2024 Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 28

Thanks for the past and excitement about the future: Those were the themes at this year's Annual Meeting on January 28. "I hope our time together continues to be an experience of God's grace," Dean David Cobb said, "and that this interim time leaves you and your next dean ready for your next chapter of how to serve God in this community."

Senior Warden Lucas Fleming thanked the Chapter, the executive committee, and the Rev. Mike Alford for their work during this interim time. "We're so thankful for you," he told Father Mike. This is also a time of "building relationships with our new bishop and with the diocese," he said. He thanked Bishop Scharf for his patience in waiting to find the right person as our interim dean: "It was worth the wait for Dean Cobb."

Lucas outlined plans to shore up the steeple and bell tower. As we celebrate our 55th anniversary as a cathedral, our 135th year as a worshiping community and the 125th anniversary of the completion of our original worship space, the restoration of the tower and chimes will be an appropriate celebration. Junior warden Susan Darrow acknowledged and thanked the "exceptional and hard-working staff" and the many volunteers, committees, and ministry leaders with our signature KitKats for all.

Search co-chairs Ray McColgan and Judy Stark introduced members of the committee and gave an update on their progress: at work on the profile, a final listening session on February 3, and thanks to all who have taken the survey and offered advice and memories. Treasurer Mark Myers reported that in a budget of $1.7-million, we spend about half on worship and music, 16 percent on service and outreach,13 percent on formation, 6 percent on pastoral care, and 16 percent on building and grounds.

“We are financially strong with a growing endowment of more than $4-million and no outstanding debt,” he said. “Our challenge is to grow our congregation and pledge income to fully support the needs of our ministries. We are short of our pledge goal in 2024, so everyone is encouraged to complete their pledge card. As we seek a new dean, the Cathedral has the financial strength and capability to be successful and to support our mission — to know Christ and make Him known.”