LARCUM Conference in Waynesboro Dec. 2-3

The Annual LARCUM conference will take place in the downtown Episcopal, Catholic, Lutheran and Methodist Churches of Waynesboro on December 2 & 3. This conference will be very special as the Lutheran, Episcopal, Roman Catholics and Methodist bishops in the Commonwealth of Virginia will be present reaffirming and exploring the commitment made twenty-one years ago that their churches live together in covenant. All are invited to this historic event. Click here for more information and registration. Questions? Contact the Rev. Paul Phillips, 434-372-3637 or phpccity@verizon.net.

Dr. Robert Satcher to Retire From St. Paul's College

After a long and distinguished career in higher education, Robert L. Satcher, Sr., Ph.D. today announced plans to retire from the presidency at Saint Paul’s College when his contract ends in March 2012.

 Dr. Satcher also announced that, upon his recommendation, the Saint Paul’s Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Eddie N. Moore Jr., retired President of Virginia State University and a highly respected financial administrator, to the position of CEO and Interim President of St. Paul’s College effective November 10. Until his retirement, Dr. Satcher will continue to serve as Executive Advisor to the College. 

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve Saint Paul’s College,” said Satcher.  “I am proud of the record of my administration and I want to ensure that there is sufficient time to provide for a smooth transition to new leadership upon my retirement.  Also, by acting now, I can devote myself to helping Dr. Moore as he leads the effort to reaffirm Saint Paul’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Dr. Satcher, Saint Paul’s 9th President, has led the small, historically black private liberal arts college in Lawrenceville since March of 2007.  Previously he served as Interim President, Professor of Chemistry, and also taught physics and physical science courses at Saint Paul’s.  He also served in the positions of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Saint Paul’s College.

Dr. Oliver W. Spencer, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Saint Paul’s College expressed his gratitude for President Satcher’s faithful leadership of the College and announced that the Trustees had voted unanimously to bestow upon him the title of President Emeritus, an honor that will be granted to Dr. Satcher during Commencement in May 2012.

Dr. Eddie Moore, who currently serves on the boards of directors of Owens & Minor, Inc. and Universal Corp., has been serving as a pro bono advisor to Saint Paul’s College in its efforts to prepare for its reaffirmation of accreditation.  During his 17 years as President of Virginia State University (VSU), Moore transformed VSU from a financially plagued institution with largely undergraduate offerings into a financially sound university providing high quality undergraduate and graduate programs including its first doctoral program.

Eddie Moore led two successful capital campaigns for VSU that increased the University’s Endowment from $3 million to $30 million dollars while securing an unprecedented expansion in its unrestricted scholarship funds and annual gifts.  Prior to his tenure at VSU he served as Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

“I am eager to help Saint Paul’s ensure that it continues to provide life-changing opportunities for students now and in years to come,” said Dr. Moore.  “We will be calling on alumni and friends to step up to the challenge to support Saint Paul’s College and meet the call of the day.”

“Dr. Moore is known for his exceptional financial management skills as well as his leadership in the community, said Dr. Spencer.  “Saint Paul’s is fortunate to have Dr. Moore assume the helm of the school as the Board begins its search for the tenth President of SPC.”  

About Saint Paul’s College

Founded in 1888 and affiliated with the Episcopal Church, Saint Paul’s College is a private, historically black, accredited, four-year coeducational liberal arts institution of higher learning located in the rolling hills of Brunswick County in Southern Virginia. Saint Paul’s offers baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences, teacher education, professional and pre-professional programs, continuing studies, adult education and our Single Parent Support System program on our beautiful 183-acre campus. 

Chanco on the James Seeking New Board Members

The members of Chanco’s board are looking for some folks with new ideas and energy to join them. If you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about becoming a member of Chanco’s Board of Directors and contributing to this meaningful, rewarding ministry, please contact Board President the Rev. Conor Alexander at 609-865-2315 (cell) or by email at conormat@yahoo.com . You may also email or mail Conor the attached board application to 431 Massachusetts Ave. Norfolk, VA 23805. Prayerfully consider serving Chanco in this valuable ministry and making a difference to the place often known as the “heart of the diocese”.

