Cathedral Parish Annual Meeting 2026

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Call to Order
Margaret McLarty, Sr. Warden

Opening Prayer
The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell, Dean

Reading of the Necrology
Margaret McLarty

Minutes From Last Year’s Annual Meeting
Margaret McLarty

Instructions From the Elections Committee
Margaret McLarty

First Ballot
Vestry and Warden Nominee information can be found below. Those voting by phone or online must cast their initial ballots by 10:00a.m. Subsequent ballots will be conducted throughout the meeting until each seat is filled by a majority of votes cast.

Treasurer’s Report
Justin Croft, Treasurer

Senior Warden’s Report
Margaret McLarty

Junior Warden’s Report
Mark Konradi

Dean’s Address
The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell

Recognition of Outgoing Vestry Members
The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell

Recognition of Outgoing Senior Warden
The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell

Recognition of Retiring Treasurer
The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell

Election Results
Margaret McLarty

Blessing and Dismissal
The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell

Adjourn
Margaret McLarty

Necrology 2025

William Hebron Morris . . . . . . . . . . January 11

Frederick Marshall Bush, III . . . . . . . . . . January 21

Robert David Sanders, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . January 29

Olivia Ann Bigger Thompson . . . . . . . . . . March 14

Betty Ammons Brown . . . . . . . . . . March 27

Frank Montgomery Duke . . . . . . . . . . March 30

Margaret Ann Moize . . . . . . . . . . June 13

Tomas R. Blackwell . . . . . . . . . . August 17

Emma George Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . September 24

Martha Love Bradley . . . . . . . . . . October 15

Paul DeWitt Bragg, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . October 17

Cathy Boteler Boyle . . . . . . . . . . November 3

Catherine Naef Hester . . . . . . . . . . December 30

Confirmation/Reception
2 Adult
5 Youth
0 Reaffirmed
 
Baptisms
4 Babies
1 Adult
 
Marriages . . . . . . . . . . 1
 
Transfers in . . . . . . . . . . 14
 
Transfers out
13 (locally in the Jackson metro area)
 
Transfers out
7 (out of town or out of state)
 
Lost by Death . . . . . . . . . .13
 

St. Andrews Cathedral
Annual Meeting Minutes
January 26, 2025

Call to Order
Sr. Warden Margaret McLarty called the assembly to order at 9:36 a.m. and the Dean opened the meeting with a prayer.

Necrology
Read by Jr. Warden Michelle Lewis.

Minutes
Margaret gave the minutes from last year. Amendments were suggested. Minutes were passed with modifications.

Election Commissioner
David Long explained the five open positions and their length of each term: 4 vestry, 3yrs, and Jr. Warden, 2yrs. He then listed the nominees. Each came forward when introduced.

As Mark Konradi was the only listed nominee for Jr. Warden, David motioned for the voting of Mark to the position be finalized. Parish approved and the vote passed. With Mark now Jr. Warden, his vestry position was now open to be refilled as a partial term of 2yrs. Thus, the parish would vote for 5 new vestry members. It was decided that the 5th place vote will be the one to take the 2yr term.

Treasurer’s Report
Justin requested parish examine the 2025 budget before it was voted on. He then went on to explain some details. There was a 80k deficit in 2024 when the original plan was for 40k. This discrepancy was sue to the infrastructure costs like the cooling tower, maintenance costs, addressing deferred maintenance, and the costs of insurance, electricity, etc, all having gone up.

Justin stated that the stewardship campaign as very successful with the 2025 budget plan is to have a small surplus. He also stated that the cathedral is a recipient of a federal security grant.

For the 2025 budget, the cathedral will maintain the 10% dioses pledge. For just 2025, there will be an increase in the draw from the endowment to 3%. COLA will be a 3.2%.

Questions: endowment money is just the interest. The federal grant is not included in budget as the budget is for general operations.

Vote to approve 2025 budget passed.

Sr. Warden Report
Margaret opened by thanking the Dean and glad she is healthy. She also welcomed Christopher into the parish family. Sarah Stripp continued community partnership. Thanked Michelle for filling the Jr. Warden position and all she did in 1yr. Thanked Bobby Moore and Holmes Adams for stewardship campaign success. Added Jack Blackburn as an assistant.

Endowment fund is about 3.2million. Goal is to increase this fund. Asked parish for stocks, especially highly appreciable ones, to increase this fund and can use these gifts a tax deductible.

The security grant is for cameras, locks, and other communications.

Jr. Warden Report
Michelle said that she enjoyed her year of service and was grateful to serve. She thanked the building and grounds committee members for all their work. A maintenance list was made at the beginning of the year with 137 items listed. Also targeted deferred maintenance to be completed before the seating of the new bishop. Was able to complete 100 if these. These include new landscaping with a landscape contract, irrigation system update, new broiler, new cooling tower, powder coating for gates, and reconditioning the nave doors.

She finished her report by welcoming Mark to the position.

Dean’s Report
Full report is in the Annual Meeting packet. She stated some of the vision statement fulfilments like the Dean’s forum, home Eucharist, and working with community partners. Anne then expressed how grateful she was that Christopher joined the staff. She then thanked the staff and the parish for all the support with the car accident.

Election Results
Anne recognized all outgoing vestry members and thanks them all for their service. She then recognized Michelle for her Jr. Warden term and thanked her.

David announced election results:
Julia Chadwick, Jim Foley, Jim Loome, Mike Lightsey, and Walter Palmer.

Meeting adjourned at 10:33 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Angela Evans
Secretary of the Vestry

For Sr. Warden

Holli Roach

I am a lifelong Episcopalian and began attending St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in 1984 after Dan and I became engaged. We have shared many milestones throughout the years at St. Andrew’s Cathedral which include all four of our children being Christened here, all four also attended their Baccalaureate services here before graduating from St. Andrew’s School, one of our sons was married here, three of our parents had their funerals here. We have truly experienced the circle of life with in the walls of this Cathedral. Over the years my volunteer activities have ranged from working EYC, teaching Sunday School, planning Vacation Bible School, serving on Parish Life Committee, being a Lay Eucharistic member, serving as a Chalice bearer, being a Wedding Co-director, being part of Pastoral Care Commission, and serving on the Vestry twice. Service and serving others has been a large part of my professional world for thirty eight years as a registered nurse. Serving as Senior Warden would be a way for giving back or paying forward as thanks for all of the many Blessings I have received as a communicant of St. Andrew’s Cathedral and a child of God. There is so much growth in our Church now and it is exciting to see how we can continue to be a vital part of our city and extended communities.

