Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices

January 2016

‘Reboot’ Your Vestry

Come Away and Rest Awhile
By James Koester, SSJE and R. Casey Shobe
Retreats can be an effective vehicle for renewing and refreshing a vestry. James Koester, SSJE and R. Casey Shobe share how a contemplative retreat can transform vestry leadership away from “crunching numbers, going over the budget, and micromanaging administrative details, into becoming a body of deeply formed and faithful Christian leaders.
Fire First!
By Robert Wright
Robert Wright encourages us to make explicit our fire – our common purpose - and to keep it “in front of us” as it will bless our common life in exciting ways.
Get the Hell out of Church
By J. Fletcher Lowe and Demi Prentiss
J. Fletcher Lowe and Demi Prentiss share an approach a congregation’s rector and vestry can use to equip members for faithful witness in the world.
Norms & Covenants: Tools to Strengthen Your Team
By Nancy Davidge
Effective teams need a safe and open work environment where all members can openly share their ideas, concerns, and hopes. In “A New Year, A New Vestry” Nancy Davidge looks at how norms and covenants can help a vestry create that safe space.
Preparación de las juntas parroquiales
By Anna B. Lange-Soto
El comité del obispo o la junta parroquial en las congregaciones hispanohablantes/bilingües tienen retos únicos. Anna B. Lange-Soto menciona algunos y nos da consejos para enfrentarlos y superarlos.
Preparing Members for Vestry Service
By Anna B. Lange-Soto
The bishop’s committee or vestry in Spanish-speaking/bilingual congregations has unique challenges. Anna B. Lange-Soto mentions some and gives us advice on how to face and get past them.
Reboot Your Reporting
By Frank Logue
Do the things your vestry measures and reports on reflect the mission- and vision-driven aspects of your congregation?
The Consent Calendar
By Ron Byrd
Are your vestry meetings too long? Is too much time taken up on routine business? Ron Byrd’s introduction to using a consent calendar at General Convention convinced him to propose this approach to his vestry.
Why Team Building Matters
By Leslie Hartley
Team building is an important aspect of a vestry’s work; work that takes on more importance as a vestry welcome new members and say ‘thank you’ to others. In “Why Team Building Matters” Kanuga’s Leslie Hartley offers timely tips and resources to assist with this important transition.