Annual Meeting Transcripts
Unfortunately, our audio didn’t record properly. However, we were able to extract the transcripts and run them through ChatGPT to clean them up. Please Note: Transcripts of this sort are never perfect—the transcript below may contain slight errors.
Introduction
[Fr. Casey begins speaking]
Well, thank you all again for being here. I’m grateful for this opportunity to enter into this time with you and to address some important matters for our church family.
I’ll begin with a brief overview of where we’re headed today. First, Dave Anderson will lead us in some of the business aspects of this meeting, including the admission of new parish council members and some minor updates to our bylaws. After that, Dave and Todd will present the budget for 2025. Julie Bettis, who was scheduled to speak on the Women's Ministry, couldn't be here due to illness, but I’ll briefly share some thoughts. Then, Ross will speak about the music ministry, and I’ll wrap up with some reflections on what we’re hoping to accomplish practically in 2025.
I also want to take a moment to express my gratitude to the current parish council. This group has served us well, and I want to recognize their hard work. When we started as a church, we had an external council made up of church planters and practitioners, and it was clear that we needed to transition to a council that was internal to our church. The members of the original council were chosen not because they agreed with everything I said but because they had a strong love for Christ and his work in this community. I chose them for their character—people I admire and want to grow alongside. A good leader surrounds themselves with people who are godlier and smarter than they are, which is certainly the case with our council. These individuals bring unique competencies and perspectives, which has made for a strong team.
I also want to point out that while the council members served in their roles, they didn’t just say “yes” to everything but engaged thoughtfully and provided great input. That’s what I value in a parish council—people who will challenge me and others while always keeping our shared goal in mind: the flourishing of God’s people and seeking his glory.
I want to thank the current council, especially Todd Baty and Dave Bettis, who are rolling off the council today. Their wisdom and sharp thinking have been invaluable in our church’s development, and they’ve been key in establishing a strong culture of giving. Thank you both for all your hard work and your contributions. Dave will be transitioning to a role as treasurer, and Todd will continue to serve in an advisory capacity. We’re so grateful for both of you.
Let’s give them a round of applause.
Voting
And now, I’ll pass things over to Dave Andersen, who will guide us through some of our business today.
[Dave Andersen takes the stage]
Thanks, everyone. The first part of our meeting is the voting on some bylaw amendments and new parish council members. Each member should have a handout with the relevant information. We’re proposing two amendments to our bylaws.
The first amendment concerns the eligibility of married couples serving together on the parish council. We’ve decided it’s not wise for a married couple to serve on the parish council simultaneously. The second amendment is to expand the pool of potential nominees for the parish council by adding a provision for people "in the process of being confirmed" in the Anglican Church of North America. This is because there’s a gap between our congregational meeting and when confirmation will take place in January, and we want to make sure we don’t exclude qualified candidates because of timing.
Are there any questions on these amendments?
[No questions]
Next, we will vote on the slate of new parish council members. I want to thank everyone who submitted nominations. We could not take everyone, but we are presenting the following individuals for approval: Raquel Bolender, Sophie Hamby, and Scott Barnes. These are wonderful additions to the council, and I’m excited for them to serve.
Now, please cast your votes. You can mark your ballot with “yes” or “no” for the bylaw amendments and the slate of new parish council members. Once you’ve filled out your ballot, we’ll collect them and move on to the next part of the meeting.
[Ballots are collected]
Budget
[Dave Bettis takes the stage]
Good morning, everyone. My name is Dave Bettis, and I’m honored to be taking on the role of treasurer for the church this year. I want to start by thanking Todd Baty for his excellent work as treasurer over the past two years. Many of the processes and systems we’re using now result from his efforts, and I’m deeply grateful for him.
Let’s look at where we’ve been financially this past year. If you have the handout with the activity statement, I’ll walk you through it.
Starting with tithes and offerings—this year has been truly amazing in terms of generosity. Our giving has increased significantly. Last year, we received $152,000 in tithes and offerings, and this year, we’re at $279,000, which is a 54% increase. This is a testament to the generosity of our people, and I want to thank everyone who has given so faithfully.
One thing I want to highlight is the increase in giving from non-parishioners. We’ve seen many people outside our church community express support for what we’re doing, which is a great sign of health for the church.
Looking at the variable costs, one area I’d like to highlight is payment processing fees. These are fees that the church incurs when people give by credit card. For example, if you donate $100, the bank charges the church $3 for processing. This year, we’ve paid around $2,000 in processing fees. If you’re a regular giver, one way you can help the church is by giving through cash or check, as it avoids these fees.
