Serving on the Vestry at St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Serving on the Vestry at St. Mary's Episcopal Church

So what is a vestry?

The vestry of an Episcopal Church is roughly equivalent to the board of directors of a corporation. The vestry's purpose is to manage the temporal or secular concerns of the parish, as well as to develop the goals and mission statement that shape our ministry at St. Mary's. The vestry approves the annual budget developed by the budget committee, reviews monthly and quarterly financial reports, makes decisions about the building - how it is used, maintained, and periodically renovated, and serves as an advisory board to the rector.

At St. Mary's the vestry consists of the rector and twelve lay members, including a senior and junior warden.

Who can be on the vestry?

       Lay persons 18 years or older who are communicants of the parish, have been on the Parish Registry for at least six months, have communicated during the past year, and have been contributors in their own names for at least six months can stand for election to the vestry at the Annual Meeting.

How much time are we talking about here?

   The vestry meets from 7:00 - 9:00 PM on the first Tuesday of the month from March through December. In January the meeting is moved to the third Tuesday to allow the end of the year financial report and the budget proposal for the coming year to be completed for vestry approval. The February meeting is replaced by a retreat that in recent years has been held on the third weekend of February.

Vestry members are elected at the Annual Meeting held on the first Sunday in February and serve a three year term. Four members are elected each year. Individuals can be reelected only after being off the vestry for at least one full year. In the event vacancies occur during the year, they are filled by the vestry for the remainder of the unexpired term.

In addition to the regular monthly meetings of the full vestry, members may need to attend subcommittee meetings from time to time.

     As leaders of the congregation there is also an expectation that vestry members will attend worship services on a regular basis, and actively participate in the life of our church family.

Am I going to have to take minutes?

       Nope. The vestry has a clerk who attends all regular vestry meetings, but not the retreat, and takes minutes which are distributed to all vestry members before the time of the next meeting.

The vestry also has a treasurer who works with the parish financial administrator to prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports for vestry review. Both the clerk and the treasurer are elected by the vestry at the vestry retreat.

You mentioned wardens? What are they and what do they do?

     There are two wardens on the vestry. The Senior Warden is appointed by the rector for a one year term at the Annual Meeting while the Junior Warden is elected by the vestry each year at the vestry retreat. Therefore, the Senior Warden is known as the rector's warden while the Junior Warden is sometimes called the people's warden. Generally both wardens meet with the rector on a monthly basis to review the last vestry meeting, plan the agenda for the next meeting, and to discuss any topics of concern related to the life of the parish.

Am I qualified to be on the vestry?

        Are you an Episcopalian who values the inclusive nature of our denomination, who respects the diocesan organization of the Episcopal Church, and who actively welcomes newcomers into our midst?

        Are you passionate about St. Mary's, concerned about both the ministry we are doing today as well as our possibilities for corporate ministry in years to come?