Churchwarden

A Churchwarden is a lay official in an Anglican parish. In the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, as well as in other American Anglican bodies, each parish usually has two wardens, a Senior Warden and a Junior Warden, sometimes referred to respectively as the "Rector's Warden" and the "People's Warden." Holders of these positions are leading members of the parish board, usually called a Vestry, and are generally elected by the congregation as a whole to serve for a fixed term.

Related Topics:
Anglican - Parish - Episcopal Church in the United States of America - Anglican bodies - Vestry

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The Senior Warden is generally responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the parish in the absence of a rector, the head clergymember of a parish, who is normally a priest. More rarely, the rector may be a bishop. In this role, the Senior Warden assumes many of the non-sacerdotal duties of the rector with regard to parish administration and is responsible for obtaining, if possible, the services of a clergymember for the conduct of Sunday worship. In all cases, the Senior Warden is considered the leading lay member of the congregation, and, during the incumbency of a Rector, may have varying duties and responsibilities according to the customs of the parish, the policies of the diocese to which the parish belongs, the desires of the Rector, and the input of the vestry and/or the congregation as a whole. The Junior Warden is often responsible for overseeing the upkeep and maintenance of the parish's physical plant. In the United States, churchwardens are usually part-time volunteers.

Related Topics:
Rector - Priest - Bishop - Diocese

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