For Sr. Warden

Stephen Stray

St Andrew’s has been my Spiritual home since I arrived in Jackson in 2006 and was welcomed by John Anderson. From the very start, I have valued the strong sense of belonging and community that I feel every time I walk through the doors. I am proud of the way we seek to be the Cathedral in the City. The Cathedral helps me live out my Christian ministry through activities such as Choir and Habitat for Humanity, among many others opportunities. My previous experience includes two terms on Vestry at St Andrew’s, as well as two terms on Vestry at St Paul’s Cathedral, Oklahoma City. I’ve also served at the Diocesan (Bishop Nominating Committee [MS] and Standing Committee [both MS and OK]) and National Church (Executive Council Advisory Committee on Science, Technology, and Faith) levels. In my work life, I am a professor of both Advanced Biomedical Education and Cell and Molecular Biology at UMMC.

Should it be God’s will that I become your Senior Warden, I want to be listening ear to hear concerns of the parish. I’d like to think I have what the Prayer Book describes as an “enquiring and discerning heart”. I believe that we are blessed with good leadership, both from our clergy and vestry. My leadership style is collaborative, seeking to achieve consensus. I am excited with the new direction in the City of Jackson, and think that the Cathedral is uniquely placed to take a leading role in new initiatives to move Jackson forward. I think that the Cathedral is the best kept secret in the Episcopal Church in Mississippi—I look forward to helping get that secret out!

For Vestry

Ellen Bourdeaux

God created me with a hard head. He knows this, not just because he created me this way, but because I remind him, especially when I pray for direction and guidance. I remind God of this, and I ask that he bonk me over the head with whatever it is he wants me to do or to be, whatever his will is for me. Subtlety doesn’t always work.

Since the summer, the bonks have come in the form of phone calls and emails from various parishioners, in which suggestions and requests have come up that I stand for vestry. I was reluctant, citing a family member’s health, but I have since come to believe that, with God’s help, I can serve the cathedral community as a vestry member.

I am a cradle Episcopalian and was baptized and confirmed into the Church at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Meridian. As a student in Boston, I regularly attended Trinity Episcopal Church, even on ferociously cold Sunday mornings, and I attended Episcopal churches in all the cities in which I have resided. I was a member of St. Andrew’s from 1988 thru 1996, and I returned to the fold in 2009.

At St. Andrew’s, I served on the vestry at a time when we were doing some searching—searching of our soul and for a new dean. I currently serve on the compensation committee, as a reader, and on the parish life committee. In the past, I sang in the choir, was co-editor of The Windows, Bill Hill’s book on the church’s stained-glass windows (which are still available! https://standrews.ms/stained-glass-book/) and served on the public relations committee.

I am a civil servant and am employed by the Mississippi Development Authority. I am the state director for Welcome Home Mississippi (WHM), a program that recruits retirees from around the country to spend their retirement years in one of our thirteen certified retirement cities. I manage local WHM directors, and I oversee the certification process of cities across the state that want to participate in the program.

When not working, I love to travel, read, hike, tell true stories and make dioramas in wooden boxes.

My head, as well as my heart, feel sufficiently bonked, and I would love to help guide the cathedral for the next three years, come what may.

For Vestry

Sara Burris

My husband, two girls, and I have been a part of the parish for the past three and a half years. My whole family was welcomed with open arms and we have all connected with the parish to learn, grow, and serve. I serve on the alter guild, my husband serves on the livestream team, and my oldest daughter serves as an usher and greeter. I have also served for various events of the church as well as vacation bible school. I felt called to formalize my commitment to Saint Andrews Episcopal Cathedral in 2023. My family and I have been welcomed by this community, and I am inspired to continue to find ways I can translate faith and words into action that will have a positive impact. I have been an educator for 21 years in various areas of Mississippi. I have taught grades 2 through 12 in various areas such as elementary academics, elementary advanced academics, high school mild to moderate disabilities, high school inclusion, high school physical science, 5th grade mathematics, and a gifted facilitator. I have a deep passion not just for teaching, but also for making connections with scholars, families, and communities. I have been blessed to teach gifted, grades 2 through 5, at McWillie Montessori Elementary for 4 years. I thrive in the ability to use my gifts of creativity and service. I have lead scholars in community service with Stewpot, Salvation Army, Food Pantry, and the Mustard Seed. It is my joy to make scholars aware of the importance of community stewardship and growth mindset. My educational background experience, professional skill set, curiosity, love for knowledge and policy, deep respect for the Episcopal traditions, and my love for service and children will guide me if given the honor to serve on the Vestry.

For Vestry

Nan Graves Goodman

I have been a communicant of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral for 34 years having been confirmed by Dean Ed Bacon in 1991. The Cathedral has been my spiritual home in numerous ways. My two children were also confirmed at St. Andrew’s and two of my four grandchildren were baptized here. I have served as a member of the Altar Guild and as a small group Lenten study leader. I also served on the Profile Committee in preparation for the search for the Dean. Currently, I am a member of the Garden Guild; my granddaughter and I plant the urns in the Columbarium twice annually. I also serve as a team teaching member of the “Godly Play” formation class for the first through fifth grades. I am a member of the Theology and Literature class as well as the Enneagram group. Professionally, I have been a college English instructor and am currently an ACT tutor. I can’t imagine my life without the Christian support of the St. Andrew’s community. It is important to me that we welcome all people and prayerfully try to walk on the path that Jesus modeled. St. Andrew’s is a unique, special, and comforting place for me, and I endeavor to help in any way that I can to keep our church home strong, viable, and welcoming.

