Mutual Ministry Goals in 2025

Most Episcopal congregations gather their leaders every year to develop ministry goals, and St. Paul’s is required to do so as part of your written agreement with the rector.

The vestry and rector met in March 2025 to set goals for this next year:

  • Equip individual vestry members in their personal development as leaders

  • Develop and sustain the cohesion of the vestry as a well-bonded working group

  • Develop the evangelism ministry of the vestry, individually and as a group

What are the mutual ministry goals?

Strengthen the Vestry’s Team Cohesion
We are continuing and developing a goal we set in 2024, to cohere more tightly and effectively as a working group and a spiritual leadership body at St. Paul’s. One way to do this is by establishing what we’re calling the “Officer of the Sunday”: Beginning later this spring, we hope to build a rotation of Vestry members who serve as visible faith leaders on Sundays, greeting congregants, assisting other volunteers, collaborating with staff and volunteers on safety issues, and leading the announcements. We’re also going to appoint a Vestry chaplain who will work alongside the rector in nurturing the spiritual life of our team. Finally, we are continuing to establish new ways to keep in touch with one another from day to day and from week to week; and we will also invite Vestry members to occasionally write the Weekly Word in our parish newsletter.

Collaborate with the Parish Ministry Council
The Vestry will work in 2025 to deepen our connections to the Parish Ministry Council. Each Vestry member will discern a particular ministry that they will support with their participation, and in ongoing conversation with that ministry’s leaders. For example, a Vestry member could liaise with the Neighborhood Action Ministry by joining the SPiN walks on a regular basis (something a couple of our Vestry members already do), and talking with the Neighborhood Action team lead about her needs, concerns, hopes, and ideas.

Host the Agape Meal on Maundy Thursday, and More
Beginning with the Agape Meal on Maundy Thursday, the Vestry will take the lead with some of the Parish Life events that occur at St. Paul’s through the year. Another opportunity for Vestry involvement is our upcoming celebration, on June 28 and 29, of the completion of our capital projects, and the bishop’s visitation that same weekend. The Vestry hopes to become a more visible presence of leadership and companionship, parish-wide.