Role of Leadership Changing. Will You Be a Leader?

I was recently asked about serving on the Vestry at Christ Church. Why would anyone want to do that? When asked what she thought the vestry did, she said that she understood that all we talked about was building and money matters.

To be honest, sometimes we do wrestle with property issues and the minutia of financial reports. After all, the Vestry is the legal “board” of the parish; therefore, final decisions on these matters fall to them. But more and more we strive to pass the details of buildings, finances, programs and activities to committees and individuals who bring their recommendations to the Vestry for final approval.

As one church leader recently wrote: “The future of the church undoubtedly rests on the possibility of new visions of mission and ministry . . . more collaborative parishes, more flexible and cooperative clergy, and more ecumenical partnerships.” (Bill Doubleday, Vital Vestries, January, 2013).

The role of Vestry is changing. We are being called more and more to meditate on scripture, to pray together, to discern that to which God is calling us in the future.

As the prophet said, the Holy Spirit will lead us to dream dreams and have visions. We’re invited to imagine how the Gospel can be spread and the work of Christ be fostered as we go forward.

Elections to Vestry take place at the annual meeting that will be held in early February, 2014. We will have five vestry positions to be filled along with the two warden posts. It is not too early to consider whether you might be called to lead the church into God’s future. And please give some thought to who else should be encouraged to join us.  

–John Paddock, Rector