Christ Church Cathedral Annual Parish Report 2013
J a n u ar y 1 9 , 2 0 1 4
We Are Christ Church Cathedral Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the Diocese of Texas. Inspired by our traditions, we are a diverse, passionate, inclusive Christian community devoted to meaningful worship and ministry in a beautiful historical setting in downtown Houston. In accordance with the gospel message of love and justice, we continue our long legacy of reaching out in faith to serve the needs of others while supporting each other with joy in every aspect of our lives. Since 1839, Christ Church has proclaimed in word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ. Years before the founding fathers could afford a church building, services were conducted in the basement of the Republic of Texas building on the site of the Rice Hotel. Houston in those days was a rough-and-tumble swamp town with cattle drives roaming down Texas Avenue. Christ Church Cathedral today occupies two blocks in the fourth largest city in the country and remains a beacon of faith and charity in the midst of a thriving metropolitan center. In our 175-year history we have survived fires, floods and raging storms, not to mention shifting demographics in our neighborhood and our city. Through sound leadership and a commitment of love and service to all, we have persevered. This year we celebrate the 65th year of our designation as Cathedral for the Diocese of Texas. As a cathedral and a parish, we are more than a place for Episcopalians throughout the diocese to worship. We are a space for hospitality and renewal. We are the seat of the Bishop of Texas and a center of learning and formation where all are welcome. We are the parent for more than twelve outreach organizations that meet the needs of many in our community. We are all this and more. We are Christ Church Cathedral. All of the information in this report may be read on the web at www.christchurchcathedral.org.
A Letter from the Dean Dear Cathedral Family, “Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.” Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
— Colossians 3:13–15
At this time last year, I was loading the car, saying my goodbyes in Roanoke, Virginia, and preparing for the adventure of becoming your dean. Though I’d come to know the members of the Dean’s Search Committee quite well — good people all — I could scarcely imagine what life with you would bring. Would we get on well together? Would we come to trust one another? Would our shared lives embody Paul’s words of hope for the Church? A year later, my hopes have been realized and my joy fulfilled! Jill, the kids and I have been graciously received into this family of faith. You have been solicitous of our well-being, and you have made us feel at home. I am exceedingly blessed to serve with you and among you at Christ Church. We spent 2013 coming to know one another, and what a year it’s been! In April you feted me at the Dean’s Celebration of New Ministry, and a month later I feted along with you at my first experience of May Fete. Over the summer our vestry took on an ambitious “Comfort Call-a-thon” reaching out to every parishioner and asking, “How are you doing, and how are we doing?” This fall we inaugurated a number of new adult formation opportunities. And just this past month we celebrated the Nativity as only the Cathedral can. Also last fall, we initiated a “visioning process” for Christ Church that will chart our way into the next chapter of our lives. 2014 will be a banner year at Christ Church. We will celebrate our 175th anniversary, beginning with a dinner at the Rice Crystal Ballroom on March 2. At that time, we will launch the result of the visioning process, including several exciting new initiatives. We will focus on pastoral care, community life, worship, outreach and spiritual formation. We will also enhance our Endowment and the Bishop Richardson Society, in order to ensure the preservation of this beloved and sacred place. We’ll also see some new faces join the Cathedral staff. One year in, my excitement for the future of Christ Church Cathedral is even greater than it was as I packed the car in Roanoke. As a family of faith we will continue to “bear with one another.” Clothed in love, we will indeed strive to “allow the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, to which we are called in the one body.” And I, for one, am truly thankful. Grace and peace,
The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson Dean
Senior Warden’s Report Dear Cathedral Family, It was with love and gratitude that we called and installed a new dean in 2013. Much of that work was accomplished the previous year during a search process you participated in through town meetings, constant prayer and generally being a faith community that Dean Thompson wanted to be called to join. We thank God for you and for Barkley. You are the light on Texas Avenue. You provide the energy, the hands and the voices to accomplish so much good work. The job of lay leadership is a privilege, and there is no more satisfying work than helping you accomplish what the Spirit moves us to do—an amazing offering of worship, fellowship and outreach to God’s glory. You are the best examples of Christian vocation. We accomplished new things together this year. The dean’s Comfort Call program turned out to be a highlight because your gracious responses to those calls warmed the hearts of the vestry members who placed them. What began with trepidation about what we might hear ended with joy through the expressed love of this place and one another. The Visioning Charrettes were another of Barkley’s initiatives to help us organize our voices to a common purpose. The results of those familial brainstorming sessions will be revealed in March 2014 during our celebration of 175 years in downtown Houston. Stay tuned. Our financial picture looks solid thanks to your outpouring of support during the recent Every Member Canvass. We are