Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Sharing Vital Practices

During this season of calling new leaders for your congregation, we want to thank all of you who introduce your new vestry members to ECF Vital Practices. So many of you tell us how ECF Vital Practices has been a useful tool, spark of inspiration, or boost of confidence in your ministry. We encourage all of you who feel this way to invite your congregation’s newest leaders to consider subscribing to ECF Vital Practices.

Please continue to tell us about your successes and challenges as well as letting us know of content areas that you are interested in.

If you haven't already, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation and think about sharing your great resources on Your Turn.

Create a Holy Time Away for Your Vestry
Why should the vestry go on a retreat? What will we do? Randy Ferebee and Alan Akridge offer practical tips in "Create a Holy Time Away for Your Vestry" that make for both an enjoyable and effective time together. Use this as a checklist for planning your next vestry retreat – or to help explain to your vestry why it’s important to go on a retreat.

Bootstrap Your Vestry Retreat
A vestry retreat is a great opportunity to look at how the vestry is doing and what can be done more effectively. Loren Mead shares in "Bootstrap Your Vestry Retreat" how vestries can spend time to reflect, provide feedback, and nurture growth. New members can look at their roles on the vestry, experienced members to reflect on their challenges and accomplishments, and everyone to come together to have fun while also working on their ministry of leadership.

Blog Posts Moving from Purpose to Spirit-Driven Meetings: How time for prayer and scripture can make for better meetings. Beyond Three T’s: Try out some new terms to help focus on mission and ministry. Consensus: A Countercultural Activity: Building consensus as a decision making process for your vestry.

Tools and Resources Winter Web Conferences: Vestry 101 will be offered on Feb 5. Other great topics from leadership to finances are also scheduled. So You're a New Warden: Now What?: You're being elected as a warden and may be thinking: Now what? A Suggested Order of Meetings: For vestry meetings, this template explains how to focus on missional leadership.

No More Parking Lot Conversations