For Vestry

Gina Halfacre

We first attended St. Andrew’s Cathedral on Christmas Eve, 2014 and knew right away, this was home. We were confirmed in the church by Bishop Seage on May 10, 2015 and have been communicants since. Iain and BJ (Isabella) are both adults now, pursuing their educations: one being two hours away in one direction and the other, an hour and a half in the other direction, which makes it manageable for mom. They’re amazing people and I’m honored and humbled to have been chosen to be their mom. The kids were always encouraged to participate in serving in worship as acolytes and participating in EYC events and were always excited and pleased to do so. I have always been an advocate for the EYC, as it is such a vital part of our Cathedral community.

As our family settled into life at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and as my kiddos were enrolled in St. Andrew’s school, I was invited to serve on the Board of Regents at the school and served for six years. I also became involved with Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club, despite the fact that I am NOT a morning person and this ministry requires being there at 6:15 a.m. I initially began in a small way (they called me the water woman…because I walked around serving water). As my involvement grew, I was asked to sit on the Community Partners Commission as a representative of TMBC for this commission. As part of this work, I coordinate, promote, and oversee the sales of Alternative Giving Cards for the benefit of TMBC each year. Somewhere around that time, Thorne Butler asked me to be the coordinator of St. A. volunteers for Stewpot Community Services and I also represent Stewpot on the CPC. This brought on a whole other avenue of service for me and I became very involved in volunteer work, and was later elected to serve on the Stewpot Board of Directors. I am now humbled to serve as Chair of that Board.

In worship at the Cathedral, I am honored to serve as a chalice bearer, lector, and litanist. I completed the four year course of EfM (Education for Ministry) in 2019. A couple of years ago, Virginia Powell asked me to consider being her co-mentor, which I immediately, colorfully declined. For several weeks, the Spirit sat on my left shoulder, nudging me to reconsider. Today I am honored to serve as an EfM co-mentor, spending three hours each week facilitating conversations with this lovely group, which, I might say, is not as easy as it sounds. It is my joy to serve with the Holy Smokers and enjoy spending time with my Cathedral family. Jimmy and I live in Northpointe subdivision, where we are currently empty-nesters with only a pup dog to keep us company at home.

For Vestry

Alice Skelton

I was honored to be asked to stand for the Vestry. How could I have said no? When asked to serve, I have said yes, especially since St. Andrew’s has never said no to me when I have asked.

Throughout my career, I have advocated for, consulted with, and guided individuals, organizations, and institutions at local, state, and national levels in both the private and public sectors. I have managed projects with budgets ranging from $5,000 to multi-million-dollar and established two successful companies in Sacramento, CA, and Jackson, MS.

At St. Andrew’s, I have been a member of the Outreach/Community Partnership Commission for over 15 years. I also serve as the coordinator of the Angel Tree for the children of the Good Samaritan Center, a packer of delicious lunches for Meals on Wheels, a Year 2 student of Education for Ministry, a Cursillista, and a past pilgrim to Iona. Since 2012, I have been involved with Working Together Jackson.

In addition to St. Andrew’s, I am actively engaged with The MIND Center at UMMC. I serve on several committees and boards that support the State of Mississippi’s Strategic Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and that advocate for the caregivers.

Before my confirmation in 2006, I knew St. Andrew’s for its strong reputation in supporting the arts, its commitinent to social justice, and its active engagement within the commununity. As a parishioner, I find St. Andrew’s to be steeped in beautiful traditions and, at the same time, a place that encourages spiritual and theological exploration. This is where I belong.

I welcome the opportunity to serve St. Andrew’s.

Thank you for your consideration.

For Vestry

Katharine Surkin

A decade ago I was asked to stand for vestry, was elected, and served through a very tumultuous time. I later was fortunate enough to serve on the search committee which led to the call of our current Dean. I would be honored to serve on the vestry again during a time of calm and steady leadership. Being the daughter of a priest, I’ve come to expect a lot from my church because growing up, my church was always part of my extended family. St. Andrew’s has fulfilled that role for me, but it also has taught me how much I have to offer. St. Andrew’s has seen me at my very worst, and it granted me the grace to step away during a time that I was unable to give anything back to this holy place. St. Andrew’s has also seen me at my very best, and this sacred place is quick to involve me in all aspects of mission at the exact time I needed it. Currently, I serve on the flower guild, am a lector/litanist, and am a teacher for Godly Play. These ministries feed my heart and soul and have reminded me why St. Andrew’s will always be my church home. I am proud to be part of this community that fosters forward thinking and forward doing, and I look forward to being a part of a place that constantly moves us in a direction of being a source of mission, not only inside, but outside of our walls.

For Vestry

Aileen Thomas

I am honored to be considered for a position on the Vestry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral. I have been a member of the Episcopal Church for almost thirty years. My faith journey has been deeply impacted by the teachings and traditions of the Episcopal Church.

Having grown up as a “preacher’s kid,” church has always played a central role in my life. But, like many, I experienced a period in my twenties when I began to question my beliefs. It was during this time that I discovered the Episcopal Church, a place where questions are not only allowed, they are encouraged. In a world that often demands certainty, I found comfort and spiritual growth in the Episcopal tradition that embraces dialogue and exploration. I was encouraged to join the Education for Ministry (EfM) Program which offers a four year indepth study of scripture, theology and church history. Through EfM I was able to explore my faith in new and exciting ways.

I currently serve on the board of directors of my law firm, Jones Walker LLP, which is based in New Orleans, Louisiana, with twenty offices across eleven states and Washington DC. I also serve on the executive committee of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanities Mississippi Capital Area. I recently completed my term as the chair of the St. Andrew’s Parents Association and in that capacity, I served on the board of trustees for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School for two years. Over the years I have served in many volunteer roles in the Jackson community.

My husband, David, and I have six children. Our youngest child, Timothy, is a ninth grader at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Tim serves as an acolyte and is actively involved in the Cathedral’s EYC program.

I am grateful to be considered for this role and if elected I will strive to serve faithfully.

I’d like to begin by thanking the Finance Committee and Vestry for their support and assistance over the course of 2025. We’ve never had a more engaged group helping to steward our financial decision-making process. As I complete my final year as Treasurer, I am enthusiastic and optimistic about what comes next. The Vestry will appoint a new treasurer/financial team in February to carry my work forward.

