Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Serving on the vestry is a call to a sacred ministry by the body of Christ. Knowing that new vestry members take office in January, ECF Vital Practices’ Vestry Papers will continue its practice of its dedicating the first issue of the new year on vestries.

Our ECF Vital Practices advisory committee and our reader surveys have a lot to offer related to information they would like to see covered in Vestry Papers. What stands out is a strong call to focus on ‘the basics’ for vestries.

Each of our congregations – and vestries – face challenges; sharing stories of facing and responding to these same challenges is one of the best ways we have of supporting each other. From our research, we’ve developed a list of vestry related topics we’re considering for this issue. Perhaps you have other topics that would be helpful to your vestry. And, perhaps, you have a success story you’d be willing to share.

Here’s the list of topics vestries would like to learn more about:

• How congregations manage the ‘basics’ – vestry roles & responsibilities, examples of job descriptions for the various vestry positions.
• Determining which vestry model is right for your congregation: warden driven, priest driven, shared responsibility. 
• The experience of a vestry in a congregation with part time clergy and/or part time or no paid staff.
• Vestry nominations and discernment processes.
• Developing, adopting, and living into vestry covenants.
• Models of vestry retreats: what works in terms of building good working relationships for your vestry?
• How congregations have connected their vestry to transformational leadership and justice, specifically stories of vestries that have helped change a congregation’s focus from inward to one of deeper connection with the community in which it is located. What were the steps/process that led to a more external focus?
• Processes for setting goals, planning, and evaluation.
• Role of treasurer and finance committee.
• Role of clerk. 
• How the vestry models our Baptismal Covenant in its work.

Is there an area on this list that your vestry does well? And if so, will you consider sharing your story with others? Since ECF launched ECFVP.org in November 2010, we’ve published 96 Vestry Papers articles, most of which have been contributed by congregational leaders willing to share their experiences, successes, and challenges with others. Become part of this generous group of contributors by sharing one of your stories. To learn more, please email me at ndavidge@episcopalfoundation.org.

Thank you.