The Vestry

According to canon, "..the Vestry shall be agents and legal representatives of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the Parish to its Clergy" (Canon 14 of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America). In practical terms the rector and vestry are responsible for administering all the affairs of the church, including all committees, ministries, and extended ministries such as the Day School. The vestry is to keep track of all church owned property, and monitor all financial accounts.

Vestry members are elected by the parish at its annual meeting that is usually scheduled for early December. The vestry has fifteen elected members, each of whom serves a three year term. Five new members are elected each year. The regularly scheduled meetings of the Vestry occur (with some exceptions) on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

The officers of the Vestry include a Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Clerk, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary. The Senior Warden is the Rector's Warden and is appointed by the Rector. The Junior Warden is a Vestry member elected by the Vestry. The Treasurer Clerk and Recording Secretary are chosen by the Vestry and need not be members of the Vestry.

The Senior Warden assists the Rector and helps to administer the Parish. The charge of the Junior Warden varies from year to year depending on his or her interests and talents. The Clerk signs official documents as needed. The Treasurer monitors Emmanuel's bank accounts, signs checks, and oversees the Bookkeeper. The Recording Secretary takes minutes at Vestry meetings.

The Senior Warden is Butch Bush.

The Junior Warden will be elected in January.

Johnny Terrell is the Treasurer.

Lee Albright serves as both Clerk and Recording Secretary.

If you wish to send a message to any vestry member or officer, please use the Phone & Email link available on the home page.

Vestry members at Emmanuel are committed to follow a "Holiness Code" that guides their aims and behavior. The code is presented below the pictures on this page.

The current Vestry is listed by class.

The terms of the following five people end in December 2010.

Biblical Holiness Code

Reaffirmed March, 2006

We will strive to create a common life that will attract new leadership to the Vestry as we cultivate our spiritual progress year-round.

We covenant to check our behavior against the norm of hospitality.

We covenant to read all material sent to us (paper and electronic) so that we will be well informed.

We agree that what we do as Church is not just committee work, but ministry.

We will operate as if stewardship is a daily encounter with God.

We will pray daily for the parish as a whole and for the staff and Vestry by name.

We will lead by example especially when it comes to cheerleading with others for our parish and its ministries.

We will respect and honor the holy spaces and ministries of each other. We will use straightforward, non-inflammatory communication.

We will communicate regularly, clearly and consistently with the parish the things we know. We will avoid communicating what we do not know or what is unfinished business in order to avoid speculation and confusion.

We will all ask for help when we do not understand what others are saying.

We will avoid triangles. This means we will direct inquiries and queries to the person who is directly responsible.

We will strive to set goals that are clear, achievable and measurable.

We will be publicly united in support of decisions made by the vestry.

Adopted: January 2002

January 18, 2004

January 22, 2006

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Our Vestry Stewardship Statement

We believe that God gives us all that we are,

all that we have, and all that we create,

abundantly and freely from His love.

These gifts have been given through His grace

to use with responsibility and intention.

We commit to the joy of sharing our time, talent,

and treasure in thanksgiving to God

for His gifts to us.

We pledge to tithe, or work toward that goal,

as our hearts call us in our walk with God.

We invite and encourage the Emmanuel family

to join us on this journey of faith,

trusting in the love and grace of God.