You the parish also deserve and have my gratitude. I have seen time and time again that when we call upon you for something, you respond in force. The most recent example of this was in 2025 when we asked for a significant increase in pledges which was met in stride and good faith.

Key results from 2025 include:

  • The year 2025 ended with a net deficit of $55,000 due mainly to lower than budgeted collection plate offerings, and higher maintenance and utility costs.
  • Significant growth in the permanent endowment due to gifts and strong market returns.
  • A significant draw on designated funds ($85,000) to fund immediate repair needs including roofing, leaks, and HVAC issues.

The 2026 Budget process was a comprehensive assessment of needs with a focus on mission-oriented priorities and hard decision making. It was truly a group effort from the Dean and Wardens, Jack Blackburn, the Finance Committee, and the Vestry.

Key points from the 2026 Budget include:

  • A reduction in the parish’s diocesan pledge from 10% of gifts down to 7% of gifts.
  • A reduction in total outreach spending across a number of programs, done thoughtfully together.
  • An increase in Buildings & Grounds spending to reflect the reality of our aging structure and mechanical systems.
  • Slight increases in personnel costs for cost of living adjustments and increased medical costs.
  • Increased endowment draw from 2.5% to 4.0%, still within recommended guidelines.
  • A one-time draw from Vestry savings of $41,000.

Many thanks in particular to Mark Konradi and Michelle Lewis for their work on Buildings and Grounds, repairs, estimates, and facilities planning. Their attention to detail made budgeting possible.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you these past seven years.

Justin Croft, Treasurer
jbcroft@gmail.com
601-519-4445

Greetings, Thank you for your presence here today, both in person and online.

As I conclude my second and final year as Senior Warden, I want to say how honored I am to have served this very special place and you.

Here are some of the highlights.

First, I give thanks that our Dean Anne Maxwell, who, as you know continues to regain her health and strength from the previous year’s accident. We continue to pray for your full recovery and thank you for your leadership and dedication to the parish.

And to The Rev. Christopher McAbee, Associate Rector, we thank you for your presence in our parish as you have come to serve us faithfully. And we also thank our Deacon, Sarah Stripp, for her continual support in our worship and direction with our Community Partnerships.

This is a dynamic clergy team, and we are blessed to have you all.

We thank all our lay staff who do a terrific job in so many different ways. But a great achievement this year was to add back the position of Cathedral Administrator in Michele Lewis.

Also, I want to thank our Treasurer Justin Croft for his many years of overseeing our finances. Thank you for your many hours of hard work on our behalf.

Joining me in the Warden team is Mark Konradi, who has brought a significant level of expertise and tireless dedication as he serves in leadership. The work that has been done in his portfolio of Building and Grounds is remarkable. He will go into more detail, but I will say that we now have a really good handle on our building in a proactive rather than reactive stance. This began 3 years ago with outside landscaping, then reactions to leaks from roof and pipes, to now a comprehensive working plan for scheduled maintenance. This will be significantly more cost effective than just the emergency repair if something breaks. His upcoming report will fill you in on the incredible amount of work that has been done, and the dedicated group of volunteers who made significant contributions.

I want to thank the Dean, who led a group of staff and volunteers that went through the entire facility and cleaned out years, and I mean years, of clutter.

In my portfolio, the oversight of Finance and Administration, we have made some significant strides. This is the second year where our Stewardship program was successful in achieving an increase in pledge income on average per pledging unit. We appreciate the work of Jim Loome and Lauren Lawhorn, our Stewardship Chairs, for this work. That being said, the combination of increases in basic costs of operations is providing a challenge that our Treasurer is discussing today.

There will be a major financial analysis early this year to identify trends in parish income and expenses to identify the sources of support available to provide for our ministry together in this place. The Vestry will be working closely on this analysis.

As an example of outside-the-box thinking, I’m pleased to announce that we did receive the official notice from the Mississippi Office of Homeland security that we received a $117,400 grant for security equipment and systems which we will begin installing this year.

I also want to announce that we submitted a grant request to the H. F. McCarty, Jr. Family Foundation and received a $15,000 grant to support the renovation of the Godly Play room for our children’s education program.

These two efforts are the first time to my knowledge that the Cathedral has ever received grant funding. So be aware that those working on Cathedral finances are trying to be creative and diligent in finding additional sources of income to support our activities.

Beyond current pledges and reserves, the third financial asset of the Cathedral is the Endowment which is managed by the Episcopal Church Foundation and held at State Street Global Advisors. We were very fortunate to have participated in the market gains of the previous year with a 17.9% return. Additionally, we received some bequests which brings our total in the endowment to $4.1 million. From which we will draw a 4% income this year. We thank David Morse for chairing this committee.

In light of the strong financial markets, this is the perfect time for us to have discussions of paying your annual pledge or building the endowment by gifts of highly appreciated stocks. And for those of us who are age 73 and above please think of gifts of IRA account Required Minimum Distributions and at age 70 ½ to make a QCDs paid directly to the church for tax advantaged payments from parishioners. We have started putting QR codes in our bulletins and reminding everyone of gifting and payment options which are very popular now. If anyone has a question about that please see me.

Our project to review and document current policies and procedures has gotten underway under the capable leadership of Julia Chadwick and Ashley Lacoste. This identifies the various committees work with our very dedicated staff to support and be responsive to the changing needs of our parish activities, worship, ministries, pastoral concerns, and educational needs.

So, a lot is going on in these areas. And I invite anyone of you who wants to join in some of these activities please let me know.

Now to talk about where we are now. I can easily admit that we have challenges. They could be our location in the center of a city with a declining population and business base. We could say our building is old (and maybe our parishioners, me included are old) and so many other challenges. But, if you go all the way back through our history, there are huge challenges that our parish has had to overcome. And with time, patience, and a commitment to worship and serve Christ in the world, we are still holding forth.

When we put our minds to something I think we do a fine job.

I will use the February 22-23, 2025, weekend at our church. There was the Nadia Bolz-Weber event, two choir performances, and a flower guild workshop for our youth. I estimated 1000 people came to our building that weekend. When we live into our mission and ministry, we are dynamic.

