The Vestry meets the second Monday of every month (September-June) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Shreiner Classroom in the Lockwood-Reilly building. ALL are welcome to attend Vestry meetings and may be granted voice to express comments or concerns for consideration by the Rector and Vestry. The only exception to attendance at a Vestry meeting is when they go into Executive Session (discussion and votes on extremely sensitive or confidential matters). During Executive Sessions, only the clergy and Vestry members may be in attendance. Executive sessions are rare and will be announced and held either at the beginning or the end of general Vestry meetings.

While not an actual member of the Vestry, the Rector serves as the Presiding Officer of the Vestry and, as such, the Rector typically chairs Vestry meetings. The Rector may allow the Rector’s Warden or Accounting Warden to chair a Vestry meeting.

The vestry is the elected lay body within the congregation that, with the clergy, leads the administration of the parish.

The vestry:

• Helps to discern the vision toward which God is drawing the St. Paul’s community.
• Assists the clergy in: articulating and communicating the vision, holding the community accountable for its realization of that vision, and keeping the mission of the Church and that of the individual congregation clearly before the parish community.
• Represents the legal agents of the parish and have specific responsibility for: entering into contracts, finances, buildings and grounds, insurance, calling of a rector, care for the clergy, and issues with respect to parish staff.
• The Wardens are selected from members of the Vestry.
• The Rector, while not a member of Vestry, serves as the presiding officer at the Vestry meetings and works closely with the Vestry in shaping and implementing the parish vision.