Ordination Exploration Process Online

Information about and applications forms for the Ordination Exploration Process  

are now available on the Clergy Resources page of our website. The Ordination Exploration Process assists individuals and the church in providing opportunities for assessment, exploration, and discernment of a sense of call to ordination. Questions? Contact The Rev. Canon Ed Tracy, etracy@diosova.org or 757-213-3378.

Executive Board's Talbot Hall Property Sub-Committees Hold Initial Meeting

The Talbot Hall Property sub-committees held an initial join meeting on October 26. Bishop Hollerith attended this meeting of the Property Sale and Location sub-committees and gave an overview of the historic functions of the Talbot Hall property, in this order of priority: to supply the administrative offices; to provide housing for the Bishop and one staff person; and to provide a diocesan conference center. The sub-committees are charged to gather information and make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding how these needs can best be met should the Executive Board recommend to Annual Council that a sale process be engaged in. 

Healthcare Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 7

2012 Open Enrollment for clergy and lay employees participating in medical and dental plans is November 7 through December 4, 2011. If you are currently enrolled, you will receive a letter from Episcopal Medical Trust with more detailed information and instructions regarding Open Enrollment for 2012 healthcare plans. You can find more information, including rates and a rate comparison, on our website.

Upcoming Youth Events - Register NOW!

Happening - A Christian Experience 

Happening #57 will be November 11-13 at Chanco on the James. Happening is is a Christian renewal program designed for youth in grades 10-12. The focal point of the weekend is learning and experiencing the love of Christ. The weekend format includes series of talks, movies, small group activities and worship, as well as opportunities for fellowship, fun and making new friends. Registration deadline is October 28. Click here to register online. Happening staff application deadline is this Friday, October 14. Applications are available at diosova.org. A Pre-Happening Staff Weekend will be held Oct. 29-30.  

November Weekend

November Weekend will be November 19-20 at St. Martin's, Williamsburg. This overnight retreat for Junior High youth incorporates great music, fun games, meaningful worship, interesting activities, and a chance to make new friends!  This is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with EYC programs. Registration deadline is November 7. Click here to register online.

Explore Ministry in Daily Life at Nov. 12 Workshop

Join us for "Exploring Gifts for Ministry in Daily Life: Being a Christian 24/7", a workshop designed especially for laity to assist them in identifying their spiritual gifts and to begin discovering new ways to use these gifts to glorify God. Sponsored by the Commission on Ministry for Ministry of the Baptized. Questions? Contact Caroline Black, cblack@diosova.org. Saturday, Nov. 12 from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee is $25. Registration deadline is Oct. 29. Click here for more information and registration.

ECW Annual Meeting Oct. 22

The Diocesan ECW Annual meeting will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011, at St. Andrew's, Norfolk, VA. All are invited to attend this meeting. More information and registration is available at diosova.org.

Start Up! Start Over! Conference for Small Churches

New Chapter: Your Church in God's Unfolding Story

Come December 1-3 to the Williamsburg Woodlands in Colonial Williamsburg for a congregational vitality conference featuring The Rev. Tex Sample - prolific writer, story-teller and author of nine books on the intersection of faith and culture. Our diocese is partnering with the Episcopal Church Center Office of Congregational Vitality to host this national event especially for congregations with an average Sunday attendance under 75 people. This conference is highly subsidized by the Episcopal Church Center, and provides an excellent opportunity to send a team from your congregation to help you move to the next chapter in your church's life. Discover ways to increase vitality in your congregation by sharing stories of Good News with the world. As an incentive, our diocesan Mission Network is also offering $40 per person rebates to the first 50 people who register with a team of 3 or more people from their congregation or cure. Other need-based scholarships for laity may be available through the Christian Formation department. The Convocational Mission Initiative Grants may also be used to send teams to this conference. Registration is $295/person for a single room; $225/person for a double room; $150/person for commuters. Go to http://events.SignUp4.com/suso11  for more information and registration. Questions? Contact The Rev. Canon Jeunée Cunningham, 434-603-1782 or jcunningham@diosova.org .

