5.01 The Wardens shall be adult communicants in good standing who shall have served on the Vestry prior to election as Wardens. The Wardens shall be elected in alternate years for a two-year term and shall not be eligible for election to the Vestry for one year.

5.02 The Clerk shall be an adult communicant in good standing who may serve no more than four consecutive years.

5.03 The Treasurer shall be an adult communicant in good standing for at least two years and preferably shall have served on the Vestry and have a working knowledge and experience with basic accounting procedures. The Treasurer may serve no more than four consecutive years.

5.11 The Senior Warden shall be, ex officio with vote, a member of the Vestry.

5.12 In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of Rector, the Senior Warden shall be responsible for the affairs of the church.

5.21 The Junior Warden shall be, ex officio with vote, a member of the Vestry.

5.22 In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of Senior Warden, the Junior Warden shall assume the position of Senior Warden.

5.23 In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of Junior Warden, the Vestry shall elect a replacement until the next Annual Parish Meeting.

5.31 The Wardens shall supervise the care, protection, and maintenance of the church and church properties and guard them from use prohibited by law of the Church.

5.32 The Wardens shall see that those things needed for orderly worship of God are provided at the expense of the Parish.

5.33 The Wardens shall discharge other such duties as may devolve upon them.

5.41 The Clerk is an appointed position and approved by the Vestry.

5.42 The Clerk shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings.

5.421 Minutes of each meeting shall be made available to all Vestry members prior to the next meeting.

5.422 Notice of the date, time, and place of the next meeting shall be included in the minutes.

5.43 The Clerk may appoint an assistant to help when necessary.

5.44 The Clerk is the official representative of the Vestry for the purpose of signing legal documents.

5.51 The Treasurer is an appointed position and approved by the Vestry.

5.52 The Treasurer shall receive, have custody of, and dispense all funds and monies belonging to the Parish.

5.53 The Treasurer shall be responsible for the keeping of full, detailed, and accurate accounts of all financial transactions.

5.61 The Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Clerk, Treasurer, and Vestry members shall deliver to their successors all property of the Parish including records, books, and other papers when their terms have ended.

7.01 The Vestry shall consist of the Rector, two Executive Committee and the Vestry members. There shall be no less than three (3) nor more than twelve (12) elected members.

7.02 All members shall be registered communicants of the parish.

7.03 As nearly as practicable, one third of the members shall be elected at each Annual Parish Meeting.

7.11 The Vestry shall transact all business of the parish and shall see that ail things needful for public services are furnished.

7.12 The Vestry shall perform such duties as are required by the Canons of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America and the Canons of the Diocese of Minnesota.

7.13 The Vestry shall be agents and legal representatives of the parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the parish to its clergy.

7.14 Vestry members shall act as liaison members to committees.

7.15 The Vestry shall appoint a Bylaws Committee of no less than three (3) members one year prior to the next review. The Bylaws shall be reviewed every five (5) years.

7.21 Vestry members shall be elected for a term of three years or until their successors are elected.

7.22 A member may serve no more than four (4) consecutive years on the Vestry.

7.31 Any vacancy created by the annual election shall be filled by the election at the same Annual Parish Meeting.

7.32 In case of vacancies occurring between Annual Parish Meetings, the Vestry may, at its discretion, elect a member to fill the vacancy until the next Annual Parish Meeting at which time a person shall be elected to fill the remaining years of the term.

7.33 In the event any member of the Vestry shall be absent for four (4) consecutive, regular meetings, the seat may, with the advice and consent of the Rector, be declared vacant by the Vestry and a qualified person elected to fill the vacancy.

7.41 Wardens and members of the Vestry shall not receive any compensation for their services.

8.01 The chair shall vote only in the case of a tie.

8.11 Regular meetings shall be held monthly as determined by the Rector.

8.21 Regular meetings of the Vestry shall be held monthly as determined by the Vestry.

8.22 Either the Rector, the Senior Warden, or the Junior Warden and a majority of the elected members of the Vestry shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Vestry. Once a quorum has been present at a meeting and voting members of the Vestry have withdrawn so that less than a quorum remains, the Vestry may continue to transact business until adjournment.

8.31 The date of the Annual Parish Meeting shall be in accordance with the Canons and Minnesota State Statutes.

8.32 The Vestry shall determine the time and location of the meeting.

8.33 Notice of the date, time, and location shall be printed in the Voice and posted in the Parish Hall at least 20 days before the date of such meeting.

8.34 Voting members attending the meeting shall constitute a quorum.

8.35 The results of any election or summary of any action taken at the Annual Parish Meeting or at a special meeting shall be posted in a conspicuous place within seven days after the meeting.

8.41 A special meeting of the Executive Committee may be called at the discretion of the Rector or the Wardens.

8.42 A special meeting of the Vestry may be held at any time and may be called by the Rector, the Senior Warden, the Junior Warden, or a majority of the elected members of the Vestry. Four (4) days notice of the meeting must be given to each member specifying the date, time, location, and purpose of the meeting.

