8 Comments

  1. Daniel Li
    February 10, 2009 @ 4:01 pm

    Thanks for the post. As someone not raised Anglican and unfamiliar with the terminology, this quick synopsis is really helpful. Other questions of practicality: Are their term lengths and term limits for the vestry? Do these differ from church to church?

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  2. Jeff Walton
    February 10, 2009 @ 4:53 pm

    David, what a fascinating and wonderful part of our tradition. One question: a Rector is the head of a parish church. As a mission church — at least for the moment — doesn’t that make you a Vicar?

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  3. davidmartinhanke
    February 11, 2009 @ 10:54 am

    Great questions guys. There are term limits. Usually it is a three year term (monthly meetings), with a third of the vestry rotating off each year. We will need to determine how that works with everyone starting at the same time.

    Technically, I am still an Assistant Rector at The Falls Church (my old job title and the folks who are still paying my salary). When we have our own vestry (probably at the end of 2009), we will install them and install me as the Rector. Until that time, we are under the gracious oversight of The Falls Church vestry.

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  4. davidmartinhanke
    February 11, 2009 @ 10:58 am

    Rector: from the Latin ‘regere’: to rule. In the American church a rector is a priest who is the chief clergyman over a self-supporting congregation (important characteristic). Parishes have rectors; missions have vicars. The only determinant is whether the church pays its own way or gets help from an outside body (in our case, The Falls Church). So, yes, technically I am a vicar until Sept 1, 2009 when we are totally on our own.

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  5. Darcey Geissler
    February 20, 2009 @ 2:44 pm

    What about deacons?

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  6. davidmartinhanke
    February 21, 2009 @ 2:18 pm

    Deacons (diakanoi) are a well-attested New Testament office. Traditionally they have been a bridge between the church and the needs of the world. They are servers who practically give their time to those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and outside the church. Symbolically, deacons normally read the Gospel during the service, which captures this good news bridge between church and world.
    We actually have 2 kinds of deacons:
    1. the vocational diaconate are deacons who normally have non-church jobs but they choose to enter ordained service as a bridge between leadership in the church and service in their community.
    2. The transitional diaconate are men and women who are in the track for ordination to presbyter (elder, priest). They serve for 6 months as deacons before being ordained.

    Great question, Darcey!

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  7. dylan wedan
    June 14, 2010 @ 10:22 pm

    what is the church’s stance on women in the vestry/ordination of women? can you explain it to me?

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  8. davidmartinhanke
    June 15, 2010 @ 8:53 am

    Thanks for asking Dylan. Recognizing that there are Biblically sound arguments on both sides of this issue, Restoration affirms the ordination of women to the diaconate and the presbyterate (to be priests). We also affirm the full participation of women as elders/vestry members.

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