Leadership What Good Vestries Do Presented by Dean Kevin Martin

They Focus on Mission Not Maintenance (The grass does need to be cut, However….) They build their congregation on Vision, Values, and Mission They Understand The Congregations Core Values What are the Core Values of Christianity? To make disciples To Love one another

Spiritual Leaders The Corporate Spiritual Life of the Congregation cannot be deeper than that of its Leadership (Esp the Vestry) Note: the Church is not a Business, but that does not mean its standards are less! The People at a Vestry Meeting are Sinners Human Beings Disciples

Consequently Vestry Meetings should have Prayer, Prayer for one another, Study – especially on Leadership, mutual respect for each member, and accountability How we started Vestry Meetings at the Cathedral

Vision, Mission, and Goals Vision: Who are we, what are we called to be? Mission: What are we called to do? Goals: What needs to be done? 1 to 3 years Who is Responsible? Who has authority? Delegation

Best Practices Orientation of New Vestry Members When do you elect them? What are our current goals? What are the current trends in Attendance, Membership, and Giving? Why where you willing to serve at this time?

Best Practices Nothing comes before a Vestry, other than regular reports, that does not come 1. Reviewed and 2. Recommended The proposed agenda comes out a week before Meetings are no longer than 2 hours in length

Best Practices All Members have a Notebook The Agenda Page one Our Vision and Mission Page two Our Current Goals If it is not written down, it doesn’t matter! The Agenda Reports (See Vestry Structure) Action Areas The Budget Report (Yes, at the end of the Meeting! Except when it is proposed)

Sample Minutes St. Swithin’s Episcopal Church February 2017 Present: John Smith, Helen Jones, Brad Pitt, etc… (Visitors) These Minutes Contain the Following Vestry Actions 1. Votes to accept the proposed Budget 2. Affirmed the report of the Stewardship Chair and thanked her fo her work Moved to create a committee to explore an alternative service

Minutes Continued The Proposed Budget: On a blistery and cool evening with the prospects of rain, the vestry received the proposed budget. The preparation of this took many hours and Ellen had her baby during the second meeting. He was name Francis, not after the Pope, but after the mother’s great uncle, Francis Smith, who fought with Teddy Roosevelt at the battle of San Juan Hill………….

Remember A Vestry Needs Enough time to plan Vision Be clear about who you are, identity Values Know what you believe and where the points on the compass are Goals The way to the vision and living out the values

A Vestry Needs A Notebook for each member An Agenda that aims at the goals An Organizational Structure that supports your goals A Budget that funds this! What is a Budget? Questions