Leadership

*A congregation is led by its clergy and vestry. This is not a board of directors, nor is it a senior management team, though there are similarities in how these groups function.  A Vestry is different because a church’s focus is different.  We can only understand the peculiarities of Vestry identity when we see the identity in the context of the church’s mission, the setting in which the vestry exercises its ministry of Leadership.  The clergy and laity share a covenant of trust in their leadership roles to fulfill the church’s mission.

The Catechism in The Book of Common Prayer describes the church’s reason for being: it is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Jesus Christ.  The ways in which we live out our mission as the Church are further defined in our responses to the questions in the Baptismal Covenant.  Although we respond as individuals, our commitment is corporate as well.  We live our faith in community.  That community, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Somerville has a particular culture reflected in our liturgy, music and governance.

Accepting a call to a leadership position is an act of stewardship.  Vestry members share with their parishioners a wide array of knowledge, skills and experiences plus the devotion of their time, talent and treasure for the parish community.

The Vestry and Clergy:

1. Help to discern the vision toward which God is drawing our community.

2. Articulate and communicate the vision.

3. Hold the community accountable for the realization of that vision

4. Keep the mission of the Church and that of the individual congregation clearly before the parish community.

God creates the Church, and invites us to participate.  A congregation’s leaders are the stewards of that creation and hold it in trust.  Our congregation is blessed  with abundant resources needed to do the job God called us to accomplish.  The clergy and vestry identify and allocate those resources, enabling the Church to carry out its mission.  They also lead the congregation in celebrating and giving thanks for those resources.

 *An abridgement from The Vestry Resource Guide, a publication of the Episcopal Church Foundation.

Vestry Nominations

The Nominating Committee will soon be seeking nominations for the Vestry.  New members will be chosen at our annual meeting in January. We need your help in choosing them.  Here's what you need to know.

1. What does the Vestry do?
It's the legal governing body of the parish, the "board of directors."  With the Rector as its leader, it sets policy and goals and oversees the finances and property.  but it has another equally important role: providing leadership to implement the ministries that serve the parish and the community.  It actively supports the work and ministry of the Rector.

2. Who can run for Vestry?
Any baptized member of the Episcopal Church who has been a member of our parish in good standing for at least a year, is at least 16 years old, makes a regular financial contribution to the parish, and worships regularly with us.

3. Is there an expected time commitment?
Yes.  A term runs for three years.  The Vestry meets once every month.  Vestry members are also members of either the Property Committee or Finance Committee.  We have one all-day Vestry Retreat once a year.  And since every vestry member's voice matters, our goal is for members to have no more than 3 unexcused absences from regular meetings in a year

4. What do we look for in a Vestry member?
Someone who is involved in some parish ministry, and preferably (but not necessarily) has shown some leadership ability.  He or she should keep informed about the parish, and be willing to contribute to working out solutions to issues that arise.  Every Vestry member should work respectfully with other members, and participate in discerning the parish's vision and encouraging its ministries.  The Vestry affords people the opportunity to share a variety of their own gifts and talents.

5. How are Vestry members chosen?
They are nominated by the nominating committee, whose recommendation must be approved by the vestry, and they are elected at the annual meeting.

6. How does the Nominating Committee work?
It accepts suggestions from parishioners, discusses possible candidates, decides who it thinks should be nominated, makes sure people are willing to run, and presents a proposed slate to the Vestry.  The approved nominees are then announced to the parish.  Each nominee will then be asked to prepare a statement of qualifications of no more than 100 words.

7.. Who's on the Nominating Committee this year?
This year's committee members are listed on the bottom of the Nomination Form.

8. How can I nominate someone?
Click on the Nomination From link above.  You can print it out, fill it in, and bring it to church or mail it to the office.  If you bring it to church -  you can give it to Fr. Ron, or a member of the Nominating Committee, put it in the offering basket, or leave it with Lillie Hardingham, the Rector's Administrative Assistant.  You may nominate yourself or someone else.

Rector

Vestry & Wardens