It's time for annual meetings!
In the month of January, all congregations will be holding annual meetings. (It's in the diocesan canons – Canon 26.) Every congregation gets to add new members to the vestry, to elect delegates to diocesan convention, and to approve the budget for 2012. New vestry leaders will be named soon, as well, along with stewardship leaders for the coming year. So make sure your congregation gets off to good start.
Three meetings coming up in the next few months will offer really important information and assistance to your congregation. Who is your congregation sending? Save the dates! Make sure your congregation is represented by a team:
- Jan. 20 & 21 – Why do we care about health insurance? - at Trinity FW, 6:30-8:30pm Friday and/or 10am-12:30pm Saturday. Toni Marie Sutliff from the Church Medical Trust will offer education and resources to assist congregations, which are mandated to provide health insurance to all clergy and lay employees (1500 hours per year or more) starting no later than Jan. 1, 2013. Vestry members, senior wardens, treasurers, finance chairs, administrators, clergy, and lay employees are especially urged to attend. Why would any of us care? Click here to learn more.
- Feb. 18-19 – Stewardship in all seasons – Trinity FW, Friday, 6:30-8:30pm for wine and cheese and a facilitated conversation; Saturday 10am – 3pm for theological grounding and practical how-tos for increasing your congregation’s stewardship capabilities. Laurel Johnston, stewardship officer for The Episcopal Church, will offer training and strategies for the stewardship teams from congregations in the diocese. Congregations are encouraged to send vestry members, finance committee members, and stewardship leaders, to begin the work that will ensure future funding Check out Laurel's webpage here. And see the new site for The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) here.
- March 10 – Diocesan leadership workshop – St. Christopher FW, 10am – 3:30pm. A "must-attend" workshop for leaders in congregations – vestry members, wardens, treasurers, clergy, ministry heads – and those who want to be leaders. Bishop Wallis Ohl will serve as keynoter and will conduct special sessions for senior wardens.
Participating in the way our church is governed is an important part of who we are. Do your part: become informed about your congregation, mentor others in leadership, and prepare yourself to lead, following your passions and your gifts.
