The Episcopal Church is a Christian denomination whose orders (ministry), doctrine, liturgy, and traditions are all derived from the Church of England, although Roman Catholics may find many similarities in the service and prayers as well. Originally organized in Philadelphia in 1789, the Episcopal Church in the mid-1990s reported 2.4 million members and about 7,400 separate congregations in the United States. Congregations are also referred to as parishes, and the parishes in a given geographical region compose a diocese. The Church is governed by a general convention that consists of a house of bishops and a house of deputies, who are elected at diocesan conventions by laity and clerical representatives from each parish. Bishops must be clergy, while deputies include both laity and clergy. Women have been ordained as clergy since the 1970s. To learn more about the Episcopal Church, click here. To learn more about the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts, visit the Diocese of Massachusetts’ website at www.diomass.org.

Each Episcopal parish is governed by an elected group of lay members known collectively as the Vestry. Elections for open positions are held in Early February at Trinity’s Annual Meeting. Using a process outlined in the sample by-laws of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Trinity’s current Vestry appoints a nominating committee, who then diligently searches the parish for a recommended candidate to fill each empty seat. Any other parishioner may also run for any open position, simply by nominating him/herself during the election portion of the Annual Meeting, or having another person nominate him or her. In the case of more than one candidate for a position, a written ballot will be taken immediately, and the results tallied by the rector and parish administrator. Simple majority decides the election. To learn more about the various positions on the Vestry and who currently holds these positions, click here.

In addition to the Vestry, there are other opportunities to become involved in church leadership.  Every parish sends both clergy and lay representatives to the diocesan Annual Convention to represent the parish. In addition, Trinity is part of the Taunton River Deanery and sends members of the parish to represent us at Deanery meetings. All of these representative positions are elected offices, with elections held during the Annual Meeting in February. Nominations are taken during the meeting itself.

For more information about becoming involved in church government, please contact The Rev. Tara Soughers or either of the co-wardens.  (Contact information is here.)