Leading a Holy Life Task Force Prepares to Launch Blogsite

The Leading a Holy Life Task Force is a group of lay and ordained persons from the Diocese of Southern Virginia called together by our bishop for the following purposes:

• To foster conversation throughout the diocese around issues of human sexuality.
• To foster awareness in the diocese around issues of human sexuality that will be addressed at the 2012 General Convention.
• To support a strong and healthy community within the diocese which allows us to confidently, courageously and compassionately address these issues in the midst of our differences.

The Task Force is preparing to launch a blogsite with weekly postings around specific questions related to human sexuality. Such questions might include the following:

• What is our theology of blessing? What are we asking of God when we ask God to bless a marriage, a house, or a child's school backpack?
• What resources from scripture and tradition might help us to stay connected to our church when our church moves in a direction we think contrary to God's will? What from the same resources might help us to stay connected to our church when it refuses to move in a direction we think willed by God?
• From the time I was a child I was taught that the bible says homosexuality is a sin. Is there any reason to think otherwise?

The Task Force is dedicating its time from now through the fall to identify specific questions we think should be raised up in our diocese. We will develop a reflection on each question that will serve as the main posting for a specific week. We will invite all members of the diocese to read the postings and respond. In this way we will foster conversation, raise awareness, and strengthen a sense of community in our diocese. Watch the Diocesan eNews and website for a link to the blogsite when it goes live.  

Bishop Hollerith Receives Honorary Degree at VTS

Bishop Hollerith was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at Virginia Theological Seminary's annual Academic Convocation on October 4. The degree was awarded by the Rt. Rev. James J. Shand, bishop of the Diocese of Easton and chair of the Seminary's board of trustees. Read more here. Honorary Degree recipients were (left to right in photo): Sidney Buford Scott, Diarmaid Ninian John MacCulloch, Ysaye M. Barnwell, and the Rt. Rev. Herman (Holly) Hollerith IV.

VIPCare Offers Pastoral Ministries Program

Are you seeking an opportunity to share and learn with other parish ministers about what you do and who you are? Does an ecumenical, small group setting appeal to you? Beginning this fall, the Virginia Institute for Pastoral Care - VIPCare - will facilitate a new program for ministry consultation and ministers' formation. The Pastoral Ministries Consultation and Support Program is designed to promote mature pastoral leadership and healthy congregational dynamics in a complicated age. Twice monthly sessions, October through May, focus on facilitating ministers' growth, ministry consultation, and periodic forums on high interest topics. The first program session will be Oct. 27. Click here for a program flyer. Visit the VIPCare website to learn more about them.

2012 Clergy Compensation Guidelines Now Online

At its September 1 meeting the Executive Board approved a suggested 1.7 percent cost of living increase for clergy compensation. The 2012 Clergy Compensation Guidelines are now available on the Compensation & Benefits page of our website.

Camp Wakonda Seeks New Board Members

Camp Wakonda, the Diocesan day camp for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS has operated for more than 15 years.  While HIV/AIDS is not the death sentence it once was, it still represents a financial disaster to the families of those infected.  For the vast majority of these kids, Camp Wakonda is the only real fun they have all summer.   

The Camp Wakonda Board is looking for some folks with new ideas and energy to join us.  If you would like to become a board member and be a part of this meaningful, rewarding ministry, please contact Boyd Duncan at 757-850-1520 (Home), 757-329-1347 (Cell) or by email at bduncan4@cox.net.

Blessing of the Animals resources from Episcopal Relief & Development

Episcopal Relief & Development has a brand new "Blessing of the Animals" module of the Abundant Life Garden Project. You can find links to the resource on the Christian Formation for Families & Children page of our website. This module is a Children's Chapel Liturgy of the Word, designed specifically for St. Francis Day and specifically for children. It includes child-friendly prayers, a homily, discussion questions and suggestions for outreach activities. 

