What to teach deacons about vergers

[Marcia Lauzon]

Dear Vergers,

I have been given an opportunity to spend an hour with the (quite small) class of our diocesan Deacons’ School discussing “What a Verger would like a Deacon to know” during a September session.   This is the first time they are including anything on the verger ministry.  While there are several vergers in the diocese now, some of the D School students have never had one in their parish.

I was the first verger in this diocese (installed 2007), and have been a deacon since 2014, so I have thoughts on both sides of this.  I would like to hear YOUR thoughts on this topic.  If you could prepare deacons in formation to work with a verger, what would you want to be sure they knew?  Some of these deacons could become priests. . . . but of this particular group, they will probably all be vocational deacons.

FYI while we are a geographically gigantic state, our population barely scrapes above one million, and most of our parishes are small in size - both facilities and members.  If a parish has as many as two vergers, it’s something of a miracle.  Most deacons will be dealing with one priest, possibly one verger, and a host of laypeople.  Even our cathedral is small; while there are several deacons and a good music staff, there are no vergers there.  On the other hand, far-flung colleagues keep in close touch here, so most of us know people in distant parishes.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
Marcia Lauzon

-- 
Rev. Marcia Lauzon, FVGEC
Deacon, Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
Great Falls, Montana

[Duke DuTeil]

Marcia,

When I was as the WNC I was invited to give a presentation at VTS to the seniors about vergers and how they could help them in their ministry post seminary.  I will send you a pdf of the PowerPoint I used for that.  You are welcome to use any of it you wish.

Claude "Duke" DuTeil

Vergers Guild of the Episcopal Church

Training Advisor and Financial Secretary

P.O. Box 280, Round Rock, TX 78680

(512) 567-7848

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[Charles Wibert]

It’s important (IMHO) to stress that Vergers serve under the leadership and at the pleasure of the clergy.  We have very few Vergers in our Diocese and it appears that Is the case because  many feel the Verger is going to take over their responsibilities.   “No. We are to work under your direction. Tell what you want done and we’ll try to make it happen.”

Duke—would you also share your pdf with me?  Our church has 2 Diaconate candidates. It may be helpful.  

Chuck Wibert

On May 2, 2020, at 4:06 PM, Marcia Lauzon <allmyre...@charter.net> wrote:



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[Marcia Lauzon]

Thanks, Chuck.  Excellent points.  I have had priests tell me "I don't need that in my parish.  We're not very high church."  I have explained that what a verger does and when would be entirely up to them, but they don't seem to process that information.  Maybe getting them while they are in formation will make some headway.   It might stick if they are told, "you will have a lot of diverse tasks and sometimes you'll feel overloaded.  A verger can help take a few things off your plate if you so choose."

Take care of yourself.
Marcia

-- 
Rev. Marcia Lauzon, FVGEC
Deacon, Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
Great Falls, Montana

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