In the Church of Ireland, those members over 18 and who subscribe to Parish funds can, if they are registered in what is called the Register of Vestry Members, attend and vote at the annual business meeting – held around Easter time and therefore referred to as the Easter General Vestry.
At that annual business meeting an election is held to appoint 12 people who will deal with the business affairs of the parish for the following 12 months. Those elected, together with the Churchwardens and Glebewardens, are referred to as the Select Vestry. The annual accounts are also presented at the Easter General Vestry.
Registration for the Register of Vestry Members will be open until 11th February for anyone who would like to have their name added and thus be eligible to take part in the Easter General Vestry. A Form of Declaration must be completed and given to a Church Warden by 11th February. All proposed amendments will be approved by the Select Vestry at a meeting to be held at 7:30pm on 12th February in the Parish Room.
Forms of Declaration are available for either a Resident Member of the parish (i.e. someone living within the Parish boundaries) or an Accustomed Member (i.e. someone living outside the Parish boundaries) and are available from the Church Wardens, or they can be downloaded from the Connor Diocesan website at the following links;
The Register will be available for inspection at church every Sunday and at other times as arranged with the Church Wardens. The date of the Easter General Vestry meeting will be confirmed when details are agreed. It will begin in the church with a short service of Holy Communion followed by the meeting in the Parish Hall immediately afterwards.
For more details on the Easter General Vestry see the Connor Diocesan Regulations by following this link - Regulations