Five Duties of a Rector
The rector bears the cure of souls in a parish and is responsible for worship, teaching, and pastoral care.
Richard Hooker, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity
In Anglicanism, rectors are the everyday pastors of a congregation. Every congregation must have a rector, acting rector, or priest-in-charge who shepherds the flock under the supervision of a bishop.
The Constitutions and Canons of the Anglican Church in North America establish that rectors and clergy, and their roles and responsibilities, fall under the authority of their bishop and diocese. Title III, Canon 7 recognizes a rector’s leadership while leaving the definition of duties to diocesan bodies, respecting congregational autonomy:
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Norms for the calling, duties, and support of rectors and other Clergy and the dissolution of a pastoral relation shall be provided by each diocese. Rectors shall be domiciled in the diocese to which their congregation belongs.
Title III, Canon 7 – Of Rectors and Other Congregational Clergy
Consequently, the diocese—not the national body—determines the rector’s specific roles. Thus, a universal set of responsibilities for rectors cannot be established, although all diocesan canons share a common understanding, with bishops overseeing priests.
From a governance perspective, the vestry works alongside the rector in both temporal and spiritual leadership. The rector enjoys a unique autonomy under the bishop’s guidance, particularly regarding the parish’s vision and programs, and serves as the presiding officer of the governing board. This provides canonical clarity. So, what does this look like in practice? Let’s examine the five duties of the rector.
Five Duties
The following overview of the duties of the rector comes from my years of experience as a rector and my observations from working with congregations. My overview is only my opinion. It does not have the weight of a Canon at all. But whatever wisdom I might share with you on this subject is born of experience and conversation with many other rectors.
1. Lead Toward the Vision
The role of the rector in a parish is essential in articulating and developing the church’s stated vision. The rector is tasked with preaching, teaching, interpreting, upholding, exemplifying, shaping, and developing the vision and mission of the congregation. Whether it is contained in a formal mission statement or not, the rector must become the principal spokesperson in communicating and leading the congregation toward the vision.
Having a great vision or idea for the future is not sufficient. As the leader, the rector’s responsibility is to guide and inspire others toward a biblical and Gospel-centered vision. The rector’s main task is to constantly communicate how God has used and is currently using His people to further the Gospel. In simpler words, the rector should work to lead the congregation forward on the church’s mission. A significant part of the rector’s work is to remind, reflect, remember, and reiterate the congregation’s direction toward its mission.
The term “vision” can be interpreted in many ways, and for the rector’s role, it is commonly mentioned that the rector should “cast the vision.” However, this phrase has been used so frequently that it has lost its significance. In the following chapter, we will explore in greater depth what it means for the rector to “cast a vision.” For now, it is enough to say that the rector’s primary and most vital role is to lead. By providing guidance and direction, the rector assists the congregation in focusing its energy and resources on fulfilling its mission and advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Build the Ministry Team
The rector should not act alone. If the rector can articulate a vision, that rector must build a team that helps fulfill it. Various groups, committees, and staff require the rector’s consistent guidance. The vestry also serves as servant leaders to realize the parish vision.
As Anglicans, we value clarity and order. The rector leads the team; oversight of ministries does not fall to the vestry or its liaisons. While a rector sees the vestry as adjunct staff or liaison committee leaders. If desired, the rector can make that assignment, but the point remains the same. It is the rector who oversees the committee or the group.
This is what is meant by the Latin phrase, ex officio. It means the rector is a member of every parish team or group, regardless of their presence at meetings. However, the rector should not be expected to attend every meeting. This autonomy ensures the rector controls church processes. They can attend, direct, or disband any group as needed.
Should the rector be a busybody or a control freak demanding that everything and everyone fall in line with the vision? A rector should be virtually omnipresent because the rector’s duty is to bring spiritual health throughout the congregation, acting as the “chief spiritual nutritionist.” While dynamics may differ by church size, the rector’s oversight and management remain essential.
3. Provide Spiritual Leadership
The rector plays a unique leadership role in the area of shepherding. They are responsible for providing for the people. There are many needs the people have (some of which they even want!) that the rector should ensure they receive: pastoral care, meaningful worship, gospel-centered programs, sound teaching, clear communication, effective administration, marriage preparation, community engagement, outreach ministry, deployment in mission, prayerful counsel, and so much more. While the rector may not directly perform all these things, the rector ensures these services are provided in the parish.
