Message from President Leslie
It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to a close! I hope each of you has had some time for rest and rejuvenation. Many groups in the congregation have been quite busy, either with summer projects, or planning for the 2025-2026 year.
Many thanks to all who worked on the August Tag-less sale, proceeds to Friends of the Meetinghouse, and for those of you who will be helping with or contributing to the Welcome Center I-91 Fundraiser on Friday, September 12th with proceeds going to general operations. These fundraising events are helpful to our overall finances.
September and October will be exciting months for us. The Committee on Ministry is hosting two conversations on Calling our Settled Minister to be held Saturday, the 13th at 3 PM and again on Sunday, September 28th after the Worship Service. Please attend these conversations if you are able. On Sunday, October 5, at 11:45 AM, we will hold a Special Congregational Meeting for the purpose of Calling Our Minister. This is a significant meeting and an important event in the life of our congregation. Our quorum for this meeting is 50% of voting members. Please put this date on your calendar or arrange for a proxy by contacting Kay Curtis, Clerk ()
The Board has been busy and we have a few updates to share. In July we appointed a Bylaw Review Task Force, with members Ed Burke, Mia Joiner-Moore, Leslie Kinney and Norma Willingham. This group is reviewing our current By-Laws and will be recommending much needed revisions, to be considered at a future special congregational meeting. We regretfully accepted the resignation of Janet Athens from the Board. She will continue to serve on the Nominating Committee.
We have had recent requests for waiver of rental fees and approved use of our building for Non-
Violent Direct Action Training held in August and for an upcoming concert on Friday, September 19th to benefit the social justice activities of Indivisible. Our Treasurer, Mia Joiner-Moore is carefully monitoring income and expenses and we continue to encourage members/friends to fulfill any past due pledge commitments and to make a commitment to our Stewardship Campaign for 2025-2026 if you have not already done so. These commitments keep All Souls Church financially healthy and vibrant!
In August we held a Board Retreat with a focus on getting to know one another a bit better and to foster a common understanding of how All Souls Church operates. We identified a number of priority areas where we would like to place focus. In addition to our Call to Settled Ministry and bylaw review we would like to address the following:
- Assess expenditures related to care of building and grounds and consider the position of Sexton
- Revisit the landscape design for potential areas of implementation
- Review status of our capital needs plan to identify next step priorities
- Review our rental fee structure and our process of waiver of rental fees
- Consider ways to further develop our membership, with the hope of attracting families, and develop clear pathways for engagement for newer persons
- Develop our own leadership skills as board members and cultivate other church leaders
Please let me know if one of these priority areas is of interest to you. The work of the Board is indeed the work of the congregation and we are inspired and energized by our shared engagement!
May we act together in faith, Leslie