Christ Church Cathedral Annual Parish Report 2014
JANUARY 18, 2015
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 176-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 66th 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 12 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, “God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.” — Psalm 46:5 This quote from Psalm 46 is this year’s Every Member Canvass theme. Stewardship themes comes and go, but this theme has taken hold of our collective imagination in rare and exciting ways. Each week, I hear parishioners quoting the psalm. Others call and email me with their hopes and ideas about how Christ Church can, indeed, remind Houston that God is present in our midst. It is our mission, and we have dedicated our spirits to it. The year 2014 was, of course, the year of the Cathedral’s 175th anniversary. Throughout 2014, we celebrated with a wonderful retrospective video, May Fete, the EMC kickoff dinner, and a Loyalty Sunday birthday brunch. We kicked off our birthday year in March with a splendid party in the Rice Lofts Ballroom, at which former deans Pittman McGehee, Walter Taylor, and Joe Reynolds were our honored guests. They regaled us with stories, and we concluded the evening by launching our Vision Action Plan, “A Future Filled with Hope.” That plan now guides our parish life, as we enhance Cathedral evangelism, pastoral care, outreach, parish identity in our neighborhoods, and spirituality. A major cornerstone of “A Future Filled with Hope” is the Bishop John E. Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer. The Hines Center, which was announced this past December, will be housed in the Episcopal Health Foundation Building at the corner of Fannin and Prairie. It will be a place of formation, spiritual practice, and sanctuary in the midst of the city. The Hines Center Task Force is hard at work preparing for the center; all the funding has been identified; and the doors are slated to open this fall. With regard to our financial health, the 2015 Every Member Canvass has been remarkably fruitful. As of the printing of this report, there are 584 pledges for a total dollar amount of $2,991,310. This is a 5.1-percent increase over last year, and it allows us to fund a full and faithful ministry budget for 2015. Stewardship giving is a good measure of Cathedral health, and the 2015 campaign evidences a very strong parish commitment to the work of the Gospel in this place. The year witnessed some staff transitions, and even as we celebrated and said goodbye to some beloved staff members, we welcomed into our midst Sigurd Øgaard, Canon Vicar Art Callaham, Canon Genevieve Razim, Canon Simón Bautista, and Curate Eileen O’Brien, who have contributed energy and enthusiasm to an already strong staff. I am grateful for their presence and for your welcome reception of them. I am blessed to serve as your dean, and I look forward to another year of shared ministry together. As we move through this season of Epiphany, I can’t wait to encounter all the ways God is revealed to us in the midst of the city! Grace and peace,
The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson Dean
Senior Warden’s Report Dear Cathedral Family, I have been honored to serve as your senior warden for 2014. I have had the good fortune to serve after Barkley began settling in as our new Dean and started to steer us along an exciting course. In short, I avoided the search and the transition, but got to see the excitement and the joy Barkley’s calling has produced. You are the loving community that makes all we do happen. Christ Church is blessed by the energy and the effort of so many to accomplish the good work our community does to show Christ’s love for all God’s people. It has been a joy and a privilege for your Vestry to help guide these efforts and to see the great results you have accomplished this year. Throughout the year, we celebrated the 175 years we have proclaimed the good news on Texas Avenue. Our joyous dinner at the Rice, where Dean Thompson was joined by three prior deans — Joe Reynolds, Walter Taylor and Pittman McGehee — was well attended and a real success. The year included a thoughtful video history of the Cathedral and many celebratory events, concluding with the Bishop’s visit and a proclamation from City Hall declaring “Christ Church Cathedral Day” in the City of Houston. Yes, we do show that God is in the midst of the City. Of course, much of the activity this year focused on the Vision Action Plan that resulted from the charrettes conducted last year. The plan — which is truly “A Future Filled with Hope” — was ready in March for a rollout at the 175th anniversary dinner, but development of the details and the work of implementation took much of the balance of the year. The largest element and the biggest commitment of resources in the plan involves the establishment of the Bishop John E. Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer, just across Fannin Street from our campus. In 2014 we once again were supported by a solid financial foundation. The Every Member Canvas has increased both in the total number of pledges and the total dollars pledged. The Cathedral has been blessed by the outpouring of support these past two years, and I thank you for this support of the Dean and the Cathedral’s mission — it makes all we do possible. The expense side of the budget was also positive, as we had finished the major capital projects and deferred maintenance in 2013, leaving 2014 as a year where most spending was focused on worship and outreach, without the need to finance much-needed repairs. Did I mention how fortunate I was to serve this year? On a final and more personal note, I want to thank all of you for your wonderful thoughts and prayers as I have dealt with my health situation. The support from this community has been absolutely, truly amazing, and it has meant so much to Anne, Diana, Will and me. Faithfully yours,
