St. Marks Episcopal Church

Vestry

The Vestry is the governing body of the congregation and consists of 15 members of the parish who are elected by the congregation. It is the vestry’s responsibility to be the final decision-making body which hires the Rector (the pastor), approves the parish budget, makes parish policy decisions, and spends the parish’s money on mission, ministry and maintenance.

The Vestry consists of a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Youth Warden (age 16-21), each of whom are elected for a one-year term. (Think of the wardens as president and vice-president of a corporation). The other 12 members of the Vestry are elected for three year terms with four parishioners elected each year.

The Rector presides at meetings of the Vestry. In the absence of the Rector, one of the wardens presides.

The term Vestry goes back to the days when the group met in a room of the church called the vestry or vesting room. This was the room where the vestments of the clergy and other worship leaders were stored.

Current Vestry Members

  • Bill Silliman - Senior Warden
  • Barbara Keyes - Junior Warden
  • Katie Hyre - Youth Warden
  • Larry Burton
  • Anice Ellis
  • John Goettler
  • Lindsay Graves
  • Pat Iams
  • Pat Kirkley
  • John Marchak
  • Ted Meyers
  • Jeff Porterfield
  • Katie Renner
  • Marilyn Smith
  • Park Zimpher

  • Dot Yeager - Treasurer
  • Barbara Hyre - Clerk