Parish Council Nominations Are Open
Dear Harbor Anglican,
Each fall at our annual parish meeting, we elect new members to serve on the Parish Council. Between now and September 6th, we are receiving nominations from the congregation for those you believe would serve Harbor Anglican well in this role.
If someone comes to mind, please email the Parish Council directly rather than the person you are nominating. This allows us to approach each candidate with care and discretion during our September-October vetting process. The Parish Council will decide the final slate of nominees, and then we'll introduce the slate of nominees a few weeks ahead of the annual meeting in November.
What does the Parish Council actually do?
The Parish Council is the elected lay leadership of Harbor Anglican, the body that, together with the rector, gives oversight and direction to the congregation's mission and ministry. We understand our Council to serve in five key ways:
Protecting the vision. A Parish Council member doesn't need to have all the answers on day one, but they should be someone who genuinely wants to understand, and ultimately champion, what God is calling Harbor Anglican to be and do. Over time, every Council member should be able to articulate and safeguard our visionary direction, answering the question: What are we trying to do here? This vision is something we hold together, pass on to new members, and protect from drifting with the seasons or the passing of years.
Ensuring our values. The Council ensures the congregation is living out its vision in practice through its programs, ministries, and the areas where it focuses its energy: worship, discipleship, evangelism, small groups, mercy ministry, and more.
Upholding financial integrity. The Council is charged with protecting the financial integrity of the church; scrutinizing the finances regularly, approving budgets, and acting as guardians of the financial life of the parish so that Harbor Anglican has a long-term future and operates in a trustworthy way with all funds given or borrowed.
Supporting the rector. The Council's role is not honorary, nor is it to be the loyal opposition or a representative of any special interest in the parish. Its job is to help the rector lead the parish in vision, values, and financial integrity and to support him however it can.
Modeling sacrificial giving. Council members should be among the most generous and financially committed members of the church. Leaders lead in every area and those who are sacrificial givers help create a parish-wide culture of generosity for years to come.
What is the time commitment?
Serving on the Parish Council is a meaningful but real investment of time. Our Council meets once a month, and members can generally expect to give 1-3 additional hours per week to Council-related tasks. This is a role for a season of life when someone has the margin to serve faithfully.
What are we looking for?
According to our bylaws, a Parish Council member should be:
Someone who is a confirmed member (or in the process of being confirmed) in the Anglican Church in North America and meets all the qualifications of congregational membership.
Someone who tithes (gives 10% or more of their income) to Harbor Anglican.
Someone who demonstrates spiritual maturity, discernment, wisdom, and leadership.
Someone who can affirm and live by the Parish Council Subscription: "I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God and to contain all things necessary for life and salvation through Our Lord Jesus Christ, and I do yield my hearty consent to the fundamental declarations set forth in Article I of the Constitution of the Diocese, and to the discipline and forms of worship of the Anglican Church in North America.”
Please take time to prayerfully consider whom the Lord might be raising up among us to serve in this way. We look forward to seeing how He will continue to provide for and guide our parish in the months and years to come.
Yours In Christ,
The Rev. Casey Bedell
