St. James welcomes all.

About our vestry

What is the Vestry?

Traditionally, and by canon law, the Vestry, consisting of wardens and other members, is the legal representative of this parish. (At St. James we have two wardens and nine vestry members.) The responsibility of the Vestry, like that of most governing bodies in any organization is to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; ensure effective organization and planning; ensure adequate resources in leadership and financial stewardship; determine that appropriate policies and procedures are followed; evaluate progress.

Though the Vestry has some similarities to a board of directors, it is important to remember that this ministry of leadership is exercised in the Church. The success of a congregation is not measured solely in terms of numbers of members or size of the endowment, but rather in the degree to which it is working toward the fulfillment of the mission of the Church.

The mission of the church as stated in the Book of Common Prayer is "to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." At St. James we've articulated this to mean that we welcome all, reach out to others, and commit to grow in our faith. The Vestry has a responsibility to model this mission and to lead the congregation in fulfilling it.