The Vergers Voice: June 2014

Friday, June 27, 2014

New Look and Great Pricing Change for VGEC Training Course

Duke DuTeil leading the "Verger 101" training class at the 2013 VGEC Annual Conference in Nashville

By Ken Holloway with Claude "Duke" DuTeil

Under the leadership of chair Bill White and with assistance from Training Course Registrar Kate Pendzuk and other members, our Training Committee's collective ear has heard your comments. What you told us revealed we needed to find ways to improve our training process without changing the valuable result of the VGEC training experience.

We found the highest value changes we could make would address the training resources available to the student, the mentor and the training committee, the pricing of the course, and the method of course delivery to the participants.

As a result, effective July 1, 2014, we are digitizing course delivery, making the course more affordable, and adding an experienced verger training advisor to be available for our students, their mentors and the parishes and dioceses in which they serve.

Letters from VGEC President, Scott Smith, are on the way to all current Fellows (those who have completed the course) and to all current students taking the course, with our reasoning for these changes.

Now some details, starting with how the pricing will change:

WAS: The Course price, including Training Course Virge was previously $215.

WILL BE: For new course registrations as of July 1, 2014 the VGEC Training Course, without a Virge will be $65 and will include your formal Training Course Certificate. The "Fellow's Virge" will be available for purchase in the Guild Shop by all students who successfully complete the course, becoming a "Fellow of the VGEC", and thus qualifying for that purchase privilege.

Next, here's how the course delivery will change:

WAS: The course was delivered in a 3-ring notebook produced by VGEC volunteers (thank you Kate!) and shipped via a shipping service.

WILL BE: For new course registrations as of July 1, 2014, the course will be delivered immediately on order processing via an email with an attached PDF file containing the complete course. A printed version and binder with the course, if desired, will be available for additional purchase from the Guild Shop for a small (TBD) charge (to cover reproduction and shipping costs only).Or you can print the PDF file yourself or take it to Kinko's (or equivalent) and have them print and/or bind it for you. The VGEC is dedicated to being more environmentally responsible and these new steps help achieve that goal.

If you are CURRENTLY ENROLLED in the course, these changes will not affect you. You will become a "Fellow of the Guild" and receive your "Fellow's Virge" and course certificate upon completion.

For all (current and new) course participants, the following remain as they always have:

1. The course participant's clergy is responsible for certifying that the coursework has been successfully completed.

2. Each participant shall submit their completed course responses to the VGEC Training Course Registrar for review and final certification. We recommend that everyone produce an electronic copy of their materials so that the submission back to the VGEC may also be performed via email. Contact [email protected] with any questions or if you need help.

The final change is because we found urgent need for several functions to be performed as an on-going activity, by a very senior, experienced verger trainer. Here is what the new (very busy) Training Advisor will be doing:

The Training Advisor, as a member of the Training Committee, will serve to advise those currently enrolled in the VGEC Training Course. The Training Advisor will also serve as a consultant to Clergy / Mentors of current enrollees, and a resource for training questions from Guild members. The Advisor will edit the VGEC Training Course, develop and maintain a "Mentor or Clergy" handbook, and will support the Training Course Registrar to assure student data updates and accuracy. The Training Advisor will participate, with the Training Course Committee, in exploration of next-generation verger training means and content. Lastly, the Training Advisor will aid in the introduction of Verger training concepts, and will coordinate with and advise Parish and Diocesan training efforts as requested.

And the new VGEC Training Advisor is... the recently-retired Head Verger at the Washington National Cathedral, Claude "Duke" DuTeil. Please join us in welcoming Duke to this new role which will be in addition to his current position on the VGEC Board as Treasurer.

Register for the 2014 Annual Conference being held September 25th through 28th in Burlington, Ontario by clicking on the big red button below. You'll have a great time and bring home a ton of memories that cannot be had any other way.

Abstract: Learn about significant changes in the VGEC Training Course delivery format, a new, more flexible, reduced price structure, and the addition of a new VGEC Training Advisor to our training process, all effective on July 1, 2014.

Please send your story ideas, anecdotal notes on your verger experiences or fully developed stories about your own verger ministry to [email protected]. There are more than a thousand stories out there. We'd like to publish yours.

Friday, June 20, 2014

The Vergers of Linköping Cathedral

Mats Hjort and Kira Engholm, Cathedral Vergers, at the Great Altar of Linköping Cathedral

By Ken Holloway, with Kira Engholm, verger at Linköping Cathedral

In southern Sweden, on the road from Stockholm on the east coast to Gothenburg on the west coast, lies Linköping, a city of 150,000. The episcopal see of the Diocese of Linköping, within the Church of Sweden, is located at the Linköping Cathedral opposite Linköping Castle. Linköping is a high-tech business and university town which evolved around the 800 year old cathedral.

