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Vestry
The parish is led in
a partnership of the Vestry and the Rector together. There are 12 lay people
who serve on the vestry at any one time in three-year terms, with four rotating
off each year in January. The congregation elects vestry members to make
decisions about how best to carry out God's will for and with St. Raphael's
and how to make God known in the community of Lexington, the Diocese, and our
larger world.
St. Raphael's has divided the tasks of the ministry of the church into these
ministry areas: Parish Life and Service (including Fellowship, Pastoral Care,
and Evangelism), Outreach; Christian Formation (including education and
formation for children, youth, and adults); and Operations (including
Building and grounds, Stewardship, and Finances); and Worship (including
Sunday services, midweek services, healing services, and special worship
opportunities). Each vestry member has leadership responsibilities in at least
one of the ministry areas.
Two vestry members serve as wardens, a Senior Warden and a Junior Warden. In
addition to serving as a support for the clergy, the wardens oversee
particular ministry areas and act as liaison for the parish and the rector.
While many think of the vestry's responsibility as that of managing finances
and building matters of the parish, the church canons reveal a much broader
perspective, including responsibility, with the Rector, for promoting the
spiritual welfare of the members of the church.
St. Raphael's vestry meets in the church conference room monthly.
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