The Vestry

The vestry consists of twelve lay people elected by communicants in good standing sixteen years of age or older. The vestry serve as trustees of the parish, taking charge of the property of the church, regulating its temporal (secular) concerns. In general, the vestry act as helpers to the minister in whatever is appropriate to the laity for the furtherance of the gospel. The vestry also speaks for the people of the parish in their relationship with the clergy. To enhance effectiveness, St. James Parish has appointed vestry commissions in several specific areas of responsibility.

Vestry members serve 3-year terms with four new members elected at the annual parish meeting held early in Advent. Retiring members are ineligible to serve again for one year. Annually, the vestry elects a senior warden upon the nomination of the rector and a junior warden from among the remaining members; traditionally, the former is known as the rector's warden and the latter, as the people's warden. The vestry also elects a clerk and a treasurer who are not necessarily members of the vestry. The St. James' vestry meets the second Monday evening of each month; minutes are available in the parish office.

Pictured, left to right:

row 1: Brian McMerty, Ron Abrams, Adair Ellis, Jim Sloan;
row 2: Rachel Pace, Annie Gray Johnston, Jane Rippy;
row 3: Jean Poole, Lin Spears, Claude Bridger, Ed Whitesides, Jim McCabe, Bill McKenzie, R.V. Fulk, and Cherry Woodbury.