Discerning God's Call: The Rector's Sacred Duty (

Within the leadership of each Parish, the Rector stands as a shepherding figure, weaving together the spiritual and administrative threads that define any one congregation's journey. As outlined in the Episcopal Church Canons, particularly Canon III.9, the Rector is entrusted with profound responsibilities that extend from leading worship and pastoral care to overseeing varied facets of church administration. Their presence is both pastoral and pragmatic, embodying a leadership style that is visionary and grounded in tradition.

Discerning God's Call: The Vestry's Sacred Duty

n my first post of this series “On the Church” I dove into the mission of the church through the lens of the 5 Marks of Mission. Today, we will look specifically at a body within an Episcopal Church that has a very important, and yet, misunderstood role. The most common misunderstanding stems from whether vestry members are representatives or agents.

On the Church: The Five Marks of Mission

As the Rector of a growing Episcopal church, I've found myself increasingly troubled by the state of Christianity in America as realized in church participation. I've witnessed firsthand the decline in church attendance and the closure of many congregations within the denomination that I grew up in. For the last 15 years in ministry, I find I am having the same conversations that range in topic from who is involved, whose job is whose as it relates to nurture of children, scarcity, various business model questions and so forth.

© st. francis in-the-Field

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