House of Bishops issues Pastoral Teaching on the environment

The House of Bishops, meeting in Quito, Ecuador, issued a Pastoral Teaching that addresses the environmental crisis. "Privileged Christians in our present global context need to move from a culture of consumerism to a culture of conservation and sharing. The challenge is to examine one's own participation in ecologically destructive habits. Our churches must become places where we have honest debates about, and are encouraged to live into, more sustainable ways of living." The bishops have committed themselves, and urge every Episcopalian to join them, in honoring the goodness and sacredness of God's creation in these ways:

• To acknowledge the urgency of the planetary crisis in which we find ourselves, and to repent of any and all acts of greed, overconsumption, and waste that have contributed to it;
• To lift up prayers in personal and public worship for environmental justice, for sustainable development, and for help in restoring right relations both among humankind and between humankind and the rest of creation;
• To take steps in our individual lives, and in community, public policy, business, and other forms of corporate decision-making, to practice environmental stewardship and justice, including (1) a commitment to energy conservation and the use of clean, renewable sources of energy; and (2) efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and whenever possible to buy products made from recycled materials;
• To seek to understand and uproot the political, social, and economic causes of environmental destruction and abuse; 
• To advocate for a "fair, ambitious, and binding" climate treaty, and to work toward climate justice through reducing our own carbon footprint and advocating for those most negatively affected by climate change.

 You can read the full Pastoral teaching here.

We have a Facebook page... Now what?

A Facebook page is a great way to extend the church to where people are. Of course, to make the best use of Facebook, you have to provide daily posts that encourage interaction and re-distribution. Yes, daily. That can seem daunting if you've just ventured into social media. Here are just a few of the Facebook pages of churches around our diocese who are doing a good job at it:

 Redeemer, Midlothian - The Rev. Nancy Meck, associate rector, attended the Social Media for Congregations workshop and immediately began putting the information to use by creating a new Facebook page for Redeemer. "It was amazing to see the numbers (of people "liking" the page) jump within an hour" and that after posting an announcement on Facebook that "our Women's Bible Study enrollment has doubled." 

St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Newport News - Not only does St. Andrew's keep parents and families updated on what's happening at school each week, they also post lots of pictures. This is a page that's a good source of information for parents and a lot of fun too. 

Old Donation, Virginia Beach - Old Donation's Facebook page is a wonderful mix of posts - pictures, video, links to the church newsletter and online news articles, parish news and news from around the diocese and the national church. 

You might also want to check out the diocesan Facebook page. This is a good source for content to post on your church's page. Need help getting started with social media? Contact Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org, and schedule one-on-one/small group training or host a Social Media for Congregations workshop at your church.

Upcoming ECW Events

Fall Board Meeting
The Diocesan ECW Board will hold its Fall Board Meeting on Saturday, September 24, 2011, Good Shepherd, 7800 Lew Jones Road, McKenney, VA from 9:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M. Board members are requested to bring four copies, marked for the President, Recording Secretary, Communications Chair, and Jamestown Cross Reporter. If you cannot attend the meeting, please send a copy of your report to: Dr. Angela M. Parker, P. O. Box 184, Lawrenceville, VA 23868 or email to: angela.parker@brun.k12.va.us or ivylady@meckcom.net. If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please contact Mrs. LeMoine Jones, Corresponding Secretary, 757-428-5373, Mrs. Becky Winn, Petersburg Convocation Chair, 804-931-6714, Mrs. Grace Martino-Strid, 757-853-8520, or Dr. Angela Parker, Diocesan President, 434-848-2924. Information regarding this ECW Board meeting was sent out to all the churches. Please disregard unless you are an ECW Board Member. 

Time for Reflection 2011
The Prayer & Worship Committee of the ECW proudly announces Time for Reflection 2011: Praying in Color. Led by Sybil MacBeth, author of the book, Praying in Color. October 7-8 at Chanco on the James. Made possible through a grant from The Penick Legacy. Click here for the event brochure and registration form.

Annual Meeting
The Diocesan ECW Annual meeting will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2011, at St. Andrew's, Norfolk, VA. Registration materials will be mailed out later this month to all parishes and all are invited to attend this meeting.

