The Vestry
Responsibilities |
Membership |
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The vestry is the name of the church board. It is responsible for the sound management of the church’s finances and property, for appointment of staff including the rector, and it supports the rector and staff in the spiritual welfare of the church.
Westhill Community Church is a Scottish charity, number SC015206, and vestry members are the trustees of the charity. Trustee qualifications and responsibilities are prescribed by Scottish charity law. In addition to ensuring health and safety in church activities the vestry has a specific responsibility for the protection of children and vulnerable adults in the care of the church. It appoints a PVG Co-ordinator who administers implementation of PVG requirements. (PVG stands for Protection of Vulnerable Groups.) The vestry operates in accordance with the constitution of Westhill Community Church. The church’s financial year runs from 1st October till 30th September. |
The vestry consists of the Rector, ex-officio members and lay members of the church. It may also have co-opted members.
Lay members are elected by the congregation at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Nomination forms are available from the church office three weeks before the AGM. Each member must be a communicant member of the church in good standing with the church community, and be over 16 years of age. Lay members serve for three years and may put themselves forward to serve a further three year term. After that they must stand down for at least a year. Currently there are 12 people on the Vestry + the Rector (see below). Ex-officio members include the Rector, treasurer, secretary and lay representative. The Rector is the vestry chairman but a vestry lay chairman may be appointed to chair vestry meetings. |
Meetings |
Current Vestry Members, 2018-19 |
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The vestry meets monthly, normally nine times per year. Other meetings are convened as necessary. It works detailed issues through sub-groups including finance, property, and administration and resources. The vestry also arranges the AGM (annual general meeting) held in late November. The lay representative and alternate lay representative are appointed annually at the AGM. The lay representative serves and represents the congregation at the Diocesan Synod.
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Ian Ferguson Rector (ex-officio)
Ken Mavor Chairman Allan Clews Treasurer (ex-officio) Lesley Mavor Secretary (ex-officio) Steve Townsend Lay Rep (ex-officio) Robert Lindsay Jeremy Norris Mark Beecroft Judith Wells Hugh Kelly Clare Lowe Rory McGregor Fiona Fitzgerald |
