Vestry “Job Description”
updated 2022
The vestry is the parish council of twelve lay persons, elected by other active members of the parish, who, with the rector, have responsibility for the care and control of church property and the transaction of the business of the congregation. Members serve 3-year terms. At St. George’s, the vestry is also a group that helps the rector, other clergy, staff, and commissions to discern and carry out the vision of where God is calling us as a congregation. There is “business” to which we must attend, but there is also a lot of joyful sharing and growing in faith and love. As your rector, I hope that vestry members will see their service as a holy ministry and an opportunity to be part of listening for God’s guidance for our parish.
– The Rev. Joe Hensley, Rector of St. George’s
Learn more what it’s like to serve on our Vestry in the below video.
This informational video was made in 2021. Please note that some of the vestry members featured are no longer serving.
There are requirements about vestries and their members set forth in both the canons (rules) of The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Virginia which have to be met, in addition to some expectations that we have at St. George’s.
A candidate for vestry must:
- Be an adult, confirmed communicant in good standing. (see below)
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Be faithful in weekly worship (attending regularly)
- Contribute financially to St. George’s. Support a St. George’s vestry statement on stewardship (see below for 2020 statement) and encourage generosity in fellow parishioners.
- Have been confirmed in The Episcopal Church or received into the church after having been confirmed in another denomination.
- Be a registered member of St. George’s (either by confirmation/reception here or by letter of transfer from another parish).
- Attend monthly vestry meetings (the third Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m.) beginning February 2023.
- Attend the annual vestry retreat weekend. (Next is February 3 – 4, 2023 – format tbd)
- serve as a co-convener with other vestry members of quarterly ministry vision groups to coordinate ministry leaders
- Understand the legal, canonical responsibilities of the vestry (see below).
- Subscribe to the Declaration of Conformity to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. (see below).
- Receive “Safeguarding God’s Children” sexual abuse prevention training (online or in person: to increase our parish’s overall awareness about promoting a safe environment)
- Be available to count monetary offerings after Sunday services once every six weeks.
- Stand at the vestry information table in coffee hour to talk with parishioners once every eight weeks.
- Give priority to attendance at parish events which are “high points” of the church year and others by request.
- Assist in thanking parishioners for gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
“In Good Standing” (from Episcopal Church Title I Canon 17.3) All communicants of this Church who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered communicants in good standing.
Doctrine of Conformity (from the canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia [11.8])
“I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do yield my hearty assent and approbation to the doctrines, worship, and discipline of The Episcopal Church; and I promise that I will faithfully execute the office of Vestry member of St. George’s Church in the Fredericksburg Region, according to my best knowledge and skill.”
The Episcopal Church Canons state that: “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.” (Title 1 Canon 14.2)
Vestry Stewardship Statement for 2020
We, the 2020 Vestry of St. George’s Episcopal Church, recognizing our baptismal covenant and the duty of all Christians to work, pray and give for the spread of kingdom of God, hereby commit to the following:
- We will offer our time and talent as church leaders and encourage others to join with us through service on committees, commissions, ministries and missions of the parish and diocese.
- We will treat each other compassionately and respectfully, be open to the opinions of others, and be prayerful in considering issues and in making decisions.
- We will be good stewards of parish resources. We will ensure that those resources are used to further the work of the Church and will be open and honest about how those resources are expended.
- We will be leaders in giving of our financial resources and, with God’s help, will live into the tithe as the minimum standard of giving.
May God grant us the grace to live into these promises.
Vestry committees (working groups under vestry leadership). These committees assist the vestry in carrying out its canonical mandates (see above). Finance (chaired by a vestry member), Buildings and grounds (chaired by junior warden). Administration [with personnel as a subcommittee] (senior and junior wardens are members).