What is a Lay Representative?

In the Scottish Episcopal Church, Lay representative play an important part in the communication between the Diocese and the individual churches.

Each incumbency must convene a meeting each year, usually the Annual General Meeting, where the Lay Representative and Alternate Lay Representative are elected by the congregation. The Lay Representative must be a member of the congregation which elects them.

What are the responsibilities of the lay representative?

The formal role of the Lay Representative is to do the following:

1. Represent the congregation at the Diocesan Synod.
2. Serve as a member of the Vestry.
3. Report back to the congregation at the Annual General Meeting of their church.

In practise, this means the Lay Representative will attend the Diocesan Synod, reading all the Synod papers and taking an active interest in the business of the Synod. The Lay Representative must produce a written report on the key issues of importance discussed at the Diocesan Synod and there should be an opportunity at the AGM for members of the congregation to ask questions or comment on the report.

The Lay Representative also attends any other similar gathering at the Diocesan level, including those meetings where the Diocese elects the next Bishop.

The Lay Representative and the Alternate Lay Representative are both ex officio members of the Vestry. That means they are full members of the Vestry and carry the same responsibilities as other Vestry members.

The Alternate Lay Representative is entitled to exercise all the duties of the Lay Representative in the absence of the Lay Representative at any meetings. Further information about Lay Representatives can be found on the Scottish Episcopal Church website.