Executive Board Takes Next Steps in Determining Future of Talbot Hall Property

The Executive Board is moving forward to explore the future of the Talbot Hall property. In April 2011, the Talbot Hall Task Force - charged by Bishop Hollerith to receive and recommend proposals regarding the property - concluded its work and made its report to the diocesan Properties Committee. After reviewing that report, along with prior property assessments, the Properties Committee voted to recommend to the Executive Board the sale of the Talbot Hall property and the relocation of the diocesan offices to a more demographically central location. This recommendation was presented at the Executive Board's June 2011 meeting. In response, an ad hoc committee of the Board was then appointed to determine what further information was needed in order to move forward. The committee reported to the Executive Board at its September 2011 meeting. The following resolution was approved: "Be It Resolved that the Executive Board authorizes the Properties Committee to explore* the sale of Talbot Hall and to explore* the most feasible location for the Diocesan Office, continuing to respect the neighbors of Talbot Hall and the history of the property." In response to the resolution, the Executive Board established two new committees, a Property Sales Committee and a Location Committee, to gather further information. The committees will provide updates on their progress at the November 2011 Executive Board meeting. 

*Exploring the possible sale of the property will include inquiries into: cost effectiveness, cost comparisons, diocesan demographics, possible locations - including the present location at Talbot Hall, facility use requirements, input from various regions of the Diocese, and other data.

A Start Up! Start Over! Conference for Small Churches

New Chapter: Your Church in God's Unfolding Story 

Come December 1-3,  Thursday afternoon until Saturday noon, to the Williamsburg Woodlands in Colonial Williamsburg for a congregational vitality conference featuring The Rev. Tex Sample - prolific writer, story-teller and  author of nine books on the intersection of faith and culture. Our diocese is partnering with the Episcopal Church Center Office of Congregational Vitality to host this national event especially for congregations with an average Sunday attendance under 75 people. This conference is highly subsidized by the Episcopal Church Center, and provides an excellent opportunity to send a team from your congregation to help you move to the next chapter in your church's life. Discover ways to increase vitality in your congregation by sharing stories of Good News with the world. As an incentive, our diocesan Mission Network is also offering $40 per person rebates to the first 50 people who register with a team of 3 or more people from their congregation or cure. Other need-based scholarships for laity may be available through the Christian Formation department. The Convocational Mission Initiative Grants may also be used to send teams to this conference. Registration is $295/person for a single room; $225/person for a double room; $150/person for commuters. Includes two nights hotel, breakfasts, snacks, Thursday dinner and Friday lunch. Go to http://events.SignUp4.com/suso11 to register. For more information contact The Rev. Canon Jeunée Cunningham, 434-603-1782 or jcunningham@diosova.org .

Exploring Gifts for Ministry in Daily Life: Being a Christian 24/7

Join us for this new workshop designed especially for laity to assist them in identifying their spiritual gifts and to begin discovering new ways to use these gifts to glorify God. Sponsored by the Commission on Ministry for Ministry of the Baptized. Questions? Contact Caroline Black, cblack@diosova.org. Saturday, Nov. 12 from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee is $25. Registration deadline is Oct. 29. Click here for more information and registration.

Mission Initiative Grant Applications Due October 1

Don't let your Convocation miss out on up to $1000! So far, two Convocations have submitted proposals and received their grants: Convocation 1, the Eastern Shore, is using their grant for website and promotional brochure development. Convocation 5, the Jamestown Convocation, is holding a facilitated retreat to develop an evangelistic strategy for their region. 

Grant applications are available on the Congregational Development page of our website. Grants can be used for anything that furthers the evangelistic mission of your region: sponsoring a conference or speaker to equip congregations, advertising and marketing, hosting events for the community, and more. Contact the Rev. Canon Jeunee Cunningham with any questions, 434-603-1782, jcunningham@diosova.org.

ECW Time for Reflection: Praying in Color

The Prayer & Worship Committee of the Episcopal Church Women welcomes Sybil MacBeth, author of Praying in Color, to lead their 2011 Time for Reflection October 7-8 at Chanco on the James. Sybil is a longtime friend of many in our diocese. She is a teacher and author. What she is not, she stresses, is an artist. She is a doodler and it is from that unconscious activity that her prayer practice, book and retreat were born. The Parish Book Store will be at Chanco for this retreat and will have copies of Sybil's book available for purchase. You can learn more about Praying in Color at prayingincolor.com. Click here for a retreat brochure and registration form.

