Welcome to Ask the Church, our series where we seek to answer your questions about church worship, practice, and theology in under five minutes.
Today’s question is about the vestry in an Anglican church. In particular, the question that was asked is very specific to us:
“What does it mean when we say that nominations for vestry are vetted by the current vestry members?”
What Is a Vestry?
In Anglican church governance, a vestry is a group of lay people appointed to govern the temporal affairs of the church. By temporal affairs we mean money and buildings, primarily. It may touch things like insurance policies and other complexities of modern life, but essentially it’s the lay leadership overseeing the money and the property of the church.
It’s the clergy—namely the rector—who governs the theology of the church (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9).
So there’s this check and balance, this tension between clergy and laity: the people govern the money, the clergy govern the theology. At its best, that means the two are working together in healthy balance. At its worst, it can mean conflict—say, if the clergy want to take the church in one direction theologically, but the vestry refuses to release money for it.
Either way, it helps keep the church from becoming a dictatorship, and in general it provides a very healthy model of local church governance.
Where Did Vestries Come From?
Historically, the concept of a vestry can be traced back to 12th-century England, with the role of the churchwarden. A churchwarden was a lay person selected by the congregation to oversee part of the church’s finances, especially funds for the poor.
Other responsibilities developed over time. For example, parishioners were responsible for maintaining the nave (the part of the church where they sat), while clergy cared for the chancel (around the altar). From the very beginning, the people had responsibility for the physical plant and finances of the church.
How Vestries Are Formed
In the modern era, a vestry (sometimes called a parish council) usually has members who rotate off every three years. So the question is: how are new members chosen?
Across the Anglican church in America, there are three common models:
Appointment by vestry: The current vestry chooses new members, then presents them to the congregation for a simple up-or-down vote.
Congregational vote: The membership nominates candidates, the vestry vets them, and then the congregation votes from the slate approved by the vestry.
Selection by lot (our model): The membership nominates candidates, the vestry vets them, and then—after prayer—their names are placed in a bowl or a hat. We draw the names at random, trusting the Holy Spirit to provide the right people we need to govern the financial matters and buildings of the church (Acts 1:23–26; Proverbs 16:33).
So the process begins with the people—the members of the church—nominating. Anyone may be nominated. But then each nominee has to be vetted by the current vestry.
What Does “Vetting” Mean?
Our parish bylaws (drawn from diocesan canons) set the criteria for vestry service. In order to serve on the vestry, a person must:
Be a mature Christian, not one who has recently come to the faith (1 Timothy 3:6);
Lead a life that is above reproach, according to the standards of the Bible (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6–7);
Worship God regularly in the church (Hebrews 10:24–25);
Lead an active devotional life, seeking to grow in prayer and knowledge of the Bible (Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17);
Faithfully give to Christian ministries, including this church, in proportion to his or her income (2 Corinthians 9:6–7);
Have family relationships that reflect strong Christian commitment (1 Timothy 3:4–5);
Be willing to devote time and energy to serve effectively as a vestry member;
Be a voting member of this local church as defined by these bylaws;
Be confirmed or received into the ACNA; and
Not be a family member of staff, clergy, or another vestry member (to avoid conflicts of interest, e.g. on staff pay).
How this plays out:
The treasurer checks that nominees are faithfully giving.
The rector considers whether there are moral scandals that would prevent service.
The vestry looks at the list in light of the criteria, ensuring nominees are active members who are growing in their faith.
Everyone who fulfills the criteria is passed through to the selection process. We don’t strike names for being “less talented” or “less gifted.” Instead, we trust that God has given His people the gifts the Church needs, and that the Holy Spirit will guide the drawing of names (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:11).
And time after time, that’s exactly what we’ve seen—the people selected are the ones God has provided for the season.
In Summary
The vestry governs the church’s temporal affairs—money and buildings—while clergy oversee theology.
Its roots go back to medieval England, with churchwardens entrusted with funds for the poor and upkeep of the building.
Today, vestry members are nominated or approved by the congregation, vetted by the vestry, and (in our church) chosen by lot, trusting the Spirit’s guidance.
A healthy vetting process ensures that nominees meet biblical, diocesan, and parish criteria for Christian maturity, devotion, and commitment.
I hope this overview helps.
As always, if you have other questions, send them to me at steven@incarnationrichmond.org.
And now—go in the grace of our Lord.