In terms of staff expenses, we’ve added a retirement contribution to our compensation package for staff in 2024, which is something we’ve been working toward for a while. We’ve also had some unfilled staff roles, which has resulted in savings in salaries. We currently have a couple of roles open, including a director of operations and an associate pastor role.
Looking at total operational expenses, they’ve been pretty flat compared to last year, which is great. We’ve managed costs effectively despite one-time expenses like moving into this space and making improvements.
Finally, I want to mention the Mercy & Missions fund. Ten percent of all tithes and offerings directly support mercy ministries and missions. This fund fluctuates depending on our giving, but we’ve been able to support many good causes with it this year.
That’s a quick overview of where we’ve been financially. Are there any questions?
[No questions]
We gave $10,000 in donations to a variety of missions and organizations, including RUF, Reformed University Fellowship (which the college ministry had done), InterVarsity (another college ministry), some church plants in Hawaii within our diocese that we helped, and churches in Kenya that are experiencing political friction and challenges within the world’s economic system.
As we'll see in next year's budget, we will need to allocate gifts to these folks and go over the entire plan.
Regarding mercy gifts, people often come to us seeking help, and we consider gifts that support shelter, food, clothing, or medical care on a long-term basis. We're currently working on developing guidelines to evaluate these requests, but for now, the pair of sponsors evaluate them on an ad hoc basis. We aim to spend about 5% on mercy and 5% on missions. We still have much to do this year, and the parish council is focused on addressing this. Last year, we had a $44,000 loss, but this year, we have a $73,000 surplus, so we’re in a healthy financial position.
Looking ahead, we’ve projected a 10% increase in tithes and offerings, which would total $388,000. In previous years, we received support from our diocese to help get the church established, but now that we are self-sufficient, those grants are no longer available, and we are fully reliant on our own support.
Regarding staff expenses, the diocese publishes guidelines on how churches should compensate pastors, and we’ve been working to bring Casey’s compensation up to the minimum recommendations. This includes health insurance, retirement, and a salary that allows him to live where he’s doing ministry. For next year, we’ve increased Casey’s contribution to 10%, and we’ve made cost-of-living adjustments for health insurance and salaries. Holistically, his compensation is now close to the median, and we hope this alleviates the burden of living in this very expensive city.
We’ve also added several part-time roles, including a director for music, Parker Boll, and we have a slot for a part-time pastor. The budget allocated to staff aligns with the diocese’s guidelines, which recommend that staff expenses should not exceed two-thirds of the budget.
For the diverse missions fund, we’ve allocated recurring gifts to support UFID in the Hawaii network. We’ve started to establish personal relationships with missionaries and others on the ground there, and we’ll continue to connect with them in the coming year.
That’s all I have for now. I’ll take a pause and answer any questions.
[Question: What is the equity here?]
Total equity refers to the amount of cash we currently have on hand—just cash, no speculative assets.
[Fr. Casey speaks]
I want to take a moment to share a bit about our building. We moved into this space knowing that the counseling center next door, the Samaritan Center, owns the property. They had already been in talks with developers, and we knew that they were planning to sell. We’ve learned that developers are in the process of planning for this space, and it looks like December 2025 is when they’ll begin their plans. So, we might have about a year left here, but everything is still contingent on how things unfold.
The reserve we’ve built is based on the understanding that our time here is limited. As part of the next steps, the parish council will be looking into possible spaces and preparing for the transition.
It’s an exciting time, and we’re grateful for all that has happened so far. I think we’re in that gray space where some would say we’re already an established church, while others might say we’re still in the process of getting there. The analogy I’ve heard is that churches, like children, start off as homeschools and gradually grow into middle schools, high schools, and beyond. So, I think we’re somewhere in the grade school phase, moving toward a more established organization with stronger staffing and support.
On another note, I want to welcome some new members of the parish council. Please stand up, Raquel, Scott, and Sophie. Welcome, and thank you for serving!
Julie couldn’t be here today because she’s at home with sick kiddos. She oversees our Harbor Women’s Ministry and has been doing a lot to develop it. Julie has been experimenting with various events and gatherings, such as "Surprised by Grace," baby showers, weddings, and small women’s groups. These are all ways we’re building a network of relationships within the church. Julie’s approach to women’s ministry is very relational, and she focuses on fostering deep, one-on-one connections. If you’re not already involved in a group, I encourage you to reach out and participate.
It’s been wonderful to see how the women in our church support and care for each other, especially in the face of losses many have experienced. It’s truly a blessing to witness.
Now, I’ll pass it over to Ross to share about our music ministry.
Music
[Ross takes the stage]
Thank you, and thank you for your patience with me. I’ll keep this brief and share a few thoughts. The image that came to mind when reflecting on the gratitude shared today was that of a fruit tree. When you enjoy the fruit, you’re benefiting from years of growth, care, and tending by someone who has invested in it. I see this very much in the church plant’s journey—years of hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance, and now we get to enjoy the fruit of that labor. So, thank you to everyone who has stuck with us through this.
My name is Ross Hauck, and for those who don’t know me, I’m married to Laura, who has a beautiful voice. We also have two daughters, Lillian and Charlotte, and two boys who are away in Montana. I’m very grateful for the musicians here. Even though not all of them are present today, I appreciate their willing hearts and service.
The image of the woman who poured her alabaster jar of perfume over Jesus has always stuck with me when thinking about music ministry. Some may have thought it was wasteful, but it was her act of love and devotion. I see that same offering in the musicians who give their time and talent to serve in worship. They beautify our space and glorify God through their offering.
If you have hidden musical talents and want to get involved, especially if you play the kazoo, come talk to me! We’re always looking for new ways to include people.
The heart of my role as music director is similar to what my wife does at home: preparing a feast that’s nutritious and delightful for the soul. Our goal with the music is to be edifying and enjoyable—beautiful and pleasing to the ear. When God created the heavens and the earth, He stepped back and saw that it was good. We aim to do the same with our music, honoring God through our craft.
Casey asked me to share a bit about the vision for worship here. One passage that has shaped my thinking is Ezekiel 47, which describes a river flowing from the temple, deepening as it flows. I see our Sunday worship as that river—it starts small but grows deeper and more life-giving as it flows. And just like that river, I believe our worship can bless not only us but the entire community, carrying healing and life wherever it goes.
We’ll continue to host events to deepen our worship experience and increase our skill as worshipers so we can enter more fully into worship on Sundays.
Finally, I want to thank this community for embodying the spirit of 1 Corinthians 13, which says that if we don’t have love, we’re nothing more than a clanging cymbal. I’ve already seen that love in action, and that’s the true measure of our worship—how we love each other. That’s what has truly blessed my wife and me.
So as you engage different musical styles, as we have maybe some minor changes throughout the service or here and there, as we sing together, may the Lord increase our love for each other in that regard. And I think that's all I have to say. Thank you so much, Casey, for the opportunity. Thanks.
[Fr. Casey comes back up]
Thank you, Ross. So, yeah, it's almost one o'clock, and I feel like I have way more to share than I probably should. But it all feels important, so I'm going to try to be brief. I'll probably talk fast. If you were with us last year, you know we were really focused on stability. When we came out of COVID, we made some intentional decisions to lean in and go in ways that would really move our church forward. That was the focus of 2023. And by God's providence, we saw unfold before us things we did not expect.
It was a year where we learned that the Lord has no problem changing our best-laid plans. We had different plans for ourselves, and we learned a lot from that. In retrospect, the game-time experience has actually been invaluable. Some of us know that better than others, but I just want to highlight that. What could have felt like a dismantling or a redirecting of our life was actually something we gained a lot from—experience can be a profound teacher. We learned a lot through going through those experiences.
If you don’t know the story, it has to do with space, people, and all that. We also need collective wisdom. It’s one thing for a few of us to be wise, but when a body of people goes through something together, there’s wisdom that comes from that collective experience. I think the biggest thing we learned is that we gained a greater sense of who we are. I think 2023 formed an identity in us as a church. If you were here for the membership meeting, I spoke about this in detail, but I hope we now know who we are in a way we’ve never known before.
As we enter the end of 2024 and look ahead to 2025, I can tell you that every leader feels the burden I feel: There are so many good things we could do, but what should we be doing? What should we give ourselves to?
As I prayed and reflected on this, 1 Corinthians 3 kept coming to mind. I kept reading it over and over. Paul speaks of watering and planting, and he speaks about laying the foundation. He addresses each of those in unique ways, and I think that’s what Ross was just speaking about when he talked about worship. We have a foundation here—no doubt about it. Our foundation, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3, is Jesus Christ. It’s his gospel and grace, which is what we get to give to you every week through proclamation, word, song, preaching, and at the table. This is what makes us united—when we believe in the same gospel and feel committed to it.
If you’ve been with us for any length of time, I think it’s clear that when you leave here after worship, you might say, "Man, those people really love Anglicanism." But that’s not the point. Anglicanism is not the point here. It’s not about a set of agendas; it’s about Jesus Christ and him crucified, and our worship reflects that.
Coming out of this past summer, after a month away, I always meet with my spiritual director before coming back. I unload on him, and he reflects it back to me. He said, “Casey, you’re coming back to Harbor not as a church planter but as a pastor.” For some reason, that statement really did something in my mind. I appreciate the survey and the questions you asked because they tie into this.
When you're a church planter, you have control over a lot of things. But when you move from church planter to pastor, you have to give up control in order to see the church grow on the foundation you've laid. And to the degree that you give up control, you actually see the growth take place. So as I think about 2025, that’s what I’m focusing on—building on the foundation we’ve established. We are building a pond, not just me building a pond.
You’ve heard from parish counselors, Dave has talked about vision and budget, and others have spoken about worship, so I won’t cover those areas. But I want to talk about some things that might sound a little strange at first, but they’re important. I think about building a foundation in two ways: what’s already being done and what still needs to be done.
Technology
One of the things already being done is in the area of technology. I know some of you might be thinking, “Screens?” But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’ve been learning a lot from Beka Johnson, who has done a phenomenal job rebuilding our website and integrating our technologies. With a lean staff like ours, we really rely on these technologies to stay organized. Without them, I’d be trying to manage more people than I could do effectively.
What we’re trying to do is develop a robust Christian witness in a digital environment. Now, I know some of you might be skeptical. But the reality is the front porch of the church today is its digital presence. People will get to know us online before they ever get to know us in person. We do the same with restaurants and coffee shops—we look them up online first. It’s just the world we live in now.
When it comes to technology, you can either be tech-wise, tech-foolish, or tech-oblivious. We want to be tech-wise. We’re not going to let technology take over our worship service; apart from the application, everything we do in worship is almost entirely analog. But we also don’t want to bury our heads in the sand. Technology, used correctly, can enhance our connections with each other.
Think about the printing press 500 years ago. People reacted to it in much the same way some people are reacting to digital technology now. If we print books, it will commodify religion—it will oversaturate people’s lives. But now, no one challenges the use of books. In the same way, we want to use technology wisely. When you leave here, you’re living in digital environments all week. Some of those are good. Some are not. Part of what we want to do is use digital touchpoints in ways that serve you.
We’ve heard it from people that they found us through our website or our digital presence long before they ever came here in person. We want our website to accurately represent who we are, to bear witness to the gospel, and be a tool for our community. We want to be tech-wise in how we use these tools.
Secondly, we want our technology to help you go deeper in your study of God and to help you build stronger relationships. One of the things we’ve done is create the Church Center app. It’s a free version, and Beka would love for me to ask everyone to download it right now. It consolidates information in one place, helps facilitate connection, provides updates, and has a directory that allows people to connect with each other. We want the app to be a hub for our community, not just an external tool.
The directory is a big part of this. It’s only visible to people who have opted into it, and we’ve set up the most secure default settings possible. But we want you to be able to control what you share. It’s meant to be a place for connection, not to invade privacy. The app also gives you access to the giving portal, volunteer sign-ups, and scheduling. All of this will be huge as we grow. We’re just scratching the surface of what we can do with this tool.
We want to be intentional about how we use technology. Just because we can use it doesn’t mean we should. But when it can be used to edify and help, we want to lean into that. We still need help with this, and Beka would love for more people to get involved. She’s overseeing this as our "digital liturgist" and is doing incredible work. This is not a paid position—Beka has been serving in this role out of her own time and energy.
So, that’s a quick overview of some of the things we’re focusing on. Thank you for your continued engagement and support as we move into the next phase of our life as a church.
Safety
Second, I’m moving quickly here, but this is an important one. This might be the most important thing I speak to today, and it’s about church safety. We want to build and develop robust safety structures and safeguards to protect against abuse within the church. It’s tragic and deeply sad that the church, the very place intended for healing, has been a place where abuse has happened. This is diabolical.
I’m so grateful for our denomination’s leadership in this area, as well as the requirements from our diocese. They provide resources, and they also require us to implement certain policies and practices to ensure the safety of everyone, especially our children.
