Bishop Hollerith asks for your help in restoring Chanco

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As you probably are aware, Chanco is one of our greatest spiritual assets in Southern Virginia. As is the case with any asset, it's vitally important to be good stewards of what's entrusted to us - Chanco being no exception. To that end the Chanco Board of Directors has been working incredibly hard to tackle both the immediate and long term issues surrounding our property. However they can't do it without your help.

I'm writing today to commend to you the Chanco restoration projects and ask you for your time to make them happen. Last summer an incredible effort was put into restoring the exterior of Conference Lodge A, which is just one of several buildings in need of a serious overhaul. This summer the board will be doing similar restorations of Lodge D, and they need your help to make it happen. Please plan on volunteering for either the pre-work weekend from June 8-10 or the work week, July 13 - 22. Everyone volunteering needs to contact Chanco's volunteer coordinator, Chuck Spence at  chspence_7@msn.com or 757-675-6311 so that the board can adequately plan for food and lodging.

Thank you for your support of Chanco and I look forward to seeing the work accomplished this summer.

Your Servant in Christ,

+Holly Hollerith

Diaconal ordination on June 9

On Saturday, June 9, Bishop Hollerith will ordain Eve Butler-Gee, Terry Davis Edwards, Roger Alan Hungerford, Dana VanVliet-Pullin, and Wendy J. Wilkinson to the Sacred Order of Deacons. The ordination will take place at St. Andrew's, Newport News at 11 a.m. A reception will follow the service. Clergy: red stoles.

Integrity hosts screening of "Inlaws & Outlaws"

Integrity will host a free community screening of the documentary film "Inlaws & Outlaws" on Thursday, June 7th, at 7 pm. at St. Mark's, Hampton. With remarkable honesty, good humor, great music and real heart, "Inlaws & Outlaws" weaves together true stories of couples and singles, gay and straight, to embrace what we all have in common: we love. The screening is funded by a grant from Integrity USA. Light refreshments will be available and guests are encouraged to join us for a discussion following the film. All are welcome! Click here for more information. 

Presiding Bishop coming to Southern VA!

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is coming to Southern Virginia to help Old Donation, Virginia Beach, celebrate 375 years of worship. The celebration will begin Saturday, June 23 with a prayer service at Church Point at 10:15 a.m. This is the site of the first Anglican service held in 1637 by Adam Thorowgood and other citizens of the Lynnhaven Parish. Following the service, there will be a reading at the Adam Thoroughgood House honoring the lives of Adam and Sarah Thorowgood. A choral concert by Old Donation's St. Cecilia Choir will be held at 1:45 p.m. at the church. The Presiding Bishop will officiate and preach at all three services at Old Donation on Sunday, June 24. Services are at 8, 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. A reception will follow the 10:30 service. For more information contact the church office, 757-497-0563 or odc375@yahoo.com.

Southern VA ready to take part in General Convention

The 77th Episcopal Church General Convention will be held July 5 through July 12 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. The Episcopal Church's General Convention is held every three years, and is the bi-cameral governing body of the Church. It is composed of the House of Bishops, with upwards of 200 active and retired bishops and the House of Deputies, with clergy and lay representatives elected from the 110 dioceses of the Church, at more than 800 members.

Southern Virginia will be sending four clergy and four lay deputies to this year's General Convention: The Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, Head of Deputation, Ascension Norfolk; The Rev. John Baldwin, Emmanuel Virginia Beach; The Very Rev. Chris Cunningham, Johns Memorial Farmville; The Rev. Anna Noon, St. John's Hampton; Ms. Cindy Barnes, St. Michael's Bon Air; Mr. Matthew Grizzle, ODU Canterbury Center; Ms. Athena Hahn, Ascension Norfolk; and Mr. Tony Robinson, St. Thomas Chesapeake.

For complete and extensive information on the General Convention, check the website generalconvention.org. The Report to the General Convention, known as the Blue Book, the Bishop & Deputy Handbook and filed resolutions are all available for download.

Want to keep up with General Convention news and follow the work of our deputies as it happens? Check out our General Convention blogspot. Leading up to and during General Convention, we'll be posting the latest news and events. You can also find a link to the site on the General Convention page of our website. Become a subscriber to the diocese's weekly email news. Subscribers will receive a report of convention highlights. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We'll be using these social networks for news as it happens. You can also follow General Convention on Twitter by using the hashtag #GC12.

Planning and strategy workshop for youth leaders

Get prepared for the next program year!  Mark your calendar for the Open Planning & Strategy Workshop for Youth Leaders on Saturday, July 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hickory Neck, Toano. Adults who work with youth in parishes around the diocese are invited to come together for this annual gathering. We will join in problem-solving, calendar-planning and sharing effective strategies for youth ministry in the parish. We will also discuss ways we can better collaborate locally and brainstorm ideas for diocesan youth ministry initiatives. This is a great opportunity to network with other leaders, share your ideas, and get inspired. Light breakfast and full lunch provided. No fee to attend. Please register by emailing Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs at ascruggs@diosova.org 

Southern Virginians elected to national and provincial seats in Province III Synod elections

The theme of the Province III Synod held in Martinsburg, West Virginia April 29 through May 1 was "Preparing for General Convention." Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was present and addressed the gathering on the challenges facing the church. Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church, spoke about the re-structuring of the national church center. Bonnie Anderson and Gregory Staub, president and secretary, respectively, of the House of Deputies, presented a brief history of General Convention and led an orientation for convention deputies.

Southern Virginia was well represented at the Synod. In attendance were: Bishop Hollerith, Canon Caroline Black, the Very Rev. Chris Cunningham (Johns Memorial, Farmville), the Rev. Conor Alexander (St. Francis, Virginia Beach), the Rev. Anna Noon (St. John's, Hampton), Dr. Angela Parker (St. Paul's Memorial, Lawrenceville), Mary Lou Crifasi (Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach), Cleo Shields (Johns Memorial, Farmville), and Anne Lund (Johns Memorial, Farmville).

The Very Rev. Chris Cunningham, rector of Johns Memorial, Farmville, was elected to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church is an elected body representing the whole Church. It is the job of Executive Council to oversee the ministry and mission of the Church. The Executive Council is comprised of twenty members elected by General Convention (four bishops, four priests or deacons and twelve laypersons) and eighteen members elected by provincial synods. Scott Norris, a member of Emmanuel, Jenkins Bridge, and Toni Hogg, a member of St. John's, Hampton, are candidates for Executive Council election at General Convention.

Caroline Black, Canon for Christian Formation, was elected to the Province III Court of Review. The court is the disciplinary body for the province.

Election of new officers for Province III was also held. The Rev. Melanie McCarthy (West VA) was elected president; the Rt. Rev. Neff Powell (Southwest VA) was elected vice president.