Among the many experiences rewarding those visiting the parish is interaction with the cathedral vergers who take care of liturgical tradition, visitors, the parish church, and parish staff. They are called “Church Care Takers” in the Church of Sweden custom. One of the vergers, Kira Engholm, commented briefly on our VGEC Facebook page, saying, “(Hello:) I am a verger from Sweden, working in the cathedral in Linköping. Nice to see that you have a Facebook page for vergers!”

On Pentecost Sunday Eileen Hicks, VGEC Content Editor and Verger Document Library Manager, responded to Kira's post with an invitation to comment on her verger work in Sweden by emailing [email protected]. Kira immediately replied, saying that she could do that. Within 24-hours she emailed your Vergers Voice writer a short introduction. Our spirited interview began.

Despite the 7 hour time difference between Sweden and central Texas, we exchanged questions, answers and photos interactively. I found that Kira had always wanted to work in the church. Not sure how she might fit in, she wrote to the Cathedral dean and asked to work there for a while exploring different roles. She gravitated to the vergers.

She says, “They taught me about all the things vergers do and I spend most of my free time in the Cathedral too:) I love the fact that the Cathedral is open every day 0900-1800 (9 am -6 pm). People can just come in, sit down, light a candle, have a chat or walk around. Every day we have about 500 visitors. In the summer there are plenty of tourists from all over the world. I grew very fond of the Cathedral and while studying I kept on working there part time. Then I took a break and went to live in the UK for a few years working in the Insurance business, but all the time I missed the Church. After some problematic years I was asked to come back and work as a verger again, and it has been a true blessing! I have worked as a verger now for 8 years.”

“We began wearing cassocks after several exchanges with the Anglican Church, perhaps 15 years ago. We always have done the same things: helping with the services, taking care of the Cathedral, helping our coworkers and being there for visitors and people in need, able to direct them to a minister or deacon. At the Sunday service a verger always carries the cross, leading the procession.”

“We are 6 full or part time vergers and 2 extra vergers who study or work elsewhere as well. There is also a small modern church (on the Cathedral close) which belongs to the Cathedral parish called the St. Tomas Church. That church is only 20 years old and I work there too.”

“Our diocese is massive with 225 churches and 19 Chapels (and more than 400,000 members, Ed.). Most churches have at least one verger but the duties might vary. There are 13 dioceses in Sweden. We don’t have any (national) association for vergers, but last year we started gatherings within the parish churches located in the city of Linköping so that we can meet other vergers and exchange experiences.”

“I work as a full time verger and it is the best job I could ever imagine. There are so many things that need to be done and it never gets boring. To work in such an environment is fantastic and special. I feel that I can make a difference and it is nice to be of service to the ministry and my coworkers.”

Watch the Verger's Voice for another story on the Vergers of Linköping Cathedral soon. And keep an eye on our VGEC Facebook page for the next visitor comment that begins an intercontinental verger conversation. As Kira says, "The world and the church are much closer now thanks to the internet."

Register for the 2014 VGEC Annual Conference today!

Register online today for the 2014 Annual VGEC Conference on Thursday, September 25 through Sunday September 28, 2014 in Burlington, Ontario. Call 905.681.5400 for hotel reservations with VERG as the code!

Abstract: Kira Engholm, a verger in Sweden, visited our VGEC Facebook page and left a comment . On Pentecost Sunday Eileen Hicks answered her comment inviting her verger story. Read about a determined servant of God who became a full-time verger at the 800-year old Linköping Cathedral in Linköping Sweden.

Please send your story ideas, anecdotal notes on your verger experiences or fully developed articles about your own verger ministry to [email protected]. There are more than a thousand stories out there. We'd like to publish yours.

Friday, June 13, 2014

VGEC Board Nominations 2014

Board Member election at VGEC General Membership Meeting during 25th Annual Conference in Nashville

At this year's Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 27th at 8:30am EDT in Burlington, Ontario during the VGEC Annual Conference, we will be electing 3 members to serve on the VGEC board. Your nominations committee is now seeking nominations for these positions from the guild membership.

Last year, at our Nashville conference, the membership approved a change to the bylaws to closely align the structure of the guild's board to that of a parish vestry. This provides for all members of the board to be elected at-large and for the board to subsequently decide individual responsibilities and positions.

Each board member serves on one or more of the guild committees as chair or as a liaison to the board. When elected, a board member serves for 3 years and may be elected to serve not more than 2 consecutive terms.

General board qualifications and responsibilities

Must be a member of the VGEC in good standing (a current membership).

Computer skills: Email, Google Apps (gmail, Google Drive and Docs, etc.) or an interest in learning the latest technology.

Virtual attendance at monthly/semi monthly online board meetings (using join.me and gotomeeting.com).

Attendance at Annual Conferences.

