Vestry

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the vestry?

According to the canons or governing documents of The Episcopal Church, “The Vestry shall be agents and legal representatives of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the Parish to its Clergy” (Canon I.14.2). At St. Paul’s, the Vestry consists of twelve members, who are elected to staggered three-year terms at the parish’s Annual Meeting, which is usually held near the end of January. The Rector normally presides at Vestry meetings. There are two wardens or officers of the Vestry—a Senior Warden and a Junior Warden. The Vestry also elects a Treasurer and a Clerk, who are not necessarily members of the Vestry but who support its ministry. In addition to managing the parish’s finances and other resources, the Vestry partners with the Rector in articulating the congregation’s mission and, when necessary, is responsible for calling a new Rector.

What does the vestry do?

The Vestry divides its work into committees—Formation, Outreach, Parish Life, Stewardship, Properties, and Finance. It pursues that work by partnering with other parishioners, with the parish’s staff, and with individuals and organizations outside the parish. At the Vestry’s monthly meetings, each committee reports on the work it has carried out and brings any decisions that need to be made to the entire Vestry. The Treasurer, Wardens, and clergy also make reports. 

Members of the Vestry also serve as cashiers for Sunday breakfast and Wednesday dinner. They help organize the parish picnic in June and assist with other parish events such as the ministry fair in the fall and the annual stewardship Celebration Sunday.

How are vestry members selected?

Every fall, nominations for Vestry are open to anyone who is qualified and who desires to serve. According to the canons, in order to serve on the Vestry, nominees must be at least 16 years old, confirmed members of St. Paul’s for at least thirty days, and financial contributors of record in the parish (or a member of a family that pledges as a unit). Individuals may be nominated by someone else or by themselves, but a nomination form must be completed and turned in for all nominees.

All canonically eligible nominees will appear on the ballot. Voting takes place by electronic ballot on a Sunday in December. The first four individuals to receive a majority of votes are elected. We used a ranked-choice or “instant run-off” format to prevent the need for additional ballots. Those four candidates are presented for official election during the Annual Meeting in late January. The new Vestry members assume office upon taking the canonical required oath at the service following the Annual Meeting. If a Vestry member resigns or is unable to serve, the Vestry elects a replacement to serve the remainder of the former Vestry member’s term.