Vestry elections are coming up for all our churches between first Advent and the end of January, which is the time set aside for annual meetings of a parish. This makes this the perfect time to consider vestries, what they are for and how to support them in their work. Last week I wrote What's a Vestry to do? on the role of vestries. in The Episcopal Church. This week, I want to consider your role as a church member as concerns the vestry.

The Ministry of Lay Persons
The catechism lays out the ministry of lay persons as, "The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church."

As a church member, you are to take your place in the governance as well as the life and worship of your church. Obviously, not every member can serve on the vestry, but that doesn't let you off the hook from discerning whether this is something God has for you and if not for you, than who should you encourage to stand for election?

Discerning Who Should Stand for Vestry Election
Every congregation needs new persons to step forward to stand for election. This is particularly true with younger members. Our canons permit vestry members to be as young as 18, but seldom does a vestry have anyone under 30, and more often the bulk of vestry are retirees. Each congregation needs a variety of people and perspectives working faithfully in leadership alongside their priest to make decisions which impact both the business and spiritual side of church life. You should prayerfully consider the mix of gifts and experience which would make your vestry most representative and productive. As a congregation will have difficulty in being better than its vestry and so who is selected matters more than first meets the eye.

Since you are a person who cares about the church (I know this because you have read this far in an article on vestries in a diocesan newsletter), you should feel accountable to God for praying about and for your church's vestry. This should include praying for who to nominate in an election, and being willing to say "yes" if that discernment leads to the fact that it is you who should stand for election. Then the election itself is not a popularity contest, but another time for prayerful discernment about the mix of people and perspectives needed for this vital role. This role of prayer also means praying for the rector, wardens and vestry in their decision making on behalf of the congregation.

The Priests and Vestry We Deserve
We get the priests and vestries we deserve in that if we pray for and support them, the priest and vestry will be better able to do the work to which they are called. If we undermine or ignore them and then complain about the results, we'll also get what we deserve. I encourage prayer and support as well as discernment about who to call, not just because it makes for a healthy congregation life, but because prayerful, encouraging people is who we are called to be as Christians. This is just how that plays itself out in the governance of our congregtations.

Bishop Benhase has offered a useful Vestry Job Description which I commend to your reading and then to your prayers and discernment. This file is also available as a Word document to be tailored by your vestry to its particular situation: vestryjobdescription.doc