Now, I will ask you to help. Reach out to your friends who are still watching on live stream, friends who are just out of the habit of coming, please be an evangelist and bring new friends. Please invite them all to come and join with us.

I urge us all to use these next few months of self-study to focus on what we are called to in this place at this time.

Thank you.
Margaret McLarty,
Senior Warden

Learning from so many talented and committed people at St. Andrew’s has made my first year a rewarding and humbling experience.

I want to thank several people for their service above and beyond the norm. First off, Michelle Lewis did significant work to build a Buildings and Grounds committee in 2024 after a period without one. Her work made the 2025 handoff a smooth one.

The B&G team of Michelle, Dean Anne Maxwell, Margaret McLarty, Julia Chadwick, Jimmy Halfacre, Jay Philpott, Jim Loome and Bill Hussey did much more than meet monthly to manage this great building. They brought passion and expertise in dealing with this great but aging space we all love. Among this group, I want to particularly thank Bill Hussey for the countless meetings he had with contractors and vendors to proactively deal with the Cathedral’s challenges.

Lastly, I want to single out Margaret McLarty, who’s invaluable understanding of all things Cathedral helped us through several challenges in 2025. Margaret cares deeply about the parish and brings decades of commitment to the community that few can match. She taught me a great deal.

In 2025, this group managed several key issues. Among them:

The completion of the Godly Play room, which will benefit the Parish for the next generation

The assessment of the kitchen and its appliances, bringing each component not only up to code but adding a new dishwasher

The removal of the pear tree from the courtyard, something that required extensive planning and will lead to changes coming to that fantastic space

Significant challenges with the HVAC system, including it breaking on of all days, Easter Sunday

The finalization of the security grant, which will help monitor, manage and modernize this sacred space

In addition, this group spent significant time in the fourth quarter of 2025 looking ahead to potential issues in 2026 and beyond, creating an understanding of our most pressing needs and when we may need to tackle them.

We are excited to continue this process.

Thank you for allowing me to serve,

Mark Konradi
Jr. Warden

Joyfully proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through grace-filled worship, radical hospitality, and incarnational faith.
(Vision statement developed 2023)

This Cathedral continues to be a place of witness, a place of compassion, and a place of beauty. I am grateful this year in particular for those who stepped up in my absence as I healed from a devastating automobile accident. Our wardens Margaret McLarty and Mark Konradi were often at work in the building. The Reverend Christopher McAbee worked to continue worship, formation, and pastoral care with passion. Along with The Reverend Deacon Sarah Stripp, as well as guest preacher The Reverend Buddy Stallings, and our school chaplains The Reverend Hailey Allin and The Reverend Annie Elliott preaching and worship continued to the glory of God. The leadership of our staff and Vestry meant the day to day workings of the Cathedral continued despite staff losses during the year. In particular I am grateful to Gracey Belote who often came to me to say; “I could take this on for a season.” And “I took the initiative to get this done.” Finally, the addition of Michelle Lewis as Cathedral Administrator in October is tremendous. Her knowledge and experience has been invaluable, and I will appreciate her assistance as we begin strategic planning in the coming year.

The Cathedral membership has changed since COVID, and so have our finances, but we have continued to budget as if they have not. The Vestry and Finance Committee have committed to working on a new vision for how we fulfill our call in this place in our current context. I look forward to sharing our work with you in the coming months. I hope in particular that we find a way to better finance our commitment to outreach and our commitment to the Diocese. The Cathedral should be paying our full diocesan ask regardless of what any other parish in the diocese does because we are the seat of the Bishop and because the Diocese cannot do ministry without our support. There is no “they” there is only “us.”

Joyfully proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ is a part of what our BCP says is the Church’s mission and this mission is to be carried out through the ministry of all its members. The Cathedral’s identity, its place in this city, its proclamation, is not just something the clergy do through our preaching, or the choir through their music, though that is an important part, but also something the whole body does through our worship, our participation in outreach, and our welcoming others into fellowship. I ask you to continue to show up, to continue to volunteer, and to voice your opinions as we seek both to sustain what we do and to initiate will do.

Grace-filled worship continues to inspire me in this place. 8:30am Sunday mornings is in the chapel and is a warm, inviting, service where passing the peace takes awhile. 10:30am in the Nave is beautiful. We did not have a vocational service this year, and have added some quieter, contemplative, offerings like All Souls’ and Candlemas. Other worship opportunities in which I participate are Thursday noon Eucharist in the chapel, St. Andrew’s School events like Baccalaureate, Graduation, and chapels. MLK, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, Mayor Horne’s call for prayer for Jackson, and regular appearances at The Orchid and St. Catherine’s (which I did not get to do as often this past year but have scheduled more for the coming year).

We demonstrate radical hospitality when we invite all in our doors on Sunday mornings for worship and formation even as we struggle with the balance of our desire to welcome and our need to be responsive to security concerns. I am grateful to our greeter and usher teams who welcome. We continue to have 3 security guards every Sunday and one on Wednesday evenings as well as during special events that occur in the evening.

One new initiative this year was Grab&Go, a feeding ministry for Sunday mornings. We were feeling the discomfort of too many of our homeless guests coming into the parish hall for food on Sunday mornings and disrupting formation. We continue to invite them to services and formation, but if they are only seeking food, we have a bag breakfast of shelf-sustainable, protein rich, food to offer them through the West Street entrance on Sunday morning from 8:00am to 8:30am. We have made changes to this ministry several times already and will continue to fine tune it. It now involves over 17 volunteers. 60 persons are fed per week at a cost of $3/bag. One volunteer said: “This is my sermon.” Another said; “I am living into my baptismal covenant by learning to respect and treat others with dignity.” We held 2 evaluation meetings with volunteers and interested parties which showed that we are receiving in outcomes much more than we are investing in inputs. This ministry was initially funded by a gift and will be partially funded by our operating budget in the coming year. The difference will be funded from gifts.

A second initiative was Godly Play for children’s formation. In our newly renovated room, with brand new materials, we invite children grades 1st though 5th to hear a story, ask wondering questions, and use a vast array of creative materials to work with the stories. In addition the story tellers and door keepers committed to a weekend intensive training and ongoing learning. We meet monthly to learn new stories and build fellowship among the teachers.