We currently require training and screening for all volunteers working with children, and if you’ve gone through this process, you know it can be quite detailed. Jen, my wife, oversees the children’s ministry, and she personally ensures we know each teacher thoroughly. We don’t just trust the training and screening—we get to know these people personally to ensure they are truly fit for this role.
If you want to see the fine print of our safeguarding policies, we have it posted on our website under the public children’s ministry section. But safeguarding is not just about protecting children—it’s about everyone in the church. We want to make it as close to impossible as possible for abuse to happen here. And if anything were to happen, there would be clear, immediate steps to report it.
For this to work, we need to be intentional and open, consistently making it clear that we will not tolerate any form of abuse. Abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, verbal, financial, or spiritual.
In 2025, we plan to form a more robust safeguarding team, not just for the children but for the entire congregation. This team will be overseen by me, but it will also include a senior warden, such as David Andersen, to act as a proxy for me. That way, if there were ever an allegation against me, there would be someone else to go to.
The team will also include parish council members and others from the congregation. This is our way of developing clear pathways for reporting any concerns. It's tragic that we have to make this so public, but being transparent and consistent is key. It’s important to emphasize that while we aim to prevent abuse, we also want to be a church that fosters healing and life.
That’s what we are leading into in 2025: safeguarding for the entire congregation. It’s not just a preventive measure but a step toward a healthier and safer community for everyone.
Prayer
Now, to wrap this up, the last area of significant development I want to speak about is one that I feel is crucial for 2025: prayer ministry. We often talk about watering and planting—what Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 3—and we know from Acts 6 that the apostles were devoted to prayer. I want us to think about this in terms of watering and planting. Planting refers to the proclamation of the Word of God, to our worship, to Bible studies—all of the ways we get the Word into our lives. We’re doing well here, but we can still grow in this area.
Where I want us to grow more in 2025 is in prayer ministry, which I see as the watering of our ministry. Prayer is what waters the seeds of the gospel that are being planted in our hearts and our community. From the New Testament, we know that prayer was the key to spreading the Word in the ancient world. The apostles understood that God’s activity in the world was often tied to the prayers of His people. That’s why there could be no mission without prayer, no healing without prayer, no revival without prayer, and no raising up of leaders without prayer.
What I want to see in 2025 is the development of a prayer ministry overseen by a prayer team. This team would help lead, equip, and resource us in deepening our prayer lives. Here’s what that could look like:
Connecting with the Diocesan Prayer Team: We have rich resources available at the diocesan level, and we want our prayer team to be connected with them. This will provide us with resources, conferences, and training to help develop a strong prayer ministry.
Eucharistic Prayer Leaders: We want to ensure that every Sunday, people have someone available to pray with them, specifically as they come to the Eucharistic table. Miracles happen in these spaces, and we want to make sure people have access to prayer during this sacred moment.
Receiving Prayer Requests: The prayer team will also be the hub for receiving prayer requests from the congregation. These requests will be held in confidence, and the team will be dedicated to praying for those in need.
Regular Rhythms of Prayer: We want to develop regular times for prayer within the life of our church—morning, midday, evening. This could include specific times for healing prayer, seasons of fasting, and prayer for the mission works we’re invested in.
Personal Prayer Growth: The prayer team would also develop resources to help individuals grow in their personal prayer lives, such as teaching on the examen, various prayer methods, and helping people engage with the Book of Common Prayer. Many people don’t know how to use the prayer book, and we want to help guide them in that.
The ultimate goal here is for us to recognize that the true power of our ministry lies in prayer. God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to work through the prayers of His people. This is the foundation of our ministry. If we neglect this, we’re missing a key component of how God works among us.
So, in 2025, we are seeking to build a solid foundation in these areas: safeguarding and prayer ministry. These are two key areas that will help us grow and thrive as a church.
Thank you all for your time, your patience, and your love for Christ and the church. I’m grateful for each of you being a part of this community. Before we close, does anyone have any questions or thoughts?
[Closing prayer]
Father, we are so grateful for the work You are doing in us. We acknowledge that we are not alone in this room, but surrounded by the communion of saints. We pray that as we move into this next season, You would guide us with wisdom and grace. We pray for the upcoming week, for the election, and for fresh ways to see Your kingdom at work in the world.
Lord, we pray that You would continue to do Your work in us, through us, and for the glory of Your name. May we be faithful stewards of all that You have entrusted to us. We pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen.