Our Governing Boards

The Indian Hill Church Board of Stewards

The Indian Hill Episcopal Church and the Indian Hill Presbyterian Church were separately organized and combined to form a united, federated, and unique congregation, one of the few of its kind in the country. Prior to 1947, members of the congregation had worshipped in the old Armstrong Chapel, and they continued to do so until this church building was erected in 1952.

Because we are a unique congregation, we do things differently than most churches. Our governing body begins with the Board of Stewards, then the Vestry-Session and so on. The familiar biblical passage John 17:21 guides us, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

The Board of Stewards is composed of 8 members elected by the Vestry-Session (who act as “proxies” of the two denominational churches), four Episcopalians and four Presbyterians. Six of them must be members of the Vestry/Session, and the other two need not be members of the Vestry/Session. All are elected for staggered three-year terms.

The Indian Hill Church Vestry-Session

The purpose of the Vestry (Episcopalian) Session (Presbyterian) is to serve as the governing board of the Indian Hill Church. The Vestry Session is to govern the affairs of the Indian Hill Church, “…so that (we) may all be one,” i.e., so that the Vestry-Session, clergy, and congregation share a common vision of Christian belief and action in the modern world.

The Vestry Session has the following responsibilities/authority as the governing body of the Church, it shall further the stated goals of the Church. Specifically, setting the annual budget, receive and respond to reports and recommendations from the various church committees, appoint members to the Board of Stewards and the various church committees and call Congregational meetings.

Members of the Vestry-Session are elected by the congregation at its annual meeting. The members of the Vestry shall be directly elected by the Episcopalian members of the Indian Hill Church and the members of the Session shall be directly elected by the Presbyterian members of the Indian Hill Church. Every effort will be made to mix all of the new members to ensure a new vision as well as corporate memory. The members of the Vestry-Session shall be elected in staggered classes of three-year terms and a maximum continuous service of six years. Episcopalian Wardens and Presbyterian Clerks are elected for a one-year term.

For more information about the Board of Stewards or Vestry-Session, please Click Here to contact us.