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From the Rector

The Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams

Dear Friends,

To someone new to the Episcopal and Anglican tradition, many of the liturgical and canonical terms seem foreign. Of course they are! Some are Greek, like "Kyrie" or "Pantokrator"; some are Latin, like "Sanctus" or "Magnificat"; and some are British, like "warden" or "vestry."

The latter term simply comes from the name of the room where the clergy put on vestments. In former days, since it was often the only heated room, the elected lay leaders would meet there with the clergyman following a service. The name of the room came to be applied to the group that met there. You will read much more about the role of serving on the vestry in this issue.

Warden initially seemed like an ominous term to me, connecting to prison warden or game warden. Indeed the root word from Middle English means "to guard." But in the Anglican Communion, including the Episcopal Church, it simply means an official in charge. The senior warden of a parish is the chief officer of the vestry. Sometimes called the rector's warden, that person is nominated by the rector to the vestry for election (usually the only name put forward). The senior warden supports the rector and the vestry in the running of the parish, presides at vestry meetings when the rector is unable to do so, and becomes the canonical authority when there is not a rector. The junior warden is elected by the vestry to administer its canonical responsibility for the buildings and grounds of the parish.

One of my greatest joys as rector of the Chapel of the Cross has been to work together with the vestry in guiding the parish's ministry. These dedicated, prayerful, talented men and women have led and continue to lead our parish in positive and creative ways. While we can easily take their hours and years of conscientious service for granted, we all owe them our deepest gratitude for their faithful and fruitful leadership.

That is especially true for those who have graciously served as wardens, some for several years. In addition to other vestry responsibilities, they meet weekly with me, serve on the finance committee, and generally spend much more time at church than they ever thought they would!

For all these vestry members and wardens, I want to extend the gratitude of the entire parish. They have certainly been "good and faithful servants." I look forward to working with more of you in that leadership capacity in the future.

-- Stephen

© 2002: Chapel of the Cross