Changes at Chanco

As of August 31, 2011 Talley Banazek will complete her tenure as Interim Executive Director at Chanco on the James. During her six month tenure Talley has provided amazing leadership at a time when Chanco was experiencing many, many transitions. In addition to typical managerial duties, Talley implemented systems that improved communication with the Office of the Bishop, resulting in improved training and accountability for our Summer Camp staff. In addition, Talley was instrumental in a property-wide survey that identified several areas of needed renovations and oversight. This survey is crucial in planning future improvements to both our property and our service. Prior to assuming the helm as Interim Executive Director, Talley led Chanco's marketing and development efforts, resulting in over $70,000 in annual donations and steady growth in both the camp and conference center business. Talley will be succeeded by Mr. Bill Porter, former Sr. Warden of Bruton Parish, who will assume responsibilities on September 1. Please join me in thanking Talley for all of her service, and wishing her well in her future ministries.

God's Peace,

The Rev. Conor M. Alexander, Chanco on the James Board President

Resources & Services Commemorating 9/11

Christ Church, Danville

Forward Movement has created a webpage of resources to support prayer and reflection in the month leading up to the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. You can access them here.

Congregations across the Diocese will be commemorating this anniversary in a variety of ways. Redeemer, Midlothian, is inviting their local community and representatives of local fire, rescue and police departments and service members and veterans to participate in a special service. Emmanuel, Jenkins Bridge, will hold a Service of Remembrance and Prayer Sunday morning; and Trinity, Portsmouth, will join with other local churches for a special community commemoration service on Sunday evening. Good Samaritan, Virginia Beach, has created a Litany of Remembrance that they will use to open their worship on September 11. Christ Church, Danville, is constantly reminded of the tragic events of 9/11 - a parishioner's brother was killed that day and a stained glass window was placed in the church and dedicated to all victims of 9/11. The window, pictured here in this post, is also on our Facebook page. They will commemorate the anniversary with special prayers and music at all services on September 11. Epiphany, Norfolk, will observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by tolling the church bell on the hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The doors of the church will be open wide all day in invitation to any and all who seek to enter for prayer and meditation. St. Paul's, Suffolk, will gather Sunday morning to hang ribbons in the sanctuary, each representing a person who died during the attacks. The 10:30 a.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist on Sept. 11 will use liturgy, lessons, sermon and music to take a journey from remembering 10 years ago to envisioning how we would like the world to be 10 years from now; dreaming how we might work, pray and give to make it happen. St. Thomas, Chesapeake, has invited city of Chesapeake police, fire and rescue officers to participate in a special Service of Remembrance Sunday morning, Sept. 11. Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff and Police Chief K.L. Wright will be special guests as that service. St. Anne's, Appomattox, will hold an evening prayer service on September 10 at 5 p.m. focusing on peace and reconciliation. The service will be followed by a prayer vigil that will conclude with the Sunday morning worship on September 11. Christ & Grace, Petersburg, will hold a service of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation on Sunday morning September 11 at 10:30. They will remember those who died and their families. They will recognize first responders in their city, and will seek great understanding and reconciliation with Muslims in their community. Representatives from police, fire and emergency services will participate in the service. A Muslim sergeant major from nearby Ft. Lee will also participate and will speak at the Adult Forum regarding Muslim/Christian relations.

Neighboring Diocese of Virginia invites those in the Richmond metro area to take part in an interfaith service on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth El, 3330 Grove Avenue The focus of the service will be Memory & Hope. Participants will include Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, Methodist Bishop Charlene Kammerer, Rabbi Martin Beifield, Imam Ammar Amonette, and other members of the faith communities.

If your congregation is holding a special 9/11 commemoration, please tell us about it. Send your announcement to Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org. 

