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From: Martin Willcocks <>
Subject: Re: [NYorks] Bowes parish registers
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 12:34:01 -0700


Hi Jim:

That seems pretty much the same over here in the Episcopal Church. We
have a Vestry, which is elected by the Annual Parish Meeting - members
serve for three years, and so each year two new members are elected, and
the Senior Warden is typically chosen from the Vestry but may be chosen
from the Congregation by the Rector, while the Junior Warden is elected
by the Vestry. Both wardens have responsibility during an interim
period to get supply clergy, and deal with pastoral concerns. The
Senior Warden conducts Vestry meetings, and the Junior Warden is
responsible for the church upkeep and grounds maintenance. We also have
a Clerk and a Treasurer, who are part of the staff and have seat and
voice but do not vote in Vestry meetings. This may vary a bit around
the country. One of the main differences is that the Vestry really has
a lot more responsibility for the church governance here, and can call a
new Rector after a suitable search has been conducted by the Search
Committee (also called by the Vestry) when a former Rector dies or
leaves the Parish. The Vestry also has the power to terminate the
relationship with a priest. I know things are somewhat different in
England, the Bishop here is involved in the process, but there priests
are appointed and terminated by the Bishop, whereas here the Vestry has
this authority, mostly because of our history after the Revolution, when
the Episcopal Church split off from the Church of England.

Regards
Martin Willcocks
Taylorsville, UT, USA.


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