blessed to be members of a family whose response to the needs of the body is freely given. Please be comforted by one of life’s minor miracles in which you played a role. On a more mundane note, we updated and revised the Cathedral by-laws, which had not been touched since 1993. Stan Pieringer performed the heavy lifting on these muchneeded changes to conform with state and federal laws, as well as how we currently conduct church business. Thank Stan when you see him—it’s the only payment he will receive for this job. Finally, we are set to publish a new pictorial directory of the congregation, available both in book form as well as online. Thank you for taking the time to include your pictures. At our house the directory is always near the dinner table because connecting Cathedral names with faces seems to be stimulated by food. Perhaps this penchant is simply a continuation of another meal we regularly share during worship. Our church business is in good hands with your vestry, your new dean and your Cathedral staff. They are all clear-thinking, faithful people who are dedicated to this place and our church family. It has been my honor to serve with you as we continue our walk together into God’s purposes. Faithfully yours,
Mike Bullington Senior Warden
Junior Warden’s Report Dear Parishioners, My reflections on the past year as Christ Church Cathedral Junior Warden and Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee (B&G Committee) follow: We began 2013 during the latter phases of an immense capital projects program which involved the replacement and/or repair of the roofs of most of the buildings on our West campus. The extensive roof work was completed in the first quarter of 2013, and it’s durability was tested in early May when the work survived with flying colors a severeeven by Houston standards — horizontal rain and wind event. The substantial completion of the 2012 capital projects pretty well cleared the slate for the start of any new major projects in 2013. Nevertheless the B&G Committee considered and acted upon new issues and projects, including the need for a safer crosswalk from the parking garage to the San Jacinto Street entrance to the church, workable restroom signage, improved security measures for the Cathedral House EpiscopalSchool, improved safety markings at the Bell Tower entrance to the church, installation of additional speed limit markings in the parking garage, new procedures to limit and discourage unsafe driving in the garage, and the formation of an emergency management committee to take action during emergency conditions, particularly hurricanes. In 2013 the Hines Company announced its intention to build a new office tower on the property diagonally across the street from Christ Church Cathedral on the southwest corner of Texas Avenue and Fannin Street, and to implode the building currently on that site. This news sparked considerable concern among the entire leadership of the Cathedral as to the traumatic effects such an implosion might have on our historic West campus facilities, particularly the church building itself and its fixtures. Whether or not our communications and cautionary warnings to Hines resulted in a change in their course of action, they announced in the latter part of the year that they were not going to implode the building, but rather would disassemble it floor by floor. Great relief was felt by the B&G Committee and all others concerned. My year as Junior Warden pretty well coincided with Dean Thompson’s first year as the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral. I mention this because it has been quite fulfilling to have played a part in assisting him to take measure of the job and gain his bearings in the new role. I consider it a huge privilege to have been asked to serve as Junior Warden in 2013, and believe that I will pass on my responsibilities and charges to my successor in good order. Sincerely,
Rob Rowland Junior Warden
Treasurer’s Report 2013 The budget adopted by the vestry for 2013 anticipated a deficit of $448,000, primarily due to $434,000 of major capital projects which were needed after several years of deferring maintenance because of high expenses for both new facilities and the start-up of The Beacon. The vestry was also aware that the Every Member Canvass had lagged in prior years and was significantly below the amount in the budget. With the hope that more pledges would be received and unwilling to make significant reductions to program expenditures before our new Dean arrived, the vestry approved the budget. With two significant exceptions, 2013 will have only small deviations from the budget. Both of the exceptions increased the deficit over what was budgeted. The first significant exception was the actual Every Member Canvas receipts. Unfortunately, pledges did not increase much after the budget was approved and receipts were $271,000 lower than budgeted. Fortunately, plate receipts were higher than budgeted as attendance grew with the new dean. Overall, revenues of $4,077,000 were $168,000 lower than budgeted. The second significant exception was maintenance and utility costs which were $81,000 higher than the $625,000 budget excluding the major capital projects (which, fortunately, were slightly under budget). Overall, expenses of $4,797,000 were $104,000 over budget. The result was that 2013 expenses exceeded revenues by $719,000 which was $272,000 more than budgeted. And then something good happened! Several people noted that it would be financially prudent for the Cathedral to make annual contributions to a “fund” that would be available to pay for large capital needs related to our wonderful, but aging, facilities. Dean Thompson proposed adding an annual $50,000 contribution to the fund for future budgets and putting the Endowment trustees in charge of the fund. The trustees of the Endowment recognized that the 2012–2014 deficits were largely due to the major capital projects for deferred maintenance and that it would take several years for the parish to be able to repay the loan from the Endowment, during which time the Endowment distributions to the parish would be higher than normal to effectively repay the loan. Therefore, in light of the guarantee from the vestry that the parish would contribute at least $50,000 annually to a new “Legacy Fund for Cathedral Preservation,” the Endowment approved a $920,000 gift to the parish equaling the total cost of the 2012-2014 major capital projects. The “Legacy Fund for Cathedral Preservation” will be used only to pay for future major capital projects. 2014 Budget At this time, the draft budget for 2014 has revenues exceeding expenses by a small amount. Revenues of $4,620,000 will increase by $543,000 over 2013 revenues thanks primarily to a very good response to the Every Member Canvass. Expenses of $4,598,000 will decrease by $198,000. The largest factor is a $387,000 drop in expenditures on major capital projects (all of which will be completed in 2014). The next largest factor is a decrease in the Diocese of Texas assessment and asking by $298,000 due to the use of the proceeds from the sale of the St. Luke’s Hospital System and the adoption of a unified budget. Finally, the cash grant to The Beacon will be reduced from $125,000 to $100,000, as has been planned for several years. These reductions will be partially offset by cost-of-living increases to salaries and benefits, the $125,000 gift to the Endowment’s Legacy Fund for Cathedral Preservation, and $200,000 to fund new initiatives identified in the Visioning Charrettes. Respectfully submitted,
Will Hamilton Treasurer
Financial Summary
(Dollars in Thousands)
2011 Audited
2012 Audited
2013 Budgeted
2013 Unaudited
2014 Proposed
2014 Minus 2013
Pledged & Unpledged Gifts Endowment Contribution Facility Use and Other Revenue
2,725 995 426
2,667 1,184 421
2,850 964 431
2,660 974 443
3,058 995 567
398 21 124
Total Revenue Salaries & Benefits Outreach Worship & Programs Diocesan Assessment Facilities — Capital Projects Facilities — Legacy Fund Facilities — Other
4,146 2,064 497 501 391
4,272 1,945 541 492 398 429
4,245 2,237 510 482 405 434
4,077 2,220 522 512 405 431
720
625
625
706
4,620 2,463 305 725 284 44 125 652
543 243 (217) 213 (121) (387) 125 (54)
Total Expenses
4,173
4,430
4,693
4,796
4,598
(198)
(27)
(158)
(448)
(719)
22
741
Cathedral Operating Funds
Net Revenue less Expenses Endowment Gift for Capital Projects Change in Net Assets
920 201
2011 Audited
2012 Audited
2013 Unaudited
Total To-Date
Pledge Additions Gifts to the Endowment Gift to The Beacon Organ Console Operating Expenses
7,037 1,300 750 370 38
(13) 1,813
0 2,265
319 2
6
7,630 4,848 750 689 46
Total Expenses
2,458
1,504
2,271
6,333
Net Revenue less Expenses
4,579
(1,517)
(2,271)
1,297
Memo: Pledges Paid
3,138
2,071
1,010
2011 Audited
2012 Audited
2013 Unaudited
Bequests & Gifts Building Our Legacy Investment Return Oil & Gas Royalties
426 1,300 (55) 589
160 1,183 1,671 564
305 2,265 2,686 569
Total Revenue
2,260
3,578
5,825
Support of the Cathedral Other Expenses
1,043 125
1,200 163
1,925 153
Total Expenses
1,168
1,363
2,078
1,092 8,890 16,639
2,215 10,979 16,939
3,747 14,252 19,634
Building Our Legacy
Endowment Fund
Net Revenue less Expenses Memo: Core Fund Net Assets Memo: Invested Funds
6,334 or 83% Total To-Date 4,848
2013: The Year in Review January • The Cathedral dedicates its new organ console with a recital by noted duo organists Raymond and Elizabeth Chenault. • Kids Hope USA, sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral, kicks off a new year with 23 mentors who each meet with one child for an hour a week to provide guidance, leadership and inspiration to at-risk students at Rusk Elementary School. • Confirmation class begins for eight Cathedral youth, who will be Confirmed when Bishop Doyle visits the Cathedral in May.
February • The Cathedral Choir presents “Cabaret!” to raise scholarship funds for its summer trip to England. Reynolds Hall is filled to capacity for good food and music. • The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson arrives as the eighth Dean and twentieth Rector of Christ Church Cathedral. • Three hundred parishioners attend and 50 parishioners volunteer for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Mardi Gras, everyone!
March • The “City of God, City of Need” Lenten Series explores urban ministry and the needs of the marginalized and downtrodden. Speakers included Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Rabbi Steve Gross, Dean Thompson and others. • The Way of the Cross for Children on Palm Sunday features new original artwork by Kari Ann Lessner. (Text and pictures are also made available in book form, titled The Road to Easter.) • A total of 2,364 people celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus at Cathedral Easter services. This years’ offerings include “In Memory of Her,” an account of the Passion from the perspective of the women in the Gospels, cosponsored by Brigid’s Place.
April • Four hundred parishioners attend the Celebration of New Ministry and Installation of our new Dean. The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Kittredge, Dean and President of the Seminary of the Southwest, preaches.
• The Cathedral Treble Choir performs at American Classic Festival Choral Competition and receives a Superior rating. • The Pastoral Care Council hosts the Tulip Reception, honoring long-time Cathedral members. Canon Emeritus John Logan offers a lively presentation on the history of the Latham Parish House. The 20s & 30s Young Adults Group serve as conversation partners at tables.
May • The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas, makes his annual spring visitation to Christ Church. • May Fete is held in beautiful weather, with over 500 parishioners participating. Paul Goza and Elodie Giles are crowned May Fete king and queen. • Thirty-two Cathedral youth end the school year with “Water Wars” at the deanery. Good fun is had by all.
June • The Cathedral Urban Service Experience (CUSE) begins its summer session and will host 281 missioners who perform over 5,600 hours of assistance at Houston-area ministries. • A group of 125 Cathedral parishioners are joined by 200 Episcopalians from throughout the Diocese for the “Episcopal Night at the Ballpark” pregame cookout at the Cathedral. More than 350 hot dogs are served in 90 minutes! • Eight students participate in the fifth-grade mission trip.
July • The vestry conducts a summer “Comfort Call-a-thon” in which phone calls are made to 1,480 Cathedral households. The vestry receives constructive feedback from parishioners and becomes aware of dozens of pastoral concerns. Cathedral clergy follow up on the comfort calls. Response from our parishioners is extremely positive. • Twenty Cathedral middle school youth travel to Bastrop for “Missionpalooza,” the annual diocesan mission trip. The youth assist in recovery from the 2011 wildfires. • The Cathedral celebrates the 20th anniversary of Canon for Music Robert L. Simpson.
• Two hundred from the Cathedral and the community attend the Friends of Imam interfaith Iftar. Dean Thompson participates in the panel with Rabbi Steve Gross and Muslim leader Mubeen Khumawala.
August • Rally Day fills Reynolds Hall with parishioners of all ages celebrating the kickoff of the new program year by engaging in activities sponsored by the Cathedral councils and associated ministries. The new Rally Day format meets with a resounding two thumbs up! • Kids4Peace Houston (hosted by Christ Church) holds the first U.S. second-year camp for Jewish, Christian and Muslim children from Israel, Palestine and the U.S. • The Cathedral Choir’s sixth European tour includes residencies at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London and York Minster. Fifty-three Cathedral Choir members participate in the tour. • Nine Cathedral high-school youth participate in the annual diocesan mission trip to New York City. While there, youth participate in Superstorm Sandy relief.
September • The school year begins with 52 adults and six youth volunteering in our children’s Sunday School and Lighthouse programs. • Dr. Matthias Henze, Professor of Biblical Studies at Rice University, prepares parishioners for Halloween by lecturing on "Evil Angels and Devils" in Latham Auditorium. • The Justice & Peace Council sponsors “Coming out in Church,” a discussion of the challenges to gay and lesbian youth in coming out to their parents, friends and church communities. Attendees report that the event increases their empathy and understanding. • Thirty-five young adults attend the “Fajita Fiesta” to kick off the fall program year. • Three hundred and seventy-five friends of the Beacon gather for a fun-filled evening at the annual “Come to the Table” gala. Acclaimed local chefs provide a multi-course meal. $355,000 is raised through both silent and live auctions to support The Beacon’s many ministries to Houston’s homeless.
October • St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals in the Bishop’s Courtyard includes dogs, cats, snakes, police horses and at least one tarantula. Dean Thompson even adopts a rescue dog!
• The Cathedral hosts a Faith and Reason Conference titled, "Will Christianity Have a Future?" featuring Marcus Borg, Joan Chittister and John Dominic Crossan. The two-day conference draws a standingroom-only crowd of over 750. • The Pastoral Care Council hosts the workshop “Planning a Graceful Exit” to discuss important end-of-life issues and funeral planning. Forty-two parishioners attend.
November • November begins with a glorious All Saints’ Choral Evensong. • Bestselling author Anne Lamott fills the Cathedral as she speaks on, and reads selections from, her recent book Stitches. • The Alternative Giving Market fills Reynolds Hall with holiday “shoppers” and raises over $42,000 to benefit 17 not-for-profit organizations. • The Rhythms of Grace worship service for families with special needs children marks three months in a row with average attendance of more than 30.
December • Despite Arctic-like temperatures, 65 adults, 18 youth and 29 children bundle up to have a good time at the Annual Parish Retreat at Camp Allen. The weekend has a winter-wonderland feel, and parishioners keep logs on the fire at the campsite. The retreat includes the Eighth Annual Chili Cook-off. (Vegetarian chili wins!) • At “Christmas at the Cathedral, more than 200 volunteers from Christ Church and other parishes serve lunch and provide gifts to over 750 homeless and near-homeless community members. A contingent from the Parish Choir provides festive Christmas music. • The Christ Church Cathedral community readies itself for the Nativity via Advent Lessons and Carols, the Cathedral Family Christmas Party, Christmas Camp (at which Cathedral children make over 200 winter scarves for Beacon clients) and Christmas Eve worship services. • As he prepares to retire from full-time ministry, the Cathedral celebrates the 40-plus year ordained career of the Rev. Canon Ed Stein.
Vital Statistics Average Sunday attendance in 2013: 675 In 2012: 610
Easter attendance in 2013: 2,364 In 2012: 1,880
Total active baptized members at the end of 2013: 3,608 At the end of 2012: 3,780
Number of pledging households in 2013: 457 In 2012: 509
Total amount pledged in 2013: $2,319,502 In 2012: $2,439,647
Total church school students enrolled in 2013: 229 In 2012: 224
Baptisms in 2013: 53 In 2012: 46
Confirmations in 2013: 34 In 2012: 16
Received in 2013: 1 In 2012: 4
Reactivated in 2013: 26 In 2012: 7
Ministry Reports Formation and Worship Report by Jimmy Grace For many at Christ Church Cathedral, 2013 will be remembered primarily as the year in which we welcomed Dean Thompson onto our staff. Along with his arrival, Dean Thompson also continued the Dean’s Forum in Reynolds Hall in addition to a new Dean’s Book Club, a Faith and Society Seminar, and a biweekly men’s group that meets on Friday mornings. The Dean’s offerings were supplemented by other clergy who taught classes on the history of the church in the book of Acts, as well as studying the writings of some of Christianity’s greatest theologians, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Lisa Puccio continued her excellent work as Minister for Children and Families, working with many volunteer Sunday School teachers. Jeremy Bradley, Minister for Youth and Young Adults continued his excellent work with numerous Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) meetings, retreats, mission trips, and the popular “Destination Unknown” event. Christian Formation is available for children and adults of all ages, and Martha Lewis, the Cathedral’s special needs program coordinator, makes this a possibility for children and young adults with special needs through the Lighthouse Program and monthly "Rhythms of Grace" service that includes a Eucharist, Bible-based story, song and play. This year we said farewell to Bobby
Murillo, our volunteer musician, and we are grateful to Tom Shepard for faithfully stepping in. The year was full of many opportunities for growth — and I am looking forward to what 2014 will bring!
Music Report by Robert Simpson While numbers seldom tell the whole story, they can be fascinating. For example, during the 12 months of 2013, 130 individuals ranging from third graders to adults collectively spent 325 hours in rehearsals preparing music for 125 services. And 2013 was really no different than previous years. Christ Church Cathedral has long treasured musical excellence as a defining element of its worship. We are blessed to have individuals within our community who are called to give so freely of their time and talent in order to enrich our worship in this way. I am honored to work with these individuals and with Bruce Power, Cathedral Organist and Marianna Parnas-Simpson, director of the Treble Choir who so ably assist me in overseeing the Cathedral’s Music Ministry.
Membership and Community Life Report by Melissa White This past year can best be described as bustling. Parishioners were energized, as evidenced by enthusiastic behind-the-scenes participation and
attendance at community life events. Standing elbow to elbow we flipped and served up stacks of pancakes at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and gathered around a cozy fireplace to sip hot chocolate, play games and share stories at the Annual Parish Retreat at Camp Allen. Snapshots such as these capture scenes of a healthy parish family. We welcomed others into our home to experience Christ Church hospitality. Parishioners from throughout the diocese joined us for a cookout and Cathedral tour — some had never seen their cathedral — as part of Episcopal Night at the Ballpark. Parishioners’ inviting nature continued with more than 100 signing up for Foyers, many were re-upping, for the experience of getting to know fellow parishioners in the intimate setting of their homes. We also saw fresh faces in the pews in 2013, newcomers who primarily found out about the Cathedral from friends or family and through Internet searches. The friends/family connection proves yet again that evangelism by lay folks is a key way in which newcomers find a church, so keep up talking up your church home. The twice-annual Welcome Dinners drew more than 50 newcomers to the deanery, where Dean Thompson and family were newcomers themselves. Additional resources will be allocated to membership in the coming year to generate greater visibility and spread the word of Christ Church Cathedral.
Stewardship Report by David Simpson We knew from the outset 2013 was going to be unlike any other year in recent memory. We started the year in the midst of a major capital expenditure program to remedy numerous maintenance issues that had accumulated during the building of the East block. Improvements were made to the school’s security and food service systems, The Beacon’s HVAC, several of the 17 roofs on the west block, and, in preparation for the Thompson family’s arrival, the deanery received its first remodeling and restoration in over 20 years. At the same time, pledges of financial support for 2013 leveled off, stressing a budget already planned in deficit. As we entered the fall season, the significant momentum in spirit that began with the arrival of our new dean
was showing up in our financial prospects. The highly successful Every Member Canvass (EMC) kick-off event, Downtown Abbey Road, paved the way for an all-time record 2014 EMC with pledges totaling $2.75 million, an increase of more than 18 percent over 2013. Our financial staff, Peggy Beltrami, Ramona Sikes and Anne Shepard, has played significant roles, as have Frank Guevara and his facilities staff, in meeting the challenges of 2013 and preparing us for the opportunities of the coming year. Thank God for them all!
Children and Families Report by Lisa Puccio In 2013, the Cathedral’s ministry to children and families continued to see growing numbers of families with young children become involved in family faith formation. Attendance increased in nursery and Sunday School classes thanks in part to our excellent nursery staff and the commitment of many volunteer Sunday School teachers. The Children’s Ministry Council provided leadership in creating an environment of welcome to parents and children. Our Lighthouse Program, helping families with special needs children integrate into the cathedral community, continues to be a model within the greater church. Over the course of the year, the Rhythms of Grace congregation continued to grow rapidly, reaching Cathedral members as well as families from outside the Cathedral. The monthly service is an alternative worship experience for families with special needs children. Likewise our commitment to Kids4Peace continued with a second year of summer camp and peace-building experiences for children from Jerusalem and the U.S. The work of the Minister for Children and Families and the members of the Children’s Ministry Council continues to be to present programs that invite, involve and inspire children and parents. Whether through thought-provoking parenting classes such as The Blessing of a B Minus, special seasonal events like the Way of the Cross for Children or the development of new Sunday School lessons in preparation for the arrival of our new dean, the Cathedral’s ministry to children and families focuses on the changing needs of our young Cathedral members.
Youth and Young Adults Report by Jeremy Bradley This was was a big year for the youth and young adult ministries at the Cathedral. The youth ministry participated in four service days, three mission trips, a spring break trip, the outrageous Destination Unknown lock-in, the high-school Progressive Dinner and various other diocesan events. We continued our Giving Tree Fundraiser, which raised over $5,000 to send 10 students on mission trips. Sunday School switched to a lectionary-based curriculum focusing on the readings during the Sunday church service. Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) had a few changes, including separating high school and middle school, and we experimented with a time change once a month. We are also reaching out to our college students with plans to send care packages at strategic times during the semester and meeting up for a meal during breaks. We are continuing to work towards enriching our students in a stronger faith, a sense of community, and the agape type of love that is found in Jesus. The 20s & 30s group started its own council, which is taking shape. During the spring and summer we studied the book of Acts, and during the summer we met in participant homes as a way to practice what the early Church might have looked like. In February, we had our first retreat, teaming up with Trinity Episcopal Church and bringing in the Rev. Patrick Hall to speak to us on the changing church. We also helped at the Tulip Reception, facilitating discussion between our long-standing congregants while also physically assisting those who needed it. Our fall kick-off drew over 35 people. During the fall semester we discussed the book Take This Bread by Sara Miles, providing great discussion about the Episcopal Church. We look forward to seeing how young adults can continue to become involved within the church.
Outreach and Social Justice Report by Jim McGill The year 2013 has been a busy one for outreach at Christ Church Cathedral. This parish has done enormous work for the benefit of God’s children who need our help.
With your help, the Mission Outreach Council once again presented the Alternative Giving Market, raising over $43,000 for 17 ministries that reach out to those in need from many walks of life. Our impact went international this year in supporting the work of the Episcopal chaplain at the Port of Houston, who ministers to seafarers from around the globe. Christmas at the Cathedral once again reached the homeless and near-homeless as we served a Christmas dinner to over 750 of our neighbors and gave each one a Christmas gift. The Justice & Peace Council continued its work in addressing issues related to the scourge of human trafficking, working for parity in the insurance community between mental and physical health, and tackling the difficult and debilitating issues of young people who struggle to come to terms with their awareness of sexual identity. Thank you to all for a wonderful year.
Care and Support Report by Glenice Robinson-Como The Pastoral Care Council ushered in the new year with a continued focus of providing compassionate and spiritual support to our community. This was accomplished by implementing new procedures for the Lay Eucharistic Visitors, the Lay Pastoral Visitors and the Flower Ministry; revising the Friday Healing Service to allow more attention and time for individual prayers and anointing; and our pastoral care brochure was made available on the web to provide more information about our specific ministries. In sharing the mission of the Cathedral with others, we met and greeted bishops from Pakistan, Costa Rica and North Dakota. An informational tour of The Beacon was given as well as a tour of the Cathedral. As six of our faithful members rolled off of the council this year, we added three new members: Anne Eisner (Blessing of Animals), Bonnie Fairbanks (Daughters of the King and the Blessing of the Animals) and Mary Hoffman (The Mourner’s Path) who have each contributed greatly to the organizational planning of council events. A farewell reception was held for Veronica “Roni” Coulson, who returned to South Africa in December
after a 30-year career as a nurse with M.D. Anderson, during which she worked with the Pastoral Care ministries at the Cathedral and as a volunteer at The
Beacon. We were saddened to lose the spirit of council member Mary Ann Boyd, as she made her transition into new life in Christ.
