Diocese of Atlanta Vergers Chapter

MEG Vergers Attend VGEC Annual Conference

Verger Atlanta
Greeted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and representing the Mark Emory Chapter of the Vergers’ Guild are (l-r) Ruth Anne Tatum (St. Martin's), Yolande Collins (St. Simon’s), David Neville (St. Simon's), Martha-Sue Blythe (St. Martin’s), Mary N…

Greeted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and representing the Mark Emory Chapter of the Vergers’ Guild are (l-r) Ruth Anne Tatum (St. Martin's), Yolande Collins (St. Simon’s), David Neville (St. Simon's), Martha-Sue Blythe (St. Martin’s), Mary Nimsgern (St. James’), Bob Koppe (St. Bartholomew’s) and Cheryl Josephson (St. Martin’s). 

Photo: Alexis

Seven Vergers from the Atlanta Diocese, along with three spouses, flew to Burlington, Ontario, to attend the 26th annual conference of the Vergers’ Guild of the Episcopal Church (VGEC).  The conference kicked off Thursday evening, Sept. 25, 2014, by participating in a celebration of the 180th anniversary of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Burlington with a Choral Evensong and concluded with a Solemn Festival Eucharist at Christ Cathedral in Hamilton on Sunday, Sept. 28. For a surprise before the Saturday night banquet and awards, attendees were serenaded by the award-winning Burlington Teen Tour Band which marched down the boardwalk to the Waterfront Hotel and greeted by an authentic Royal Mounted Policeman, minus the mount.

Sessions ranged from “Dismas in Our Midst” to “Grassroots Ecumenism,” to “Historical Significance of Flags and Banners in the Church” presented by their retired diocesan bishop, plus many others. Tours included the historic St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, the Royal Botanical Gardens, a winery, and Niagara Falls.

Over 111 vergers and 28 guests from the United States, Canada, and England gathered for four days of sharing, learning, networking, and worshiping.  Currently the VGEC has over 2,000 members worldwide.  The next conference will be in St. Louis in 2015 starting October 4, 2015.