The Vestry
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. Vestry members are usually
elected at the annual parish meeting. The presiding officer of the vestry is the rector. There are usually two
wardens. The senior warden leads the parish between rectors and is a support person for the rector. The junior
warden often has responsibility for church property and buildings. A treasurer and a secretary or clerk may be
chosen. These officers may or may not be vestry members. The basic responsibilities of the vestry are to help
define and articulate the mission of the congregation, to support the church’s mission by word and deed, to select
the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances.
As St. John’s is currently without a priest, our senior warden's responsibility has increased. That person is charged
with ensuring services will be conducted on Sunday’s and that Clergy is available for weddings and funerals, as well
as, seeing to Pastoral care of our parishioners, the collection plate is handled and counted for deposits, and day to
day activities.
Other vestry members at St. John’s perform various duties. Some of them include simply acting in liaison-type
roles. We have vestry members that report on the church cemetery, mission and outreach, finance committee,
audit, media and Christian formation. The Vestry’s term commitment at St. John’s is staggered so that members
rotating off do not disrupt the ongoing work of church activities.
