The Annual Parish Meeting today

I think it went pretty well. The 4 candidates to Vestry were unanimously elected, running unopposed. The financial reports and ministry reports were well received. A budget was passed for the coming year.

We had one resolution presented, to have the vestry investigate the situation in The Episcopal Church, and develop contingencies for Episcopal Oversight if our current situation changes. There was an hour long discussion. It became obvious that it is the mind of the parish that we are not happy with the theological direction of the National Episcopal Church, and the vestry should certainly be aware of the situation. But it was also the mind of many that a formal Annual Parish Meeting resolution would be a 'drawing a line in the sand' for which the parish did not want to do. A friendly amendment softened the wording, but in the end a supporter of the resolution suggested it be withdrawn by the petitioner since members of the vestry assured the assembled body that the situation would be investigated. So the person who submitted it withdrew the resolution to avoid the unhappy conundrum of voting yes and having it misconstrued as an action plan to leave the diocese, or a vote no being a vote against Traditional Anglican Faith and Practice.

Thank you to all for all the positive contributions to the discussion.