Our vestry is the group of elected lay leaders of our parish. Three members are elected each year at Annual Meeting for three-year terms. After three years, members rotate off and new folks are elected.

The membership of the vestry is to be a true reflection of the membership of the parish – we strive to bring together a diverse group who will share their individual gifts specifically to further the mission of the Church in the world. There are clear roles for the vestry and clergy outlined by the Canons (laws and rules) for the Church and the Diocese. Serving on vestry is a mix of lay leadership and management. As lay leaders, we work side-by-side with the clergy to respond to God's call and mission for the Church. The vestry, with the clergy, is called to step out in faith to co-create this response.

In addition to some specific responsibilities to the Diocese and national Church, the vestry is charged with managing the property and finances of the parish as well as some human resources activities, most pertinently for us, the hiring of a Rector. A vestry may delegate some of the management to committees – like the Search Committee, Property Committee and the Finance Committee – but, in the end, it is the vestry that approves the activities of these committees on behalf of the parish.

Just as church is different than an ordinary business, vestry is different from a normal organization's Board of Directors. As a member of the vestry, we are each called to a sacred ministry by the body of Christ through our election by the parish at Annual Meeting. The parish puts their trust in each member of the vestry to act responsibly for the good of the congregation. Serving on the vestry is another aspect of our individual relationships with God. Yet, as vestry members, we are not supposed to forget about our work experience or expertise when we walk into the vestry meeting. Being on vestry is a way to apply our baptismal vows to our acquired business experience in the carrying out of the mission and ministry of our parish.

As individuals and as a group, we hold our Baptismal Covenant as the standard by which we make decisions. Thus, when considering financial issues, we deliberate standard business practice and add prayer and reflection to discern God's will for our parish. We are not slavishly striving to meeting a 'bottom line,' but are trying to faithfully listen for God's call and will to further the mission of the Church – even when an element of financial risk may be entailed.

If you feel the tug of the Holy Spirit when thinking about how you can serve your parish and share your God-given talents and strengths, then prayerfully consider telling the nomination committee you are interested in serving on the Vestry. And, if the tug is the name of a fellow parishioner, please share that name with the nomination committee as well.

Much of this material is synthesized from two sources:

1. The Vestry Resource Guide, Revised. A. Daniels & J.A. Holtz, Episcopal Church Foundation, April 2007.
2. Vestry 101: Rights and Responsibilities. Workshop led by C. Hubbard at the Diocese of Massachusetts' Congregational Resource Day, Sept. 2007.