What is a Vestry?

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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:
  • Ongoing discernment of God’s call and communicating the congregation’s mission and vision.
  • Identification of new leaders for the congregation and for the wider Church, including lay leaders and nomination of candidates for Holy Orders.
  • Stewardship and growth of resources in support of the mission of the Church, including ensuring that standard business methods are observed and serving as agents and legal representatives of the congregation in all matters.
  • Special responsibilities during time of clergy transition, including the continuation of worship and calling a new Rector when a congregation is without a Rector.
 
Part III:
What are Some Examples of a Parish Vestry’s Duties?

  • Elect a Rector in accordance with the Canons of the General Convention after conference with the Bishop of the Diocese;
  • Elect a Treasurer and a Clerk;
  • Appoint committees in accordance with the bylaws
  • Identify new leaders and fill vacancies in the Parish Vestry
  • Assist the Rector in planning and preparing for the Parish Annual Congregational Meeting;
  • Attend the Parish Vestry retreat;
  • Provide leadership for stewardship and the development of resources;
  • Approve the annual budget;
  • Provide oversight and coordinate needs for various ministries;
  • Listen to and communicate with the Parish congregation; and
  • Identify needs for maintenance and improvement of the Church property and ensure funding for those needs.
 
Part IV:
What are Some Examples of the Hope Parish Vestry’s Duties?

  • The Senior Warden and Junior Warden work with the Rector regarding organizing ministries, handling pastoral matters and presenting matters of importance to the Parish Vestry.
  • The Junior Warden maintains the building and grounds with the assistance of the Sexton (e.g., ensuring all equipment is kept in good running order and overseeing other building and property projects).
  • The Treasurer is the custodian of all financial information, maintaining an itemized account of all financial matters and compiling financial reports for the Annual Congregational Meeting and the monthly Vestry meetings.
  • The Clerk takes the minutes at the Annual Congregational Meeting and the monthly Vestry meetings, ensuring they are recorded, provided to the Vestry members and made available to the congregation.
  • Members of the Vestry work closely with the Hope ministry leaders to support the work they do.
  • In the Rector’s absence, the Vestry continues to meet and maintain Hope’s business affairs.
  • In conjunction with the Rector, the Vestry appoints committee chairpersons and members to the three committees that report directly to the Vestry:  Finance, Audit and Communications.
 
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:
  • ensuring that all Parish financial procedures are consistent with the Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs
  • reviewing financial records and reports
  • developing and maintaining an annual budget under the guidance of the Treasurer
 
Audit Committee chair is currently Jackie Sutton.  Currently, other members are Walter Blood and Jerry Stranford.  Duties include:
  • auditing the books and accounts of the Parish following the close of each fiscal year
  • preparing and submitting a written audit report to the Rector and the Senior Warden no later than the last day of May who will present it to the Parish Vestry
  • ensuring the complete audit report is submitted to the Diocese of the Rio Grande no later than the 31st of June each year
 
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:
  • developing and implementing a communication plan for outreach to the community and the congregation including tools such as the website, brochures, other publications and signage.
 
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:
  • Candace Jones (Senior Warden)
  • Jim Perner (Junior Warden)
  • Tracey Zanon (Treasurer)
  • Elizabeth Baca (Clerk)
  • Jack Sloane (Sexton)
  • Sheri Miller
  • Alfred Walker
  • Gail Hartman
  • Elizabeth Baca​
  • Bob Guyker
 
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 Resources

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About Hope+In+The+Desert

Hope+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 Service

​Holy Eucharist, 10:00am
Children's Sunday School, 9:45AM
​(Classroom E)
Youth Group, 9:00AM (Classroom D)
Child care provided

Contact Us

Hope In The Desert, Episcopal Church
8700 Alameda Blvd. NE (Hope Plaza)
Albuquerque, NM 87122
Office: (505) 830-0572
Fax: (505) 821-3116
Email: office@hopepiscopal.org
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-2:30pm