Altar Guild with love and devotion. She often joked that the sacristy was her “hangout”. Jean with her sister Dot, loyally and faithfully prepared the church for worship, as it continues today. Her life was a testament to giving without expectation, serving because she loved to serve. We are blessed and grateful to have had such a devoted example to follow. Her memory will be kept alive in all the beautiful moments of care and preparation for our services now and in all the years to come.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Miller and Julia Bergmann – Co-chairs
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY
Children, Youth, and Family Committee
The main purpose of the Children, Youth, and Family Committee is to help lead and support, along with clergy and staff, the Christian formation of children, youth, and households in the parish. In 2007, we continued to see significant growth in the programs and in the number of children and families who participated in the nursery, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium I (ages 4-6) and Atrium II (ages 7-10), Children’s Music (combined Atriums), Youth Group (ages 11-17), Family Eucharist, and programs for parents, including the Faith and Family series and Parents’ Night Out.
The highlights of the committee’s work last year include:
Children
• the consolidation of Atrium II hours to 10:10-10:50, to better enhance the 7-10 year old children’s sense of community.
• hiring Marzena Gulessarian as our new children’s music teacher, going more deeply into musical instruction and liturgical formation and having the children sing in the Children’s Sabbath service and the 5:00 Family Christmas service
• Leza Kremarenko’s completion of training in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Teri Ruiz and Leza continued to cultivate and maintain excellent and consistent caregivers in the nursery
Youth
• building on the youth group begun in Fall 06, we expanded our youth program to include more regular meetings twice a month on Sunday mornings and the Journey to Adulthood curriculum. Working with Susan, our seminarian, Christoph Schmidt, has led the group, along with Alice Hershey and Chris Alvarez.
Parents
• continuation of the Parents’ Night Out program, when caregiving is provided while parents get together for dinner
• expanding the Faith and Family series, including the fall series on “Margins,” which welcomed a speaker and allowed for small-group discussion for parents and caregivers
Families
• creating outreach opportunities for families, including children, at St. Barnabas Mission; Valentine’s Day party in February, and cookout in May.
• expanding the Children’s Sabbath to include an afternoon program, Families at Christ Church, which gave children a chance to learn more about Christ Church, parents a chance for fellowship and learning about the children’s programs, and a family “History Hunt” at the burial ground.
Many thanks to the ongoing participation of all of the families and committee members.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Frantz and the Rev. Susan Richardson
DEANERY DELEGATES
What is the Southwark Deanery? A number of people have asked this question. Therefore, as we turn over our Christ Church representation to new delegates, we offer this description of the structure and the recent work of the Southwark Deanery.
Our Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania includes the area of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties and encompasses over 150 parishes. In order to assure broad participation by both laypersons and clergy in the governance and work of the Diocese, the parishes are grouped geographically into 11 deaneries. Each parish in a deanery elects delegates, who join with their clergy in attending deanery meetings to discuss issues that are specific to the particular deanery. In addition, the deanery is the forum for matters carried forward from the previous annual Diocesan Convention as well as those to come before the next convention. Each deanery elects one of its clergy to serve as Dean, and also elects representatives to serve on Diocesan Council, which is the body that assists the Bishop in oversight of diocesan programs between conventions. Given this structure, it is logical that each parish is encouraged to select the same persons to represent the congregation as its deanery delegates and to share with their clergy and designated vestryperson(s) as deputies to Diocesan Convention.
Christ Church is one of 15 congregations that make up the Southwark Deanery. The Rev. Ledlie Laughlin, St. Peter’s at 3rd and Pine, completed his service as Dean in 2007. Subsequently, the Rector of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) was elected as the next Dean of Southwark Deanery, The Very Reverend Joy Segal. For many years our faithful delegate to the Southwark Deanery has been Stephen Mihalek, long time Christ Church member and Verger. He has been joined in recent years by Joan Bedell.
