Lay Leadership
Vestry and Officers
In the Episcopal Church, the governing board of a parish is called “The Vestry,” a term derived from the early Anglican practice of having this body meet in the vesting room of the church (which in ancient times was one of the few heated rooms in the building).
St. Paul’s Vestry consists of the Rector and twelve members elected by the congregation to terms of three years: four members are elected each year at the parish’s annual membership meeting in January. The Rector chairs the Vestry’s meetings and is assisted in carrying out Vestry policy by two senior members of the Vestry denominated the “Wardens.” Other members of the Vestry serve as liaisons (in teams of two) with various ministries and programs in the parish.
Currently serving on St. Paul’s Vestry are:
Class of 2009
Paul Bunner
Mark Hansen, Senior Warden
Kim Kelly
John Syme
Class of 2010
Linda Garman
Pam Ruesch
Ray Sizemore, Junior Warden
Hildegarde Bender
Class of 2011
John Abbott
Barbara Baird
Bobbie Foy
Jeff Ivey
In addition to the Vestry members elected by the general membership, there are two additional officers of the parish elected by the Vestry: The Clerk who maintains the minutes of the Vestry meetings and other corporate documents, and the Treasurer who oversees the financial records:
Clerk: Melinda Rucinski
Treasurer: Nancy Marquard
Deanery and Convention Representatives
The Episcopal Church enjoys a democratic polity in which elected lay representatives of the congregation participate in making decisions in larger geographic groupings of parishes. St. Paul’s, Medina, is part of the Western Reserve Deanery of the Diocese of Ohio. Representing our parish at the bi-monthly Deanery Council meetings and the annual Diocesan Convention are the following persons:
Delegates: Hildegarde Bender, Jeffery Berno, and Kim Kelly
Alternates: Linda Darling and Steve Rucinski
Any of these vestry members, officers, and representatives may be contacted through the Church Office.