The Vestry in the Episcopal Church is the parish’s legal representative regarding finances and property matters.
The Vestry at St. James Episcopal Church consists of nine elected adult confirmed communicant members in good standing (IAW Canon 17), known to the Treasurer, who serve staggered three-year terms. All communicants in good standing can vote at the Annual Parish Meeting in January to elect vestry members.
The Episcopal Church does not have a “congregational” or “Presbyterian” polity. We have an “Episcopal” polity. The word episcopal is from the Greek word Επίσκοπος, which means “bishop” or “overseer.” This form of church government functions with a single leader, a bishop. The Bishop is the ecclesiastical authority in the diocese. The parish rector (priest) acts on behalf of the Bishop and exercises ecclesiastical (religious) authority in the parish. While the Rector oversees and uses the property, the elected vestry holds and uses the parish’s temporal goods (property and money) in trust for the diocese.
The Rector is the president of the vestry and presides over the monthly vestry meetings.
The Wardens are the senior laypersons on the leadership team. The senior warden is the senior layperson in the vestry and is selected by the Rector and ratified by the vestry. The Sr. Warden is the lead support person for the Rector. The vestry chooses the junior warden responsible for church property and buildings.
The Treasurer (s) ensures proper financial reporting and communication to the vestry and congregation and oversees the bookkeeping and accounting procedures.
The Clerk is the vestry’s official record keeper and can legally attest to the vestry’s actions and decisions. Typically, the Clerk is the authorized signature for the church and maintains the church’s seal.
The vestry’s primary responsibilities are to assist the Rector in the parish’s leadership by working together to define, articulate, and carry out the congregation’s mission. They are trustees elected by the congregation to act as good stewards, care for the financial and property resources entrusted to them, and support the church’s mission by word and deed. The vestry is also responsible for selecting a rector and assisting the Rector by effectively organizing and planning.
The vestry does not work “for the rector,” nor does the Rector work “for the vestry.” Rather, they are mutual “ministry partners” discerning together and carrying out the work that Jesus has given them to do at this time and place.
Total Transparency: The official minutes from vestry meetings and the parish’s financial statements are always posted on the bulletin board and available in the church office for parishioners to review. The previous month’s financial statements and minutes are posted on the bulletin board.
ALL regular meetings of the vestry are open to the membership. However, the seated vestry is the only one that has a voice and votes on parish matters.
Anglican Tradition
Where does the term “vestry” come from?
In England, the annual election of churchwardens took place during Easter week. The male parishioners gathered at the church to hear the outgoing wardens render their accounts and elect their successors. The parishioners assembled in the actual “vestry,” or the room off the chancel where the clergy and other ministers vested in robes for worship services. The assembled parishioners came to be known as the “vestry.” These were open vestries, and all adult male parishioners could participate. It was almost like a modern annual congregational meeting. In Virginia, the parishes were large. Therefore, getting all the male parishioners together in one space was difficult. So, they would meet only once and elect twelve of their number to serve for life. This was known as a “closed vestry.” The transition to a closed vestry was completed by 1633 or 1634 when the Vestry Act was passed. It provided that “there be a vestrie held in each parish.”
Current vestry practices have evolved from this colonial pattern but are now leadership teams of parishioners. The numbers vary in size depending on the parish. In most parishes, the team rotates through elected members every 3 to 5 years, giving both men and women equal voice and vote.
2024 Vestry Members
The Rev. Dr. Ken Saunders; Rector – President (Ex-Officio)
Pete Hodges & Patti Lane — Co/Treasurers (Ex-Officio)
Karen White (2024), Sr. Warden
Lou Wither (2024), Jr. Warden
Tina Vital* (2024)
Barbara Heins (2025), Clerk
Laura Wilson* (2025)
Tatem Thomas (2025)
Eric Gschwind (2026)
Steven Harbison (2026)
Abigail Tiefenthaler (2026)
* Also Delegates to the Diocesan Convention
