April 2026 Vestry Digest
The Vestry is composed of 15 elected members of the church and several members who serve in an ex-officio capacity as Treasurers, Chancellors, and Recording Secretary. The Rector chairs the meetings, and the other clergy and staff participate.
Here are highlights of the April 2026 Vestry meeting:
- Transforming Lives Through “Getting Ahead” and “Thriving Families”: The church hosted a graduation ceremony and banquet dinner for Pontiac residents who completed the program “Getting Ahead” hosted by Christian Community Response Team (CCRT). The Mayor of Pontiac, Mike McGuinness, gave the keynote speech. The Vestry joined in the celebration with the families, sharing in the banquet meal. The Vestry also heard about the successes and challenges of the first year of the Thriving Families Program, a one-year program where three families receive financial support and dedicated care teams composed of members who companion with the families for the year. Looking forward, the church is exploring adding two more families to the program, which will involve forming new dedicated care teams of church members.
- Wayfinding Signs Update: Glynis Williams, Director of Communications, updated the Vestry on the status of the Wayfinding Signs Project. Staff members completed a walkthrough with Ideation Orange to review and improve all signage, including security and emergency signage. Additionally, the Communications Department is currently reviewing technology estimates for digital screens to complete the project’s implementation.
- Candidate for Ordination: The Vestry was delighted to provide congregational endorsement for Joe LaVela to become a priest.
- Strong Attendance for Holy Week and Easter: The Vestry received a report from the Rector about vibrant community engagement during Holy Week and Easter, continuing an upward trend in overall attendance. Notably, Palm Sunday 10 am saw 388 in-person attendees—the highest numbers the church has seen since pre-pandemic 2019. In total, almost 1,000 people attended across three Easter Day services, with an additional 365 joining digitally.
- Capital Campaigns Summary: The Vestry asked for a report on the Capital Campaigns. Between 2015 and 2026, various capital campaigns have raised more than $18.8M to improve the church’s infrastructure and create more usable space for the church’s mission and work. The Vestry discussed the possibility of the next capital campaign being focused on raising funds for the community’s needs, like affordable housing.
- March Treasurer’s Report: Although pledge payments fell short of expectations in February, a late-March reminder successfully brought parishioners back on track, pushing first-quarter pledge receipts ahead of any recent year. March generated a modest monthly surplus of $10,966, bringing the cumulative year-to-date surplus to $166,415—marking the church’s strongest first-quarter finish in several years and providing a financial cushion before the usual summer revenue slowdown. Overall expenses remained aligned with the budget.
