Vestry Day: Working Well Together

Vestry members and parish clergy: get strategies for building up and maintaining healthy congregations. Spend the day with our bishop and canons talking about the messy realities of the "church family" and getting practical counsel on human resources, stewardship and more.

Agenda

8:30 a.m. Check-in and continental breakfast

Morning Presentations

Working Well Together: A Vision for Central New York

The Rt. Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe

How will the diocesan staff and parish leaders work together in the years ahead? What are the Bishop’s hopes and expectations for our lay ministers and vestries? How will we care for our buildings, keep parishes open, and build sustainable, vital ministry? Bishop DeDe will discuss her vision for the work and ministry of the people of Central New York and invite your questions, concerns and ideas.

What’s a Canon to the Ordinary?

The Rev. Canon John Crosswaite, Canon to the Ordinary

Learn how our new Canon to the Ordinary assists Bishop DeDe in building a diocesan administration to support parish ministry. Canon John will share tools and insights that keep congregations healthy, and discuss new developments in the formation process for ordained ministry.

Transition and Church Development

The Rev. Canon Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, Canon for Transition and Church Development

Learn how our new Canon for Transition and Church Development supports parish ministry, hear about trends in clergy/parish transitions, and enjoy “stories from the field” about vital ministry in our diocese.

Human Resources in the Parish

Ms. Cynthia Curtin, Esq., Specializing in Labor and Employment Law

Thinking about people as resources—as gifts to you, to the church and the work of the church. What does that mean? Is compliance with the law enough? Ms. Curtin will discuss key legal issues and responsibilities but she also will challenge us to go beyond that—to think in terms of how to create an environment in which people thrive.

Lunch

Afternoon Workshops (choose one at registration)

Church Pension Fund: Pension Changes

Ms. Akina Warner, Church Pension Group, Account Specialist

Upcoming clergy pension fund changes that impact the parish. Your pension fund questions answered.

Strengthening the Congregation (The messy truth of living together as a church family)

The Rev. Canon John Crosswaite, Canon to the Ordinary

Healthy congregations attract people. But the health and wellbeing of a church family doesn’t just happen—it takes attention and intention. This workshop offers reflections, conversations and exercises that will strengthen your church family.

Stewardship!

The Rev. Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, Canon for Transition and Church Development

Informal “roundtable” discussions about stewardship in our parishes. There will be opportunities for idea sharing about stewardship in general and also time for more specific conversations.

Closing Panel/ Q&A with Bishop and Canons

Closing prayer