Saint John's 2019 Vestry
Terry Farrelly
Treasurer Pamela Brittain Ray Contreras Diane Gustafson Mark Jordan Jim McDevitt Judy McKay Lynn Young Meet Your Vestry
Every two weeks we will interview one of the Vestry members in this new column, "Meet Your Vestry".
This week the spotlight is on Diane Gustafson. Diane is a retired college (Southwestern) librarian and professor of research skills. She and Bill were members of St. John's from 1980 to 1983, went away for awhile, and came back in 2005. Besides Vestry, Diane is active in the Women of St. John's and is a lector at Sunday services. How long have you been on the Vestry? Diane: Two years of someone's unexpired term, during which time I served as Clerk. I couldn't immediately run again for Vestry so I stayed on as Clerk for another year, and in January 2019 began my own three-year term. How did you become interested in Vestry? Bill was on the Vestry in the early 1980s, and I always intended to apply once I retired. I liked the idea of helping to guide the church. What aspect(s) do you like best about serving on the Vestry? I like being Clerk. It gives me a chance to use the shorthand I learned in high school sixty years ago. I like learning how decisions are made. And I love working with this great group of people. Has anything surprised you about being on the Vestry? Yes. If you look at the spiritual gifts of the members, you will see that God has brought us together so that every spiritual gift is represented by one or more members. The other thing that surprises me is that our votes are almost always unanimous, but that doesn't mean there isn't disagreement. When there is, we discuss the issues, the pros and cons, and often amend the motion so that everyone is satisfied. How much time does Vestry take? We usually meet once, on the fourth Wednesday of the month, from 6 to 8 p.m. As leaders of the parish, we all volunteer to help when needed. My position as Clerk takes longer because of transcribing my notes, posting minutes, and keeping the Vestry Binder in the Church Office up-to-date. Do you have any advice for someone considering Vestry? Yes. Come to one or more of our meetings and see for yourself. Pray about it. And if God calls you to serve, be assured that it will be one of the most gratifying experiences you will ever have. Recent Vestry MinutesStay up to date with the latest happenings within the Saint John's Vestry by reviewing the monthly minutes.
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