Trinity Episcopal Church Oshkosh
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Trinity's Vestry

Every Episcopal parish has a Vestry, which is an elected leadership board. Members of the parish may be elected to three year terms, and meet monthly to discuss the direction of the parish and its programs, the allocation of budget, and the stewardship of the resources entrusted to the parish by generations of faithful members.

How the Vestry works

Every Vestry meeting begins with prayer and, occasionally, a reading from scripture. This helps connect our business meeting to our bigger Christian calling to worship and pray, and to be anchored always in the living word of God as found in the Scriptures.

​Trinity's Vestry members serve as liaisons to the parish at large for six major areas associated with our common parish life: 
  • The Governance/Administration/Stewardship liaison is responsible for all areas of administration, finance, personnel, policies, procedures, and support systems. Currently, our Senior Warden, Rebecca Spurlock is the liaison for these areas.
  • The Buildings & Grounds liaisons are responsible for our buildings, grounds, property, landscape, and capital facilities expenditures. Currently, our Junior Warden, Mike Murray, and vestry member Doug Berge work in partnership as liaisons to the parish and, specifically, the Buildings & Grounds Committee, for these areas. 
  • The Worship and Formation liaison works closely with the Rector, the Music Director, Altar Guild, Eucharistic Ministers, Sub-Deacons, Crucifers, Lectors, the Flower Committee, and adult and youth Christian education lay ministries. Currently, Cathy Cowling serves as the vestry liaison for these areas.
  • The Member Incorporation and Community Building/Inreach liaison is responsible for our extended hospitality initiatives and coordinating our on-going coffee hour ministry along with our annual Harvest Supper / Gifts of the Harvest efforts associated with stewardship. Updating our parish directory to accurately reflect our parish membership is also associated with this service area. Currently, vestry member Dawn Arnold is the liaison to the parish for these areas.
  • The Community Outreach and Service liaison connects with outwardly directed lay ministries at Trinity such as Loaves & Fishes, The Good Neighbor Team, The Angel Tree, The Back-to-School Backpack Drive, The Blessings Bags initiative, The Cooling Station in support of the Farmer's Market, and more. Currently, Mary Ellen Wonders is the vestry's liaison for outreach initiatives.
  • The Faithful Innovations / Marketing & Communications liaison works closely with lay leaders who coordinate Trinity's participation in the Faithful Innovations movement and carries primary responsibility for creating Trinity specific press releases for print media and timely content for social media platforms. Currently, vestry member Natalie Johnson is the liaison to the parish for these areas. 

Our governance process:

Trinity's Rector convenes and presides over Trinity's vestry meetings. Our vestry uses a Consent Agenda / Discussion Agenda system. Monthly reports, minutes, and month-end and year-to-date financials are uploaded to TRELLO, a web-based communications platform for project management. Unless there are questions associated with any of this shared information, the Consent Agenda is moved, seconded, and accepted by the full vestry and becomes a matter of record.

Items that require the vestry's attention for decision-making are posted to the Discussion Agenda. Efforts are made to hold meetings to approximately one hour. At the present time, monthly vestry meetings are held virtually via ZOOM and take place on the third Thursday of each month starting at 6pm.

2022 Vestry


  • Ms. Rebecca Spurlock, Senior Warden
  • Mr. Mike Murray, Junior Warden
  • Ms. Tami Goodwin, Treasurer
  • Ms. Dawn Arnold
  • Mr. Doug Berge
  • Ms. Cathy Cowling
  • ​Ms. Natalie Johnson
  • Ms. Mary Ellen Wonders



Trinity Episcopal Church
311 Division Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 231-2420
Copyright © 2022
  • Home
  • Visiting Trinity
    • What We Believe
  • Holy Baptism
  • For Liturgical Ministers
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Our Vestry
    • Our Clergy
    • Our Staff
    • Annual Parish Meeting
  • Serve
    • Episcopal Church Women
    • Loaves & Fishes