Attendance at mid-year board meeting, either online or in person.

There is no monetary compensation for board activity participation. Expenses for conference, board meetings, etc, are the responsibility of each board member.

Nominations

Nominations are due to the nominations committee ([email protected]) no later than the 1st day of August 2014.

All nominations must be seconded by another member of the VGEC.

The nominee must consent to the nomination.

You may nominate yourself but a second is required.

Nominations must contain a publishable 2-3 paragraph biographical sketch.

Nominees are expected to make a not-longer-than 2 minute presentation about themselves at the Annual Meeting either in person or online (not a video production).

A nomination for the Board from the floor may be made by submitting the candidate’s name to the chair of the nominations committee no later than thirty minutes before the start of the meeting.

The nominations committee will review all nominations and present a slate of not more than 6 individuals to fill the 3 positions on the board. The VGEC membership will be notified at least 30 days prior to the start of the Annual Meeting.

Submit your nomination(s) to the committee at: [email protected] by the August 1st. deadline.

Register for the 2014 Annual Conference being held September 25th through 28th in Burlington, Ontario by clicking on the big red button below. You'll have a great time and bring home a ton of memories that cannot be had any other way.

Abstract: The VGEC Nominating Committee asks for your nominations for three VGEC board positions to be filled during the Annual Conference General Membership Meeting in September. Read about the nomination process we'll follow to meet our August 1st nomination deadline.

Please send your story ideas, anecdotal notes on your verger experiences or fully developed stories about your own verger ministry to [email protected]. There are more than a thousand stories out there. We'd like to publish yours.

Friday, June 6, 2014

News from the Church of England Guild of Vergers

The Liturgy of Preparation - Paul Birkinshaw , Canon's Verger, Lincoln Cathedral

By John Campbell, Dean's Verger at Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, England and Overseas Liaison for the Church of England Guild of Vergers

Greetings brothers and sisters from across the pond - Easter over, we could be forgiven for relaxing just a tad and taking it easy - a well deserved rest is due to all.

Having said that, the CEGV national and branch officers have focused on the planning of the three major events in the Guild's year; The York [Northern] Festival, held on May 14th, The National Conference 10th - 14th August and The Canterbury [Southern] Festival 22nd & 23rd September.

Of course our branches continue to meet in their geographical areas throughout the year, but these national occasions give members the opportunity to meet with contemporaries [if not accomplices] from afar.

York Festival

The York Festival, in May, was hosted by the Blackburn, Chester & Manchester Branch at Lancaster at the the Priory Church, situated in a county town setting sitting cheek by jowl with Morcombe Bay and within the shadows of the castle.

National Conference

The National Conference returns to the country setting of Elim Conference Centre Malvern in the West Midlands. At £285 for five days of varied activities of worship, learning and relaxation [faith - fun - fellowship] on a full board basis this is great value for money. On a positive note Elim has an open air swimming pool [not the norm for the UK]. Perhaps a negative note is that there is no bar. This does help with the local economy - the result of impromptu pilgrimages into the village [echoes of our days at Harbourne Hall the convent the home of the conference from 1978 - 88 remind me to write about it sometime!].

Canterbury Festival

The Canterbury Festival, to be hosted by the Hereford,Gloucester & Worcester Branch, keeps the national events for 2014 in the west of the country meeting as it will in Hereford. The ancient cathedral dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Ethelbert the martyr is a great mix of ancient and modern. It houses the Mappa Mundi and the recently [brightly] restored tomb of [Thomas Cantilupe] St Thomas of Hereford.

CEGV Website Now Open to All

I am pleased to report that there is no need to use a password to enter into the depths of the CEGV website - all areas are now available, including The Virger magazine. Visit us online at www.cofegv.org.uk. Those who receive The Virger by email will still do so. If you are not on my distribution list and would like to receive The Virger as soon as it is published and available, plus other periodic communications, please register your name and Church email address with me at [email protected].

VGEC Pilgrimage to Canterbury 2014

On a personal level I look forward to welcoming and hosting a pilgrimage of vergers from the VGEC led by The Rev. Matthew Corkern, your VGEC Chaplain, over three days in the summer. Around the same time I will be meeting up with Margaret McClarty and Scott Smith [past & present VGEC presidents] to continue dialogue between our two organisations.

ad maiorum die Gloria

Abstract: John Campbell is Deans Verger at Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, England and the Church of England Guild of Vergers (CEGV) liaison to the VGEC. This week he outlines the history and current planning for the three major events in the CEGV's year; The York [Northern] Festival May 14th, The National Conference 10th - 14th August and The Canterbury [Southern] Festival 22nd & 23rd September.

Please send your story ideas, anecdotal notes on your verger experiences or fully developed stories about your own verger ministry to [email protected]. There are more than a thousand stories out there. We'd like to publish yours.