Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Thank, equip, and empower our unsung heroes.

As Richelle Thompson writes in her blog post, “Holy (and Heck) Week,” “the intensity of this week is one of the privileges of the vocation, but imagine if the Academy Awards carried on for eight days.” During Holy Week there is much to do, coordination and organization are paramount, with much of the logistical work being done by volunteers and staff ‘behind the scenes.' You know they have done their job well when things are seamless. Church staff serve vital roles in their congregations and the articles and resources below point to ways that we can equip and empower them to further the mission and ministry of your congregation.

Next week brings Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, followed by Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 23. We invite you to consider ways to care for our planet and thank the often unsung heroes who make the life and ministry of your congregation possible each and every week.

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Church Secretaries are Saints
A Hallmark holiday or not, church administrators deserve a special time of gratitude on Administrative Professionals Day. In "Church Secretaries are Saints," Richelle Thompson reflects on the many ways administrators and secretaries help keep things running smoothly and how we can use this holiday to sing their praises.

Bylaws & Shared Ministry: Entrusting and Empowering Parish Staff
“The role of parish staff is the role we expect our key lay leaders to play, as well…,” but how does the vestry go about equipping the parish staff to handle and care for the business of the church each week? Greg Syler shares in “Bylaws & Shared Ministry: Entrusting and Empowering Parish Staff,” how the vestry of his congregation discerned and cultivated a more decentralized leadership structure and the expectations of the parish staff to be key leaders in the congregation.

Blog Posts Thanksgiving Means Giving-Thanks: Many of our staff and volunteers toil in thankless positions, who remembers them? An easy start is to say, “Thank you.” 13 Bosses: Supervising the Parish Administrator: Parish administrative jobs come with many and varied hats that are worn in each role. How can the clergy and vestry help the administrator prioritize and effectively accomplish their work? Volunteer Accountability: Holding ourselves and those who serve as volunteers accountable helps strengthen the shared sense of purpose in our communities.

Tools and Resources Technology: Tools for Churches: Keeping technology in the church office updated is essential to equip the staff to be able to effectively carry out their ministry. Homegrown Communion: Faith, Land, and Neighbor: Whether you’re observing Earth Day or beginning to think of green ministries to start this summer, view a recording of this webinar on the power of connecting land and neighbor through food, faith, and farming. New Spring Webinars: Topics include vision and planning offered in Spanish, building a newcomer ministry, and planning and recruiting for stewardship. All are free along with an archive of previous webinars available to watch 24/7.

Administrator as Minister
Often the person who is the first point of contact for a church during the week, no two church administrative, secretary, or receptionist jobs are alike. Jeremy Sierra stresses in “Administrator as Minister” that often, the parish administrator is actively engaged in the ministry of – and to – the congregation. Of the points that Jeremy offers, he shows that we can start by recognizing and appreciating the administrator as a vital part of the ministry team.


This Month in Year-Round Stewardship
April 22 is Earth Day and we invite you to think about ways your congregation is being a good steward of the Earth as God’s creation. In “Greening Our Faith – Putting Belief Into Action,” Fletcher Harper offers a menu of opportunities for congregations to take the first steps toward developing ongoing environmental stewardship and ministry.