officiating priest during Holy Communion, and for the safe custody of church plate. Episcopal Church in the USA The canons of some US dioceses permit or mandate the election of all wardens, in which case they are usually referred to as the "senior warden" and the "junior warden". Sometimes, however, the senior warden is known as the "rector's warden" and the junior warden, the "people's warden". In some of the latter cases, the rector's warden is chosen by the rector, while the people's warden is elected by the congregation. Wardens serve for a fixed term, normally one to two years, and are usually automatically members of the parish canonical committee, commonly called the "vestry", and sometimes automatically delegates to the diocesan synod, or convention, as well. Anglican Church of Southern Africa The duties of churchwardens in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) are detailed in Canon 29 of the Canons and Constitution of the ACSA, as follows. Churchwardens are the officers of the Bishop and the principal representatives of the congregations. Together with the Incumbent they constitute the executive of the Parish Council and have special responsibility in the following matters: to ensure that a register is kept of all parishioners; to keep an inventory of all goods, ornaments and furniture belonging to the church, to provide for the safety and preservation of the registers and to deliver the same to their successors on ceasing to hold office; to execute the policy of the Parish Council relating to property and parochial finance; to be responsible for the preparation of annual estimates of revenue and expenditure and the presentation of accounts to the Vestry; to see to the seating of the congregation, without respect of persons; to aid the Incumbent with information and counsel in all matters relating to the Parish, and particularly in cases contemplated in the rubrics before the service of Holy Communion. to complain to the Bishop or Archdeacon if there should be anything plainly amiss or reprehensible in the life or doctrine of the Incumbent and also if there be anything contrary to order or decorum in the administration of Divine Service. Additional duties and responsibilities may also be specified in the various dioceses of the Province. See also Sexton (office) Sidesman Steward (Methodism) Verger Citations General and cited references External links A Guide for Churchwardens ChurchCare website Churchwardens Measure 2001 Church of England Guide to