September 20, 2006

Dear Friend:

It has been a busy summer at Trinity Church. With great joy, we have called a new rector. And with great determination, your Vestry and staff have been continuing to work hard as faithful stewards of our parish's resources. It is with news of this effort that I write to you today.

In order to bring our expenses in line with our revenues, we have made the decision to make some changes to our staffing structure. Most notably, the lay Associates positions, for Administration, Stewardship, and Urban and Justice Ministries, have been eliminated. While we believe these changes are a necessary step, the loss is significant and we know that many will share our sadness. Please join me in giving thanks for the contributions of three superb leaders:

Sarah Wilcox was the first Associate for Administration, after serving on the Vestry and the Search Committee that brought us Sam Lloyd. During her nearly 13-year tenure, she built the administrative and financial infrastructure that enabled Trinity to grow into the mature $7+ million organization it is today. With a team of lay leaders, Sarah oversaw the most ambitious renovation and renewal project Trinity has undertaken since our building was built in 1887, a multi-million project that was completed on time and on budget. To everything she did, Sarah brought intelligence, discipline, patience, administrative skills, banking experience, and most importantly, her deep Christian faith and long-term commitment to Trinity.

Louise Burnham Packard, Associate for Stewardship, joined us as the Capital Campaign was at an early and critical juncture. Her creativity, dedication to building relationships, energy, and steadfast belief that this was a faith journey and that everyone's participation in the renewal of our buildings was as important as the amount of dollars raised,was instrumental in making the Campaign an unprecedented success.Her leadership of the Ministry of Stewardship has helped many of us grow in generosity, and her trust in the Lord and joy in giving have been gifts to all of us.

Joy Fallon, Associate for Urban and Justice Ministries since 2002, had served as a member of the Vestry, and as chair of the Grants and Urban and Justice Steering Committees before she joined the staff. In all her time at Trinity, she has demonstrated an unfailing commitment to social justice and its relationship to growing one's faith. We owe her our thanks for drawing many new participants into the lay-led justice programs and ministries, and for her perseverance in working with lay leaders to make Trinity's homelessness initiative, Trinity Education for Excellence Program (TEEP), and Trinity Boston Counseling Center (TBCC), viable and valuable contributors in our community.

In addition, the position of Director of Kitchen Ministries has been eliminated from our new structure. Marc Aubertin, who has been serving in this role, has agreed to fill the position of Assistant Director of Facilities, replacing Rob MacLennan, who will retire on September 29 after nearly five years of dedicated service. We give thanks for Marc's gifts, dedication and willingness to serve where most needed. We are also grateful for Rob's quiet and constant presence as he supported all of us in providing a safe, clean, and functional environment in which to worship, work and play. We wish him health and happiness in the years ahead.

Another area in which we are implementing structural change is in the Trinity Boston Foundation (TBF). The Foundation, through which the Trinity Boston Preservation Trust has operated, will now also become the corporate home for TEEP and the TBCC. We are fortunate that, while they are moving into very different new roles, Louise Packard and Joy Fallon will continue to be leaders in the greater Trinity community as they become, respectively, Executive Director and Managing Director of the Trinity Boston Foundation. More news of the Foundation's plans will follow in the coming months.

The Vestry believes that these changes are necessary to strengthen our financial foundation as we anticipate the arrival of our new rector in mid-October, and the new mutual ministry we will build together. These changes take us several steps in the right direction, but they are not fully sufficient to resolve our budgetary challenges. Even as our leaders continue to pursue all possible efficiencies this autumn, it is clear, more than ever, how important a generous response by all of us to the 2007 pledge canvass will be for Trinity's momentum and its service to God and God's people.

Trinity's staff remains strong, and in coming weeks we look forward to highlighting the talented personnel and lay volunteers who will be stepping up to take greater responsibilities. Many tasks that have been performed by paid staff will need to be done by parishioners. We invite each of you to share your time and gifts even more generously as the parish of Trinity Church continues to bring the word and light of Jesus Christ into the world.

The Wardens and Vestry look forward to working with all of you as we welcome Anne Bonnyman as our new rector, and with God's help, create the future of Trinity Church together.

Yours in Christ,

Albert G. Mulley, Jr.
Senior Warden