Clergy The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas
The Rev. Glenice Robinson-Como, Canon Pastor
The Rt. Rev. Dena Harrison, Bishop Suffragan
The Rev. Betty Adam, Canon Theologian
The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, Bishop Suffragan
The Rev. John A. Logan Jr., Canon Emeritus
The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean
The Rev. Edward L. Stein, Assisting Priest
The Rev. James C. McGill, Canon Missioner
New canon to be hired in 2014 New chaplain to The Beacon to be hired in 2014
The Rev. James M. L. Grace, Canon for Formation and Worship
Cathedral Staff Ministry Staff
Facilities Staff
Jeremy Bradley, Minister for Youth and Young Adults Jen Frazer, Minister for Communication Bruce Power, Minister for Music and Organist Lisa Puccio, Minister for Children and Families David Simpson, Minister for Stewardship and Chief Operating Officer Robert Simpson, Canon for Music Melissa White, Minister for Community Life and Membership
Frank Guevara, Facilities Administrator Ardell Ray, Senior Sexton Brandon Johnson, Sexton James Taylor, Sexton Larry Thomas, Sexton Ruth Henderson, Senior Housekeeper Victoria Avila, Housekeeper Blanca Ortiz, Housekeeper
Administrative Staff
Cathedral Bookstore Kathy Jackson, Manager
Peggy Beltrami Financial Administrator Yency Bermudez, Assistant for Spanish Ministry Lisa Cantu, Receptionist Nora Fuller, Ministries Assistant Nelda Horton, Assistant to the Dean Mike Rizzo, Publications/Layout Editor Anne Shepard, Registrar and Wedding Liaison Ramona Sikes, Human Resource and Vendor Relations Manager
Auxiliary Staff Monica Czausz, Organ Scholar Patty Hurt, Archivist Martha Lewis, Special Needs Program Coordinator Cassie Morris, Nursery Supervisor
Cathedral Health and Outreach Ministries Charly Weldon, Executive Director Jonathan Holland, Community Outreach Manager Jane Vo, Volunteer Trainer Jennifer White, Administrative and Development Coordinator The Beacon Day Center Mike Puccio, Operations Director Ron Marshall, Shower and Laundry Coordinator Anntryce Savage, Kitchen Coordinator Zachary Hubenak, Kitchen Coordinator Case Management
Cathedral House Episcopal School Teri Jackson, Director
Reginald McNeill, Program Manager
Cathedral Treble Choir Marianna Parnas-Simpson, Director
Regina Walker, Program Manager Joy Mathews, Resident Assistant
Cathedral Urban Service Experience Rachel Graves Jones, Director
Cathedral Justice Project
Cloister Gallery Jeanne Roth, Director Kids Hope USA Susan Jackson, Director
Brigid’s Hope
Bob Thurmond, Program Manager Leslie Schweinle-Ginzel, Staff Attorney Justin Thompson, Staff Attorney David Pogue, Benefits Manager Alicia Martinez, Legal Assistant
2013 Vestry The vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. The responsibilities of the vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church’s mission by word and deed; to ensure effective organization and planning; and to manage resources and finances.
Source: An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church; Church Publishing, New York, 2000
Mike Bullington, Senior Warden Rob Rowland, Junior Warden Stan Pieringer, Chancellor Will Hamilton, Treasurer Lyman Paden, Assistant Treasurer Ted Dom, Secretary
Chris Bell Stuart Buchanan Michael Bullington Ted Dom Kaki Grubbs
Shannon Hayes Ellen Harrison David Kirkland Bill McKenzie Judy Mood
Phyllis Renfro Rob Rowland Joy Stapp Sonia Velazquez Bess Wareing
Endowment Trustees Michael Hendryx, President Andre Jackson, Vice-President Marc Cuenod
Patrick Hayes Frances Kittrell Jim Murdaugh
Mimi Prioleau James Stevens Dena Williams
Bishop Richardson Society The Cathedral is deeply grateful to all those who have named the Cathedral Endowment Fund in their estate. Anonymous (11) W. Andrew Achenbaum Anthony B. Adams Claire Elaine Adams Ben Monroe Anderson Mary Greenwood Anderson Hope Hammond Arnim Bruce Atkins Diana Kay Austin Herbert S. Autry Lynette S. Autry Robert Awe Catherine Barlow Mary Sue Wilson Barnum Jan Barrow Laura T. Barrow Thomas Davies Barrow Virginia Monahan Bayles Audrey Jones Beck Wendy A. Bentlif Philip S. Bentlif Ann Benzon John Benzon Mary Virginia Bille Georgia L. Blair Jean Ramsey Border Patrick Boruk Daniel Boudreaux