A brief description of recent Southwark Deanery discussions would include the current progress regarding the resolution that was passed at the November 2007 Diocesan Convention calling for the immediate convening of a Property Sub-Committee to explore all possible uses of the Diocesan Youth and Conference property known as Wapiti. A report is to be delivered to Diocesan Finance and Property Committee, Diocesan Council and the Standing Committee by May 31, 2008. A representative from each deanery has been elected to this short term sub-committee. On matters related to our own Deanery, an initiative is underway to create a directory listing the social services available in each church, with ongoing email updates, in order to improve information sharing of local social services.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Mihalek and Joan Bedell, Deanery Representatives 2007
THE CHRIST CHURCH GARDEN COMMITTEE
Committee Co-Chairs: Jean Bodine, Paul Pickering and George Niedermayer
The garden committee is primarily responsible for the North Garden and the horticultural elements surrounding the main church building. Our goal is to provide pleasing natural elements for our parishioners to enjoy during fellowship before and after church events. We also strive to provide a natural resource for people in our neighborhood as we are located in a section of Philadelphia that has very limited public outdoor space. In addition to routine maintenance, we have begun work with a landscape architect to develop a long term plan to provide perennial beauty in our space. In the spring, we are planning to move forward in this direction with the planting of several new trees, which represent the first permanent plantings in our garden in many years. We are blessed with a wonderful regular core of hard working volunteers but on each garden day, someone new usually shows up and joins our ministry. We meet on the second Saturday of each month in the warm weather months and notices of our work days can be found in the Sunday service bulletins. We welcome anyone who cares to spend time with us for as little or as long as you like.
Respectfully submitted,
George Niedermayer
HOSPITALITY AT CHRIST CHURCH
A Ministry of Hospitality
The Hospitality Committee is committed to welcoming newcomers as well as members, visitors and prospective new members to Christ Church. Refreshments after the 11:00am services, annual meetings and other special occasions are provided by committee members, who have an opportunity to add their own special touches to the hospitality table. As the number of attendees has increased significantly, this ministry has become even more important in reaching out to both parishioners and visitors alike. We are very grateful for the dedication of our volunteers and their help in this vital ministry.
Respectfully submitted,
Helen Niedermayer and Angela Sabol
LGBT FELLOWSHIP
Continuing our tradition of inclusion, Christ Church embarked on the formation of a regular gathering of LGBT persons in our community in 2007. With a core group of 18 people, we have spent time together sharing a potluck dinner or Sunday brunch; bowling for fun while raising funds for a local health care organization; serving supper for the community at the August Mid-Week Eucharist; flipping pancakes at the Shrove Tuesday Mardi Gras Celebration; sharing with other Christ Church families a rousing evening of bingo and BBQ; buying gifts for families and kids in the Advent Angel Tree Project; and rehabbing a house in New Orleans. We usher, ring the bells, sing in the choir, serve at communion, read lessons, volunteer in the gift shop, and share our gifts and talents throughout our faith community. By claiming the witness of LGBT persons in our midst, Christ Church, Philadelphia offers a genuine expression of freedom and welcome to the greater community of the possibilities of a living faith in the body of Christ.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Oakes and Carol Anthony
LIFE AT CHRIST CHURCH CLASSES
This class for newcomers meets three times a year and continues to be a helpful and exciting way for people from every place on the journey of faith to come together over a meal and hear about the history, faith, and practice of Christianity, the Episcopal Church, and the larger Anglican Communion. It is also an important way for people to learn about Christ Church, the clergy who serve here, and how to find their way to participating in one of the many ministries this community offers to the larger community of Philadelphia. If you are interested in learning more about the next Life at Christ Church class, please contact Cecilia Wagner at cwagner@christchurchphila.org, or 215.922.1695, ext. 21.
MUSIC MINISTRIES
Christ Church Choir
Two seasons ago we began a new choral program which has proved to be successful, in three forms: A quartet of paid singers supports our choral music at the earlier of our weekly liturgies on Sundays. They are joined by four more to compose the octet for the later liturgy after a joint rehearsal between worship Services each week.
The parish volunteer choristers rehearse weekly on Saturdays, 9:00 A.M. until 10:30 A.M.., prior to all major choral events through the season. During these periods of work, they also rehearse along with our octet after the later Services on Sundays. This program allows us the privilege of supporting eight paid singers weekly in addition to our own parish volunteers, as the requirements involve only one weekly trip for both rehearsing as well as performing.
Finally, since there is no demand for the performance of parish members who volunteer to become part of the Christ Church Choir every week, it makes it more attractive to our parish members who wish to serve, and wish to enjoy the marvelous experience of music in worship, but do not have the time to commit to weekly responsibilities through the year.
It is a new concept and it is different, but it is working well and seems to answer our own unique situation of stewardship and service coupled with an approach of hiring professional singers as core to the possibilities of excellence in a choral program. We have a total of fifteen singers for our major worship festivals throughout the fall and spring season, and we invite, as part of this new program, any in our faith community who have the training to come and join us!
