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Vestry Orientation. November 20, 2013. Role & Function of the Vestry. Governing Body The primary responsibility of the Vestry is the governance of the parish (a fiduciary responsibility). Fiduciary Responsibility. Accountability for seeking the best interests
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Vestry Orientation November 20, 2013
Role & Function of the Vestry Governing Body The 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 Temporal Exclusive authority over the fiscal affairs of the Parish. Spiritual Shared 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) Vision Are we doing the right things? Policy & Process Are we doing things in the right way? Ethics Are 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/Investment Ensuring 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/Mission Develop a clear understanding of the vision/mission of the parish (what God is calling the congregation to be and to do). Due Diligence Do our homework/ask appropriate questions before acting, so that we take informed/appropriate/sufficient risks (rather than uninformed/inappropriate/insufficient risks). Appropriate Risk Not guarding our resources but investing them in support the parish’s vision, mission, and ministries.
Fulfilling Your Leadership Role Leadership by Example Making sure that, as individuals and as a group, we do what we would expect of our parishioners. Leadership by Liaison Taking an Interest Mentoring & Coaching Recruiting & Resourcing Communicating & Networking Assessing & 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. • ComePrepared. 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.
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 Vote * Membership recommended but not required. If not a voting member of vestry, must attend vestry meetings.
Current Ministry Area Liaisons * 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.