Vestry Orientation

November 20, 2013

Role & Function of the Vestry

Governing BodyThe primary responsibility

of the Vestry is the

governance of the parish

(a fiduciary responsibility)

Fiduciary Responsibility

Accountability for seeking the best interests

of the parish (congregation & the community)

as a local manifestation of the Body of Christ (the larger Church).

Temporal and Spiritual

TemporalExclusive authority over the fiscal affairs of the Parish.

SpiritualShared responsibility for building up the Body of Christ so that it can be an effective instrument of mission and

ministry in the world.

Fiduciary Responsibility

What It Is(the 3 main questions)

VisionAre we doing the right things?

Policy & ProcessAre we doing things in the right way?

EthicsAre we doing right things?

Fiduciary Responsibility

What It Isn’t?(what a vestry does not do)

Not Doing or Supervising

Not Representative Democracy

Role & Function of the Vestry Member

Stewardship/InvestmentEnsuring that

the resources of the congregation are used for the best good of the parish

(the congregation & the community is serves)

(a fiduciary responsibility)

Fulfilling Your Fiduciary Role

Vision/MissionDevelop a clear understanding of the vision/mission of the parish

(what God is calling the congregation to be and to do).

Due DiligenceDo our homework/ask appropriate questions before acting,

so that we take informed/appropriate/sufficient risks (rather than uninformed/inappropriate/insufficient risks).

Appropriate RiskNot guarding our resources but investing them

in support the parish’s vision, mission, and ministries.

Fulfilling Your Leadership Role

Leadership by ExampleMaking sure that, as individuals and as a group,

we do what we would expect of our parishioners.

Leadership by LiaisonTaking an Interest

Mentoring & CoachingRecruiting & Resourcing

Communicating & NetworkingAssessing & Prototyping

Ground Rules for Vestry Meetings

Before the Meeting• Advance Agenda. Agenda and handouts distributed in

advance of the meeting (pick up from in-boxes on Sunday).

• Getting on the Agenda (10 Days in Advance). To get an item on the agenda, contact Ken by two Sundays before meeting.

• Read Agenda Before Meeting. Read agenda and handouts before coming to the meeting.

• Come Prepared. If you are presenting, have charts, handouts ready. If a participant, be prepared to act on the issues before the committee.

Ground Rules for Vestry Meetings

During the Meeting• Arrive/Start on time: 7:00pm Vespers/7:30pm Action Agenda

• Stick to the agenda. One Topic at a Time. Agenda as Contract. New Topics Deferred to End. If It Can’t Wait, Renegotiate.

• Contribute efficiently & effectively. Say it once. Say it briefly. Don’t respond to everything.

• Problem solve/transform conflict effectively. Interest-based (not position based), dual-loop, truth-in-love.

• End on time: 9:30pm (2 hour rule of thumb)

Ground Rules for Vestry Meetings

After the Meeting• Action Notes (Minutes) Sent Within One Week. The Vestry

Secretary will e-mail these within one week after the meeting.

• Review Action Notes. Read the Action Notes upon receipt.

• Carry Out Action Assignments on Time. Carry out any actions for which you are responsible, on time. Communicate to Ministry Leaders actions for which they are responsible.

• Monitor Progress. Your own. Those of your Ministry Area.

Steps in Problem Solving

Double-Loop Learning

Rules, Roles, & Policies• By-Laws. Last updated October 2011. Available on Vestry wiki.

• Roles.

– Some are established by by-laws, others provisional.

– Some appointed by Vestry vote, others by Rector.

• Policies. All policies must be approved by Vestry.

Appointed by Vestry VoteVoting Member

Vestry Membership Req’dNon-Voting Member

Vestry Membership Not Req’dSenior Warden TreasurerJunior Warden Convention Delegates (2)*

Secretary/Registrar Convention Alt. Delegates*Ministry Area Liaisons

* Membership recommended but not required. If not a voting member of vestry, must attend vestry meetings.

Appointed by RectorMinistry Area Leaders

Ministry Area Team Leaders Worship Guild Leaders

All Other Non-Vestry Leaders & Teams

Current Ministry Area LiaisonsLiaisons by Ministry Areas

Worship Formation Outreach Parish Life F.A.H.R.Pepper Kibbey Kirby Aviles Gant

Remington Mahan Kucik Milligan ZindashMaglott* McCartin*

* Sr. Warden & Jr. Warden provide additional vestry support to Parish Life and F.A.H.R., which are larger and more complex ministry areas.

Other Vestry Positions• Senior Warden: Bob McCartin (V)• Junior Warden: David Maglott (V)• Secretary/Registrar: Heidi Gant (V)• Treasurer: Kevin Kettleman (R)• Assistant Treasurer: Chris Prall (R)• F.A.H.R. Chair: Liz Kraft (R)• Convention Delegates: Karin Remington, David Maglott (V)• Convention Alt. Delegates: Maura Kibbey + 1 (V)

Staff Positions• Rector: Ken Howard+• Music Director (PTP): Carolyn Deibel• Pastoral Associate (PTP): Terri Murphy+• Interim Administrative Associate (PTP): HollisAnn King• Missioner for Parish Engagement (PTU): Shivaun Wilkerson+• Seminarian (PTU): Ernesto (“Jar”) Pasalo

Helpful Resources• Vestry WIKI. snecvestry.wordpress.com• Vision and Mission. Available on Vestry WIKI.• St. Nicholas By-Laws. Available on Vestry WIKI.• A Vestry Handbook. Order through church website or VW.• Episcopal Church Foundation - Vital Practices (ECFVP).

Subscription thru VW.• Vestry as Body of Christ (ECFVP). Subscription or download

thru VW.• St. Nicholas Parish Directory. Hardcopy or PDF from VW.• Listserv Addresses for your Ministry Area. Available thru VW.

Sharing the Wisdom