Fayetteville Standard

FROM THE RECTOR

Serving on the vestry is always an important ministry, but during times of transition that ministry becomes even more important. Over the last two and a half years, we have had to find new ways to come together as a congregation and stay connected with one another. Although we have never doubted the generosity or faithfulness of our parishioners, economic uncertainty has required a careful watch on our church’s finances. Now that our long-time Associate Rector is retiring, leaving an irreplaceable void in the heart of our parish, we need strong leaders to make sure that the church we love is still the church we love five years from now.

Every year in September, I encourage you to offer yourself for service on the vestry, and this year that feels especially important. Will you consider allowing the parish to choose you for that ministry? Any adult member of the parish who has been confirmed, is regular in worship, and makes a financial commitment to the parish is eligible. Not everyone is called to this ministry, of course, but you might be surprised at what makes a good vestry member.

Do you love St. Paul’s? Do you enjoy coming to church? Do you like spending time with other parishioners? Would you enjoy serving alongside a small group of dedicated, close-knit colleagues? Is prayer an important part of your life? Are you willing to listen to the concerns of other parishioners? Are you willing to speak up and guide this church in faithful ways? Are you able to give a significant amount of time to this ministry? Will your relationship with God grow as you carry out this work? If so, you might be perfect.

Whoever is chosen by the parish to serve will bring their own particular gifts and insights that, when combined with those of all the other vestry members, will enable the vestry to do the work that God is giving them to do. Although the vestry does spend some time focused on financial issues, building maintenance, and human resources, they also spend time supporting formation for children, youth, and adults, guiding our relationship with outreach partners, and planning social gatherings. For the vestry to accomplish its mission, we need people who can plan a party and people who can create a budget.

As a word of caution, however, I encourage you not to underestimate the commitment that comes with being on the vestry. Recently, the work of the vestry has increased considerably. Every aspect of parish life has required rethinking during the pandemic, and much of the improvisation has fallen to them. Familiar things like the Parish Picnic, which had been suspended for two years, needed resurrecting, and our collective memory on how to make them happen had been dulled. I am impressed with how diligently the members of the vestry have taken on these extra responsibilities in addition to monthly meetings and regular committee work outside of those meetings. For most members of the vestry, this ministry becomes their principal way of serving at St. Paul’s, and I think that is a healthy way of approaching it.

You might find it comforting to know that offering yourself for this ministry is not the same thing as signing up for it. Unlike most ministries in the parish, the process of discerning a call to serve in this way is shared by the entire congregation. Among those nominated, four individuals will be elected by the parish for a three-year term. If you offer yourself and are not chosen, think of it as a sign that this may not be the right time for this particular ministry and remain open to other opportunities for service, including on the vestry the following year.

Those who are willing to serve should submit their nomination form by November 13 in order to be included in the publication of candidate names and biographies. You may nominate yourself or be nominated by another parishioner. All canonically qualified candidates who have turned in a nomination form will be on the ballot. The vestry election will take place on December 11, and we will again use a ranked-choice or immediate-runoff ballot that will allow us to avoid the need for additional ballots. Electronic and paper ballots will be available at church that day. The four individuals who are chosen in that election will be presented at the Annual Meeting on January 22, 2023, for official election to the vestry.

Please pray for our vestry and for whoever is called to serve in the coming year. In those prayers, you might discern that you are called to this ministry, or you might be drawn to another individual whom you can encourage to serve. Either way, I hope you will take an active interest in making sure that our vestry is strong and healthy for the good of the church we love.

Yours Faithfully,

Evan D. Garner

Original source can be found here.