We offer congratulations to all who were elected to positions of leadership in their local congregations at recent annual parish meetings. Many of these meetings are held in January, so wardens and members of the vestry are assuming their new roles this month. It should be obvious to all that the leadership of parishes and mission congregations is vitally important, but unfortunately there are still cases where elections are nothing more than popularity contests, or they are well-meaning instances in which someone is elected simply because he or she hasn't served previously.

We have long advocated strong, healthy parishes as vitally important in order for the Episcopal Church to function at its best. The roles of wardens, vestry members, delegates or deputies to diocesan conventions and other leadership positions shouldn't be taken lightly. Working with the clergy, they have the opportunity to participate in decision making and to provide oversight to important ministries. We wish the new leaders well.