Vestryman's Guide' in Fourth Printing
Diocesan Press Service. May 30, 1974 [74165]
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- "A Vestryman's Guide," the vestry procedures manual sponsored by The Episcopal Church Foundation and published by The Seabury Press, is now in its fourth printing. According to Seabury, official publishing house of the Episcopal Church, more than 33,000 copies are in the hands of vestrymen and other interested persons.
When it was first published, in September, 1972, copies of the 64-page book were distributed free of charge by the national laymen's organization to senior wardens of more than 7,000 parish vestries in the United States. Orders for additional copies have made this the best-received instructional manual in recent years, a spokesman for the publisher said. The author is Van S. Bowen, Foundation vice president.
The guide, which costs $1.50, has been described as "a valuable tool for the vestry, churchwardens and rectors." It details the duties of the vestry; describes parish structure, programs and administration, and the roles of rectors and bishops; gives the history and background of the parish vestry, and contains guidance on calling a rector, information on Church organization and statistics, and excerpts from canon law.