Keep the Associate Rector Position

I am in favor of keeping the position.

I feel our current level of growth can only be sustained or improved upon with a robust and diverse staff. I appreciate a Vestry trying to work within a strong budget framework, but I feel reducing staff at this time is not a viable path to serve all who worship or seek help through Trinity.

I think Greg Gemeinhardt said everything that needs to be said

Eliminating the associated rector is a terrible idea!!! If we want the church to continue to grow we cannot cut down of the personnel leading this growth.

Why am I just now learning about this? It's Sunday evening, August 13.

As a parishioner, I feel like it would be a mistake to remove an investment when the investment is returning measurable value. As a vestry member, I would say the evidence for decision making in this matter is clear in the increase of goodwill in our parish, less and anxiety, and less urgency for retiring the debt. Addressing low hanging fruit has done much to help, but the vestry decision to staff for growth is to plant and to tend fruit-bearing decisions. Let's not grub them out before the fruit ripens and nourishes us all and strengthens us to do God's work in our community.

This position is vital to continue the growth that we have seen, to offer a variety of programs, and to provide diversity in leadership.

I don't know how Peter can do everything. I believe it was hard on Joe Pennington when he was here. I say no to eliminating the position.

It is hard to believe that this is even a topic of discussion at this point in our Parish journey.

Keep the position

I love Trinity with all of my heart. It is my second family. Trinity has helped to mold and guide my children into amazing, passionate human beings that care for all- no matter who they are. I want to make sure that Trinity is staffed appropriately to continue to do the work that we have been called to do as Christians. Money doesn't grow on trees so we all need to do our due dilligence to make sure we spend wisely and support our parish financially. Cutting an associate rector is not the answer. I value many of the things listed in previous comments and do not want to go backwards. I will keep all involved in my prayers and hope that God will be with those as they make difficult decisions for our parish. Being in a leadership position is not easy and I appreciate their hard work.

I am very concerned with the idea of eliminating the Associate Rector position. The idea that Trinity must live within it's means (pledged amounts) in my opinion will set the church up for failure. We embarked a process of building over time and it appears to me that is working. Austerity will not build the church. In the not too distant future I expect we will be loosing Justin Gabbard as he moves into a much deserved position outside of Trinity. I expect we will also loose Jason Oden as he pursues his path to the Priesthood. Loosing these to very talented people will leave large openings in our staff. It makes NO sense to me that a church with the financial security that Trinity has can expect to continue to grow by cutting staff. Treating money as a "sacred cow" will in my opinion lead to a return of a spiral down.

I believe taking this position away will be a short term gain for a long term loss. As we grow and reach a diverse congregation we need the extra capacity and point of view to touch all members of the church.

My concern about eliminating the position is that Justin and Jason both plan to leave at the end of the year.

I truly enjoy the diverse sermon styles and topics we receive from our clergy. I can't imagine Trinity with only one rector.

With no hesitation, I maintain that Trinity needs the Associate Minister, as well as the Director of Christian Formation. Trinity is a community of learners, and each office contributes in ways that nourishes members of all ages. Monetary costs alone should not be the only consideration, when the gains are so significant from having these leaders!

I support the continued position of Associate Rector as I believe this is part of our need for, at the bare minimum, maintain and keep our parish thriving. I agree with the stated reasons on this petition and will do my best to support it.

The associate rector position has always brought wonderful diversity, talent, and support to Trinity! It would be a real loss to our community if this position were eliminated. Please keep the associate rector position!

Our church is growing in large part to our expanded clergy. I can't imagine how the rector could meet the demands of our faith community and beyond without an associate. This is such an important position to sustaining and growing our church.

Not having an Associate Rector would hurt our parish monumentally. As we continue to grow at a steady clip, the Rector will need the support of an Associate Rector to meet the growing needs of our parish community. As others have stated, we will be losing our Curate this coming winter, and the support of an Associate Rector will be even more imperative to the advancement of Trinity's strategic plan.