Mary Frances Newton Bowers Catherine Cage Masterson Bruns G. Sidney Buchanan Patricia Hagy Bunch Anne Bushman Pete Bushman Lella Cain Winifred Trimble Carter Grayson Reed Cecil Anne Chapin Louis Edward Chapin Allen Byron Clark Sr. Susan E. Collins Mary Cullinan Cravens Marc Cuenod * Martha Cuenod * Keith Grey Davis Manfred Dehmer Linnet F. Deily Delores Delsing Frances Cluett Desel Wayne Dockery Roy S. Dodd Donna K. Donelson James Robert Doty Joan Richardson Doty Anne H. Dougherty James L. Dougherty
Viola Duer H. Clayton Edwards Carl Lewis Estes II Gay Estes James Thomas Evans Edith Valerie Finch David Allen Fincher Helen Ann Fisher Jan Fitzhugh Thomas Champe Fitzhugh III John C. Flanagan II Marian Wilkin Fleming Cece Fowler Deborah Wandel Francis Paul David Fromberg Don Gard Phillippa Gard Susanne M. Glasscock Melbern G. Glasscock Dolores Russell Goble Robert McMillan Goble William J. Goldston Bebe Lord Gow The Rev. James McKay Lykes Grace Mrs. James McKay Lykes Grace I. R. Greene Kaki Grubbs R. Kent Grubbs
Eric Stewart Hagstette Guy Lefevre Hagstette William Edward Hamilton Nancy Wren Harris Hester Thomas Hawkins George F. Hawkins III Stuart G. Haynsworth Elizabeth Drane Haynsworth Antonia Day Helland Gail Hendryx Mike Hendryx Bonnie Ely Hibbert Sara Chapman Bagby Hill Georgie Hockman Douglas C. Hoffman Mary Hoffman Elizabeth Green Holden Frank E. Hood Jr. Howard Spencer Hoover Lillian England Hoover Barbara Goodhart Hornbeck Dorothy Knox Howe Houghton Thomas W. Houghton Edward M. House Jack Hurt Patty Hurt Alice Mahon Jenkins A. Clark Johnson Myra Wheeler Johnson Ann Wier McNamara Jones Norma Holland Jones Henry Powell Judah Jr. Isaac C. Kerridge Ruth S. Kerridge Lois Cleveland Kirkland William A. Kirkland David Hebard Knapp Letitia Knapp Evelyn Knolle Priscilla F. Larson Gary Lawrence Nancy Lawrence Mary R. Lewis H. W. Linnstaedter Harrison J. Luhn Robert Lincoln Maby Jr. Paul B. Mandell Barbara Manly Eugene Decker Manly Lena Mann Robert Mann Christian Manuel William Sherman Manuel III Leland Glenn Marsters Jr. Kristi Shipnes Cassin Martin Margaret D. Maxwell Mrs. John A. McClellan Frances McCraney Catherine McDonald Dr. Donald McDonald
John Bruce McDonald Helen Gould McIntyre Robert H. Milsted Jack Moore Nancy Powell Moore Neville Moore Susan Morrison Jim Murdaugh Eugenia Richardson Nash Terrylin G. Neale Hugo Neuhaus Richard Alan Newlin Roy L. Nolen Kate Ross Patton O’Neill Haylett O’Neill Jr. Lyman Rushton Paden Mary Lynn Pannill Mrs. Gary Pearson Lois Ann Peckham John A. Pendergrast Kay Heffler Pieringer Charles Horry Prioleau Mimi Prioleau Patricia Prioleau Robert Means Prioleau Jess R. Quave II Mary Whaley Rahe Fairfax Randall Risher Randall Sr. William J. Rapson Jr. Emily Rawlings Florence Hargrove Ray Bill Renfro Phyllis Renfro Eugenia Brooks Richardson J. Milton Richardson Nell Aycock Richardson Robert Charles Richter Jr. Lewis Donald Riggsbee Floyd W. Robinson Jr. C. Henry Roth Jeanne Arthur Roth Victoria Nalle Rowland Robert A. Rowland III Ed Ruckstuhl H. Clifford Rudisill II Lucile M. Rutledge Freddy Joe Sanches Charles B. Sanders Jr. * Charles King Sanders Karla J. Randle Schapansky L. Allen Schapansky Doris Lee Schild Elma Schneider Pauline Schweppe Henry Irving Schweppe Jr. David Scoular Thomas Wharton Shepard III David Simpson Rhonda Simpson
Margaret Cooke Skidmore Gary A. Smith Ruth Sollett Mary Louise Fitch Soule Cora Conner Spear Barbara Speir Clifton Speir Jack W. Spivey Janette P. Spotts Peter H. Squire Thomas O. Stansbury Jennifer Stansbury Dr. Joy Stapp Bette Ann Stead Janie Stevens * Jim Stevens * Josephine Shuck Stewart Pamela Dee Stockton Barbara Summy Mary Swift Stanley Hill Swift III Walter Hamilton Taylor Mary Taylor Susan Taylor Walker Taylor Christopher Blake Thomas Lorna Hume Thomas The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson * Diane Tracy Glen A. Tracy Jr. Francita Stuart Ulmer Chase Untermeyer Diana Untermeyer Mary Vandenberg Andy Vickery Carol Vickery Elizabeth Bledsoe Wareing Matthew Wareing Margaret Weaver Adrienne Elizabeth Webb Diane Savage Webb Phyllis Keese Webb Harry Charles Webb Jr. Blake Weisser Gordon H. Weisser Damon Wells Nance Foules Wier I. M. Wilford Bertha Williamson Sr. Mary Winfred, C.A. Barbara Wallace Winston Christine Theriot Woodfin Mary Barden Attwell Worrell Joyce E. Nogle Young deceased as of November 1, 2013 * new member as of November 1, 2013
1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002 713-222-2593 www.christchurchcathedral.org