Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

As I began working on this month’s content, a common theme emerged: vestry service being described as a dreaded obligation, chore or something to be endured. A common request was, “Can you help bring joy back into serving on the vestry?” This became the question I asked each contributor as our February content began to take shape.

A theme that ran through each conversation was the importance of managing expectations, beginning with the recruitment of vestry members, and continuing through vestry orientation and training. Equally important was valuing vestry service as sacred ministry as well as maintaining a healthy balance between the leadership and management aspects of vestry responsibilities.

Here’s how each of our contributors approached this question:

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.



In “I 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.

 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.


“Being at the Edge“ by Lori Hale Babcock shares the story of St. John’s Mt. Washington’s courageous decision to change from a church saddled with a building to congregation committed to discipleship, bringing with it renewed “energy and confidence that God has a dream to renew and transform the world – and that our little group of disciples is uniquely qualified to be a vital part of this work.”

Is serving on the vestry in your congregation a joyful and exciting ministry or could it use some work? I’m eager to hear stories of how you are making vestry service meaningful and fulfilling; please share them in the comment section below or email me at editor@episcopalfoundation.org.

If you are new to the vestry or other congregational leadership position and would like to be notified of new Vestry Papers and ECF Vital Practices content, please consider becoming a registered user by signing up using the ‘Register’ button at the top right hand side of our homepage. You’ll receive two emails from us each month – one notifying you of new Vestry Papers content and the second a collection of resources based around a common theme.