Minutes from St. Mark’s 73rd Annual Parish Meeting

Sunday, February 2, 2026

                                                WORSHIP ……………………………………………….…11:30

                                                BUSINESS …………………………………………………12:30

                                                LUNCHEON . …………………………………….……….1:30

• Call to Order: Rev Jean Vargo called the meeting to order at 12:35 pm. A handout was distributed that included the Meeting Agenda and Submitted Reports.
• Appointment of Recorder and Election Tellers: Dave Reuter was appointed Recorder.  Judy Rudd and Tony Rubino were appointed Election Tellers.
• Approval of Minutes from January 26, 2025 meeting: The 2025 minutes from the January 26, 2025 Annual Parish Meeting, were distributed to parishioners via email prior to the meeting as well as a copy in the Annual Meeting Submitted Reports handout.  A motion was made by Jim Rudd and seconded by Elizabeth Wagner- Wagner-Weber to accept the minutes.  As there was no further discussion, a vote was taken and passed unopposed.
• Report of the Nominating Committee: Chair Judy Rudd thanked the member of her committee, Janet Reuter and Tony Rubino. They were very pleased with the list of nominees this year.  Senior Warden: Jim Rudd.  Junior Warden: Tony Rubino. There were four vacancies for Vestry Members:  Two for Three-Year Term: Pam Kulhanek and René Meadors.  Two for One-Year Term: Claudia Hurd and Gary Welch.  Delegates for Diocesan Convention: Elect two: Rommel Festus Abibo, Katherine Wagner, and Elizabeth Wagner-Weber.  Candidate with fewest votes becomes Alternate.  Senior Warden and Junior Warden are automatic Delegates.
• Voting for Wardens, Vestry, and Delegates: Rev Jean systematically went through each open position with the candidates names as listed above as follows:

• Rev Jean then congratulated the Vestry Candidates for their successful election. These new Officers of the Church will be installed at the February 22 Sunday Service.  As noted above, there are two vacancies for Diocesan Delegates for the November 20-21 Convention in Columbus at the Polaris Hilton.  Rev Jean encouraged everyone in the parish to attend!  She then asked for Nominees from the floor.  As there were none she asked everyone to vote for one or two of the nominees (voting for all three would get the ballot rejected), using the blank sheets of paper distributed before the meeting The ballots were then collected and counted by Judy and Tony After the ballots were tallied, Judy announced that the two Diocesan Candidates were Elizabeth and Rommel.  Katherine automatically became the Alternate.  Congratulation to all three of them!
• Transition Process: Rev Jean began overall definition of the Transition Process.  We had a very good brainstorming session late last year on what St. Mark’s needed to accomplish to make this work.  The charts and paperwork that were made will also be transported to St. Paul’s as a starter for them.  On February 28 the joint Vestries will meet at St. Paul’s, and everyone is invited.  The main topic of discussion is to determine what God is discerning for us.  Are we listening?  Where do we want to be in two years and five years from now?  We will need to be viable and sustainable.  The Worship Committee has been meeting between the two churches to communize services where possible.  There was the joint Vestry Christmas Party held a St. Paul’s which was very successful in getting the two groups together.  It is most important to build relationships between the two churches.  Rev Jean made the assuring comment that St. Paul’s is not going to “swallow us up!”  The question from the Bishop: “Is it possible for the two congregation to share a Rector or a Priest-in-Charge?”  If it’s going to happen, then there will need to be some relationship building between the two churches.  Sometime in May, courtesy of St. Paul’s Senior Warden, Paul Sampson, there are 50 tickets available for anyone from St. Mark’s that wants to attend the Dayton Dragons baseball game with them!  There is a Transition Committee in place between the two churches: Jim Rudd, Jeff Aldridge, Charlie Campbell, and Rev Jean.  How can we make St. Mark’s known in this community?  One idea is “Ashes to Go.”  Team up with a friend and pick a place on Ash Wednesday, such as the local coffee shop, to supply ashes to anyone who would like them.  Make us visible to the outside community!  If it’s never been done that way before… then now is the time!
• Joint Church Calendar: Rev Jean announced that we are working on a Joint Calendar. Our Parish Assistant is actively working the Lois at St. Paul’s to pull together this document.  So one large calendar will have events listed from both churches at the same time.  This opens up additional resources for both parishes.
• Summary of the 2025 Year End Treasurer’s Report. Don Nancarrow reported that the report was not yet ready.  Due to the difficulty in getting all of the financial reports up to date, this Summary has been postponed.  It will be reviewed with the entire parish after it becomes available.
• Summary of Stewardship Campaign: Jim Rudd reported the following:  Total pledges: Goal = 31, Actual = 30 (97%), 24 renewals, 6 new, 3 dropped, increase of 27 to 30 pledges this year.  Amount pledged:  $114, 616 (93%), Goal = $123,000, renewals increased by $1,964, new pledges = $6,720, 3 dropped pledges = -$13,000, net decrease =  -$3,644  Otherwise, the Campaign was deemed successful.  
• Presentation of Approved Budget: In the attachments of the Submitted Reports handout was a spreadsheet (page 9) displaying the 2026 Budget compared to the 2025 Budget.  In addition there was a separate text summary (page 10) of the high points of the spreadsheet.  Finally, there was a chart (page 10) that listed Major Improvements and Capital Expenditures that should be addressed soon.  Don began by drawing everyone’s attention to the spreadsheet in the handout.  The chart highlights the dollar amounts in each line item, followed by the change in dollars from last year to this year, followed by the percentage change in dollars from last year’s budget to this year’s.  Finally, the column on the far right compares the Actuals from last year to the 2025 Budget.  He then reviewed the following key figures:  pledges decreased by $3,896. Mission Share to Diocese decreased by $3,639 due to new formula.  Non-cleric staff received 2% raises.  Natural Gas cost rose by $2,170 and Insurance cost rose by $2,208.  Potential Capital Expenditures were not included in the 2026 Budget this year.  A deficit budget of $5,251 is being projected this year compared to last year’s deficit of $6,390.  Don then thanked Jim Rudd and Tony Rubino for their help in finalizing the preliminary budget to the proposed budget and also to Kendall Rubino for updating the detailed (full) spreadsheet to the proposed version.  Rev Jean reminded everyone that the 2026 Budget was already approved by the Vestry and was being presented for information only at this time.
• Paul’s United Methodist Church Food Pantry: Wayne Harper gave a talk on “St. Mark’s and St. Paul’s UMC Connection.”  St. Paul’s Food Pantry is a significant part of our Outreach.  Food is donated each week and Wayne delivers it accordingly on the third Sunday of each month.  St. Paul’s UMC, founded in 1883 is designated a “Mission Church” and is one of 75 Montgomery County Foodbank associates.  In turn, St. Paul’s partners with over a dozen local churches as well.  Wayne has been the point-of –contact and weekly volunteer at the Foodbank for about the last ten years.

St. Paul’s serves Zip Code 45403 in East Dayton.  Even though everyone partaking from the Foodbank should reside in that Zip Code, no one is ever turned away!  Visitors are limited ton one visit per month, but can be served more frequently under hardship conditions.  The Pantry is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:00am to 1:00pm.  St. Paul’s also provides clothing and household items through their Stuff Shoppe.  They also provide a hot lunch to the public on most Tuesdays and a breakfast meal on most Saturdays.

There are about 1,500 Zip Codes in Ohio.  45403 has a population of about 13,700 with a median age of 35 and a medium income of $36,250, which ranks it as one of the poorest areas, 33rd from the bottom.  Visitors are predominately white, followed by followed by African Americans and Hispanics.  There are also significant numbers of aged and infirm..  Detailed monthly and hourly records are kept based upon numbers of households served.  About 21 households are served each day.  As an example, for the month of November, 223 households were served (109 senior, 293 adults, and 154 children).

Families are allowed to select their own food which gives them a sense of dignity and respect.  The Stuff Shop provides clothing and household items at minimal prices.  The meal programs provide hot, nutritious food and spaces are creates at St. Paul’s to promote community and belonging.  There are strict guidelines for household eligibility that are updated each year.

As with any public program, there are pluses and minuses.  The pluses are quite obvious about helping those in need but also includes such things as helping farmers to stabilize their prices and supplying good healthy food that otherwise might not happen.  Some of the negative aspects include over-reliance on federal aid and fluctuating political priorities.

Wayne then asked if there were any questions.  There was only one which was what does St. Paul’s do with the donations they receive from St. Mark’s.  The money goes into a single account that is used for bulk purchases of primarily vegetables and poultry.  Beef products are received from a Central Foodbank that gets its food from local grocery stores, etc.  The money can also be used for repair and maintenance of equipment such as refrigerators.  Many thanks to Wayne for providing this in-depth understanding of St. Paul’s Foodbank. 

• Lifetime Service Award: Jim Rudd began reading the list of accomplishments and contributions to the parish and to our local community by the individual selected this year.  The first award was presented in 2000.  This year’s winner has had several leadership positions at St. Mark’s including one term as Junior Warden and multiple terms as a Vestry Member.  He has served on Nominating Committees and is currently is an Usher.  This person attends our worship service on a regular basis.  One Sunday in the absence of a priest, he stepped up and provided a sermon.  He participated in many of our Yard Sales selling appliances.  He also conducted Adult Forums, particularly focused on “Questions of Value” when Father Mike was not available.  This person is also very active in Buildings and Grounds, including leading our Sparkle Day and painting all of the pillars that support our canopy as well as painting exterior doors followed by providing pizza and pop for all the volunteers.  Finally, this person was involved in a previous program “Building Together Dayton” where St. Mark’s volunteers along with five other Episcopal Churches would go into low income people’s homes that needed a lot of TLC and help to rejuvenate them.  He is also involved with St. Paul’s UMC Foodbank and CARE House deliveries.   To no one’s surprise, the winner of this year’s Lifetime Service Award is Wayne Harper!  Wayne received a very warm round of applause as he received his certificate!  Very well deserved indeed!
• Closing Prayer and Adjournment: Rev Jean asked if there were any other questions or comments at this time.  A motion and second to adjourn was made followed by a closing prayer at 1:37pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

David F. Reuter,

Vestry Recorder