Annual Meeting
On Sunday, January 24, at 10:00 a.m., we will conduct the Annual Meeting of our parish. This is the moment when the Rector, Treasurer, and other individuals present reports on the health of our church. It is also the time when the parish officially elects four new members of the vestry. Although the official business of the parish is our stated purpose for gathering, normally we also enjoy seeing each other, eating a fabulous cooked breakfast, and renewing our connections with the larger parish. This year, however, as we gather virtually instead of in person, all of that will be more difficult.
The canons of the church do not anticipate a virtual assembly, but this will not be the first time in the pandemic when we have had to figure out how to “do church” under strange circumstances. Technically, for the Annual Meeting, a quorum is defined as whoever is present, which in most years is meant to be a gesture of convenience. This time, though, one wonders whether “present” is limited to those physically in the building or gathered virtually. Just to be safe, the Treasurer plans to join me in the Parish Hall. Everyone else is encouraged to join us through a Zoom webinar, the link to which you can find here.
At St. Paul’s, we do the harder work of selecting our new vestry members in the weeks leading up to the Annual Meeting. In successive weeks, we use ballots to reduce the number of nominees to the four who have been chosen by a majority of those who vote. Technically, though, those four nominees will be presented at the Annual Meeting for their official election. There will be a moment near the beginning of the meeting when I ask if there are any other nominees. Just as in every year, I anticipate there to be a negative response, but I must admit that I have spent some time wondering how in the world we would find a way to count votes if needed. In the Parish Hall, we could ask those gathered to raise hands or even pass out paper ballots, but a virtual meeting makes that more complicated. Hopefully, it will not be an issue, but, if it is, we will provide a virtual remedy.
Except for being able to participate from home in your pajamas, the easiest part of meeting virtually will the presentation of reports. I find it helpful to see a graph or spreadsheet on a computer screen while someone is talking about it. We will be able to show you all the pretty images and fine detail of our finances. You will be able to hear me describe what 2020 has been like for our parish. You will be able to ask questions and hear our responses. But, to me, the greatest loss will be not being able to see and hear each other do that.
In a parish our size, we naturally coalesce into social groups that reflect the different ways we engage the life of St. Paul’s. Those who go to the smaller and quieter early service get to know each other over the years. Parents of the children and youth who sing at the middle service recognize each other both from worship and from choir practice. Those who participate in a Bible study or a prayer group develop close ties. Those who serve side by side on the Altar Guild or Flower Guild or as an usher know each other well. The Annual Meeting is one of the few moments of the year when we all come together from across all the different groups to see each other and focus collectively on one thing—the church that we all call home. This year, we are able to assemble virtually, but admittedly it will not be the same. When we are able to come back to church, we will need some opportunities to be together like that.
Without a doubt, this year has been strange, and the Annual Meeting will be no different. I hope you will participate. I hope you will listen to the reports and ask good, probing questions. I hope you will say a loud “aye” when it is time to elect the vestry. I hope you will hear all the ways that the people of St. Paul’s continue to do the good and holy work of celebrating, exploring, and sharing God’s love with the world. At least in that way, nothing has changed.
Yours Faithfully,
Evan