The Bell Guild
Paul Yaros coordinates the Guild and the calendar of ringers through the year. Our group of ringers is growing still, and there is always the prospect of more volunteers in this wonderful and unique outreach program using the music of our hymns before and after almost all our worship Services through the year. Each year the group plans master classes with Douglas Gefvert, carilloneur of Valley Forge, particularly one on-site each season to introduce the newest volunteers.
First Friday Concert Series
This concert series has been presenting free concerts of organ music, choral music, and instrumental music for more than ten years. Within the parish family we particularly thank the constant generosity of our own Joel Mynders, Caral and Leonard Parris, Donald Bentley, Jude and Joseph Hetrick, Marcy and Allen Hasbrouck, Kate Hall, Paul Yaros and Craig Murray, Heidi and Larry Becker, Patricia Hagge and the Frantz Family for their continued support to make these concerts happen. This series is not part of our parish budget. It is not funded by any outside source, and it can continue only if enough o donors help. If you wish to help in this unique source of outreach into the community, get more information from John Binsfeld or Cecilia Wagner.
Respectfully submitted,
John Binsfeld, Organist and Choirmaster
OUTREACH, PEACE, AND JUSTICE REPORT
The Outreach Committee realized in 2007 that its scope and range of work was expanding and becoming more interconnected with the outreach involvements of the entire Christ Church community. Where once there was a central task force to determine and implement specific annual outreach initiatives, the energy for outreach now emerges within our family of faith, as individuals and groups respond to the liturgical statement, “The worship has ended; the service begins.”
Peace and justice are essential components of outreach, therefore we name those concepts in the Committee’s ongoing ten-year commitment, 2000-2010, to efforts that address problems stemming from the central underlying issue of poverty in all its forms and ramifications. We are thankful for the wonderful diversity in Christian service over 2007, which has been visible in Children, Youth and Family; The Bridge; clergy; committee and individual ministries and involvement. That peace, justice and advocacy have become the work of the people, not limited to a committee, is a great blessing of God.
The core Outreach, Peace and Justice Committee, Jean Bodine, Wayne Christman, Enny Cramer, Ruth Haines, Marcy Hasbrouck, Dexter Lanctot, Caral Parris, Lila Vail, Joan Bedell as Chair and the Rev. Carol Anthony as Clergy Member, continues to carry out specific projects. St. Mary’s Sandwiches, Episcopal Relief and Development Fair Trade coffee/tea, Episcopal Community Service Fast Family support, Angel Tree are still exciting and crucial outreach work of the Committee and parish volunteers. We are striving to nourish the establishment of an Episcopal Peace Fellowship chapter at Christ Church. We are responding to the leadership of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in study and consideration of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The Committee pledges ongoing interest and support in the efforts of our parish to carry worship beyond the walls of Christ Church.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Bedell
PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY
The Pastoral Care Committee at Christ Episcopal Church coordinates the Parish Visitors, a lay ministry to parishioners who are seniors, injured, ill, disabled, or otherwise unable to participate fully in the parish community. Twice each year, at Christmas and Easter, the Committee arranges for Altar Flower Delivery to parishioners who have been unable to attend these festive services. The Committee also offers a Eucharistic Visitor ministry that complements the work of the clergy by once a month taking the Eucharist to parishioners unable to attend one of the primary Sunday services. The number of Eucharistic Visitor teams grew from two to four during the past year and the number of recipients served by the ministry more than doubled. Persons interested in participating in any of the activities sponsored by this group are encouraged to contact the Committee Co-chairs or the Reverend Carol Anthony.
Respectfully submitted,
Kay and Tom Keagy, co-chairs
PLANNED GIVING COMMITTEE
Planned giving is the term describing gifts that are planned during our earthly lives and realized by the church when we enter our eternal lives, generally through bequests in wills and naming the church as an insurance beneficiary.
The Planned Giving Committee continues to work to establish the Mary Andrews Legacy Society.
The society will gather periodically through the year to:
• discuss plans for ensuring the future financial wellbeing of the church
• witness the importance of planning to the participants
• celebrate the planners whose gifts have been realized as they enter their eternal lives
The society is named for Mrs. Mary Andrews because she left the first known bequest to Christ Church. One of the Christ Church’s earliest members, she was born in 1683, and lived a long life for her time. She is buried at the back of the center aisle of the church by the pew she shared with Benjamin Franklin and his wife.
When she died in 1761, she left instructions in her will that part of her estate be used to construct a pulpit for Christ Church and for the annual purchase and distribution of bread to the poor. Her gifts have endured for nearly 250 years. The pulpit is still in use today. The funds for the bread helped establish an endowment that has continued since that time and currently supports outreach programs, aid, and services to individuals and families in need.
Participate in the society by letting us know that you have included Christ Church in your will or other estate plans.
Committee members are Walker Brown, Gordon Leggett, Frank McBride and Tom Suddath. Let us know if you’re interested in working with us.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Frantz, chair
THE CHRIST CHURCH PRESERVATION TRUST
Founded in 1965, the Christ Church Preservation Trust’s mission is the maintenance and preservation of the historic Christ Church buildings and burial ground. The Trust has a separate 501(c)(3) tax status which allows it to raise money for preservation in the community. It has a separate board of directors, of which 50% or more are not members of Christ Church.
In 2007, the Trust had two major programs:
The $10 million Campaign for Christ Church
The Tourism Program
The staff of the Trust grew to include:
John Hopkins – Coordinator of the Burial Ground
Anne McLaughlin – Director of Tourism
Neil Ronk – Historian and Head Guide
Carol Smith – Archival Consultant
Donald Smith – Executive Director
Many part-time volunteer and paid guides
The Campaign for Christ Church
The capital campaign grew significantly in 2007, raising more than $2.3 million in new campaign gifts. Overall, we have raised $5.6 million toward our goal of $10 million. Of these contributions, $2.1 million has come from the parishioners of Christ Church.
At an event in February 2007, the Trust announced two major challenge grants for the preservation of the church: $500,000 from the Pew Charitable Trusts and $350,000 from Save America’s Treasures (National Park Service). These grants were announced by Sen. Arlen Specter and Rebecca Rimel, President of the Pew Charitable Trusts. The goal was raising $2.5 million for church preservation – a goal that was achieved by March 31, 2007.
This work began on the church in summer 2007, with the exterior preservation work completed in December. Work to install fire safety systems throughout the interior started in October and will be completed in March 2008.
As Don Smith announced at the February event, “we need to undertake this level of commitment every 100 years.”
Other campaign projects undertaken in 2007 include:
• Started the architectural plans for re-purposing Neighborhood House
• Cataloged the Church archives and post the information on internet with a new website
• Started the installation of 3-Phase electrical service to serve Neighborhood House (for the eventual elevator) and the fire pump in the church
• Undertook structural work on the roof and upper portions of Neighborhood House.
Tourism
There were 255,000 visitors (167,000 at the church and 88,000 at the burial ground), a 13% increase over 2006. Total income from tourism increased 21%, to $390,000. The surplus from tourism operations will be used for maintenance and preservation through the Replacement Reserve Fund.
New tourism programs in 2007 included:
• Built on the theme for 2007: “Revolutionary Women”
• Expanded “Signers Day” to be held every July 3, including a play depicting the Rev. Jacob Duché crossing out the prayer to King George
In addition, the Trust held a gala event in April honoring one of its original founders, Isadore Scott, with the Robert Smith Award.
Under the able guidance of the Board of Directors (Jeffrey Scott, Chair, James Timberlake, Vice Chair, David Auten, Secretary and Charles Landreth, Treasurer), the Trust is working closely with the Vestry and parishioners to maintain and preserve the historic Christ Church buildings and Burial Ground.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald U. Smith, Executive Director of the Trust
Financial Statements are at the end of this report.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
Committee Chairs: Marcy Hasbrouck, Andrew Phillips; Members: Bruce Gill, Davis Haines, Allan Hasbrouck, George Niedermayer, Paul Pickering, Dave O’Connell, Tim Safford, Don Smith, Wayne West
Our efforts in 2007 were focused primarily on the Church renovations and complex issues of Neighborhood House renovations. Working even more closely with Christ Church Preservaton Trust, the Reserve Fund Committee began its work of identifying and building up capital funding for future capital maintenance that supports preservation of the Church, Neighborhood House, the Burial Ground and Washburn House. Many of our projects are invisible, behind-the scenes efforts, such as the installaton of a digital audio recorder in the Church which will enable the staff to put sermons on our website. Others are much more apparent and publicly visible, including the dramatic (and energy saving) exterior Church lighting, and repair of deteriorating Burial Ground vaults as chronicled in the Inquirer. Currently and looking forward, a new roof on Neighborhood House nears completion as renovations are being planned, and a master plan for Church landscaping is being developed.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcy Hasbrouck and Andrew Phillips
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT
This past stewardship season we emphasized a “let’s get together” theme and celebrated on November 11, 2007 with one worship service followed by food and fellowship in the Great Hall. We also set an aggressive target of $487,000 in pledges and are well on our way to meeting this goal!
