Vestry School 2012

The Diocese of Eau Claire | The Diocese of Fond du Lac

Keynote Address
Top 10 Things Every Vestry Member Should Know
Mr. Matthew Peterson, St. Thomas, Menasha

Miss Rachel Mills, St. Annes, De Pere

A gathering of bills of various denominations were chatting about all the places they had recently been. The
1,000 Dollar bill said that he had been traveling all over the world: Rio, Spain, France, and back to the USA.
The 100 Dollar bill said she had been gambling in Vegas, Atlantic City, Reno and even Green Bay! The 1
Dollar bill said it had been travelling a lot lately toofrom one church to another church!
#10. Its Not About Money
Of course money is an important part of serving on the Vestry because how you deal with money reflects on
what its really about. So lets wonder together:

How much time in Vestry meetings is spent talking about money? 25%? 50%? 100%?
Does the Vestry leave teaching about money to the priest?
When it doesnt seem like theres enough money, does the Vestry mope around or rejoice in what God
has provided?

Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about money, but money must be included.
#9.
Its not about the Rules
Of course rules are important part of serving on the Vestry because how you
follow rules reflects on what its really about. So lets wonder together:

Do your meetings follow a structure, or are they just a free for all?
Do you make clear decisions about things or leave meetings wondering what
you decided?
Do you look at the Constitution, Canons, Bylaws, or whatever to help guide
you or only when a problem arises that needs to be fixed?
Do we act like a board of directors for a business or trustees for a not-forprofit or as elected leaders in Gods church?

Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about the rules, but the rules must be
included.
#8.
Its Not About Leadership
Of course leadership is an important part of serving on the Vestry because how
you lead reflects on what its really about. So lets wonder together:

Do you take time to get to know each other better?

Do you intentionally communicate with the congregation on issues? As
often as possible?

Do you show respect when someone share opinions? Especially if they are different than yours?
Do you tithe or increasing your pledge each year?
Are you at worship regularly? In a Bible study or at least be reading scripture every day?
Do you seek common ground, centered on the spiritual life of individuals and of the vestry as a group?
Do you try to mold people to pre-determined ministries
Do Vestry members energy get diverted to survival and maintenance issues
Do we have a strong, broad-based leadership?
Do we develop lay leaders? Do we give them opportunities to lead?

Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about leadership, but leadership must be
included.
7.
Its Not About Stewardship
Of course stewardship is an important part of serving on the Vestry because
how you take care of what God provides reflects on what its really about. So
lets wonder together:

Have vestry members committed to a standard for giving?

Does anyone talk about pledging in specific and concrete terms?
Have you talked to folks from other congregations about what they do for
stewardship?
Ever done an energy audit, usually free through your utility company?
Do you have a policy to recycle, and do people know it?
Have you communicated with members to Remember the Church in their
Will
Do you remind the congregation about Gods desire to want us to give? Not
just once a year, but year round?
Do you make sure new members (not newcomers or visitors) are asked to
pledge to the congregation.

A preacher announced from the pulpit," I have good news and bad news. The good news is we have enough
money to retire the mortgage on the church. A sigh of relief went through the congregation. The preacher
continued: the bad news is, the money is still in your pockets."
Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about stewardship, but stewardship must be
included.
#6.
Its Not About Outreach and Service
Of course outreach and service is an important part of serving on the Vestry because how we extend a helping
hand reflects on what its really about. So lets wonder together:

Does the vestry look for ways to reach out to the community?
Do you encourage members to get involved in charitable causes?
Do you encourage giving to the clerics discretionary fund?
Do you have mission trips?
Do we connect the congregations gifts with the communitys needs?
Do we care for the sick, hurt, elderly, shut-ins?

Do we access resources needed to do mission and ministry, whether from our congregation or from outside
resources such as the diocese and national church?
Are we adapting in appropriate ways to change our Christian community to respond to the needs of our local
community?

Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about outreach and service, but outreach and
service must be included.
#5.
Its Not About Welcoming and Evangelism
Of course welcoming and evangelism is an important part of serving on the
Vestry because how we invite others reflects on what its really about. So lets
wonder together:

Are we intentional about conducting some type of evangelism?

Do we identify Apostles for Evangelism? Conduct spiritual gifts workshops?
Are we welcoming new members? Do we provide what they need to incorporate with our Christian
community?
Do the members of our Christian community reflect the demographics of our local community?
Do we know how to speak to others about the basics of our Christian faith?

Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about welcoming and evangelism, but
welcoming and evangelism must be included.
#4.
Its Not About Clergy
Of course supporting clergy is an important part of serving on the Vestry
because how we support clergy reflects on what its really about. So lets
wonder together:

Do we hold clergy accountable for time away from their job?

Do we include opportunities for continuing education support? Sabbatical support?
Do we provide appreciation to our clergy?
Do we compensate our clergy at appropriate levels?

Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about clergy, but clergy must be included.

#3.
Its Not About You
Of course you are an important part of serving on the Vestry because how you
handle yourself reflects on what its really about. So lets wonder together:
Do you put the health of the parish first and leave individual differences at the
door?
Do you resolve conflict by discerning Gods will, not your desires, and embrace
others in love.
Are decisions made to appease, pacify or placate an individual or to benefit the
mission and ministry of the church?
Do we deal with conflict in ways that moves the Christian community towards its purpose?
Serving on a Vestry or some other leadership capacity is not really about you, but you must be included.
So if its not about #10 through #3, what is it about, Well

#2.
Its About Mission & Ministry
Who we are and what we do in the name of God is almost what its really about.

Do we pray for the mission and ministry of the congregation regularly or take it for granted?
Are we baptizing (the basis of membership in the church)?
Are we confirming (the basis of mature commitment in the church)?
Are we gathering together regularly for worship, prayer, education and fellowship?
Are we intentional about conducting some type of outreach?
Do we have a strong, clear sense of purpose?
Do we offer strong spiritual development / Christian education for all ages?
Do we offer corporate worship that is prepared and strives for excellence in all aspects?
Do we offer opportunities for healing?

#1.
Its About God!
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier IS what its really about. God is what brings us
together and God is what sets us apart. When a Vestry forgets that God is what its really about, it can become
just the board of another not-for-profit service organization.
Do you recognize the goal Christians are trying to achieve is the same for allspreading the Gospel?
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has
received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with
the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong
the glory and the power forever and ever. 1Peter 4:10-11
We really should have started with #1 Its About God. If we start there, when we start there, everything else
falls into place. When we start elsewhere, we go nowhere.