What Vestries Need-To-Know

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Wellness Initiative What Vestries Need-To-Know for Safe & Healthy Congregations

Wellness Initiative What Vestries Need-To-Know for Safe & Healthy Congregations

1. To establish and nurture safe environments across EDOT, vestry members and church officers (such as treasurer) are required to be certified in Safeguarding God’s People. In certain contexts, they may also need to be certified in Safeguarding God’s Children. (The Head of Congregation is responsible to the Bishop for this, so vestry members’ willing participation is appreciated.) The Safe Church web pages provide information about certification and creating safe and healthy environments, for which we all share responsibility.

1. To establish and nurture safe environments across EDOT, vestry members and church officers (such as treasurer) are required to be certified in Safeguarding God’s People. In certain contexts, they may also need to be certified in Safeguarding God’s Children. (The Head of Congregation is responsible to the Bishop for this, so vestry members’ willing participation is appreciated.) The Safe Church web pages provide information about certification and creating safe and healthy environments, for which we all share responsibility.

2. EDOT encourages clergy to take all of their vacation, spiritual days and plan for a Sabbatical leave every 7 years. Sabbatical leave information is available from Bishop Fisher’s office. Additionally, Bishop Doyle also encourages clergy to have a therapist and a spiritual director. Healthy clergy = healthy parishes. Vestries are expected to support the wellness of their clergy in these areas.

2. EDOT encourages clergy to take all of their vacation, spiritual days and plan for a Sabbatical leave every 7 years. Sabbatical leave information is available from Bishop Fisher’s office. Additionally, Bishop Doyle also encourages clergy to have a therapist and a spiritual director. Healthy clergy = healthy parishes. Vestries are expected to support the wellness of their clergy in these areas.

epicenter.org/wellness-and-care

epicenter.org/wellness-and-care

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas