Across Aotearoa, all sorts of people continue to say “yes” to serving on vestry in our Anglican Churches of all sizes. Whether stepping into the role for the first time or returning with experience, vestry members offer their time, wisdom, and prayerful discernment to help us in the great commission.
Vestry is more than a governance group—its activities lie at the heart of what shared leadership in the Anglican tradition looks like. It’s where clergy and lay leaders work together to steward resources, support ministry, and ensure our parishes are safe, welcoming, and spiritually vibrant. Vestry decisions, often made behind the scenes, shape the life and mission of the church in profound ways.
To all who serve: thank you. Your commitment matters deeply. Thank you for when you model courageous leadership, when you set a faith-fuelled tone for parish life, when you wrestle kindly with the hard questions, and when you walk alongside our leaders with grace.
I want vestry members to know (and those supporting them) that you’re not alone. The Diocese of Nelson offers good resources to help you grow in confidence and clarity. The Vestry Quickguide outlines the key responsibilities and practices of Vestry, while the Serving in Vestry video series covers essentials like team roles, health and safety, and diocesan structure. These tools are ideal for both individual learning and team discussion.
Quickguide: nelsonanglican.nz/documents
Video Series: YouTube Playlist
Let’s honour our vestry members not only with words of thanks but also with our prayers. Pray that the Lord will endow them for their wisdom, unity, and encouragement. And next time you see one—say thank you. A simple gesture can mean a lot.
Ngā mihi nui to all who serve. May God bless you richly in your ministry.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Across Aotearoa, all sorts of people continue to say “yes” to serving on vestry in our Anglican Churches of all sizes. Whether stepping into the role for the first time or returning with experience, vestry members offer their time, wisdom, and prayerful discernment to help us in the great commission.
Vestry is more than a governance group—its activities lie at the heart of what shared leadership in the Anglican tradition looks like. It’s where clergy and lay leaders work together to steward resources, support ministry, and ensure our parishes are safe, welcoming, and spiritually vibrant. Vestry decisions, often made behind the scenes, shape the life and mission of the church in profound ways.
To all who serve: thank you. Your commitment matters deeply. Thank you for when you model courageous leadership, when you set a faith-fuelled tone for parish life, when you wrestle kindly with the hard questions, and when you walk alongside our leaders with grace.
I want vestry members to know (and those supporting them) that you’re not alone. The Diocese of Nelson offers good resources to help you grow in confidence and clarity. The Vestry Quickguide outlines the key responsibilities and practices of Vestry, while the Serving in Vestry video series covers essentials like team roles, health and safety, and diocesan structure. These tools are ideal for both individual learning and team discussion.
Quickguide: nelsonanglican.nz/documents
Video Series: YouTube Playlist
Let’s honour our vestry members not only with words of thanks but also with our prayers. Pray that the Lord will endow them for their wisdom, unity, and encouragement. And next time you see one—say thank you. A simple gesture can mean a lot.
Ngā mihi nui to all who serve. May God bless you richly in your ministry.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