8.43 A special meeting of the Parish may be called by the Vestry or shall be called upon the written petition of one-third of the voting members of the Parish. Notice of the meeting, the date, time, place, and purpose thereof shall be announced on three Sundays preceding such meeting, and a written notice shall be mailed to all known voting members at least 20 days prior to the date of the meeting.

10.01 Committees are designated as Standing, General, or Ad Hoc.

a. A Standing Committee is a permanent committee and is responsible for conducting the business of the church.

b. A General Committee supports the activities of the church.

c. An Ad Hoc Committee is appointed and approved by the Rector and the Vestry to perform a specific task.

10.02 Committees and organizations may exist by Vestry authorization to more effectively manage Parish matters.

10.03 The Rector shall serve as ex officio member without vote of all committees unless otherwise designated. The Rector does not serve on the Nominations Committee.

10.04 Committees, with Vestry approval, may acquire and manage funds pursuant to their ministries. The Vestry is ultimately responsible for all funds of the Parish, but it may delegate to those committees the responsibility to manage specific funds or bank accounts. The funds or accounts shall be included in the reviews specified in 14.41.

10.05 Committees and organizations shall prepare an annual report and submit it to the Rector.

10.06 Committees not designated as Standing Committees shall be determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the Vestry.

10.07 Committee chairs, unless selected by members of the committees, shall be selected by the Rector and the Vestry.

10.08 All chairs and committees appointed by the Rector and the Vestry shall be announced at the Annual Meeting.

10.09 When new committees with limited term membership are formed, the first members shall be assigned staggered terms.

10.11 Planned Giving Committee

a. The committee shall consist of five members, all of whom are voting members of St. John in the Wilderness.

b. The Rector shall, with the advice and consent of the wardens, nominate members for the committee.

c. Members shall be approved at the Annual Parish Meeting to serve a three-year term.

d. Members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms, but may be reelected after being off the committee for one year.

e. In the event of a vacancy, the Vestry shall appoint an individual to fill out the remainder of the vacant term.

f. The committee shall submit recommendations for distribution of income to the Vestry for its approval.

g. The committee shall be responsible for reporting the status of the Endowment Fund to the Vestry on a quarterly basis.

10.12 Finance Committee

a. The committee shall consist of six (6) members, one of whom shall be the Treasurer.

b. The Treasurer shall be responsible for selecting five members to serve on the committee.

c. The committee shall be responsible for the care and custody of all monies which belong to the Parish and are under the control of the Vestry.

d. The Treasurer shall prepare a report including a full financial statement to be presented at each convention or to the Bishop before the convention.

e. No later than January 15th of each year, the Treasurer shall advise the Treasurer of the Diocese in writing of the intent to pay our apportionment for that year, or else make a written request for a review.

10.13 Nominations Committee

a. The committee shall consist of four elected members.

b. Two members of the committee shall be elected each year at the Annual Parish Meeting for a two-year term.

c. Chair of the committee shall be a member serving the second year of the term.

d. The Senior Warden shall convene the first meeting and shall act in an advisory position when requested by the committee.

e. The chair shall update the Nominations Notebook and pass it to the next chair of the committee.

f. The chair shall be responsible for presenting a written slate of nominees at the Annual Parish Meeting.

10.14 Personnel Committee

a. The committee shall consist of the Rector, the Senior Warden, and four elected members.

b. Two members of the committee shall be elected each year at the Annual Parish Meeting for a two-year term.

c. No elected member may serve two consecutive terms.

d. The Senior Warden shall serve as chair of the committee.

e. The committee shall be responsible for assisting the Rector in matters relating to the church staff.

10.15 Property Committee

a. The committee shall be responsible for overseeing the care and upkeep of all church property.

b. A member of the Cemetery Committee shall serve on the committee.

10.21 Altar Guild

a. The Altar Guild, while functioning as an independent committee, is ultimately responsible to the Liturgy and Music Committee in those areas that deal with worship.

b. The Directress shall be appointed by the Rector and serve a two-year term.

c. The Altar Guild shall be responsible for the care of the Sanctuary and the care of the items used in the Sanctuary.

10.22 Cemetery

a. The Cemetery Committee, while functioning as an independent committee, is ultimately responsible to the Property Committee which is in charge of all church property.

b. The chair shall be appointed to serve three years.

c. The committee shall be responsible for the proper maintenance of the cemetery and the cemetery records, appropriate promotion and sales of the facilities, and administration of finances.

10.23 Episcopal Church Women

a. The Episcopal Church Women, while functioning as an independent committee, is ultimately responsible to the Vestry.

b. A member shall be appointed to attend Vestry meetings and to report on the activities of the E.C.W.

