Vestry

By Alberto Cutié
Alberto Cutié shares key differences in governance between the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches. Available in both Spanish and English.
By Ronald D. Pogue
“Being on the Same Page” by Ron Pogue, reminds us of the value of our congregation’s governing documents and how they can be a useful tool for decision making.
By William A. Doubleday
In “Knowledge is Power,” William Doubleday introduces congregational leaders to the resources available to them in Canon 7: Of Business Methods in Church Affairs.
By Neal O. Michell
In human interactive terms, a triangle occurs when each of two opposing parties seeks to join with a third party against the other, with the third party finding it necessary to cooperate now with one and now with another of t…
By Linda Grenz
A liturgy for the commissioning of new parish leaders.
By Richard H. Schmidt
The name Richard Hooker rings no bell for most vestry members. More than a few clergy haven’t heard of him, either.
By Ariana Gonzales-Bonillas
Making people feel valued and welcome is key to building community. In “Feeling Valued,” high school senior Ariana Gonzales-Bonillas invites congregational leaders to reflect on the ways youth are valued – or not – in their c…
By Denis C. Brunelle
Discernment is the spiritual discipline of seeking clarity in identifying the mission of the parish and how the parish (vestry) will respond to God’s call. Our hope is to insure that when we step aside, our congregations exis…
By Sandra Clark Kolb
Change in ordained leadership in a congregation creates a time of both challenge and opportunity. As a vestry member you play a critical role in making the transition a healthy one.
By Diana B. Henriques
On September 11th, as my husband Larry and I were finishing breakfast, we heard a plane go over our house – too low and too loud for the usual air traffic approaching Newark Airport, 20 minutes away. We looked at each other i…
By John Mark Wiggers
Some congregations find it difficult to recruit nominees for vestry and other leadership positions, John Mark Wiggers shares a different method of vestry selection that has been working at his congregation.
By ECF, Consortium of Endowed Parishes, Episcopal Church Center
What makes for a good meeting? What are your hopes and expectations?
By Donald Romanik
So you’ve just been elected a warden in your parish. You may be thinking: What now?
By Diocese of Washington
“Warden” means “steward” or “guardian,” and wardens are the chief stewards and servants of their congregations.
By Anne Burns
Think of this time as the longest Advent season you have ever experienced.
By Lynn Gosnell
The way Martha Steves, former senior warden and current vestry member explains it, the work of St. Mark’s vestry in San Antonio, Texas, has undergone a gradual yet fully transformative shift.
By Loren Mead
I’ve often wondered — are good vestry members just born that way, or are they people who take on the job and grow into it?
By Ellen Bruckner
About twenty-five years ago, I began my leadership journey as an elected vestry person in my current congregation, Christ Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
By Leonard Freeman
John Coburn, former bishop of Massachusetts and former president of the House of Deputies, once remarked that he liked to keep the canons of the church “behind” him for support but “not in front” of him as an impediment.
By Jay Nord
Question: What are five best traits for a rector to have? How about: inspirational, organized, a great multi-tasker, outstanding people skills, and a good delegator? And underscore that with humility.