Vestry
The Vestry is the governing board of the local congregation. Vestry members are elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting (held in January for three year terms. The Vestry has oversight in areas of finance and building maintenance and works in collaboration with the clergy to determine vision and direction for the congregation.
Members of the Vestry
|
Cindy Purpero, Senior Warden
Kathie Beuscher, Junior Warden Ron Thorson, Treasurer |
John Amenda, Class of 2025
Kathy Angeli, Class of 2027 Virginia Mazur, Class of 2025 |
Sue McKnight, Class of 2026
Diane Piontek, Class of 2026 Andrew Van Hout, Class of 2027 |
Governance
The Vestry is the governing body of St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church. It is responsible to the members of the Parish for the administration and governance of the Parish and for the care and maintenance of our facilities.
Lay people, clergy, and bishops make all major decisions affecting the life of the Episcopal Church jointly. Vestries are elected by parishes and along with the rector, govern the work and ministry of the congregations. The congregation, composed primarily of lay people, calls the rector. Parishes elect lay people to be delegates to diocesan conventions where they vote, along with the diocese’s clergy and bishop(s) on major policy decisions, budget and often make statements about issues in the church and civil society. Each of the 109 dioceses in the Episcopal Church has an annual convention, in some dioceses called the “annual diocesan council.” It is only there, where the voices of the laity and clergy are present, that changes to the diocesan constitution can be made.
The laity and clergy of the diocese where he/she will serve elect Bishops. A search committee composed of diocesan clergy and laity seek nominations from the bishops, clergy, and laity in the larger church, hold open meetings where the nominees are met by lay and clergy members of the diocese and each congregation is equally represented at the electing convention by clergy and laity.
Our revolutionary form of governance does not stop on the parish, mission, or diocesan level. Once every three years the Episcopal Church gathers together in a General Convention, which, as a “unitary” form of governance, holds all authority for the Episcopal Church. Laity, clergy and bishops each have had equal voice and vote since the first General Convention in 1785.
Lay people, clergy, and bishops make all major decisions affecting the life of the Episcopal Church jointly. Vestries are elected by parishes and along with the rector, govern the work and ministry of the congregations. The congregation, composed primarily of lay people, calls the rector. Parishes elect lay people to be delegates to diocesan conventions where they vote, along with the diocese’s clergy and bishop(s) on major policy decisions, budget and often make statements about issues in the church and civil society. Each of the 109 dioceses in the Episcopal Church has an annual convention, in some dioceses called the “annual diocesan council.” It is only there, where the voices of the laity and clergy are present, that changes to the diocesan constitution can be made.
The laity and clergy of the diocese where he/she will serve elect Bishops. A search committee composed of diocesan clergy and laity seek nominations from the bishops, clergy, and laity in the larger church, hold open meetings where the nominees are met by lay and clergy members of the diocese and each congregation is equally represented at the electing convention by clergy and laity.
Our revolutionary form of governance does not stop on the parish, mission, or diocesan level. Once every three years the Episcopal Church gathers together in a General Convention, which, as a “unitary” form of governance, holds all authority for the Episcopal Church. Laity, clergy and bishops each have had equal voice and vote since the first General Convention in 1785.