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Vestry

As in all Episcopal parishes, the Vestry is the elected governing body of the parish. In addition to the Rector, the Vestry is composed of the Senior and Junior Wardens and nine other members, who represent a broad spectrum of the Grace community. As a whole the Vestry:

  • Helps to discern the vision toward which God is drawing Grace Church;
  • Articulates and communicates that vision;
  • Holds the Grace community accountable for its realization of the vision;
  • Keeps the mission of the Church and that of the individual congregation clearly before the parish community.

Broadly speaking, the Vestry also has canonically specified responsibilities for the stewardship of church money and property and for working with the rector on personnel management and program development and oversight. Upon the departure of a rector, the Vestry is also responsible for calling an interim or new rector, with the assent of the bishop.

Members of the Vestry are elected at the Annual Parish Meeting, which is held in April of each year. Vestry members must be communicants of Grace Church and at least 18 years of age. The Vestry meets regularly on the third Monday of each month for two to three hours at Grace House and displays minutes of its meetings in the Undercroft.

Vestry Members of Grace Church 2007-2008

  • Charles Bogino (Vestry Term 2007-2010)
  • Linda Caleb (Vestry Term 2007-2010)
  • George Cato (Vestry Term 2006-2009)
  • Peter J. Curtin (Vestry Term 2008-2011)
  • Barbara Diggs-Brown (Vestry Term 2006-2009)
  • Wynett Isley (Vestry Term 2008-2011)
  • John Mahler (Vestry Term 2006-2009)
  • Cheryl Peterson (Vestry Term 2008-2010)
  • Theresa M. Wheeler (Vestry Term 2008-2011)
  • Clerk of the Vestry John Mahler (Vestry Term 2006-2009)
  • Senior Warden Richard Shackleford (Warden Term 2006-2009)
  • Junior Warden Steve Dean (Warden Term 2008-2010)

Non Vestry Members

Recording Secretary: Treva Alston
Treasurer: Vilma White

Lay Delegates

Elected - Elizabeth Campbell-Mahler

Appointed - Alexander Geyger and Anne Sheldon

Alternate Delegates

Christopher Austin-Lane
Berit Lakey, Ph.D.
Faye Haskins

Responsibilities and Visibility

Be open and willing to share your faith journey with others and to witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in your life.

  • Attend church services regularly.
  • Prepare for, attend, and participate in monthly Vestry meetings held on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. (usually in Parish Hall) and attend occasional special Vestry meetings as scheduled. Speak up on issues of importance.
  • Attend a weekend Vestry retreat in the spring and Saturday day retreats as necessary. Overnight participation is not mandatory, but attendance at the day sessions is critically important.
  • Support stewardship to the fullest extent possible, working toward the tithe, pledging to the church, and participating as fully as possible in all other fundraising projects.
  • Serve as a canvasser in the Every Member Canvass.
  • Serve in leadership positions and undertake special assignments willingly and enthusiastically when asked.
  • Serve as the designated Vestry worker at the Pennyworth Shop on Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. once every three months. A sign-up sheet will be distributed so dates are determined in advance and can be switched with other Vestry members.
  • Serve on one Vestry standing committee (Budget and Finance, Personnel, Stewardship, Buildings and Grounds, Endowment Fund).
  • Either:
    Attend cluster meetings once every quarter and act as Vestry liaison with your appointed cluster (Parish Life, Christian Formation, Worship and Music, Outreach). These assignments are made at the first Vestry meeting following the Vestry election. Be knowledgeable about ministries within your cluster, participate in them, and nurture them as much as possible.
    Or:
    Serve as a board member for Grace Episcopal Day School or the Pennyworth Shop. This commitment involves a minimum of one meeting a month for either board, as well as committee assignments and other support as needed.
  • Be available to help greet and welcome newcomers to the church community, and support coffee hour and special parish life activities (including such events as Dedication Sunday, fellowship brunches, theCraft Fair or Bazaar, Music of Grace, Parish Picnic, Annual Parish Meeting) as fully as possible and wear specially marked Vestry nametags at these events to increase Vestry visibility.

Communicating with Vestry Members

If parishioners have questions, concerns, or suggestions for the parish leadership, they may contact the Rector, a member of the Vestry, or the wardens. Short formal-or informal-conversations are fine, but letters and emails that make specific requests for action or discussion by the Vestry are easier to track. In order to facilitate and formalize the tracking of the requests, the Grace Episcopal Church Parishioner Request Form (PDF) was developed. The reason for this form is to offer another venue through which Grace Church parishioners can make requests, comments, or suggestions to the Vestry. As always, all questions, concerns, and suggestions are welcome!

Your completed forms can either be mailed or faxed to the church office, placed in the alms basin, or dropped in the Grace Suggestion box, which will be located in the Narthex, on the Information Table. As you will notice, the Grace Suggestion box is wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper because the Vestry truly believes that your feedback is truly a gift from God! Please note that you are not required to submit your name and contact information (the Vestry accepts Secret Santa gifts). However, if you would like for a Vestry remember to respond to you directly, your contact information will be needed.

Once the Church Office receives your completed form, the church office will note your question, concern, or suggestion in a log, as well as assign your request to the appropriate Vestry member to take responsibility for your submitted form. Within five (5) days of receiving your form, the assigned Vestry member will call or e-mail you to let you know that he or she has received your form and how the matter will be or has been handled. If there will be a delay in your response, you will be told why and given the anticipated response date.

Your Grace Vestry values the thoughts of each and every parishioner and the Vestry thanks you, in advance, for your gifts of questions, concerns, and suggestions!