2025-26 Annual Meeting

A Look Back and a Look Ahead: Highlights from Our 2026 Annual Meeting

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, our parish gathered for the 2026 Annual Meeting, a time to reflect with gratitude on the year behind us and to look forward with hope to where God is calling us next. If you were unable to attend, here are some of the key moments and takeaways from our time together.

Celebrating Leadership and Service

We elected our new Vestry class by acclamation: John Burton, Courtney Clent, and Tony Parker, who will serve three-year terms. We also elected our Diocesan Council representatives: Ana Davila, Karen Eisele, Von Long, and Chuba Oyeka

We offered heartfelt thanks to our outgoing Vestry members—Ana Davila, Von Long, and Chuba Oyeka—for their faithful service, steady leadership, and gracious spirits. Special recognition was also given to Ron Smith, who concluded more than 15 years of service as Treasurer. Ron’s leadership helped shape our financial policies, strengthen internal controls, and guide the parish through major financial projects, all with patience and integrity.

A Snapshot of Our Growing Community

In 2025, God continued to grow and sustain our parish:

507 members, a 10.2% increase

293 average Sunday attendance, up 7.6%

18 baptisms and 16 confirmations

2 funerals

These numbers tell a story of a living, growing community rooted in worship, formation, and care for one another

What Your Giving Made Possible in 2025

Your generosity in 2025 supported far more than a budget. It sustained worship across three services, including livestreaming; formed children, students, and adults through classes, retreats, and small groups; and strengthened pastoral care through prayer ministries and the newly formed Healing Hearts Ministry.

Your gifts also extended God’s love beyond our walls through outreach partnerships, mission support in Uganda and El Salvador, and our Student Mission Trip to San Antonio. At the same time, your giving helped maintain our campus as a welcoming and beautiful place for ministry and community life.

Financial Health and Faithful Generosity

Thanks to faithful generosity, contributions in 2025 exceeded expenses by approximately $60,000, positioning us well for the start of 2026. Our parish remains committed to accountability and transparency, including an annual independent financial review to ensure resources are managed with care and integrity. Full financial reports are available at cotha.org/generosity-finance

As we look toward 2026, we acknowledge real challenges, including rising facility and insurance costs and the fact that only 36% of the congregation currently pledges. Even so, careful planning, preventative maintenance, and in-house repairs saved the parish nearly $89,000 last year, a powerful example of behind-the-scenes stewardship.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we move forward, Church of the Holy Apostles remains committed to being a biblically faithful community that connects people to Christ through love in action. In the coming year, we will:

Continue offering three worship services, provide formation opportunities for all ages, look for ways to invite young adults into leadership, and deepen our mission relationships locally and globally, including work in South Sudan.

We also shared details about Alex’s upcoming clergy sabbatical, which will take place from May 12 to August 12. Please see our website page cotha.org/sabbatical for more information and FAQs.

With Gratitude

We ended the meeting with sincere thanks to all who serve our parish: Vestry members, staff, ministry coordinators, formation leaders, prayer teams, and our dedicated Maintenance Gang. Your faithfulness makes this shared ministry possible.

As we were dismissed, we were reminded of our call: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Alex Large

Rector