Vestry 2023-2024

The wardens of Trinity Episcopal Church can be reached by email at wardens@trinitywrentham.org.

Co-Warden: Diane Pelrine

Co-Warden: Mark Boudway

Treasurer: Wayne Burt

Clerk: Brenda McGinn

Members:

Jim Derick

Beth Herbst

Sherri Holleran

Anne McKee

Ed Meixner

Sue Nelson

Barbara Romans

Members of the Trinity Vestry are elected to terms of one, two, or three years, depending on the position:  

• Co-Wardens (two-year term with a term limit of two successive terms): These two people work together with the rector as a team, ultimately responsible for overseeing all affairs of the parish.  
• Treasurer (one-year term with no term limits): This person has responsibilities pertaining to the fiduciary life of the parish, and include acting as liaison between the Finance Committee and Vestry.   
• Clerk (one-year term with no term limits: This person maintains all minutes of Vestry meetings and other such meetings of the parish as the Vestry may call to order, e.g. the Annual Meeting.  
• Members: In addition to the above positions, there are nine Vestry members who serve three-year terms and must take a one-year break between terms. Vestry members have oversight over the various committees that have been set up to focus on various aspects of our parish mission.

The parish follows parliamentary procedures, and campaigning or solicitation of votes before the annual meeting is prohibited.

Members of a religious group who are not an ordained minister or priest are members of the laity.  The noun laity is from the word lay, and lay person has a similar church meaning.  The word lay itself is from the Greek word laikos meaning “of the people.”    
 

Each Episcopal parish is governed by an elected group of lay members known collectively as the Vestry.  Elections for open positions are held at the Annual Meeting of the parish.  Using a process outlined in the sample by-laws of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Trinity’s current Vestry appoints a nominating committee, who then diligently searches the parish for a recommended candidate to fill each empty seat.  Any other parishioner may also run for any open position, simply by self-nomination during the election portion of the Annual Meeting, or having another person nominate him or her. In the case of more than one candidate for a position, a written ballot will be taken immediately, and the results tallied by the rector and parish administrator.  Simple majority decides the election.    

In addition to the Vestry, there are other opportunities to become involved in church leadership.  Every parish sends both clergy and lay representatives to the diocesan Annual Convention to represent the parish.  In addition, Trinity is part of the Taunton River Deanery and sends members of the parish to represent us at Deanery meetings.  All of these representative positions are elected offices, with elections held during the Annual Meeting in February.  Nominations are taken during the meeting itself.

Delegates to Diocesan Annual Convention

Walter Pelrine

Alternate delegate: 

Bill Tansi
 

Representatives to the Taunton River Deanery

Jan Levangie

Joan Tansi