Annual Meeting 2002
Church of the Nativity
Sarasota, Florida

The 16th Annual Meeting of Church of the Nativity was held on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 at 7:00 pm at Northminster Presbyterian Church. Members joined in the service of Evening prayer, led by Father Gerry Bennett, after which Father Murphy formally called the meeting to order.

First on the agenda, Elly Freyer was appointed Secretary as well as Clerk of the Vestry. Minutes of the 2001 Annual Meeting were unanimously approved as written. Three vestry nominees were then introduced to the congregation: Bonnie Neiger, Rick Teigland, and Mary Gordon (in absentia). Retiring vestry members are Judi McCullough, Deb Teahan, and Anna Haeffner. Father Jim opened the floor to additional nominations. Charlie Burke then moved nominations be closed. The motion was seconded and passed. The three nominees were then confirmed and congratulated as newly elected vestry members.

Commission and Organization Reports were then heard. In addition to the written reports in the Annual Report, a number of the Vestry members made positive remarks, one of which was "We're building God's House! We have a real jewel to sell in the community."

Father Jim and Karla Porter then opened discussion on the 2001 Treasurer's Report and the 2002 Budget. Part of the financial report was inadvertently left out of the Report (Joe Schifano's Building Report), and will be included in the February edition of Tidings. The congregation voiced their thanks to Karla for stepping into a very time-consuming accounting and bookkeeping situation. The treasurer's Report was approved pending Audit. The Budget was then ratified.

Father Murphy appointed Gary Bradshaw Senior Warden for the year 2002.

There being no Old Business or New Business to discuss, Father Murphy started his Personal Report and the Year in Retrospect. At this time, many of the parishioners witnessed to the amazingly powerful prayer support of Church of the Nativity.