10.24 Gifts and Memorials

a. The Gifts and Memorials Committee, while functioning as an independent committee, is ultimately responsible to the Vestry.

b. The chair shall be appointed to serve three years.

c. The committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Vestry for the use of Gifts and Memorials monies.

d. The committee shall be responsible for keeping an accurate and updated record of all gifts and memorials.

e. The committee shall not accept any gift until the Vestry has approved the gift.

10.25 Liturgy and Music

a. Members of the committee shall include, but not be limited to, the Rector, the organist, and one member each from the Altar Guild, Senior Choir, Lay Ministers, Ushers, and Acolytes.

b. The committee shall be responsible for planning worship services with the Rector and for educating the parish in matters of worship.

10.26 Outreach Committee

a. The committee shall be responsible for directing general outreach funding and service projects within and beyond the parish.

b. All proposed outreach expenditures shall be approved by the Vestry.

10.27 Stewardship Committee

a. The committee shall be responsible for the planning and executing of the annual stewardship program.

10.31 Special committees may be appointed by the Rector as authorized by the Vestry.

10.32 A special committee shall be dissolved after submitting the final report to the Vestry.

11.01 The number of lay delegates shall be prescribed by the Canons of the Diocese of Minnesota.

11.02 Lay delegates shall be elected for a three-year term. One-third of the delegates shall be elected each year.

11.03 One alternate shall be elected each year for a three-year term.

12.01 The Rector shall have control of the worship and all spiritual matters of the Parish, subject to the rubrics of The Book of Common Prayer, the the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese, and the counsel of the Bishop of the Diocese.

12.02 The Rector shall select all assistant clergy and lay staff members of the Parish and shall have the authority to direct and supervise the activities in the Parish of such assistant clergy and lay staff members.

12.03 The Rector shall be the principal executive officer of the Parish and shall have the right to preside at meetings of the Parish and the Vestry.

12.04 The Rector shall be entitled to the use and control of all Parish buildings and appurtenances, furniture, and equipment at all times for the full and free discharge of all functions and duties of the office of the Rector.

12.05 The Rector shall have such authority to the temporal and financial matters of the Parish as shall be granted by the Vestry.

12.11 At least once each year the Wardens and Rector shall review the pastoral relationship that exists between the Parish and the Rector.

12.21 The Rector shall lead regular services in the Parish, provide instruction in the Holy Scriptures and the doctrine, polity, history, and the liturgy of of the Episcopal Church, maintain a Parish Register, and perform other functions as required by the Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese.

12.31 The Rector may not resign without the consent of the Vestry, nor may the Rector be removed against his/her will except in accordance with General Convention and Diocesan Canons.

12.41 In the event the office of Rector becomes vacant, the Vestry shall proceed to call a new Rector.

12.42 The warden shall notify the Bishop of the Diocese of any vacancy in the office of the Rector and shall consult with the Bishop concerning the appointment of an Interim Rector to conduct services and provide pastoral care to the parish until a new Rector begins her/his ministry in the parish.

12.43 The Wardens and Vestry shall consult with and advise the Bishop concerning the process for selecting the new Rector and the name of the priest proposed for the election to the office of Rector.

12.44 Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of Rector, the Interim Rector, assistant clergy, and lay staff members shall serve at the pleasure of the Vestry. So long as the Interim Rector is employed by the the Parish, such priest shall have control of the worship and spiritual matters of the Parish, subject to the Rubrics of The Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese, and the counsel of the Bishop of the Diocese.

12.45 The Vestry shall appoint a Search Committee representative of the Parish and consisting of nine(9) to sixteen (16) persons to recommend to the Vestry a priest to be elected the new Rector of the Parish. The members of the Search Committee shall determine the policies and activities of the committee. The members of the Search Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Vestry.

12.46 Upon the receipt of a recommendation from the Search Committee, the Vestry shall elect and call a Rector in the manner provided by the applicable canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese.

13.01 All assistant clergy shall be selected by the Rector, subject to the review by the Bishop of the Diocese and an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all the voting members of the Vestry. An assistant clergy shall serve at the discretion of the Rector but may not serve beyond the period of service of the Rector, except that, pending the call of a new Rector, assistant clergy may continue in the service of the Parish upon the request of the Vestry and under such conditions as the Bishop of the Diocese and the Vestry shall determine.

13.11 All lay staff members of the Parish shall be selected by the Rector and shall serve at the discretion of the Rector.

13.12 If there is no Rector, the lay staff members are supervised by the Senior Warden, guided by the Personnel Committee.

14.01 The fiscal year of the Parish shall be the calendar year beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.

14.11 An annual budget for the next fiscal year of the Parish shall be prepared by the Treasurer, reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee, and presented to the Vestry in December each year.

14.12 The salaries of the Rector and the lay staff members shall be set and approved at the December Vestry meeting.

14.13 The budget shall be reviewed and approved by the Vestry prior to the Annual Parish Meeting and shall be presented at the Annual Parish Meeting.