Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Last week I received a fairly straight forward question from a lay leader regarding vestry nominations. In addition to answering Andrea’s question, it opened the door to share a great example I just learned from the rector of St. Paul’s in Murfreesboro, TN.

Question:

Should the names of the individual(s) who are being considered for nomination to the vestry be published in the church bulletin? Also, in the bulletin, should the parish be informed of how many vacancies there are and that nominations are being accepted?

The short answer: yes!

The more communication and transparency, the better. In our experience, vestries and parish leaders almost always need to ramp up communication about all aspects of parish life. Never assume that one form of communication, or a single announcement, will reach people. Important messages need to be communicated repeatedly and in different formats, such as the bulletin, e-newsletter, small group gatherings, from the pulpit or lectern, and one-on-one conversation. If there is a Nominations Committee, they should communicate the steps of the process, the number and type of open seats, and the “slate” of names the committee has proposed. Also – don’t forget to publicly thank the individuals who are rotating off!

Let’s learn from the practice at St. Paul’s and open up the nomination process even further. Wanting to be “open to the Holy Spirit,” they involve the whole congregation, not just a committee.

• First, they begin the process a few months before annual meeting. In most congregations, that means now.
• Second, anyone in the congregation can submit nominations during a designated time for receiving names.
• Third, these names go the rector, who vets the list. The rector considers criteria such as how active the person is in the parish, whether they pledge, and other aspects that might be particularly important for vestry service at that time. In essence, do the rector and wardens concur that this person would be a sound nominee.
• Fourth, everyone who is on the refined list of nominees is invited to a vestry orientation session led by former senior wardens. This forum provides an opportunity to describe vestry service and responsibilities, as well as paint a clear picture of the recent work and future anticipated priorities for the vestry. It allows nominees to engage in thoughtful Q & A about their potential role in leading the congregation.
• Finally, nominees may accept or decline the nomination. Those who accept are put forward for election at the annual meeting.

In addition to giving potential candidates a chance to consider in advance whether they have the time/talent/treasure to serve on the vestry, this practice provides important general education about leadership at the parish level in The Episcopal Church. (Many people new to TEC may not have a basic understanding of our style of governance.) This type of nomination process may also avoid some of the skepticism or popularity contests that sometimes occur when a nomination committee puts forth a specific slate of nominees to fill the exact number of open seats. Finally, it also allows the whole congregation and those nominated to really discern together.