David Kirkland Senior Warden
Junior Warden’s Report Dear Parishioners, It has been my great privilege to serve as junior warden and chair of the Building and Grounds (B&G) Committee at Christ Church Cathedral in 2014. This could not have been a more exciting year to have served on the vestry, with the dual celebration of our 175th anniversary and our first year of implementation of our Vision Action Plan, which promises to take us a long way toward ensuring another successful 175 years. It was heartwarming to support Jeanne Roth and Dorothy Knox Houghton in the hanging of the spring photo exhibit in the Cloister Gallery, which provided many visual reminders of the history of Christ Church Cathedral and its parishioners. Among the exciting steps in the Vision Action Plan’s agenda was the vestry’s approval of the Bishop John E. Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer. Serving as chair of the B&G Committee has been a satisfying reminder of the importance of maintaining our cathedral, a real treasure in the midst of Houston. Taking up where last year’s committee completed their work, we focused on the possible impact of the office tower being constructed diagonally across the street from the cathedral on the southwest corner of Texas Avenue and Fannin Street. Accordingly, our committee supported David Simpson in obtaining a set of architectural-quality photos and laser measurements of the Cathedral. These provide a benchmark for insurance purposes in the event of any foundation changes which might relate to the new construction. Examples of ongoing work of the B&G Committee have been research into the droughtrelated cracking experienced in the Latham Building and Sanders Hall and overseeing repairs, as well as supporting David Simpson in improving the management of the parking garage, which has resulted in ensuring more Sunday parking and providing enhanced safety measures, while increasing rental revenues. Looking toward the longterm preservation of our Cathedral, the B&G Committee has been pleased to oversee the development of a Replacement Reserve Study, which includes a detailed analysis of our two-block physical plant. This will enable us to schedule and fund ongoing maintenance in an orderly manner over the coming years. I wish to thank the members of the B&G Committee — Ted Dom, Wayne Clawater, Charlie Prioleau, Sonia Velasquez, and Rob Rowland (ex officio) — for their help this year and for the continuing expertise and support of David Simpson, chief operating officer. Finally, none of this would have been possible without the vision and guidance of Barkley Thompson, our dean. Sincerely,
Ellen Harrison Junior Warden
Treasurer’s Report 2014 Parish Fund Revenues exceeded expenses by $2,000 in 2014. This was slightly less than budgeted due to some unexpected expenses — still, the surplus is a positive and strong reflection of both generous gifts and prudent actions to support the growing initiatives of the Cathedral! Total revenues of $4,736,000 were $662,000 more than in 2013. The Every Member Canvas (EMC) revenues increased $558,000 to $2,784,000, far more than originally budgeted. Some of the increase in the EMC was because some members who had previously made unpledged gifts elected to pledge in 2014. Still, total gifts increased $466,000 over 2013. Contributions from the Endowment increased $36,000 to $1,010,000. Revenue from the parking garage increased $38,000 to $168,000 when new tenants became available to replace the spaces leased by the hotels. Other revenues increased due to The Beacon being able to cover more of the programmatic facility expenses at the Dunn Center. Total expenses of $4,734,000 were $76,000 less than in 2013. Two factors made the lower total possible. First, only $45,000 was spent in 2014 to complete the major capital improvements authorized by the vestry in 2012. Second, diocesan expenses were $299,000 lower than in 2013 due to the impact of the new Episcopal Health Foundation and changes in diocesan budget procedures. There were three major increases in expenses. First, staff compensation increased $318,000; while this was primarily for raises and new positions approved in 2013, the vestry authorized additional staffing in support of the Vision Action Plan. Second, the vestry approved $200,000 to support the plan’s new initiatives. Finally, a notable new expense in 2014 was the Legacy Fund for Cathedral Preservation. The vestry created this fund within the Cathedral Endowment in order to cover unexpected major capital expenses. The vestry committed to an annual contribution to the Legacy Fund of at least $50,000. In 2014, the vestry was actually able to contribute $104,000 to the fund. 2015 Parish Fund Budget The draft budget for 2015 has, at this time, revenues exceeding expenses by a small amount. Revenues of $4,830,000 will increase by $94,000 over 2014 due to higher EMC and garage revenues and larger gifts from the endowment. Expenses of $4,829,000 will increase by $95,000. There will be increases in staffing costs due to inflation and new positions filled for the full year and also a significant increase in the diocesan assessment. There will be decreases in maintenance expenses. Overall expenses related to the Vision Action Plan will be neutral, as planning expenses in 2014 will be replaced with the lease for the Bishop John E. Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer and increased programmatic activity. Endowment Fund The Endowment Fund net assets increased over $1,500,000 in 2014 due to bequests and memorial gifts, gifts from Building Our Legacy, gifts to the Legacy Fund, and market appreciation. In addition to the annual distributions to the Cathedral, the endowment also continued the five-year commitment for the creation of the Bishop Richardson Chair at the Seminary of the Southwest and made a substantial commitment toward the creation of the Hines Center. The trustees also addressed ways to increase the endowment and increase membership in the Bishop Richardson Society. A planned giving task force was very helpful in that regard. Respectfully submitted,
Will Hamilton Treasurer
Financial Summary
(Dollars in Thousands)
2012 Audited
2013 Audited
2014 Unaudited
Change from 2013
2015 Proposed
Change from 2014
Every Member Canvass Other Gifts Endowment Contribution Facility Use and Other Revenue
2,376 291 1,184 421
2,226 430 974 444
2,784 342 1,010 600
558 (88) 36 156
2,827 272 1,024 707
43 (70) 14 107
Total Revenue Salaries & Benefits Outreach Worship & Programs Diocesan Asking & Assessment Facilities — Capital Projects Facilities — Legacy Fund Facilities — Hines Center Lease Facilities — Other
4,272 1,945 366 482 583 429
4,074 2,220 356 507 582 431
4,736 2,535 340 708 283 45 104
625
714
719
662 315 (16) 201 (299) (386) 104 0 5
4,830 2,638 390 607 332 0 100 100 662
94 103 50 (101) 49 (45) (4) 100 (57)
Total Expenses
4,430
4,810
4,734
(76)
4,829
95
Net Revenue less Expenses
(158)
(736)
2
738
1
(1)
Endowment Gift for Capital Projects Change in Net Assets
(158)
920 184
2
(182)
1
(1)
2012 Audited
2013 Audited
2014 Unaudited
Total To-Date
1,183
2,265
765
2,071
1,029
821
2012 Audited
2013 Audited
2014 Unaudited
Change from 2013
Bequests & Memorial Gifts Building Our Legacy Parish Gift to the Legacy Fund Investment Return Oil & Gas Royalties
160 1,183
306 2,265
1,671 564
2,689 569
289 765 104 1,185 376
(17) (1,500) 104 (1,504) (193)
Total Revenue Support of the Cathedral Other Expenses
3,578 1,200 163
5,829 1,925 153
2,719 1,036 125
(3,110) (889) (28)
Total Expenses
1,363
2,078
1,161
(917)
2,215 14,231 16,939
3,751 17,981 19,634
1,558 19,539 20,989
(2,193) 1,558 1,355
Cathedral Operating Funds
Building Our Legacy Pledges Gifts to the Endowment Gift to The Beacon Organ Console Memo: Pledges Paid
Endowment Fund
Net Revenue less Expenses Memo: Net Assets Memo: Invested Funds
319
7,627 5,613 750 689 7,174 or 94%
2014: The Year in Review January • The Cathedral welcomes back Eileen O’Brien to serve as curate, working primarily with Latino Ministries, the Justice & Peace Council, and CUSE. • The spring semester of the Faith and Society Seminar kicks off with a discussion of terrorism and its effects. • The Vestry gathers at Camp Allen for its annual retreat, at which the Vision Action Plan, “A Future Filled With Hope,” is adopted, charting the Cathedral’s mission and ministry course for the coming years.
February • The Reverend Chris Pullin, canon chancellor at Hereford Cathedral in England, presents a free lecture about Hereford’s original edition of the Magna Carta, which was on view at the Museum of Natural Science. • Christ Church hosts the tenth annual Diocesan Youth Choral Festival, which includes 55 youth from eight parishes.
March • More than 400 parishioners gather at the Rice Lofts Ballroom to celebrate Christ Church’s 175th birthday. Former deans Pittman McGehee, Walter Taylor, and Joe Reynolds share their favorite Cathedral stories, after which Dean Thompson launches the Cathedral’s Vision Action Plan. • The Rev. Genevieve Razim joins the staff in the new position of Canon for Welcome and Evangelism. • Three hundred and twenty Mardi Gras revelers attend the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, where 60 pounds each of pancakes and fruit, 27 pounds of sausage, and 21 pounds of bacon satisfy all hunger as Lent begins. • The inaugural Robert C. Stuart Lenten Series addresses issues of “Grace and Forgiveness.” Invited guests include Brené Brown, Anita Krause, Marcus Borg, Miroslav Volf, and Andrew Thompson. • The Cloister Gallery exhibit “Christ Church Cathedral: An Early History in Photographs” opens, featuring rare images from the collection housed at the Houston Public Library Texas Room.
April • Christ Church observes Passion Week, including footwashing on Maundy Thursday.
• Brigid’s Place sponsors “Easter in Memory of Her” on Holy Saturday, remembering the women who followed Jesus to Jerusalem in music and prayer. • At Easter, 2,124 attended services celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection. • The Tulip Reception honors longtime Cathedral members for their dedicated and faithful service. Over a delicious lunch, Canon Emeritus John Logan offers Cathedral stories for the second year.
