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 Vestry retreat - 2/5/2011
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The leadership of this parish church rests with the Rector and Vestry. Together with the Rector, the Vestry provides spiritual leadership and direction for the congregation. This group also provides for the management of the business and financial affairs of the church and the care and feeding of the property.
Members of the Vestry are elected from among those entitled to suffrage, who are 21 years of age, and who are members in good standing of St. James Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Louisiana. |
Ministry chairperson (Senior Warden): Melanie Torbett
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Responsibilities
The Vestry is the elected lay council of the parish, sharing with the Rector in various ways, responsibility for the oversight of parish life and ministry. Like all leaders within the Body of Christ, members of the Vestry are responsible to “seek God’s glory and promote the mission of the church” (BOS, p. 162). Specific responsibilities include:
- Serving as “Agents and legal representatives of the parish in all matters concerning corporate property and the relations of the Parish to its Clergy.”
- Approving persons at various stages in the process for Holy Orders.
- Working with the Rector to prepare an annual report for the Diocese of Western Louisiana and the Episcopal Church, U.S.A.
- Overseeing the upkeep of property and the business affairs of the parish.
- Notifying the Bishop in the event of a vacancy and participating in the process of selection of a new Rector.
- Supporting and collaborating with the Rector in the general oversight of congregational life and ministry, and in the development of short and long-term goals for the ongoing redevelopment of the congregational life and ministry.
- Assisting in the resolution of conflicts within the parish by:
- upholding the standards of the larger Church and of the parish, but encouraging direct communication among alienated parties and discouraging gossip.
- encouraging the Rector to communicate with the Bishop on matters of serious conflict.
- encouraging the use of skilled, third-party help when needed.
All these responsibilities are seen in relation to the responsibilities of the Rector as pastor and presiding officer of the parish. Further, these responsibilities belong not only to the Vestry as a body, but also to each member of the Vestry during her or his time of service.
Qualifications
When Vestry members are commissioned, their presenter certifies that they have been prepared for this trust by commitment to Christ as Lord, regular attendance at worship, and knowledge of their duties. Further qualifications for membership on the Vestry are defined in Article 6 of the Restatement of Articles of Incorporation of St. James Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Louisiana.
Term
The term of office spans three years unless a person is elected to fill and unexpired term. No Vestry person will be entitled to re-election until one ecclesiastical year after the expiration of the term for which that person has just served.
Duties
Members of the Vestry are obliged to:
- Attend all meetings of the Vestry and all Parish Meetings (annual, called, or special).
- Bring to the attention of the Rector, Wardens and/or Vestry at large, matters of parish life and ministry that may need attention. In any serious matter, the Rector should be notified at once.
- Participate fully in discussion and decision-making, and to be ready to interpret decisions of the Vestry and Rector to other parishioners in a supportive way.
- Maintain a file or notebook of Vestry business in good order and return it at the conclusion of the elected term.
- Embrace the tithe as the minimum standard of Christian giving and, if not presently giving at that level, to work toward that goal by making deliberate and proportionate increases to an annual pledge for the support of the mission and ministry of St. James Episcopal Church.
- Attend a regularly scheduled service of worship on Sunday.
- Attend and support parish events and programming regularly.
- Attend the annual Vestry Planning and Review events for the duration of the elected term.
- Attend the 10:30 service of worship on the Sunday after the Annual Parish Meeting when the Vestry is commissioned for service.
- Notify the Church Office in advance, if a meeting of the Vestry cannot be attended.
When the office cannot be filled
When a Vestry Member cannot, for any reason, fulfill the duties, responsibilities, and qualifications above, that person should notify the Rector or a Warden of this fact so that the vacancy may be filled. As per Article 6, Section 10, of the Restatement of Articles of Incorporation of St. James Episcopal Church, Alexandria, Louisiana, the missing of three consecutive meetings is grounds for the Vestry to declare a vacancy. Upon due notice and an affirmative vote of not less than nine members of the Vestry, that body may proceed to fill the vacancy.
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