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 2008
Sue Hartman, Worship & Music liaison
Chuck Olsavsky, Newcomer Ministries liaison
Bob Otworth, Junior Warden, Fellowship Ministries liaison
Tim Scheel, Building & Grounds liaison
Class of 2009
Paul Bunner, Outreach Ministries liaison
Mark Hansen, Fellowship Ministries Liaison
Kim Kelly, Worship & Music liaison
John Syme, Children & Youth Ministries liaison
Class of 2010
Geeta Morris, liaison assignment to be determined
Pam Ruesch, liaison assignment to be determined
Ray Sizemore, liaison assignment to be determined
Brian Slaminka, liaison assignment to be determined
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: Vicki Sizemore
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, Steve Rucinski, and Karen Slaminka
Any of these vestry members, officers, and representatives may be contacted through the Church Office.