All of these opportunities bring us to answer God’s call, to live into our baptismal covenant to follow Jesus, to embody his word in our world with an incarnational faith. I am especially proud of the continuing work of our Lay Pastoral Ministers. Together with our clergy, we have a vast network of people to provide cards, call, visits, and more to our congregants in need. As Christmas approached, every one of our people on the prayer list received contact from the pastoral care team. In addition, I sent notes to everyone who had a significant other die in the previous year. I received heartwarming feedback in return.

It is my privilege to continue serving you as Dean: supervisor, pastor, teacher, preacher.

Respectfully submitted

The Very Reverend Anne M. Maxwell
Dean

Dear Saints,

It is with deep gratitude that I offer this reflection on the past year of ministry among you. This report is less a list of accomplishments and more a testimony to where I have seen Christ at work in our shared life. This report focuses on pastoral care, liturgical life, and Christian Formation.

Pastoral Care
Pastoral care has remained at the heart of my priestly ministry this year. Over the course of the year, I have made 43 pastoral visits in homes, hospitals, detention facilities, and assisted living homes. Some were joyful, many tender, and several marked by profound vulnerability. These visits have included routine check‑ins, crisis care, ongoing pastoral accompaniment, hospitalizations, end‑of‑life care, and administering the sacraments of the Church.

In addition to in‑person visits, I provided 18 pastoral counseling and spiritual direction sessions, ongoing monthly spiritual accompaniment with parishioners, countless pastoral phone calls and text conversations, and sustained correspondence through cards and letters sent on behalf of the Cathedral. I have walked with parishioners through cancer treatments, recovery, housing insecurity, legal uncertainty, grief, and discernment.

While the number of visits are important, what matters more is the posture we take as the Church. The Church shows up, stays present, and trusts that God is at work in our lives together.

Liturgical Life
Throughout the year, Dean Maxwell and I have continued to share sacramental responsibilities, alternating preaching and presiding at Sunday services and at the Thursday noon Eucharist. I have also participated regularly in the Central Convocation’s ministry of providing the Eucharist at St. Catherine’s and The Orchard, extending the sacramental life of the Church beyond our walls.

This year included several significant liturgical moments: weddings, funerals… a funeral for a beloved pet, special diocesan liturgies, and the Holy Eucharist in parishioners’ homes. Of particular note was walking a group of young people through confirmation and witnessing their public “yes” to God. That experience remains one of the great joys of my priesthood.

Liturgies like Pride Eucharist, inclusion services, and feastday celebrations have also served as moments of welcome, proclamation, and evangelism. Through our liturgy, the Cathedral has embodied its desire to practice hospitality and grace-filled worship.

Christian Formation and Bible Study
Christian formation has been a focus of my ministry this year. Lunch Bunch Bible Study continues to be a vital and faithful community of Bible scholars. Over the course of the year, we met approximately 30 times, and in doing so we formed a steady rhythm of prayer, study, and conversation. Week by week, we engaged the Revised Common Lectionary with care. We examined historical context, literary genre, theological themes, and the ways Scripture speaks to modern Christians. Each session is supported by a written study guide, and we close our time together by praying the Psalm appointed and holding the Cathedral’s prayer list before God.

In addition to Lunch Bunch, I have co‑taught Dean’s Forum, offered seasonal book studies, hosted Lenten and thematic formation opportunities, and remained actively involved in shaping adult, youth, and children’s formation across the Cathedral. I continue to work closely with staff and lay leaders to strengthen EYC, Confirmation, and Children’s Formation, including the launch of Godly Play and the redesign of our Confirmation curriculum to better meet the realities of parish life and our young people.

I am continuously encouraged by the seriousness with which people in the Cathedral community take Scripture. Many of you ask hard questions and wrestle honestly with your faith.

This past June marked my one year anniversary at St. Andrew’s, and I remain deeply grateful for the privilege of serving among you. You are a resilient, thoughtful, and faithful community that is on a journey to better knowing who you are as the Body of Christ in an urban context.

Thank you for your trust, your openness, and your willingness to walk together. I look forward to continuing this holy work among you.

Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Christopher McAbee
Associate Rector

I will sing of mercy and justice; to you, O Lord, will I sing praises. (Psalm 101:1)

Cathedral musicians served the worship of the church with integrity, artistry, and beauty in more than 100 services in 2025. These included regular Sunday Eucharists, special services such as evensongs and funerals, major feast days, and Advent Lessons and Carols. It’s difficult to be precise, but when I try to tally every instance of music offered—preludes and postludes played, psalms chanted, anthems and hymns sung, communion doodles doodled—over the course of the year, the total hovers around 1,000 individual offerings of music, which necessitated over 100 hours of choir rehearsal.

My priorities remain unchanged from previous years:

  • To keep the Cathedral congregation singing. Christians sing, and congregations that sing well are healthy congregations.
  • To nourish the community of faith that exists among Cathedral musicians and to foster their spiritual health.
  • To continue making music as the Cathedral Choir at a high level of excellence and artistry in the service of Christian worship. Making music in community makes visible the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
  • To encourage the continued growth of the Cathedral Children’s Choir, because children who sing become adults who sing.
  • To cultivate additional programs and initiatives, including the Choral Scholars program, the Medley Fellowship, and Music in the City.

Cathedral Children’s Choir
In summer 2025, we held our third Cathedral Children’s Choir Camp, hosted at St. Andrew’s Lower School. I was assisted by Medley Fellow Delvin Kelly and staff singer Alicia Bell. In fall 2025, we had a roster of eight first–fourth grade choristers meeting weekly as part of St. Andrew’s Lower School’s after-school activity program. The choir is open to students from any school and includes singers who are Cathedral members, members of other local Episcopal churches, and members of other faith traditions.

I was assisted this fall by Alicia Bell, whose enthusiasm as well as her training and experience in children’s music made a tremendous positive difference. The choir sang a short Christmas program at the Mississippi Museum of Art in December, which was especially well attended and warmly received. This program is poised for substantial growth, and I am deeply grateful to Lower School staff Jay Losset, Sarah Walker, and the Rev. Hailey Allin for their support and assistance.

