What is a Vestry?![]()
Part I:
Vestry Defined The Vestry is the legal representative of the Parish. The number of Vestry members and the terms of office vary from Parish to Parish. At Hope, we currently have nine voting Vestry members, six of whom (Junior Warden and five other voting members) are elected by the congregation at the Annual Parish Congregational Meeting. The Rector is the Presiding Officer. The Senior Warden is appointed by the Rector. The Treasurer and Clerk are elected by the Vestry (these individuals may or may not be voting Vestry members). Currently, our Treasurer is a voting Vestry member. The Senior Warden leads the Parish between Rectors and is a support person for the Rector. The Junior Warden (along with a Sexton to assist) has responsibility for Church property and buildings. The Treasurer guides the Vestry regarding the financial affairs of the Church. The Clerk records the minutes of each meeting. The basic responsibilities of the Vestry as a whole are to help define and communicate the mission of the congregation, to support the Church’s mission by word and deed, to select the Rector when necessary, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances. Part II: What are the Shared Responsibilities of the Vestry and Rector? Vestry members are the legal representatives and agents of a parish, charged with specific responsibilities by the canons of the Episcopal Church. They share leadership responsibilities with the Rector. The Vestry functions much the board of any nonprofit organization with responsibility for finances and management of property and human resources. Many of the aspects of the Vestry’s roles are defined by entities beyond the congregation (local, state and federal laws; diocesan and Episcopal church canons; the Parish’s own bylaws). The Parish Vestry attends to all the business of the Parish, the provision of all things required to carry on the work of the Parish, and the payment of Parish obligations. Shared responsibilities of the Vestry and the Rector can roughly be described as:
Part III: What are Some Examples of a Parish Vestry’s Duties?
Part IV: What are Some Examples of the Hope Parish Vestry’s Duties?
Part V: Who Are the Members and What Are the Duties of Hope’s Finance, Audit and Communications Committees? Finance Committee chair is currently David Dixon. Currently, other members are Jim Kirkpatrick, John Perner, Jack Sloane and Tracey Zanon. The Rector and the Senior Warden are ex-officio members. Duties include:
Audit Committee chair is currently Jackie Sutton. Currently, other members are Walter Blood and Jerry Stranford. Duties include:
Communications Committee chair is currently Candace Jones. The Rector and the Assistant to the Rector are members. Currently, other members are Bob Guyker, Carol Sloane and Jack Sloane. Duties include:
Part VI: What is the Structure of the Hope Vestry and Who Can Serve? The Vestry is composed of elected and appointed members who serve for a specific period of time, most often three years. In addition to the Rector and the Assistant to the Rector, the following people currently serve on the Vestry:
To serve on the Vestry, one must be a qualified voting member of the Parish and must be age eighteen (18) or older. Hope Vestry meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Hope entry hall. The meetings are open to those wishing to attend. |
External ResourcesThe following are connections to resources for your convenience:
Church organizations:
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About Hope+In+The+DesertHope+in+the+Desert is an intergenerational, Christ-centered community that welcomes everyone, no matter where you are in your spiritual search. I trust that you will feel God's joyful presence in our church and in its people.
Fr. Dan Tuton, Rector |
Sunday ServiceHoly Eucharist, 10:00am
Children's Sunday School, 9:45AM (Classroom E) Youth Group, 9:00AM (Classroom D) Child care provided |
Contact Us8700 Alameda Blvd. NE (Hope Plaza)
Albuquerque, NM 87122 Office: (505) 830-0572 Fax: (505) 821-3116 Email: office@hopepiscopal.org |