Resolution for New Election Process

Proposed Resolution for consideration and vote at Annual Parish Meeting: January 22, 2012

Parish Election Procedures for

 Members of the Vestry, and Delegates and Alternates to Annual Council of the Diocese

 Size of the Vestry:  The number of members of the Vestry of Trinity shall be 9.  One-third of the members shall be elected each year for a term of three years.

Election at Parish Meeting:  As provided in Section 9.1 of the Canons of the Diocese of Texas, members of the Vestry will be elected at a Parish Meeting to be held no earlier than October 1 of each year as the Vestry may determine.  Delegates and Alternates to the Annual Council of the Diocese will also be elected at this Parish Meeting.  All persons nominated for Vestry shall be Qualified Electors of the parish.  Individuals elected to the Vestry at the Parish Meeting shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual Parish Meeting.

Delegates and Alternates to the Annual Council shall be confirmed communicants in good standing of the Parish and at least 18 years of age. Delegates to the Annual Council will be elected for terms of three years, staggered such that one delegate is elected each year, with the senior warden serving as the 4^th delegate.  Delegates and Alternates elected at the Parish Meeting or elected by the vestry shall take office as of the opening of the next Annual Council of the Diocese. 

Date and Notice of Election:  Consistent with this Resolution and the Bylaws of the Parish, the Rector and Vestry shall establish the date and time of the Parish Meeting.  Notice of the date and time of the Parish Meeting, and the names and qualifications of those persons nominated, shall be published in the month prior issue of the Parish newsletter and posted at the Church.  Notice of the Parish Meeting will be given during the stated services the two (2) Sundays preceding the meeting.  In order to vote at any parish election, you must be present at the meeting.

 Discernment and Nomination of Vestry Candidates:  The Vestry, in consultation with the Rector, shall appoint a Nominating Committee.  The members of the Committee shall be communicated to the congregation.  The Committee shall receive recommendations from the congregation and propose a slate of candidates, for approval by the Rector and Vestry.

Additional Requirements for Vestry Candidates:  No person may be a candidate for Vestry (stand for election) unless such person shall have first:

1)      Fully participated in the Discernment Process as outlined above; and,

2)      Signed, and submitted to the Senior Warden, the Vestry Candidate Declaration as prescribed in the Diocesan Canons, Section 9.1.(b)

3)      Nominations from the floor at the Annual Parish meeting are not permitted.

Qualified Electors:  As provided in Canon 9.2, men and women at least 16 years of age, who are enrolled, confirmed communicants in good standing of the Parish, are entitled to vote for members of the Vestry and upon all questions requiring the action of the Congregation, but none shall be admitted to serve as members of the Vestry, except those who are at least 18 years of age. An “enrolled confirmed communicant in good standing” means a person who (1) is a communicant in good standing who is enrolled as such in the records of Trinity; and (2)was confirmed by a Bishop of the Episcopal Church or a Bishop of a Church in communion with the Episcopal Church, or has been received into the Episcopal Church by a Bishop of the Episcopal Church; and, (3)for the previous year has been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and has been faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God. (This means they have been regularly attending weekly worship services worship, active in the lay ministry of the parish, and making and fulfilling a pledge – or have an established record of regular giving to Trinity.)