Every organized faith community is required, as a non-profit corporation in the State of Washington (and every other state) to have “officers,” and some sort of oversight board.The officers are the president (usually the senior clergyperson), one or two vice-presidents (in the Episcopal Church these are called “Wardens.”), a treasurer, and a secretary (often called a clerk). All but the treasurer serve in some capacity on the congregation’s council. In the Episcopal Church, this council is called the Vestry (a name that goes back for centuries in England).
The Vestry is the legal representative of the parish with regard to all matters pertaining to its corporate property. The number of Vestry members and the term of office varies from parish to parish; St. John’s has nine members. Three members are elected to a three year term at each Annual Parish Meeting to replace the three whose term is expiring.
St. John’s Vestry meets the third Sunday of each month after our Sunday coffee hour. Any vestry member is available to discuss concerns about any matter of our common life here at St. John’s. You will see vestry members wearing name badges with a red ribbon on them.
If parishioners or church ministries have items to be considered at an upcoming regular vestry meeting, those requests should be received by the pastor or Senior Warden a week prior to the meeting for review and/or inclusion on the agenda. Of course, if there is a pressing issue, don’t hesitate to contact them after this deadline.
Meeting minutes are available upon request to parishioners – office@stjohnsnohomish.org
The Vestry is specifically charged with oversight of the temporal affairs of the parish (finances and property). The Vestry is elected by the parish and operates according to the parish by-laws and the canons of the Dioceses of Olympia and the Episcopal Church. Each January, three new members of the Vestry are elected to a three-year term. Vacancies are filled by the Vestry. By Canon, the Pastor is a member of the Vestry by virtue of the office, and presides at all meetings, or delegates the presiding of the meeting at his or her prerogative to the Senior Warden.
Being a Vestry member involves discerning God’s vision for us, communicating this vision to the congregation and committee leaders, developing and supporting parish leaders, and personally and actively advancing the mission and vision of St. John’s and its various committees in all settings and interactions.