By Lewis Sorrells, Senior Warden
The Cathedral of All Souls has used a variety of procedures to select the members of the vestry in the past; in recent years, the outgoing members of the vestry formed a Nominating Committee which identified a slate of four candidates formally elected to the vestry at the annual meeting.
The purpose of the slate is to ensure that the vestry is balanced by age, area of interest and expertise, service preference, parenthood, gender, sexuality, and a host of other characteristics. This process has resulted in a vestry which is representative of the range of individuals who form the congregation of All Souls.
Again this year, in order to have broader input, the vestry has decided to have the Nominating Committee consist of the two wardens and three non-vestry parishioners (appointed by the Dean) whose interests and expertise complement but do not duplicate those of the wardens.
In order to ensure that the Nomination Committee is able to propose a slate which represents the congregation, it will need to select from a set of individuals nominated by the congregation. In order to be eligible for the vestry, one must be a confirmed communicant of All Souls, a regular participant in weekly worship and in the life of the parish, and a pledging member who is either tithing or working toward the tithe.
Responsibilities include attending monthly meetings, participating in a weekend retreat in February 2011, periodically hosting coffee hour after services, and serving as a liaison to assigned cathedral ministry areas.
It is important for vestry members to be thoughtful, committed, and willing to put in time furthering the mission of the Cathedral of All Souls, as well as furthering their own spiritual journey.
Are you interested in serving, or know someone whom you would like to see on the vestry? Formal nominations will be solicited soon. If you would like to propose someone for the Nominating Committee to consider, or have any questions about the role of the vestry, please contact Dean Donatelli, todd@allsoulscathedral.org, Lewis Sorrells (Senior Warden), lsorr20754@aol.com or John Johnson (Junior Warden) jjmjohnson@charter.net.