A Note From Father Rob

Well, this is an election year, so I would like to talk to you all about elections and government. No, not national elections and government but parish elections and government. This Sunday is our annual parish meeting, and you are invited.

In accordance with the Canons of the Episcopal Church, the parish of St. James holds an annual meeting to review the past year, thank those vestry members who have completed their term and elect and ratify three new vestry members. At this meeting, we also hear a brief report concerning our most recent yearly audit, review our finances and look forward to the possibilities of the upcoming year.

At our parish of St. James, the tradition is not to elect vestry members by ballot but to nominate potential vestry members, secure their commitment to serve and then draw names from the pool of nominees. We believe this leaves room for the Holy Spirit in the process.

Our parish government is made up of your rector – me – as a representative of the interests of our bishop and presider over our liturgy. I am responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of the parish and exercise authority over the use of the parish facilities. Your vestry, made up of nine lay members from the congregation, oversees the parishes finances and is responsible for the upkeep of the church. Vestry members also vote on matters of parish business and serve as liaisons to the various committees, guilds and service groups of the parish.

And finally, one person on the vestry is appointed to the role of senior warden, and one is appointed as junior warden. The senior warden – also known as the rector’s warden – works closely with the rector on various church matters and is essentially in charge of the parish during the rector’s absence. The junior warden is usually in charge of maintaining the church facilities and is in charge of the parish in the absence of the rector and senior warden.

I hope my overview of parish government has been helpful for some of you, and I look forward to seeing you at our annual meeting this Sunday after the 10 a.m. service.

God bless, Rob+