In January 2026, we will move the start time from 3:30 to 2:45, which we hope will allow for increased participation and improve some logistical concerns. I am also hopeful that this group can sing at the Cathedral more regularly, though this can be tricky since most participants are not Cathedral parishioners.

In the Community
Music in the City thrived in 2025, thanks in large part to the Mississippi Museum of Art staff, and Leslie Kennedy in particular. Music in the City is one of the Cathedral’s longest-standing and most successful outreach programs. I have gently steered the series toward featuring Mississippi musicians earlier in their careers, with a particular emphasis on increasing representation of women, people of color, and living composers.

Music in the City is highly regarded both within Mississippi and beyond, and I am regularly contacted by professional musicians interested in performing on the series. Just like last year, there remains an opportunity for a corporate sponsor to help underwrite this work, requiring an investment of approximately $5,000. We currently budget $500 per installment and will need to increase that to $700–$750 to remain competitive and continue attracting high-quality performers. I am also interested in exploring whether a volunteer from the Cathedral community might assist with administration, hosting, or public relations for the series.

The Cathedral continues to be a desirable venue for music-making beyond the liturgical context. The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra opened its 2025–2026 season with us, welcoming a capacity crowd of 300+ for their Beloved Baroque concert. We also continue to host the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra for Sunday afternoon concerts, which are free and open to the public and typically draw audiences of 100+. Additionally, we hosted the Mississippi Boy Choir’s Christmas concert.

Instruments and Facilities
The Cathedral maintains an impressive complement of instruments for liturgical use. Our replica Vaudry harpsichord remains in demand throughout the Jackson area and is regularly borrowed by other churches and organizations. The organ continues to require “band-aid” repairs to extend its life, and I am hopeful that we can soon begin serious conversations about its long-term future. Our pianos are in fair condition; the nave piano would benefit from a thorough evaluation to determine what steps, if any, should be taken to prolong its life. I have also begun preliminary inquiries into acquiring a small grand piano for the chapel. While the current digital piano is serviceable, I believe an acoustic instrument would better serve both the space and the 8:30 service.

The Cathedral Choir
Soprano Emma Woodward and baritone Dr. Henry Waters joined the Cathedral Choir’s roster of staff singers in 2025. For the first time in my tenure at St. Andrew’s, we are fully staffed, and the difference this makes is significant. Staff singers allow our volunteer singers to perform a wider range of repertoire with greater polish and artistry, while also ensuring that the demands placed on volunteers’ time and skill remain reasonable. This is also a tangible way the Cathedral supports professional musicians in our community.

A continued priority for 2026 is volunteer singer recruitment. Additional volunteer singers from within the Cathedral community would help us meet the demands of our rigorous liturgical schedule.
In February, we sang Haydn’s Little Organ Mass with the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, a performance of which I am tremendously proud. This was the first longer-form work the Cathedral Choir has undertaken in several years, and the artistic quality of the performance was truly remarkable. The mass features extended solos for organ and soprano, the latter of which was beautifully sung by Sibyl Child.

We prepared and offered yet another stunning Advent Lessons and Carols service in December 2025. Readers representing various facets of the Cathedral’s life—including education, public service, government, and medicine—joined us as we sang a highly polished program of choral works spanning centuries and continents within the Anglican tradition.

Looking ahead, we have an exciting year of music-making planned. We will sing Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Millsaps College Singers and other area musicians, offer evensongs, and present another excellent Advent Lessons and Carols service. We will also begin preparations for a residency at Gloucester Cathedral (UK) in summer 2027, an effort we will undertake in partnership with the Millsaps College Singers.

Personal Notes
2025 was a rewarding year for me personally, as I completed two substantial commissioned works: Rose Hill Mass was commissioned by the Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy in honor of its 50th anniversary. Adam lay ybounden was commissioned by historic Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, as part of their ongoing commitment to new music; it was premiered by their choir in December 2025. Another new work, O Sapientia, was sung by the Cathedral Choir at Advent Lessons and Carols and also received a New York City premiere in December, performed by the choir of Church of Our Saviour for a Christmas concert – “A Murray Hill Christmas.”

It remains a deep joy to serve St. Andrew’s as organist and choirmaster, and I look forward to continuing to help others make music to the glory of God and in service of the Cathedral’s worship in 2026 and beyond.

Jessica Nelson,
Canon for Music

2025 was quite a busy year, bringing many new responsibilities as our staff navigated multiple personnel changes and the addition of new ministries.

In early 2025, I began managing supply ordering, inventory tracking, and parish calendar scheduling, along with other administrative tasks. Over the course of the year, I implemented streamlined systems that keep us well stocked, allow for more accurate tracking of supply costs, and ensure a thoroughly updated calendar of events. We also coordinated a Cathedral staff clean-out day to clear and organize closets and other heavily used spaces.

During Lent, we began a trial run of our newly conceptualized Grab&Go Breakfast ministry. This ministry emerged in response to the growing number of individuals entering our building on Sunday mornings seeking food and coffee. After realizing there were no free breakfast options in Jackson for those in need, we stepped in to help fill that gap.

What began as a single folding table serving a small handful of people has grown into a weekly offering where 50–70 individuals receive a breakfast bag and a hot cup of coffee. We now have a dedicated team of 17 volunteers who rotate weekly to serve our neighbors. In the final months of the year, we also established a partnership with St. Andrew’s Lower School, where students pack hundreds of Grab&Go bags in advance for us to store and serve in the weeks that follow. I look forward to continuing this collaboration in 2026.

I am proud of the efforts our Cathedral community has poured into the Grab&Go ministry, which has become a stable and consistent source of nourishment for our neighbors in need. New volunteers are always welcome, and I encourage anyone interested to reach out and get involved.

Our Parish Life events and traditions remained strong throughout 2025 thanks to the creativity of the Parish Life Commission and the dedication of our many volunteers. The calendar was filled with lively offerings such as the St. Paddy’s Parade Party, Holy Week celebrations, Parish Picnic, Parish Party, Pet Blessing, and more.

