Leadership
The Vestry is the governing and decision-making body of an Episcopal church, consisting of elected lay representatives. But who are these people? Vestry members must be “Voting Members,” which means they are official members at Holy Comforter, confirmed, 16 or older, and faithful in attending worship, and in giving of their time, talent and treasure.
But that’s just the official stuff. Vestry members are people who love God, the church, and this faith community that is Holy Comforter. People with a diversity of spiritual gifts and practical skills who feel called to offer themselves for service and are able to commit their time and effort to this community.
As to what they do, Vestry members have responsibility for the financial condition and physical assets of the Parish. They approve the annual operating budget and oversee the hiring and compensation of the Rector. They are also ambassadors for Holy Comforter with visitors and newcomers, identifiable by their Vestry badges on Sundays. They are a friendly presence eager to help all parishioners get connected or be heard. They advise the Rector on strategic planning for the parish’s overall well-being, spiritual as well as temporal.
Your 2021 Vestry members are:
Tom Fennimore - Senior Warden
Kathy Trotter - Junior Warden
Liz Weathers - Secretary
Jennifer Everhart, Ed Gash, Drew Kirkland, Nancy English Johnson, Arnoldo Marquez, Natalie Parker, Kelly Sewell, Susanne Shaw, John Snelsire
Recording Secretary - parishioner Penny Crawford
As for the Board of Trustees for the Foundation, they get to grant money!
As of December 20, 2017, the State of North Carolina approved the documents for merging the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Endowment into the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Foundation (The Foundation). Our Parish now has one Corporation entity, known as the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Foundation, Inc., that currently manages two funds, the Mission and Ministry Fund and the Building and Grounds Fund. Each fund is restricted in use to stated purposes reflected in its name. The Foundation accepts gifts which may be designated to either of these Funds, and gifts that are undesignated as to their use. Undesignated funds are placed in a separate fund that allows flexibility as to their use but always in support of the work and ministry of our parish. Your gifts of thanksgiving and/or remembrance provide a lasting resource to our work in the name of Christ in this community. Board members are always available to talk with you and answer any questions.
Your 2020 Foundation trustees are:
Allen Amos, Karen Crane, Brad Follett, Elsie Garfield, Jacqueline Howells, Pat Mynatt and Mitchell Wickham