Markers of a Healthy Vestry/Priest-in-Charge Relationship

The following characteristics of healthy relationships were identified through interviews of Rectors/Vicars and Wardens of vigorous congregations. Please consider them carefully and indicate in how well this statement describes your current working relationship as clergy and vestry: Almost Always, Often, Sometimes, Seldom, Almost Never. Feel free to add any comments or questions after each question that would support your response. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes. Please respond by 12 noon on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. 

This survey is developed from the MMR materials provided by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. As noted above, this compilation emerged from interviews with Episcopal congregations and is based on the work of Tom Ehrich.

(* Denotes Required Fields)

Survey
Name: *
Member of the vestry and clergy exhibit personal maturity; the ability to function openly in an ambiguous, stressful and often conflictual environment; spiritual vitality; and emotional stability. Attention is paid to who gets nominated to the Vestry, and to the emotional and physical health of clergy: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
Vestry members take responsibility for the life of the group. The need for norms and "self-policing" is recognized; unhealthy behavior is identified and dealt with by the vestry as a whole: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
Clergy and vestry members understand boundaries and the importance of self-differentiation: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
The Priest-in-Charge and Senior Warden (or Wardens) are clear about their respective roles and meet often enough to develop trust and personal support: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
The Priest-in-Charge is expected to be the leader, though not a dictator. S/he is expected to have an agenda, but to encourage the Vestry to reshape, refine, and even reject that agenda. Patience with the slower pace of shared leadership is critical: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
The Vestry feels competent and valued and accepts the higher degree of accountability that goes along with collaboration. Authoritarian models of leadership that lead to feelings of incompetence and resentment are avoided: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
A high degree of personal maturity and trust is present. Confrontation is direct, respectful and centered in role and function, rather than passive-aggressive and centered in personality. All understand triangulation and work to eliminate it in the congregation: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
Decision-making is an open process. Clergy keep Vestry members informed; lay the ground for discussions, rather than throwing ideas onto the table without advance notice; and avoid any appearance that decisions have already been made by a secretive core group. In large congregations, executive committees serve to focus the Vestry's time and to fashion proposals for Vestry action, but do not make decisions: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
Clergy and lay leaders are team players and consensus builders, rather than "lone rangers," legalists, or people with a specific agenda: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
Vestry structures are considered flexible, needing to be "reinvented" regularly: *	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
The Vestry's spiritual agenda is clear. Priest-in-Charge and Vestry pray, worship regularly, and take stewardship seriously. The tithe is frequently acknowledged as normative:	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions:
Leaders pay attention to the quality of Vestry meetings:	Almost Always Often Sometimes Seldom Almost Never
Comments or questions: