Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices

January 2013

Vital Vestries

Being at the Edge
By Lori Hale Babcock
Burdened with their building, Lori Hale Babcock tells us in “Being at the Edge” how her congregation’s leadership courageously faced its challenges - and now thrives.
Build a Healthy Vestry
By Janie Kirt Morris
Getting the right people on board is critical. Janie Kirt shows us the successful system she developed for “Build a Healthy Vestry." Available in Spanish.
Called to Serve?
By Chris Yaw and Nancy Davidge
Chris Yaw offers ECF Vital Practices’ first video Vestry Papers article, “Called to Serve,” in which Christopher Webber, author of The Vestry Handbook shares his approach to vestry recruitment.
Formación de Juntas Parroquiales Sanas
By Janie Kirt Morris
Ya sea si su junta parroquial está formada por seis o por dieciséis, los miembros son líderes de la fe de suma importancia en su iglesia. Sin embargo, cuando se trata de reclutar nuevos candidatos, los miembros que finalizan sus funciones a menudo emplean criterios que yo equiparo a izar una bandera roja. ¡Socorro!
Framework for Vestry Success
By Sandra Clark Kolb
Group dynamics need to develop and will change with each new vestry. In “Framework for Vestry Success”, Sandy Kolb guides us through the key stages to give care and attention to.
I Miss Vestry Meetings
By Henry Parsley
In “I Really Miss Vestry Meetings,” Henry Parsley, retired bishop of Alabama states “vestries should be one of the most exciting ministries in the church – joyful, in fact” and then shares the key components that he, after working with vestries for many years, believes are integral to vestry vitality.
La Junta Parroquial como el Cuerpo de Cristo
By Ken Howard
A juzgar por lo que me dicen otros sacerdotes, creo que no se puede decir que las reuniones de las juntas parroquiales son divertidas. Y por los comentarios que oigo de los laicos en reuniones diocesanas, a los feligreses muy rara vez los llena de gozo la idea de asistir a esas reuniones. Eso probablemente explica los ojos en blanco que recibo a menudo cuando les digo que espero con gusto las reuniones de la junta parroquial de la Iglesia Episcopal St. Nicholas de Germantown, Maryland. ¿Qué hace que nuestra experiencia sea diferente?
Reframe Vestry Meetings
By Randy Ferebee
Tried and frustrated of too many problems and a lack of solutions? Randy Ferebee shows us how vestries can rise above these issues in “Reframe Vestry Meetings.”
Rethink Congregations
By William A. Doubleday
Are we trying to function based on outdated demographics? William Doubleday explains in “Rethink Congregations” how many congregations are and what they can do about it.
Vestry as Body of Christ
By Ken Howard
Ken Howard serves a congregation that attributes its health to its practice of “being church first, do church second.” In “Vestry as Body of Christ”, Ken shares how this understanding plays out in the structure and processes of St. Nicholas’ vestry.