In 2025, the Cathedral also hosted two major guest speakers: Nadia Bolz-Weber in February and Bishop Michael Curry in August. It is always an honor to welcome the wider community onto our campus for reflective and transformative conversations.

I have also been working in collaboration with leaders from other local Episcopal churches to launch the Jackson-area Episcopal Young Adult (JEYA) ministry. By pooling resources and building broader relationships, we invite young adults in their 20s and 30s from all Jackson congregations to participate in monthly gatherings for fellowship, formation, and service. We have hosted three successful events so far and are making plans for 2026.

As always, I am grateful to the Cathedral community for allowing me to serve alongside you. The grace, support, and encouragement I receive year after year are truly a gift.

Loyally,
Gracey Belote
Director of Parish Life and Newcomer Ministries

2025 was a great year for the Children and Youth programs here at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. These programs continue to grow little by little and this brings me so much joy as Director of Children and Youth Ministry. At the end of spring semester, we were sad to say goodbye to three interns who were with us for several years; however, I am excited to say I was able to hire three new great interns for these programs, who started in the fall. Baylee St. Claire, who currently attends Law School at Mississippi College, is our intern for the Children’s program. Suzanna Busbee and Phillip Antis, who both currently are sophomores at Millsaps College , are the youth interns. They have all been great assets to the program and the kids love them!

The Children’s Program has had a great year with activities, including: Epiphany, Shrove Tuesday, Easter Egg Hunt, VBS, Backpack Blessing , Fall Festival, and we brought back the Christmas Pageant this year! We continue to do Children’s Chapel every Sunday and we started new programs this fall during Formation that the children seem to love, and that I have gotten positive feedback on. The Mustard Seed room is for children Prek3 – Kindergarten, while Godly Play is for children 1st – 5th grade. We have several parishioners, along with The Very Reverend Anne Maxwell, The Reverend Christopher McAbee and myself who spent a three day weekend getting trained and certified in Godly Play. I am very grateful to all of these people, because without them we would not be able to have this new program for our children here at the Cathedral.

The Youth Program continues to grow. When I first started in January 2023, there was only a handful of youth who would attend EYC. The attendance to youth events has grown tremendously over the years and the youth have developed a great friendship and community among themselves. We have 15 EYC gatherings in the spring and 15 gatherings in the fall where they come together for dinner, fellowship, and growth. They also have a little fun along the way! Some of these gatherings include Pickleball, game night, bowling, managing tables for the Fall Festival and so much more! We also continue to participate in EY Central gatherings (which use to be called EY2nds). Our EYC hosted the EY Central Delegate Elections this fall, at the Cathedral. It was a great night! Also, in those gatherings include the youth serving at Stewpot twice in the spring and three times in the fall. The kids love Stewpot and this is such a great outreach program that our youth get to be involved in and take very seriously.

Another program in the youth that has grown, is Confirmation. The Reverend Christopher McAbee leads this class. Last spring we had 4 youth who made their Confirmation and I am excited to say we have 11 Confirmation Candidates this year!

One more thing that I would like to include that I did this past fall was the Nursery. I took an old nursery room, that had currently been used for storage for a decade, and transformed it back to a Nursery for Infants and Nursing Mothers. It is very warm and inviting and ready for new babies and nursing mothers. Another addition to the nursery is in the Toddler Room. There is now a TV in the toddler room so that the children are able to watch a live stream of the service on Sunday mornings. This way the children and the nursery workers can feel apart of the service. I am very excited about both of these additions.

I look forward to the upcoming year, and can’t wait to see how each of these programs continue to flourish! Thank you again to everyone who gives their love and time to help these programs grow. I truly appreciate it!

Sincerely,
Kat Penton
Director of Children & Youth Ministries

Halfway through my fifth year working at the Cathedral, I’m more grateful than ever for the privilege of keeping our community and the world at large informed about all the amazing things going on at St. Andrew’s. Thanks to everyone for your continued support. We were up to a lot of our usual work in 2025, including:

  • Nearly 70 unique bulletin sleeves (one for each Sunday of the year as well as a handful more for special services and mailout editions for the last Sunday of each month)
  • Somewhere in the vicinity of 75 parish-wide E-Pistle emails (weekly + E-Extras)
  • 51 Cathedral News videos, viewed nearly 2,500 times
  • A new round of St. Andrew’s Stories videos, bringing the total to 16
  • 218 social media posts across facebook and instagram, viewed 135,000 times
  • Seasonal banners for the kiosk outside the Cathedral
  • Press releases and media outreach that this year helped us receive coverage in the Clarion-Ledger, Episcopal News Service, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, The Northside Sun, and others
  • Website updates every Thursday (and as needed) throughout the year
  • Postcards, letters, pledge cards, sermon podcasts, graphics, signs, flyers, and many other odd jobs

Over the summer, I developed a list of initiatives to take on throughout the 2025-2026 church year. The number one item on that list was to improve our social media presence by increasing the frequency and quality of our posts and unifying our accounts under a single Meta Business account, both of which we did. Some of our best metrics for the fruits of that effort are:

  • 135,000 content views across facebook and instagram
  • A 37.6% increase in our reach on instagram
  • A 100% increase in content interactions on instagram
  • A 15.5% increase in new facebook followers over 2024 (bringing our total to around 1,700)

Now that our Meta Business account is fully setup, we will also have more complete tracking metrics next year, which should help us continue to assess how these efforts are going.

Some of the other initiatives on that list that are already underway or forthcoming include:

  • Updating our brand identity with an expanded color palette, new typography options, and new display options for our logos, as well as the standardizing of those brand guidelines in a new Voice and Visual Style Guide document for staff and others to use when communicating.
  • A new automated calendar system for our website that can be easily updated by all staff members and will keep relevant events easier to find.
  • A general promotional video for the Cathedral in several different lengths for use in different contexts.

I am proud of what this Cathedral has accomplished in the last year, not only in communications but in every aspect of our shared life, and I’m energized to keep telling that story, near and far, as we embark on 2026. Thanks again to our clergy, our vestry, my fellow staff members, and our parishioners for letting me be part of the family.

Much love to all,
Wil Oakes
Director of Communications