Preparing for Annual Parish Meeting
Dear Harbor family,
This year, Harbor Anglican’s annual parish meeting will take place on Sunday, November 16th. As we look toward this important gathering, our desire has been to prepare every member well in advance by sharing three key things: the Parish Council’s proposed budget, the nominees for Parish Council, and a clear sense of the Council’s role alongside yours as members of the congregation. If you are a member you should have received an email that included important information on each of these three items.
Our aim in sending these in advance is so that each member might have time to prayerfully engage with what is shared, trusting that transparency nurtures unity and that your questions, reflections, and feedback strengthen our common life.
If you have not sent us your questions, please do so by Friday, November 14th: parish-council@harboranglican.org.
A Word to Regular Attenders
If you are a regular attender and not yet a member, please know that you are warmly invited into this process as well. This annual meeting is a significant moment in the rhythm of our parish — a time to reflect on the Lord’s faithfulness, attend to the practical matters of our shared life, and look forward together with hope and purpose.
As our community continues to grow and mature in mission, worship, and love, there is much to celebrate and to hold before the Lord in prayer.
Purpose of Annual Meeting
At this year’s meeting, we will focus on four main areas:
A review of the past year
A presentation of the proposed budget for the coming year (in broad categories)
A vision-casting for the year ahead
The presentation and election of new Parish Council members
Parish Council Nominations
Each year, the Parish Council presents a slate of candidates to be elected by a simple majority of our voting members at the annual meeting.
After receiving several strong nominations and completing our discernment and vetting process, we will be presenting Anne Philpot for election to a three-year term (you can read about Anne here) and Dave Andersen for re-election to a second three-year term.
Two members will be completing their time of service: Julie Bettis, who has faithfully fulfilled her three-year term, and Raquel Bolender, who will be stepping down this year. We are deeply grateful for both Julie and Raquel — for their steady presence, wise counsel, and generous leadership over these past years.
The Role of the Parish Council
Many of you may be wondering, what exactly is the Parish Council?
In Anglican churches, the Parish Council (sometimes called a vestry) serves a vital role in the governance and health of the parish. It is not an elder or deacon board, nor an extension of the staff, nor a group of advocates for particular constituencies. Rather, it exists to serve the mission and flourishing of the church through faithful oversight and shared discernment.
The Parish Council is entrusted to:
Guard the stated vision of the parish
Uphold our shared values
Ensure financial integrity
Support and counsel the rector
Model sacrificial generosity
Our current Council members are Sophie Hamby, Scott Barnes, Dave Andersen, Julie Bettis, Raquel Bolender, and myself, Casey Bedell. We are also supported by Dave Bettis, who serves as our Treasurer (a non-voting role on the Council).
A Word of Invitation
In the days ahead, we warmly invite your questions, prayers, and participation. This is a season that calls for faith, humility, and mutual encouragement. As many of you know, our wider denomination is walking through a painful and uncertain time, and we covet your prayers — that the Lord would grant us deeper repentance, wisdom from above, the constancy of his grace, and deep unity in love and truth.
And please know, we are praying for you as well — that, as the Apostle Paul writes, “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know the hope to which he has called you.”
It is a deep joy and privilege to serve as your rector.
With gratitude and hope in Christ,
Casey+
