Vestry

"Wear it proudly!"

The Vestry is the body within a congregation that, with the clergy, leads the parish. The vestry:

Keeps the mission of the Church (“to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ,” BCP 855) clearly in mind;
Helps to discern the particular vision toward which God is drawing our congregation;
Articulates and communicates the vision; and
Holds the community accountable for its realization of that vision.

All vestry members should strive to the best of their abilities to:

Have a love of God and demonstrate a commitment to following the way of Christ;
Be active in the congregation and its programs, learning more about the broad scope of parish life, while becoming more knowledgeable and active in church governance, finance, and business affairs;
Accept responsibility as a member of the board of directors of this non-profit corporation, as defined by the canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Kentucky, & the statutes of the Commonwealth of Kentucky;
Be open to new ideas and people, while honoring the history and tradition of the Church and this particular congregation;
Interact in a healthy manner with fellow Vestry members and staff, while striving to earn the respect of the members of the congregation;
Purposefully strive to be a servant of the people without the need to be the one with the right answers to everything; and
Exhibit enthusiasm and vitality for ministry as a Vestry member.

Vestry members should be able to make the following time commitments:

Attend worship regularly, serving as a “Greeter” in rotation with other Vestry members;

Participate in one Vestry meeting a month (normally the 4^th Monday from 5:30 – ~7:30 pm) for three years (recognizing that a few absences will be necessary for most people);
Attend the Annual Parish Meeting on a Sunday morning in February each year;
Participate in New Vestry orientation session(s) in February or March of the year in which elected;
Participate in the Vestry Commissioning Liturgy on a Sunday in February or March each year;
Participate in a Vestry Retreat (no more than one per year, at a mutually agreed upon time and place);
Serve as a liaison to one or two program areas of the congregation (see Ministries of Grace);
Attend Diocesan Leadership Conferences when possible;
Assist in preparing or serving one Sunday Community Kitchen meal a year; and
“Shepherd” a newcomer occasionally.
Some, though not all, Vestry members serve as an officer of the Vestry, on a Vestry Standing Committee (Personnel or Finance), or on other groups which may be formed as needed (for ex., Stewardship, Christian Formation, Buildings and Grounds).
Every Vestry member is expected to participate in parish-sponsored classes or activities to the best of his/her ability and interest, but no Vestry member is expected to participate in everything!

All vestry members are responsible for:

Pledging financial support early in the stewardship campaign each year;
Offering talents and skills to support the congregation’s ministry;
Praying regularly for the clergy, leaders, and members of the congregation;
Bringing one’s whole self to the table; being present – mind, body, and spirit;
Stating clearly his/her own ideas and beliefs, while listening to others with an open mind;
Expecting to be guided by the Holy Spirit; and
Being active ministers of the Gospel in daily life and work.