It’s time to send in your vestry nominations!

It’s hard to believe it’s that time again!

Strong lay and clergy leadership teams are at the heart of healthy, thriving Episcopal congregations. These teams start with the vestry. Now is the time to pray about whom God would have you nominate for the 2023-2024 Vestry. See our Vestry and Ministries information.

Here are the steps to take:

1. PRAY.
2. Submit a name or names to the office by emailing cana.hartman@gmail.com or call 302.368.4644 Monday-Thursday between 9-noon. (Yes, you can nominate yourself if you feel so moved!)
3. We will then confirm that the person meets requirements according to Church Bylaws and Diocesan Canons.
4. And then, finally, we will speak with the nominee to review the responsibilities of the vestry and confirm that they are open to having their name on this year’s ballot.

Please submit your nominee(s) by April 3, 2023.

If you are curious about the vestry experience, please reach out to Fr. Howie, the office, or speak to any member of the vestry.

Nominations are requested to fill three openings. The Vestry has prayerfully decided to transition from 12 Vestry members to 9. This will be the second year in that transition and we are replacing four Vestry members with three. In 2024, we will complete this transition to a nine-member Vestry.

Vestry elections will be conducted during the annual congregational meeting following the 10:30 a.m. service on March 19, 2023.

Please give your full and prayerful attention to this important yearly call to leadership in the life of St. Thomas’s Episcopal Parish.

St. Thomas’s 179th Annual Meeting will be held on March 21, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. – noon via Zoom.

Included in the annual meeting agenda is an election for three new Vestry candidates for the Vestry Class of 2024.This election will be conducted by postal mail again this year, in an effort to keep the process valid and fair, while caring for the health and safety of our parish and community during the pandemic. Ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters by Monday, February 15, 2021. A return envelope with postage will be included, though ballots may be dropped off in the ballot box in the lobby. It is important that all eligible members vote so that we reach at least a quorum. Last year during the pandemic, we had an excellent parish membership response. ALL BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021.

The Wardens and Vestry of St. Thomas’s Parish have set aside the second Sunday in Lent, March 12, 2017 for the 175th Annual Meeting of St. Thomas’s Parish. This important gathering gives opportunity to gather as a community of faith, to hear reports of our ministry activities over the year past and plans for the year ahead, and to elect four [4] people to three year terms as servant leaders of our parish. We will also be affirming/electing delegates to represent St. Thomas’s at the Special Convention for the election of the 11th Bishop of Delaware scheduled for July 15, 2017. The current delegates to the Diocesan Convention are willing to serve – Jordan Kinsey and Marilyn Prime, Mariah Payne as our under 30 year old delegate, and Devon Miller Duggan as alternate. Nominations will also be included from the parish if you feel called to serve in this important event of our common life. Nomination forms and the requirements of being a Vestry candidate are now on the nametag table. For the Annual Meeting we will gather at 12:00 p.m. in the Great Hall, beginning with time of fellowship and a light lunch with refreshments. The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. We are offering activities for our children so that parents may participate fully in the life and ministry of our parish. More information will be forthcoming in February and March, and weekly in the Carpenter‘s Helper. We will again offer the Annual Report electronically at least one week before the Annual Meeting.