A Look at the Vestry
Nomination and Election Process
Although Trinity’s Annual Meeting doesn’t take place
until early February, it’s not too soon to begin thinking about the
Vestry elections that will occur during that gathering. There are many
members of Trinity who are new to the Episcopal Church, and even those
who have been raised Episcopalian may not have a clear understanding of
how our parish government operates.
Trinity, like all Episcopal parishes, is governed by
an elected committee of laypersons known collectively as the Vestry.
The Vestry meets on the third Wednesday of each month, in addition to
holding a retreat in the spring and special sessions if a situation
warrants, and Vestry meetings are open to the parish. There are a
variety of positions that comprise the Vestry, and each has a defined
term of service. The nine Vestry chairs have a three-year term, while
the two co-wardens serve for two years, and treasurer and clerk
serve one-year terms. Terms are staggered so that only a portion of the
Vestry is new each year. Wardens may serve no more than two successive
terms, Vestry chairs must take one year off in between their 3-year
terms, and clerk and treasurer have no term limits. For detailed
information about the various Vestry positions, who currently holds
them and what they are responsible for, please visit the Trinity Church
website at
www.trinitywrentham.org/vestry.htm.
As mentioned above, elections to the Vestry are held
during the Annual Meeting in February. Like many Episcopal parishes
we have
nominating committees to recommend candidates for Vestry. The Diocesan
Model By-Law that deals with the Nominating Committee appears below:
Model By-Laws for
Parishes and Missions
Adopted by the Standing Committee September 2001
In conformity with the Constitution and Canons,
Convention 2000
ARTICLE IV
NOMINATIONS
Sec. 1. Nominating Committee. There shall be a Nominating Committee
consisting of the Rector, the Wardens and three members of the Parish
appointed by the Vestry. Members of the Nominating Committee shall
serve one year terms and any appointed member whose third successive
term has expired shall be ineligible to serve for one year. The
Nominating Committee shall present at each Annual Meeting one or more
candidates recommended for each position to be filled by vote at such
meeting. The list of nominees so designated shall be posted with the
notice of the Annual Meeting. Nominations for any office to be filled
at an Annual Meeting may also be made at such meeting by any member of
the Parish authorized to vote.5
The major goals of the Nominating Committee are to
help form a team of capable, committed Vestry members that will work
together and reflect the congregation's interests and concerns, while
bringing in new people to leadership roles. The committee will be
responsible for soliciting names, screening and questioning candidates,
seeking candidates, and making a prayerful recommendation at the Annual
Meeting. Having six members on the committee, three of whom (Rector
/Interim Priest and two elected Wardens) are very much plugged into the
current affairs of parish life, allow for a more open process in
bringing qualified candidates’ names before the committee for
consideration, which can only benefit Trinity Church as a whole.
Watch for an article in the upcoming Trinity Tidings
detailing the Vestry positions that will be coming up for election
in February. If you have questions about the nomination or election
process, please contact either one of our wardens, Jim Derick or
John Redman, any other Vestry member, or the church office at
508-384-3958.
-- The Communications Committee |
