Dear Friends-
After services on Sunday, I posted the WARRANT for St. Peter’s Annual meeting, which will be held next Sunday following the 10:00 a.m. service.
The Posting of a Warrant for annual meeting is required by our parish bylaws. The Warrant serves two purposes, first to announce the meeting and second to outline the agenda.
I wondered about the history of the practice of posting the warrant and found that the practice is tied to our colonial history. WARRANTS are posted (largely) in New England to announce a town meeting where business is discussed. According to Joseph Zimmerman's The New England Town Meeting: Democracy in Action, the most common interpretation is that it was adapted from local vestry meetings held in 17th century England which were responsible for financial decisions of the parish church.
The English settlers created parish-based governments modeled after their experience with these local meetings, with town Selectmen analogous to vestry churchwardens.
In colonial New England there was very little separation between church and town governance, but town meeting continued to play a secular role after the disestablishment of the state churches and form the core of government for New England Towns today.
I’ve attached a picture of our WARRANT and hope that it inspires you to join us at our Annual Meeting on Sunday.
-George
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