To date:
171 individuals and families have pledged $380,842 for the year 2008
36 are new pledges, totaling $39,895
135 individuals and families have renewed their pledges in the amount of $340,947
The average giving unit is $2,227
We are 78% of the way to our goal of $487,000
The Stewardship committee would like to thank the members of Christ Church for their generous response to the Stewardship Campaign for 2008 Your thoughtful and generous commitments will enable Christ Church to maintain and expand its ministry and programs within our parish as we grow in numbers and as the needs of our neighborhood, city and world at large continue to grow.
The Committee and Vestry members canvassed parishioners during the fall campaign, believing that this effort is a contributing factor to a successful campaign. We hope to continue to expand the canvassing to include all parishoners in the future.
The Stewardship efforts of Christ Church make three distinct requests: a yearly pledge, a capital gift once every seven years and a planned or estate gift at the end of life. The Planned and Estate Gifts go to the endowment.
Respectively submitted,
The Stewardship Committee
Ken Frantz, chair
20’S AND 30’S – THE BRIDGE
The year 2007 saw the 20s/30s ministry grow to a new level. During winter and spring, the group continued to meet monthly for potluck meals; the Spirituality Group met irregularly, looking at the topic of forgiveness, and faith/workplace questions. The 20s/30s group began to sponsor more outreach meals to the homeless at the shelter at Old First Reformed church, drawing in other Christ Church parishioners. In late spring, it was announced that the Christ Church 20s/30s group had received a grant from Trinity Wall Street for spiritual formation and growth with this crucial demographic.
Over the summer, the group changed its name to the Bridge, to capture its intentions of bridging tradition and creativity, and those who feel inside and outside of church, and to be welcoming to people of all ages. The group became more regular in monthly outreach meals (during summer months, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church), coordinated by Bridge member Anne Koerner.
Fall 2007 saw a new level of activity within the group, including: a 20s/30s DOCC group of some 10 participants, run by trained facilitators in that age range, Henry Vega and Julia Bergmann; semi-monthly meetings of the Spirituality Group, studying the Gospel of Matthew; regular monthly shelter meals coordinated by Anne Koerner, Joey McAteer, and Nick DiPatri that have been very successful both in engaging new seekers from the church and in serving a special meal to the men; and regular monthly potluck meals for the Bridge community in Neighborhood House. Further, the group initiated an alternative worship service in the Great Hall once a month on Sunday evenings, allowing for more liturgical, musical, and aesthetic flexibility. The group also initiated its own additional outreach project at Christmas, creating Christmas stockings with basic toiletries for the men at the homeless shelter. Lastly, partly in conjunction with the Bridge emergent ministry, we have planned a diocesan-wide conference at Christ Church in April, on Radical Welcome.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Susan Richardson
VESTRY NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Committee Chair: Joan Bedell. Members: Julia Bergmann, Eugene Frohlich, Marcy Hasbrouck, Kate Hall, Helen Niedermayer, Dan Pohlig, Paul Yaros, Cecilia Wagner.
Christ Church is fortunate in having so many talented people who are faithful in worship and who participate fully in the life of the church. The work of the church could not continue without the expertise and time commitment of the many individuals, committees and work groups who make Christ Church the vibrant, forward thinking and inclusive worship community it is today. This year over twenty excellent candidates were considered for nomination. The Committee continued the practice from previous years of seeking to maintain a vestry which is balanced in gender, age, worship service preference, area of residence and interests and abilities.
The Nominating Committee proposes the following people:
Vestry Four Year Term
Wayne Christman
Charles Moleski
Kathryn Palski
Delegates to the Southwark Deanery
Alyssa Rickels
Paul Yaros
Delegates to Diocesan Convention 2008
Alyssa Rickels
Thomas Suddath
Paul Yaros
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Bedell
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