Vestry and Lay Leaders

At St. Matthew’s, the Vestry (like a “Board of Directors”) is responsible for making decisions about parish finances, buildings and grounds, communications, outreach, stewardship, etc., as well as calling and hiring the Rector (like a “Chief Executive Officer”). There are 15 elected parishioners on the Vestry, each serving staggered 3-year terms. Five members are elected by the confirmed members of the parish in attendance at the Annual Meeting each January.

From among the 15 Vestry members, two Wardens serve as an Executive Committee for the Vestry and the parish. The Senior Warden (like a “Chairman of the Board”) is appointed by the Rector for a one-year term as the strategic lay leader of the church, with duties including leading the Vestry and the parish in support of the Rector or in their absence. The Junior Warden (like a “Chief Operating Officer”) is elected by the Vestry for a one-year term as the tactical lay leader of the church, with duties including coordinating Vestry meetings and championing church operations. Also serving in support of the Vestry are the appointed Clerk of the Vestry and the parish Treasurer. The Clerk takes minutes at all official vestry meetings and at the annual meeting of the parish. The Clerk certifies official documents, such as the diocesan parochial report and any votes taken by the Vestry that require documentation for external entities such as the bank.

As part of their responsibility as active leaders of the entire parish, each Vestry member is assigned a committee, commission, council, or Vestry representative role in which they will actively participate and submit updates in monthly Vestry meetings (typically held the fourth Tuesday of each month). The areas in which Vestry members serve are:

• Buildings and Grounds Commission
  Oversees the buildings and landscaping of the church campus, reviewing and approving requests for changes or additions, identifying solutions and sources of funding, monitoring progress on approved requests.
• Communications Commission
  Works with the Director of Communications on strategies to inform the St. Matthew’s congregation and the area community about happenings at St. Matthew’s. These strategies pertain to print media, physical signage, the St. Matthew’s website, email, social media, etc.
• Day School Board Vestry Representative
  Liaison between the Day School Board and the Vestry.
• Endowment Committee
  Responsible for the oversight of the St. Matthew’s Endowment Fund, keeping watch for the future generations that will come to St. Matthew’s, and providing seed money via grants for mission and ministry in the parish and outside our walls. The Committee encourages contributions to the Endowment Fund (EF), solicits proposals for projects to be funded by earnings from the EF, reviews and approves/denies proposal requests, monitors financial performance of the EF.
• Finance Commission
  Monitors the financial condition of St. Matthew’s, identifies and recommends auditors to the Vestry for the annual financial audit, reviews audit reports and makes recommendations to the Vestry, develops the annual budget and makes recommendations to the Vestry. 
• Invite, Welcome, Connect (IWC) Commission
  Coordinates activities of groups that welcome newcomers and enable connections among members of the congregation.
• Memorial Garden Committee
  Oversees the improvement, care, and maintenance of the Memorial Garden, its prices, processes, and procedures. The Memorial Garden includes the Columbarium Walls, Common Urn, Remembrances Memorial Wall and Kinney Outdoor Chapel.
• Outreach Commission
  Using its defined process, identifies candidates to receive funds from the budget line allocated by the Vestry for outreach, and recommends individual allocations to specific organizations, along with the rationale for each, for approval by the Vestry.
• Stewardship Commission
  Educates the congregation on the broad meaning of stewardship, and formulates and manages the annual Giving Campaign to ensure financial resources exist to meet congregational needs

Candidates for Elected Offices of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Austin, must affirm they:

• Are at least 18 years of age
• Are an “enrolled” member of St. Matthew’s (having moved your letter to St. Matthew’s from another Episcopal church or having been Confirmed or Received into the Episcopal Church at St. Matthew’s)
• Are a confirmed communicant in good standing, meaning:
  • Baptized; Confirmed in or Received into the Episcopal Church; Regularly receiving Holy Communion
  • Faithful in Worship: regularly attended corporate worship and fellowship activities for the previous year
  • Faithful in Giving: financially supported St. Matthew’s through pledging in previous and upcoming year
  • Faithful in Working: actively served on a church leadership group or core ministry for the previous year
  • Faithful in Praying: maintained an active prayer life for the spread of the Kingdom of God
• Are committed to attending meetings as scheduled, unless for good cause prevented, and actively participate
• Attest to the following declaration (Canon 9 of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Texas): “I am persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ: and I accede to the Doctrine, Discipline and Worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church.”

Additional Requirements for Nominees for Vestry at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Austin:

• Have not served a full term (3-years) on the Vestry in the previous year

If elected, Vestry members commit to:

• Recognize that Vestry membership is a commitment to servant leadership, not a position of status or privilege
• Promptly complete Vestry-specific training for Safeguarding God’s People (full SGP course required for Wardens)
• Attend monthly Vestry meetings and perform “Vestry of the Month” duties as assigned (usually 8-10 dates a year)
• Serve on at least one Commission/Committee/Council or special assignment, or as the Senior or Junior Warden
• Be willing to listen, learn, debate, and once a decision is made, actively support the decision.