Each existing ministry has a convener and committee members. In some cases, a Vestry member is already on a committee and may thus become the liaison to the Vestry for that committee for the year. Depending on the ministry, the conveners may be clergy, staff, or parishioners. 

 

The ministry teams for which there is a Vestry liaison include Adult Education, Children and Families, Church of the Advocate, Communications, Congregational Development, Facilities, Finance, Investments, Parish Life, Pastoral Care, Stewardship, Worship, and Youth. This list, with the number of people involved, the amount of planning, and the amazing results, is truly astounding and a further testament to Trinity's exciting and dynamic environment. Some Vestry members are eager to participate on more than one team,  as Senior Warden, I had the opportunity to serve on both the Finance and Investments teams. I also met monthly with the Pastoral Care Committee and have joyfully experienced that group's love and concern for fellow parishioners.

 

At the retreat, we spent time in small groups identifying Vestry's goals for the year and then discussing the proposals with the larger group. The desired outcome is to identify three main areas of focus for the year while also dealing with  contingencies (such as a hurricane) that arise throughout the year. Following the retreat, we worked to distill all of the discussion into three focused, manageable goals. The areas identified were (1) Facilities and Parking, (2) Community and Spirituality, and (3) Outreach. Each Vestry member chose one of the three goals to work on throughout the year, and small group meetings occurred regularly, with monthly reports sent to the full Vestry. Progress has been made. 

 

This report would become much too long if I reviewed all of the work, but it will be ongoing. The theme of all-parish fellowship and gathering is a constant goal, as are more accessible parish events, messaging, and communication. 

 

Maintaining our beautiful, sacred buildings and grounds will always be a priority. A survey initiated by the parking subcommittee indicated that parishioners did not currently consider parking a current concern, however it will be a future one.

 

The purchase of the house and property at 75 Church Street was deliberated by the Vestry for months, actually starting in 2023. The original asking price was unreasonable, but from the outset, we agreed that owning the property, which is adjacent to Trinity Place, would be a wise investment for us. With the city of Asheville potentially planning to build apartments on space we currently use for parking and with the value of downtown property continuing to rise, we increased our offer, and the owner decreased her asking price, so a contract was initiated. We now own the property, known as the Trinity Annex, and we are discerning the most beneficial use of the building. Your Vestry was actively involved in this process and will continue to evaluate short and long-term options to maximize our investment.

 

A fun Vestry evening was a light dinner at the church with Bishop Jose when he visited Trinity in April. It’s customary for the Vestry to spend time with the Bishop during his annual visit. This was another opportunity for Vestry members to get to know one another better and an occasion to talk with our Bishop, mainly to hear some of his thoughts before the upcoming General Convention in June.

 

Hurricane Helene upended our world in Western North Carolina. It changed Trinity’s landscape and disrupted our day-to-day church life. Our clergy and staff suffered personal losses and disruption; however, after a week of damage assessment and personal adjustment, life at Trinity was restored with love and concern for all Parishioners and our community. The church building was made available for us despite the lack of water and telephone service, and worship was resumed almost immediately, both for our congregation and for All Souls Cathedral. Our clergy and staff called, texted, and networked in any way possible to check on us and determine who needed help. Scott kept the Vestry informed regularly of the many moving pieces and asked for input regarding maximizing support and relief efforts. We have experienced a true tragedy, but we are also experiencing the power of God leading us through the darkness and the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Finally, as I attempted to say above, I am overwhelmed by the love, dedication, and goodness of Trinity's clergy and staff. We are so blessed to be in this life with them, and, despite leaving the Vestry, I intend to maintain close relationships with them. And the same is true for my fellow Vestry members. Working closely with each of them has been a gift, and I will truly miss being a part of such a special group. Each of them unselfishly gives their time and energy because they love Trinity. 

 

I thank all Trinitarians for the honor of serving you.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Nancy Dexter, Senior Warden, 2024