Hi Jane
Just tuned in the MASG Forum, and noticed your request for information about Vestry. It seems you now have a copy of the Parishes Act which describe the responsibilities of the Vestry.
However, there are a couple of issues you may not be familiar with, but may be helpful to understanding the role of Vestry.
Firstly, the Parishes Act came into existence through a consolidation of a number of Amendments. Section 44 of the Parishes Act, was originally Section 50A of an Amendment Act 1973 of the Trustees and Vestries Act 1919-1972. When the consolidation occurred, the original description of the Amendment Act 1973 was lost. That description was `To amend the Trustees and Vestries Act 1910-1972 to provide for the incorporation therein of the concept of shared ministry of Clergy and laity'. This is a significant statement of the purpose of vestry, and a serious omission in understanding the importance of the joint responsibility of vicar and vestry as the decision making body of the congregation.
Secondly, the Agenda for the AGM includes a statement which supports this role of vestry : `A report from the vestry on the pastoral care, evangelism, community service, and educational programmes of the Parish'. This again strengthens the role of the vestry in decision making and monitoring these ministries in the local church. Some parishes actually set up vestry commisions with portfolios to oversee the promotion of these (and other - finance/ maintenance) ministries in the parish.
Thirdly, not specifically related to vestry, but another Act of which many people are unaware, is the Interpretation Act 1960 (Subsection 10); which states `The word `parishioner' so far as the same relates to the exercise of any temporal or ecclesiastical right shall mean a member of the Church of England(sic) who is duly enrolled on a Electoral Roll under the provisions of the Representation of the laity Act 1950.' A number of churches use the Electoral Roll, as the basis of responsible church membership, and if this is of interest to you I am happy to expand on this concept - often ignored in Anglican churches to their detriment.