The rector must take responsibility for cultivating health and spiritual rigor in all six areas of congregational life. This is the role of spiritual leadership, and the rector is the only one who can or should take on this role. Their duty is to ensure that the people are cared for authentically and appropriately. The rector should ask, “What do these people of God need to grow more committed to the Lord and his Gospel and to become more sensitive and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit?” The rector seeks to provide the answer to that question.
4. Maintain Personal Accountability
Providing spiritual leadership requires a rector to lead themself. This involves seeing the congregation subjectively—to love, protect, and nurture them in the Lord. Simultaneously, the rector must be objective and critically assess the congregation’s commitment. Are they disengaged? Apathetic? How can they be awakened?
This also reflects leaders’ self-assessment: Am I lazy in my faith? How can I deepen my devotion?
Interestingly, rectors and all priests and deacons are not part of the congregations they serve but are members of the diocese, held accountable to the bishop for the church’s health and their own spiritual life. Each day brings different duties, with some days involving numerous meetings and others none. The rector’s hours are unreported and unaccounted for, yet they carry the weight of the congregation’s spiritual welfare.
Thus, self-leadership is essential. Rectors must prioritize their marriage, rest, counseling, and mentoring. They need self-awareness to recognize when to set the burden down and recharge, as burnout is often felt internally long before it shows externally.
5. Develop and Steward Resources
Raising money is just one way for the rector to develop and manage the congregation’s resources. The rector should also assess the congregation’s many assets, abilities, and accomplishments and utilize them for the Kingdom of God. How are disciples made and trained within this congregation? How are churches planted through it? In what way can the congregation support the seminary and actively encourage young people to pursue seminary training and leadership? How is the diocesan fellowship of clergy or the Province enriched by the congregation’s resources, people, and staff? In other words, how can God use the congregation’s people and programs to expand the church?
The rector is responsible for stewarding everything related to the parish. While this certainly includes money, it encompasses so much more. In this context, being a steward of the parish means being a custodian of the people, property, and opportunities the congregation has to promote the Gospel. The rector must ensure that the parish is fully aware of the mission it is called to engage in. This is a privilege for a priest to undertake, but no one should doubt the gravity of the task or the weight of the responsibility.
And, of course, raising the financial resources necessary for the parish’s work is a significant aspect of the rector’s stewardship role. This entails that the rector is responsible for securing the funds required to support the congregation. They must possess a biblically grounded confidence to raise these needed financial resources while simultaneously giving the congregation discipleship opportunities to grow in generosity.
With The Vestry’s Support
The vestry can assist in this area, but it is not their primary responsibility to fundraise. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the rector. Educating the congregation on the biblical principles of money, articulating a theology of stewardship, and encouraging generous giving are among the most rewarding and impactful tasks a rector can undertake, and these are tasks that only the rector can accomplish.
However, this work cannot be performed by the rector in isolation. In many churches, the vestry often takes on this role, but this approach is not wise. The rector holds the spiritual authority and the logistical capability to organize and develop a communication and teaching plan for stewardship. The vestry should wholeheartedly support the rector’s stewardship program.
The Essential Role of the Rector
In summary, the rector’s role is essential to a congregation’s health and direction. As the chief spiritual leader, the rector is uniquely responsible for articulating and embodying the church’s vision, building a ministry team, providing pastoral care and theological guidance, maintaining personal spiritual accountability, and stewarding the church’s resources. While the specific duties may vary in different contexts, the rector typically oversees worship, discipleship, evangelism, ministry programs, and administration.
The rector collaborates with the vestry in governing the parish but holds a distinctive leadership role in establishing the spiritual tone. By preaching, teaching, and modeling the way forward, the rector aids the congregation in living out its mission. This role demands prayerful dependence on God, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, spiritual depth, and administrative gifts. When effectively carried out by a prayerful, discerning rector, it can significantly enhance a church’s impact for Christ. The role is weighty but essential—and provides the blessing of guiding God’s people in the way of Jesus while leading them to a vital relationship with him.
This article is excerpted and adapted from David Roseberry’s book The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop, published by Anglican Compass. Get it now, exclusively at Amazon, in paperback or eBook.
Photo by isitsharp from Getty Images, courtesy of Canva.
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