Ecumenical community facing major changes

35th Anniversary celebration at Holy Apostles', Virginia Beach

Holy Apostles', Virginia Beach, is our diocese's ecumenical community with Episcopalians and Roman Catholics together in the same congregation. It is the only community of its kind anywhere and they are now facing some major changes in the way they worship.

Last November, Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond told Holy Apostles to "bring its liturgical celebrations into conformity with the Roman Catholic Church."

In a statement released last week, DiLorenzo suggested other forms of liturgy, would allow Catholic and Episcopal members to worship together. Celebration of the Eucharistic liturgy continues to be separate. "As the shepherd of the Diocese of Richmond, it is my prayerful desire that this ecumenical community at Holy Apostles continues and flourishes," the statement said.

Bishop Hollerith expressed his obvious concern over how the requirements of the Roman Catholic Church regarding the liturgy would affect the life of the community. He also said that, from the Episcopal side of things, we have much to lose. "We will respect the Roman Catholic requirements because Holy Apostles' is a precious community and should be preserved."

Holy Apostles' was established in 1977 and Catholic and Episcopal clergy performed services according to each tradition and shared leadership of the community. The Episcopal and Catholic congregations prayed together before separating for the Eucharist. Participants say that this has allowed families in ecumenical marriages to worship together and strengthen their community.

Last week, Bishop DiLorenzo, accompanied by members of his staff, and Bishop Hollerith, accompanied by the Rev. Canon Ed Tracy, met with congregational leadership, including the clergy. Congregational leaders outlined what has been done since November to comply with the directives and to assure Bishop DiLorenzo that they have been working faithfully to do what was required of them while also trying to avoid pastoral trauma to the congregation. Bishop DiLorenzo assured them that he is aware of potential pastoral consequences and desires that they be as minimal as possible. The community has more work to do to bring their liturgy in line with the directive, much of which they have already begun.

The Rev. Michael Ferguson, the church's Episcopal priest said the meeting was productive, but that there are still "huge pastoral issues that have to be worked out because there are people here who have been worshiping together for years."

Energy stewardship contest for congregations on the Peninsula

To raise awareness of how much energy places of worship use, God's Earth Ministry is sponsoring an Energy Stewardship Contest among faith communities on the Peninsula to see which one uses energy the most efficiently.  We believe that a community of faith will win just by entering because awareness of one's energy usage is the first step in reducing it.  We will award an inscribed plaque to the winning place of worship and present it to the winning congregation's place of worship.  The deadline for submissions is April 20th, 2013. To take part in this contest, contact Ken Wright at pkenwright3@gmail.com or 757-851-5085.  You'll need to access your gas and electricity usage for 2012 as well the square footage of your building(s).

Presiding Bishop writes to congregations about Good Friday offering for Jerusalem and Middle East

"In spite of the challenges, the strength and vitality of the witness of indigenous Christians throughout the Middle East is inspiring," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori writes in the annual Good Friday letter to all congregations asking them to consider assistance for Jerusalem and the Middle East.

"The Good Friday Offering provides essential funding to strengthen the visibility of the Christian presence throughout the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East," the Presiding Bishop writes. "That funding is critical to the ongoing ministry of both institutions, as well as others in the region."

Funds collected from the Good Friday Offering are gathered and distributed to the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East which includes the Dioceses of Jerusalem and Cyprus and the Gulf, all members of the Anglican Communion.

Information and resources for the Good Friday Offering are available here. 

For more information contact the Rev. Canon Robert Edmunds, Episcopal Church Middle East Partnership Officer, redmunds@episcopalchurch.org.

2013 Gathering of the Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church to be held April 4-5

Registration is now open for the 2013 Gathering of Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church to be held on April 4th and 5th 2013 at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. This promises to be a wonderful time of spiritual growth, education and great fellowship. Registration

includes workshops, lunch & dinner on Thursday & Friday, musical performance, river barge tour to dinner on the Riverwalk & an optional private tour of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Financial assistance is available. Click here for more information and registration. 

New Formation resources and training available

Two new online resources have been added to our Christian Formation Resources page:
Faith Formation Learning Exchange is a source for best research, practices, approaches, and resources in faith formation for all ages.
21st Century Faith Formation is a resource center to help leaders in congregations create faith formation using 21st century approaches, methods, technologies, and tools.

Click here for information on The Vision and Practice of 21st Century Faith Formation three-day interactive educational program for clergy, faith formation leaders, and staff in all Christian congregations. The training includes: 

• Understand the diverse religious and spiritual needs of all generations
• Understand the emerging vision of 21st century faith formation in a connected, networked, digital world
• Discover a variety of 21st century approaches and resources for faith formation with all ages
• Learn how to design faith formation that addresses the religious and spiritual needs of all ages and generations, and uses the new digital media and web technologies 
• Develop the skills for becoming a faith formation curator

Applications now being accepted for diocesan grants

Seeds of Hope Grants 

Seeds of Hope grants are available to congregations and diocesan groups (e.g., affiliated institutions, commissions and task forces) within Southern Virginia to support the development or expansion of Social Justice ministries sponsored by diocesan congregations and organizations. Click here for more information and application form. Application deadline is August 1. 

Mission Initiative Grants
The Mission Network is again making available grants of up to $1000 per Convocation to be used in an Evangelistic Mission Initiative. Be creative! How can you raise the visibility of the Episcopal Church in your area? How could you better equip the congregations in your Convocation to be more inviting and welcoming? Click here for more information and application form. Deadline is October 1.

Communications Grants
Communications Grants provide congregations in Southern Virginia with funding for development or expansion of digital communications. Click here for more information and application form. Deadline is May 15. 

Repairing the Breach: New resource for exploring our history with racism

At this year's Annual Council, the Repairers of the Breach Task Force presented "Repairing the Breach: A Resource for exploring our history with racism in Southern Virginia" and an accompanying video. Those materials are available on the  Formation page of our website. Convocations and Parishes will use the materials to initiate conversation, to share stories, both personal and institutional, that will help to transform relationships and to transcend the sin of racism.

 

Resolution R-1, submitted to Council by the Task Force, was passed with friendly amendment. The amended resolution is available here. The resolution designates November 2, 2013 as a Day of Repentance and Reconciliation. A service will be held at Christ and St. Luke's Church, Norfolk, at 11 am on that day for the attendance and participation of the Diocese of Southern Virginia Family. It further resolved that November 2, "All Souls Day" will be designated as the "Day of Repentance and Reconciliation" in the Diocese of Southern Virginia and parishes will annually hold this observance during the octave of All Saints.