The Rev. Canon Charles Robinson joins the diocesan staff

The Rev. Charles A. Robinson joined the diocesan staff on April 4 as Canon for Transitional Ministry & Clergy Development. He is currently working alongside the Rev. Canon Michael Spear-Jones, current Canon for Transitional Ministry & Clergy Development, who will be retiring at the end of this month.

Born in Oklahoma, Charles spent his formative years in various areas of the Southwest United States. He enlisted in the Navy as a hospital corpsman in 1970 following high school graduation. After completing his baccalaureate degree, he was commissioned in the Medical Service Corps as an environmental health officer in 1980. Charles completed 28 years of service and retired from the Navy as a Commander in 1998. After serving as a corporate health care executive for two years, he returned to work for the Navy as a civilian scientist before leaving for seminary in 2001.

Charles holds degrees from National University and Webster University, and he received the Master of Divinity degree from The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Prior to joining the diocesan staff, Charles was rector of Saint John's, Suffolk, and served at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, for nearly nine years.

About his new diocesan ministry, Robinson says, "I am honored to have been called to this ministry by Bishop Hollerith and very excited about the future."

Certification of Lay Delegates & Alternates for Annual Council due June 30

Your Certificate of Lay Delegates and Alternates for Annual Council should be sent to the Diocesan office by June 30, 2016. Click here for information about and the form for sending in the name(s) of delegate(s) and alternate(s) elected by your vestry for Council year 2016-2017.

Your elected delegates and alternates will serve for an entire conciliar year beginning July 1, 2016 and ending June 30, 2017. This term includes eligibility to vote at Pre-Council Convocation meetings in January, Annual Council in February, and any Special Council or other called meetings that may occur during this period.

If you have questions, please contact the Rev. Canon Ed Tracy, 757-213-3378 or etracy@diosova.org.  

Clergy Transitions

The Rev. Lauren McDonald, will begin as Associate Rector for Outreach & Women's Ministries, May, Bruton Parish, Williamsburg 

 

Josh Stephens, will begin as Associate Rector for Family Ministry, August, Bruton Parish, Williamsburg

Christian Formation Week: Take. Break. Bless. Give.

Take. Break. Bless. Give. These are the words of our faith, but how do we live them out in this complicated, multi-cultural, technologically advanced century? Learn with us about how to be the Church beyond our houses of worship.

Christian Formation Week at Kanuga, June 13-17, will include more than 20 workshops covering such topics as racism sensitivity training, means of reconciliation, ministry with the homeless, how to host a dinner church and a wide variety of nuts-n-bolts workshops about formation basics.

For more information and to register, please visit www.kanuga.org/christianformation.

 

Mark your calendar for Fall youth events

Mark your calendar and plan to attend these great Fall youth events. All events will be held at Chanco on the James in Surry. Watch the eNews and our website for details and registration.

• October Weekend (grades 8-12) - October 7-9, 2016
• Pre-Happening Staff Weekend - October 29-30, 2016
• Happening #65 (grades 10-12) - November 11-13, 2016
• November Weekend (grades 6-9) - November 18-20, 2016

Stewardship Commission to survey clergy and lay leaders

The new diocesan Stewardship Commission will be sending an online survey to clergy and selected lay leaders within your parish in the next few weeks. The commission is charged with the responsibility of developing stewardship programs, providing stewardship education for parishes, and enabling diocesan giving. In order to accomplish this, it is important that we understand the current state of stewardship within the diocese as well as the stewardship needs and expectations of the individual parishes. To this end we have developed the online survey you will soon be receiving. Your responses to the questions in the survey will help us develop a course of action. Please take time to complete the survey and respond with thorough answers to the questions asked. Also, feel free to add any thoughts you may have that might assist the commission in accomplishing its mission. Thank you in advance for your participation.

 

- Mike McGraw & Bob Motley, Co-chairs, Stewardship Commission

Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group to meet April 21

The next Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group will be on Thursday, April 21, noon to 1:30 p. m. at the Diocesan office in Newport News. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other parish administrators and treasurers to talk about common issues. Bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided. There's no agenda for this gathering - just an opportunity to get together, share, encourage, support, and ask questions. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Comptroller Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.