Q & A about the Vestry Election

Dear All Souls Community,

At our annual meeting, February 14, we will elect two persons to rotate onto the Vestry Committee for three year terms. They will be replacing Carroll Jones and Pat Pace, who are rotating off.

I've gotten a number of questions about the Vestry Committee and the election.  Feel free to add to this blog with your own questions.

Question:  "What is a vestry/vestry committee?"

Answer:  The vestry is a group of people elected by the congregation who have responsibility for exercising oversight of the life of a parish or mission (in a mission like All Souls, the group is known as a vestry committee).  That oversight includes the following duties:

+ Election of a rector with the advice of the bishop.  In a mission, the vestry committee elects a vicar upon nomination by the bishop.

+ Make an annual pledge in support of the ministries of the diocese.

+ Oversee the business and financial life of the parish (approving budgets, supervising collection and disposition of funds, etc)

+ Oversee the care and maintenance of the church property.

+ Make provision for the worship of the church (prayer books, hymnals, vestments, etc)

+ Maintain all records of the church (except the parish register).

Question:  "How many people serve on a vestry/vestry committee?"

Answer:  The canons of this diocese specify no fewer than three and no more than twelve (except in the case of larger parishes, who may have up to eighteen, governed by a formula of parish members to vestry members.)

The All Souls vestry committee has six members.

Question:  "What are the minimal requirements for serving on a vestry/vestry committee?"

The short answer, "Confirmed communicants in good standing above the age of 16."  A confirmed communicant is someone confirmed as an Episcopalian, or someone confirmed in another tradition who has been personally received by the bishop.  Persons baptized as adults or older children in a denomination that does not practice confirmation are considered as confirmed.  They, too, must be personally received by the bishop to be confirmed Episcopalians.

In good standing means having attending at least twice in the past year and being known to the treasurer (be a giver).  Obviously, it would e desirable to have someone serving who attends regularly.

Question:  "Who are the senior and junior warden and what do they do?"

Answer:  The wardens are elected by the vestry/vestry committee.  The senior warden traditionally has been known as the "priest's warden," the person who works closely with the priest in the leading of the congregation.  The junior warden traditionally has been known as "the people's warden," the person to whom the people look when they need to communicate about parish business.  The junior warden traditionally has been the person most directly tasked with caring for church property.

Question:  "How long may vestry members serve?"

Answer:  The canons of our diocese limit terms to three or four years maximum.  We have opted for three year terms.  Those who rotate off must stay off for one year before they can stand for election again.

Please add your questions in the Add New Comment link below.

Peace,

David Perkins,
 Vicar