1. Leadership What Good Vestries Do
Presented by Dean Kevin Martin

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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?

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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………….

11. 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

12. 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