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The
Duties of a Vestry
The
Vestry is the "Board of Directors" for the parish corporation.
The Vestry is the authoritative body of the Congregation and
is subject only to the Diocesan and National Church Canons.
The
Vestry is responsible for determining the policies and goals
of the congregation and is to communicate with the congregation
about the goals, concerns, and functioning of the Church in the
modern world.
The
Rector is a member of the Vestry, the President of the parish
corporation, and presides over meetings of the Vestry and Congregation.
Other
members of the Vestry are elected by the Congregation at the
parish Annual Meeting. The duties of the vestry and its officers
are prescribed in the Canons (bylaws) of the diocese and in the
charter and bylaws of the parish corporation.
The
Senior and Junior Wardens are Vice Presidents of the corporation.
The Senior Warden is appointed by the Rector from the Vestry
members. The Junior Warden is elected by the vestry from its
members. The wardens may be requested by the Rector to preside
in his/her place.
Typically
a clerk (secretary) and treasurer are appointing by the Vestry.
They serve without vote although they may be inclined to speak
up.
The
duties of the Vestry are to:
- Take
charge of the property of the Church.
- To
keep this property fully insured and to list this insurance
in the annual Parochial report to the diocese.
- To
be responsible for all financial matters of the parish, specifically
to:
- prepare
an annual budget.
- file
the Annual Corporate Report with the State of Florida.
- Maintain
adequate accounting records in conformity with forms
provided by the Diocesan Treasurer to record all funds
received and expended.
- see
that an annual audit is conducted and reported at required
in Canon XX, section 2.
- see
that adequate stewardship education is undertaken in
the congregation and that a regular every-member canvass
is conducted.
- To
regulate all the congregation's temporal affairs.
- To
elect, with the approval of the Bishop, to call a Rector, and
to provide for his/her maintenance.
- To
act as helpers to the Rector in whatever appropriate to lay
persons for the furtherance of the welfare of the Church.
- To
maintain full record of minutes of meetings.
- To
authorize all purchases made in the name of the parish.
Duties
of the Senior Warden
- Share
privately with the rector insights, concerns, and issues which
may face the Congregation.
- Interpret
the Rector's role and expectations to the people.
- Act
as consultant and advisor to the Rector.
- Support
the Rector's effort to make the committees of the church work.
- In
the absence of the rector, to see that a supply priest is there
for services.
- Make
certain that a register of all Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages,
and Burials, as well as a list of communicants in good standing
is kept. (It is suggested that the Vestry inspect these books
quarterly.)
- Prior
to early February of each year, it is the senior warden's responsibility
to see that the Annual Parochial Report is submitted to the
Diocesan Treasurer on the forms provided by the National Church
and distributed by Diocesan Treasurer.
- See
that the Key Personnel List, which includes Vestry and other
parish personnel, is sent to the Diocesan Office immediately
following the Annual Parish Meeting.
Duties
of the Junior Warden
The
Junior Warden is responsible for the upkeep of church property
and to maintain an up-to-date inventory. She/he also assists
the Senior warden as requested.
Duties
of the Clerk
The
clerk is the secretary of the Vestry and corporation.
The
clerk shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Vestry and corporation.
The Minute Book shall include a current copy of the parish corporate
charter, the current bylaws of the parish, record from the Internal
Revenue Service of the parish's Tax Identification Number, a
copy of the Annual Report filed with the Florida Secretary of
State, a copy of the parish's Certificate of Exemption from Florida
Sales/Use Tax, Minutes of past meetings of the Vestry and Congregation,
and other records thought appropriate.
Duties
of the Treasurer
The
Treasurer is appointed by the Vestry. The duties on the parish
treasurer will vary, depending on the size and complexity of
the parish. Irrespective of size, the treasurer is the Chief
Financial Officer and is responsible for the following:
- Preparing
monthly financial statements and reporting the financial status
of the parish to the rector, Vestry, and then the Congregation
on a scheduled basis.
- The
parish financial records for pledges, receipts, disbursements,
payables, and all assets and liabilities shall be maintained
in accordance with "A Manual of Accounting Practices." Full
disclosure of all funds entrusted to the parish shall be practiced.
- Assist
the vestry with financial planning, including preparation of
the annual budget.
- Insure
that all financial aspects relating to the clergy are duly
performed in a correct and timely manner. Such items as pension,
health, dental, and life insurance premiums, housing, travel,
sabbatical, continuing education, Social Security, and stipends
are to be considered.
- establish
and maintain the necessary controls and procedures to prevent
the unauthorized use of parish resources.
Those
who so generously volunteer their time to serve as parish treasurers
should not approach their responsibilities with any apprehension
that they are entering a mysterious new world of church accounting.
Although there are areas of difference between what many people recognize
as business accounting and church accounting methods, by following
the uniform principles, reporting practices, and financial statements
as shown in "A Manual of Accounting Principles" and "The
Parish Cash Book," the parish treasurer will find that record
keeping can be an orderly task.
Committees
of the Parish
These
committees are typically Building & Grounds, Christian Education,
Community and Social Concerns, Finance, Music, Outreach, Planning,
Worship, and whatever else the Vestry decides is beneficial to
the ministry of the Church.
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