Worship Services Directions Make a Stewardship Pledge Contact Us
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| VESTRY INFORMATION 2005-2006 Our parish is blessed with members who come from many different church experiences. Even among long-time Episcopalians there are varied understandings of the relationship of the laity to the clergy and the responsibilities they share in their common ministry. This section is included in the Church Directory to acquaint better both new and not-so-new members with the Redeemer’s vestry. Vestry Responsibilities It is a perhaps useful oversimplification to note that our Rector is responsible for the parish’s worship services and spiritual matters, while the vestry is responsible for its economic issues and terrestrial matters. More specifically the vestry is charged with the maintenance of the parish finances and its real property. The vestry is also responsible for filling various positions of parish leadership including the position of rector. When called, a rector’s term of service continues until he/she chooses to submit his/her resignation. While the church canons define these responsibilities and the parish by-laws further delineate them, there are other duties which are merely local customs. The Episcopal church and its diocesan canons allow a great deal of latitude in a local parish’s organization and worship. Obviously there is overlap in the responsibilities of the Rector and the vestry. Indeed, in our parish, the Rector is a member of the vestry. Other aspects of the relationship between the clergy and vestry are defined according to the character of the parish, the Rector and the vestry. Vestry Election The membership of the vestry and their terms of service is published at the front of this directory. The Presidents of the Church Service League and the Altar Guild are members during the time of their service to those segments of the community. Three vestry members are elected for a four-year term each year. The officers of the vestry include two wardens, a treasurer, an assistant treasurer and the clerk. In our parish the vestry, wardens and diocesan delegates are elected by a vote of the parish at its annual meeting. Each fall the vestry appoints an ad hoc committee to nominate lay persons for opening leadership positions. The process and the committee’s composition is announced in the worship services, in the Redeemer News and on the bulletin board. The committee solicits the congregation’s input in this process. All suggestions are considered as the committee strives to add talented, interested individuals who will offer a representative balance to the vestry. The slate they present is published a month prior to the annual meeting, and nominations may be made from the floor at the time of that meeting. Vestry Meetings & Organization The vestry meets at least monthly from September through June. These meetings are generally on the third Tuesday of each month. They begin at 7:30 p.m. and last two hours. Notice of the meetings is provided in services, leaflets, and the Redeemer News. Interested parishioners are welcome to attend these sessions. If you have thoughts about existing programs, ideas for new ones, criticisms of programs, or compliments, we encourage you to share those with one or more vestry members specifically. Each vestry person serves as a liaison to a segment of the parish community. Liaisonships in the past have included:
The vestry persons in each case connect the vestry to the committees or groups which direct this aspect of parish life, but they do not necessarily serve as the chair of any committee. These liaisonships generally reflect the standing committees of the parish, but may include areas which are of interest to the parish as a whole, but which lack a formal committee structure. This is a very superficial and parish-specific treatment of the lay/ clergy organization of an Episcopal parish. If you seek more information about the Episcopal Church, its history, and its organization, you are encouraged to speak to the wardens or a member of the clergy and/or to consider joining an inquirers’ class. Suggested reading material is also available in the parish library or from the clergy.
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