May • The Cathedral Choir continues to offer great sacred works for chorus and orchestra with a performance Franz Schubert’s Mass in E-flat. This biennial concert was possible thanks to an endowment established by a generous parishioner. • The Rev. Art Callaham joins the Cathedral staff as canon vicar. • Thirty-one Cathedral youth and adults are confirmed and two are received by the Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly, retired bishop of Texas, during a visit to Christ Church. • The Young Adults Council hosts the first-ever Pub Trivia night. Participants have so much fun that Pub Trivia becomes a semiannual event!
June • Parishioners attend services on the Day of Pentecost, many wearing red to celebrate the Church’s birthday. Both the 11 a.m. Eucharist and the 5 p.m. Evensong are benchmarks of beautiful liturgy and music remembering the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. • Cathedral high-school youth travel to Boston on a mission trip to serve the underserved. • One hundred fifty-seven Cathedral parishioners and 200 additional Episcopalians from throughout the diocese turn out for the Episcopal Night at the Ballpark pregame cookout in the Bishop’s Courtyard. At the game, Dean Thompson throws the first pitch. • Bruce Power steps down as cathedral organist after serving Christ Church for a total of 23 years. • The Cathedral Treble Choir, under the direction of Marianna Parnas-Simpson, performs at New York’s Carnegie Hall. • Weekday daily guided tours of the Cathedral begin. By year’s end, 441 people had toured historic Christ Church following the noonday Eucharist.
July
October
• Sixty-four members of the Latino community come together for Noche Familiar (Family Night), an evening filled with food, song, laughter, and intergenerational conversation about what it means to be an ambassador for Christ and his reconciling work in the world. • Throughout the summer, the Cathedral sends more participants to summer camp at Camp Allen than any other parish in the diocese. • Summer Music Sundays, a children’s program led by Sara Brannon and Chase Jordan, concludes in joy and song.
• As part of the “Reaching the Neighborhoods” visioning initiative, the Parents of Little Ones group attracts nearly 40 parishioners both big and small to a playdate at Wonderwild in the Heights. • The annual Blessing of the Animals Service is held in honor of St. Francis. Scores of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, snakes, and a tarantula, are blessed. • International speaker Michael Harvey presents “The Power of Invitation,” encouraging us to “use these nine words in the right order: would you like to come to church with me?” • Former NPR religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Haggerty joins the Rev. Dr. Henry Strobel and Rice University professor Jeffrey Kripal for a two-day Cathedral symposium on science and spirituality. • The Pastoral Care Council hosts four “Lunch and Learn” sessions to explore the new pastoral care initiatives of the Vision Action Plan.
August • Twenty-six Cathedral middle-school youth travel to Oklahoma City for “Missionpalooza,” the annual diocese mission trip. The youth assist in recovery from tornadoes that struck the area in 2013. • The Cathedral welcomes Canon Simón Bautista Betances as canon missioner for Latino ministries and outreach, and it welcomes Canon Jim McGill back from sabbatical as canon missioner to The Beacon. • The Cathedral Urban Service Experience concludes its summer program having hosted 224 volunteers who contributed over 5,400 volunteer hours to local community-service organizations. • “Under the Big Top,” a circus-themed Rally Day, kicks off the program year complete with wall-to-wall parishioners and a costumed ringmaster, lion, and bear. Sexton Ardell Ray declares it “the best Rally Day in 30 years.”
September • The War and Faith Symposium gathered people from all over the city to Sanders Hall to hear from local scholars on the spiritual and cultural impacts of World War I, which began 100 years earlier. • Sigurd Øgaard becomes cathedral organist. A native of Norway with a doctorate in choral conducting, Sigurd has performed recitals in this country and Europe. • “Fajita Fiesta” kicks off the 20s & 30s fall program with 40 attendees. • “Bible by the Glass” at OKRA Charity Saloon starts up as part of the “Reaching Out to Downtown” visioning initiative. • The Fiestas Patrias event fills Reynolds Hall with 209 participants in an evening celebration of Latino culture, food, music, and dance.
November • The annual Alternative Giving Market sponsors 17 charitable organizations and raises over $30,000, as parishioners fill Reynolds Hall and give generously. • The Every Member Canvass, “God is in the Midst of the City,” raises a record number of stewardship pledges and pledge dollars, fully funding the Cathedral’s ministry budget for 2015. • Loyalty Sunday includes the final event in the Cathedral’s 175th anniversary celebration. Bishop Doyle preaches and confirms and receives 10 adults. There is also a wonderful “birthday luncheon.”
December • Sixty-two Cathedral adults, 15 youth, and 25 children attend a fun-filled Parish Retreat weekend at Camp Allen. • The Latino community prepares for Christmas with nine Posadas — seven in family homes and two at the Cathedral — with an average attendance of 50 people each night. • More than 600 homeless clients enjoy Christmas dinner in Reynolds Hall at Christmas at the Cathedral. • The Longest Night worship service on the winter solstice supports those for whom the holidays are marked by feelings of loss and grief. • At Christmas, 1,841 parishioners and guests celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord at Cathedral services.
Ministry Reports Formation and Worship Report by Art Callaham This year’s Rally Day theme, “Rally Under the Big Top,” was an apt metaphor for the formation and worship life of the Cathedral in 2014. As both our staff and membership grew, we gained capacity and creativity for big programs, lofty ideas and fantastic worship. Through the generosity of faithful donors, the annual Lenten program was rebranded and redeveloped into the inaugural Robert C. Stuart Lenten Speaker Series. Important regional and national thinkers gathered in Houston to discuss matters of theological importance in preparation for Easter. Later in the year, the Cathedral turned its attention to commemorating the outbreak of World War I, inviting local historians, the Houston Chamber Choir, and our very own Dean Thompson to offer creative and cogent reflections on the conflict. Though the end of the year brought the end of Lisa Puccio’s tenure as minister for children and families, we cannot but celebrate both the legacy of her ministry and the future that she, Jeremy Bradley, and members of the Children’s and Youth Ministry Councils have prepared. Strong attendance and strong volunteer commitment are the marks of a strong program that will continue to form our children into the full stature of Christ. Transition also punctuated the year in worship. Summer brought new faces to the chancel, including canons Genevieve Razim and Simón Bautista, as well as a new curate, Eileen O’Brien. Each of these talented ministers has added a new facet to the preaching and worship leadership that makes Sunday morning at the Cathedral so special. This year, we also said goodbye to cathedral organist Bruce Power, whose retirement provided a bittersweet moment to celebrate the legacy of music at Christ Church. But this was tempered, somewhat, as we welcomed Sigurd Øgaard to the organ bench in September. One might say that our musicians “haven’t missed a beat” as they continue to aid us all in worshiping God in the beauty of holiness. Given the level of activity, one could be forgiven for saying that the Cathedral’s formation and worship life has “become a circus.” That, however, wouldn’t capture the half of it. Life at your cathedral is truly the greatest show on earth.
Music Report by Robert Simpson For the music department, the major change of 2014 came in June with the departure of Cathedral Organist Bruce
Power. Having served this parish for a total of 23 years, Bruce endeared himself with his enormous musical gifts and his droll wit. A successful search for his replacement concluded in September when Sigurd Øgaard accepted the dean’s invitation to become the new cathedral organist. A native of Norway, Sigurd is a brilliant organist and improviser who has played recitals in this country and abroad including at the Washington National Cathedral and London’s Westminster Abbey. He earned his doctorate in choral conducting from Texas Tech University. The Treble Choir of Houston at Christ Church Cathedral was honored by an invitation to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Thanks to much hard work by director Marianna Parnas-Simpson, a brigade of parents and the strong support of this parish, the Treble Choir made its debut on that storied stage in June, earning a standing ovation. In addition to my rewarding work at the Cathedral, I serve as lecturer of church music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. My interaction with these talented students is a joy. Additionally, for more than a decade I have had the pleasure of directing the choirs at Congregation Beth Yeshurun for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. As I review the year just passed, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have been asked to serve this parish, and how blessed I am to be doing so in the company of such remarkable individuals. For each of them, and for you, I give thanks.
Christian Community Report by Melissa White We are an active, engaged community of faith, and without a doubt proved that to be true in 2014. We gathered in fellowship to break bread, celebrate, and volunteer, marking our collective interest in building connectedness to one another through intentional participation. Our get-togethers at times were tied to the liturgical calendar, as was the case this year and every year with our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. This “party with a purpose,” falling on the eve of the Lenten journey, was filled with great joy from more than 300 revelers celebrating the rich bounty with which our church pantry and our lives have been blessed. The Houston Astros’ calendar came into play as well as we hosted our annual Episcopal Night at the Ballpark pregame cookout, inviting Episcopalians from throughout the diocese to join us for hot dogs and cheer. Apparently we know how to cook tasty hot dogs in short order; we served more than 380 in 90 minutes, breaking last year’s record by 34 hot dogs. Phew!
The fall kickoff to Foyers brought a welcome surprise, with more first-time participants signing up than did in the previous three years. While the overall numbers remain strong at more than 100 participants, the continued injection of new members is important for the longterm sustainability of Foyers. Enough can’t be said about Foyers serving as a wonderful avenue by which parishioners get to know one another on a more personal level over shared meals. We wrapped up the year in terms of major happenings with our Annual Parish Retreat at Camp Allen. This always-popular event provided the perfect opportunity for parishioners to know one another — and God — better over the course of a weekend. One hundred parishioners of all ages took part in activities ranging from trail riding and nature walks to board games and s’mores by the campfire. Canon Callaham rounded out our time together by leading us in ways to cultivate gratitude. While much more happened throughout 2014 than we can outline in this space, rest assured we will continue to serve one another and be served, and give thanks for the opportunity that God has given us to form and bond through fellowship and as a Christian community.
Stewardship Report by David Simpson What a difference a year makes! By the first of the year, the 2014 Every Member Canvass had already set an all-time record at $2.6 million. In the following months, that figure climbed to $2.8 million, a 15-percent increase over 2013. 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 EMC kickoff event, “Star Church,” paved the way for yet another all-time record EMC for 2015, with total pledges already over $2.9 million. Also this year, we established the Legacy Fund for Cathedral Preservation within the Cathedral Endowment. This fund will receive contributions from the Cathedral’s annual budget, as well as a portion of certain gifts and bequests made to the Cathedral. Our financial and administrative staff, Peggy Beltrami, Ramona Sikes, Lisa Cleary, Lisa Cantu, and Anne Shepard, continue to serve the parish daily with excellence. Frank Guevara and his facilities staff — Ardell Ray, Larry Thomas, Brandon Johnson, Victoria Avila, Ruth Henderson, and Blanca Ortiz — have met the challenges of our growing parish and look forward to the opportunities of the coming year. Thank God for them all!
Children and Families Report by Art Callaham The story of faith is full of instances when God prepares his people for a journey, sets them on their way, and covenants to meet them when they get there. Abraham and Sarah go from Ur to the Land of Promise, the Israelites flee from Egypt through the wilderness. Even Jesus’ disciples are instructed to return to Galilee after his resurrection. “He’s going ahead to meet them,” the angel tells the women at the tomb. Thus, the life of faith is a cycle of preparation, movement, and meeting. So 2014 was a time of preparation in children’s and family ministry. The overall growth of our program and the continued investments of our volunteers were God’s way of preparing us for the transitions that will follow Lisa Puccio’s retirement. With the arrival of each new family to the cathedral and the birth of each new baby, we are able to continue the tradition of excellent formation for which Lisa laid the groundwork. The first part of 2015 will be a time of movement. By God’s grace, Jamie Martin-Currie agreed to serve as the interim children’s minister. She joins Martha Lewis, Cassie Morris, Debra Cross, and the host of paid and volunteer helpers that make our nursery and Sunday School run each week. Meanwhile, the search for a new children’s minister continues. The dean has cast a wide net in order to ensure that we find the most capable successor to Lisa in this ministry. Our hope is to have someone in place by the summer and to meet the new program year with vision and expectation. There is another factor, common to all the biblical travel stories, which bears mentioning at this point. God never simply sets his people off on the road by themselves. In one way or another, he always travels with them. Children’s and family ministry will be a journey in 2015, but it will be a journey with God. For that we give thanks.
Youth and Young Adults Report by Jeremy Bradley Each year brings its own challenges and excitement. We saw lots of growth in our youth ministry this year, beginning with our confirmation class. We used the Confirm not Conform curriculum, which allowed the youth to question their faith We brought back the Spring Break Snow Bash, partnering with several other Houston-area Episcopal churches. Our Giving Tree fundraiser received its largest amount ever of $15,000 for youth scholarships! In August, we began looking at how to transform our highschool ministry by building up leaders to serve in the church and community. Lastly, we reestablished our short-term
international missions by forming a relationship with the Diocese of Costa Rica with a trip planned for the summer of 2015. The next year looks promising for youth ministry at the Cathedral, with new adventures and a strong desire to see spiritual growth in our students. The 20s & 30s have had a wonderful year exploring new ways to be more active in the community at the Cathedral and in the greater Houston area. The formation of the now semiannual Pub Trivia event has been a huge success, bringing Cathedral members and friends of all ages to enjoy pub food, trivia questions, and fellowship. We also worked with several other Episcopal 20s & 30s groups around Houston to form the first young adult service day at the Houston Food Bank. This is a step toward building up the greater Episcopal community and helping our neighbors in need. In the spring, we discussed the Gospel of Matthew, and in the fall we watched a video series called “For the Life of the World” which allowed us to examine our lives and our faith in how we live in the world, but are not of it. Our annual retreat brought Eric Moen of St. Martin’s to talk about how we can become more involved in changing our communities through service. This year we look forward to building our community and the communities around us.
Outreach and Social Justice Report by Simón Bautista and Eileen O’Brien This has been a “God in our midst” year for the Mission & Outreach Council, as it continues carrying on the mission and vision of the Cathedral through events and the activities of its committees. With the support of parishioners and the hard work of council members, the Alternative Giving Market in November collected over $30,000 in donations. Seventeen local organizations, including The Beacon, were the recipients of the money raised. Each of these organizations serves those in deep need, and we are grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to contribute.
Care and Support Report by Glenice Robinson-Como The Pastoral Care Council began the year planning events, recruiting pastoral care leaders, assigning chairpersons and hiring a pastoral care coordinator to lay the groundwork for the new initiative. As four members rolled off of the council this year, it was reorganized to include all lay Eucharistic visitors and lay pastoral visitors as council members, as well as allowing space for others to join the council. The council will have co-chairs for the first time; one member will serve as chair of training and development, and the other will serve as the chair of event planning. The pastoral care office also implemented an emergency care line to provide after-hours support to our members; created pastoral care database system for clergy, which will also serve as a reporting system for new lay pastoral leaders; re-established the Cathedral as an operating Community of Hope International Center (to be used to train new pastoral leaders); developed a speaker’s bureau as a continuous training resource for members; and provided care notes in Spanish to support our Latino congregation. This year the prayer shawl ministry completed 22 shawls to provide comfort and care and attended a brunch at a member’s home to get to know one another better. The members also registered for a workshop at the Cenacle, “God Works with Our Hands.” The flower ministry worked quietly behind the scenes arranging flowers and delivering them to our community. This year, they delivered 25 arrangements to the homes of our members. We have registered four members to attend training in February to facilitate the Mourner’s Path, and 10 members are registered to receive Community of Hope training in January.
Membership Report by Genevieve Razim
The council also presented Christmas at the Cathedral on December 13, offering meals and presenting gifts to more than 600 homeless men, women, and children. Over 140 volunteers showed up to help with the event. It was another spirited day here at Christ Church Cathedral!
It was my joy to join the Cathedral staff in the spring and work with the Welcome & Evangelism Council to encourage and foster a culture of invitation and welcome within the Cathedral community. Actively seeking and acting on opportunities, both on and off campus, to connect with unaffiliated persons and invite them into Cathedral life and worship began in earnest as part of the “Reaching Out to Downtown” initiative, which includes:
The Justice & Peace Council continued its work to address unjust structures in our society, focusing on building awareness of the foundational causes of poverty, the plight of the mentally ill, the situation of unaccompanied child immigrants from Central America, and GLBT issues.
• Midday tours of the Cathedral, which began this summer as an effort to connect with the pre-existing lunch crowd streaming into Reynolds Hall each day. These tours have resulted in hundreds of personal introductions of clergy to non-members, raising awareness of the presence and
vitality of Christ Church in downtown, and successfully bringing at least two persons into our community. • An information campaign to downtown hotel concierges and residential building concierges began this summer and is ongoing. In particular, personal contacts are being made with concierges in residential buildings, offering our information and services to help achieve the mutual goal of their residents living full, enriched lives in the context of downtown. • “Bible by the Glass” kicked off in the fall, providing a weekly off-campus Bible study just three blocks from the Cathedral at OKRA Charity Saloon. These gatherings have created new visibility and awareness among our downtown neighbors and offer an alternative entry into Cathedral life for folks not quite ready to darken the church doors. This group grew modestly over the fall and will continue to grow through personal invitation and strategic communications. The Welcome & Evangelism Council also hosted international speaker Michael Harvey for a daylong evangelism workshop, to which we invited the Episcopal churches located in the greater Houston area and a number of local, mainline Protestant churches. In “The Power of Invitation” presentation, he offered insights and strategies for overcoming common fears and blocks to inviting others and encouraged us to “use these nine words in the right order: would you like to come to church with me?” During the Dean’s Class that same weekend, Mary Parmer presented “Invite, Welcome, Connect.” Many members reported appreciating her insightful question in evaluating a church’s welcome to newcomers: “Are we a friendly community (welcoming to newcomers) or a community of friends (focused on our existing relationships)?” The council also focused on a number of other activities during the year, including the twice-annual Welcome Dinner,
which in the fall drew 62 newcomers to the Deanery; the welcome-table makeover, which included adding a bilingual table drape; and the reorganizion and expansion of the Sunday-morning Welcome Team.
Latino Ministry Report by Simón Bautista The Latino ministry at the Cathedral has been particularly blessed, with not one, not two, but three clergy members as well as and one layperson committed to nurturing the 1 o’clock congregation. With the return of Canon Jim McGill from sabbatical, and the arrival of the Rev. Eileen O’Brien and Canon Simón Bautista over the summer, Dean Barkley Thompson and the Vestry have made a clear statement that Latino Ministry is important to Christ Church Cathedral. Regular family nights, the September folklórico event, and the annual Latino Conference are just a few of the activities held by our Latino Ministry throughout 2014. In December, we expanded the number of days we dedicated to Las Posadas to nine — seven of which were held in the homes of parishioners, and two of which were at the Cathedral. These gatherings averaged 50 people each night. There was much planning and preparation at the end of 2014, and a number of new programs are launching at the start of the new year. An initiative to develop neighborhoodbased small Bible studies and prayer groups is underway. The goal is to form three or four different groups in areas throughout the city. We are also beginning a bilingual Eucharist on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the Golding Chapel. This effort is being led by Canon Bautista and the Rev. O’Brien and starts January 21.
Vital Statistics Average Sunday attendance in 2014: 691 In 2013: 675
Easter attendance in 2014: 2,124 In 2013: 2,364
Total active baptized members at the end of 2014: 3,631 At the end of 2013: 3,608
Number of pledging households in 2014: 584 In 2013: 457
Total amount pledged in 2014: $2,848,702 In 2013: $2,319,502
Total church school students enrolled in 2014: 276 In 2013: 229
Baptisms in 2014: 47 In 2013: 53
Confirmations in 2014: 39 In 2013: 34
Received in 2014: 4 In 2013: 1
Reactivated in 2014: 22 In 2013: 26
2014 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
David Kirkland, Senior Warden Ellen Harrison, Junior Warden Lyman Paden, Chancellor Will Hamilton, Treasurer Michael Bullington, Assistant Treasurer Vicki Cawley, Secretary
Chris Bell Wayne Clawater Ted Dom Kaki Grubbs Shannon Hayes Chris McCord
Bill McKenzie Whitney Ogle Charlie Prioleau Phyllis Renfro Sonia Velazquez Bess Wareing
Endowment Trustees Jim Murdaugh, President Michael Bullington Marc Cuenod
Patrick Hayes Frances Kittrell Jack Pendergrast
Joy Stapp 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 Jane Anderson Curtis * William P. Curtis Jr. * 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 Thomas Kirkland Harrison * 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 Charlotte Harrison Jones * Chester 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. Patty Turney * Bill Turney * 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. F. Carrington Weems * 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, 2014 * new member as of November 1, 2014
Clergy The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas The Rt. Rev. Dena Harrison, Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Jeff W. Fisher, Bishop Suffragan The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean The Rev. Arthur A. Callaham, Canon Vicar The Rev. James C. McGill, Canon Missioner The Rev. Glenice Robinson-Como, Canon Pastor
The Rev. Genevieve T. Razim, Canon for Welcome and Evangelism The Rev. Simón Bautista Betances, Canon Missioner The Rev. Eileen E. O’Brien, Curate The Rev. Betty Adam, Canon Theologian The Rev. John A. Logan Jr., Canon Emeritus The Rev. Edward L. Stein, Assisting Priest
Cathedral Staff MINISTRY STAFF
FACILITIES STAFF
Jeremy Bradley, Minister for Youth and Young Adults Jen Frazer, Minister for Communication Sigurd Øgaard, Associate Minister of Music and Cathedral Organist David Simpson, Minister for Stewardship and Chief Operating Officer Robert Simpson, Canon for Music Melissa White, Minister for Community Life
Frank Guevara, Facilities Administrator Ardell Ray, Senior Sexton Brandon Johnson, Sexton Larry Thomas, Sexton Victoria Avila, Housekeeper Ruth Henderson, Housekeeper Blanca Ortiz, Housekeeper
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Peggy Beltrami Financial Administrator Yency Bermudez, Assistant for Spanish Ministry Andrew Boney, Youth Assistant Lisa Cantu, Receptionist Lisa Cleary, Finance and Human Resources Assistant Debra Cross, Ministries Assistant Nelda Horton, Executive Assistant to the Dean 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 Jamie Martin-Currie, Interim Children’s Minister Cassie Morris, Nursery Supervisor Cathedral Bookstore Kathy Jackson, Manager Cathedral House Episcopal School Teri Jackson, Director Cathedral Treble Choir Marianna Parnas-Simpson, Director Cloister Gallery Ellen Harrison, Director Kids Hope USA Jennifer Lin Sickman and Don Vold, Directors
1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, Texas 77002 713-222-2593 www.christchurchcathedral.org
CATHEDRAL HEALTH AND OUTREACH MINISTRIES Charly Weldon, Executive Director David Edwards, Senior Director of Operations Jonathan Holland, Community Outreach Manager Ruth Githumbi, Office Manager Jane Vo, Case Manager The Beacon Day Center Mike Puccio, Operations Director Anntryce Savage, Kitchen Coordinator Zachary Hubenak, Volunteer Trainer Coty Booze, Intake Coordinator Ronald Marshall, Laundry and Shower Coordinator Silvia de la Cruz Garza, Laundry and Shower Support Case Management Loretta Randolph, Case Manager George Bement, Case Manager Brigid’s Hope Regina Walker, Program Manager Beacon Law Leslie Schweinle Ginzel, Program Director Bob Thurmond, Attorney at Law David Pogue, Public Benefits Specialist Robert Thurmond IV, Legal Assistant