Retreat: Writing Down Your Prayer - Journaling With God

The Commission on Prayer & Healing will offer another in their retreat series, Saturdays with God, on September 17 at St. Luke's, Smithfield. The retreat, Writing Down Your Prayer: Journaling With God, will be led with meditations by the Rev. Gary Barker, vicar of St. Luke's and rector of Christ Church, Smithfield. The retreat is from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is free. Registration is not required, but appreciated. Please email Gary, garyjmbarker@verizon.net, or call Christ Church, 757-357-2826, before September 12. Go to our website to download a retreat brochure.

Social Media for Congregations Workshop in Virginia Beach

St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach, will host a Social Media for Congregations workshop on Saturday, September 17 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. This workshop will introduce the most popular social media services, including blogging, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Information moves in very different ways today than it did just a decade ago. We'll talk about what that means for your church communications plan and how to get the most benefit from these powerful communications tools. Led by Ann Turner, diocesan communications officer. Cost is $20. Click here for registration.

Chanco Restoration Project Under Way

Gracious volunteers Doug Weymouth, Jack Mace, Bruce Comfort, Latane Sale, and Steve Wallace arrived at Chanco Ausgust 8th to begin the 10-day project of restoring Conference Center building A. They went straight to work removing siding as they begin the process of re-insulating, re-siding and re-roofing the building. Numerous volunteers are donating their time over the next ten days to make this much needed project a reality. Special thanks is extended to Doug Weymouth, Jack Mace, Bruce Comfort and Steve Wallace who are generously giving 10 full days to working on this project. If you are interested in donating a day or more to helping Chanco renovate, it's not too late! Contact Interim Executive Director Talley Banazek at talley@banazek.com  with your availability (project date: August 8-18). Not able to give any time? Donated funds are making this project a reality and are still needed. Checks may be made to Chanco on the James with "restoration fund" in the memo line and mailed to Chanco at P.O. Box 378  Surry, VA  23883.  Thank you for your support of Chanco and the improvement of its facilities.

"Rebuild Our Church in Haiti" Update

Thanks to all of you who have worked so hard to "sell bricks" for the Rebuild Our Church in Haiti campaign. To date our Diocese has raised $21,561.45. Participating congregations:

Advent, Norfolk

Ascension, Norfolk

Christ, Eastville

Christ the King, Yorktown

Emmanuel, Virginia Beach

Epiphany, Norfolk

Grace, Yorktown

Holy Trinity, Onancock

Hungars Parish, Eastville 

Johns Memorial, Farmville

Old Donation, Virginia Beach

St. Andrew's, Norfolk

St. Anne's, Appomattox

St. George's, Accomac

St. James', Accomac

St. John's, Chester

St. John's, Halifax

St. John's, Hampton

St. John's, Portsmouth

St. Martin's, Williamsburg

St. Paul & St. Andrew, Kenbridge

St. Paul's, Newport News

St. Paul's, Norfolk

Trinity, Portsmouth

Trinity, South Boston

This is a wonderful contribution to our church in Haiti! Thank you. If any church is still working on the project, please contact Diocesan Coordinator Barbara Byers, byersbk@cox.net or call 757-537-6605.

Leading A Holy Life Task Force Convenes

In his address at the 2011 Annual Council, Bishop Hollerith spoke of the need for conversation to occur around questions of human sexuality that will come before next summer's General Convention. The Bishop spoke of our need in the Diocese of Southern Virginia to prepare for that moment thoughtfully and in fellowship with one another.

To that end, the Bishop has called together a task force called Leading a Holy Life: Human Sexuality & Blessing of Relationships, and appointed each of us to serve on it. We have met twice and divided into three working groups to have more focused discernment around the following areas:

•      Biblical & Theological Questions
•      Diocesan/Communal Relationship Questions
•      Personal/Individual/Pastoral Questions

We are a diverse group of lay and ordained persons whose stories and perspectives closely match the wide spectrum of our diocese. We see ourselves called to service by the Bishop for the health and welfare of us all. We look forward to our task, to God's leading, and to open communication with every member of the diocese as our work progresses.

Canon Caroline Black
The Rev. Kathleen Bobbitt
The Rev. Richard Bridgford, Co-Chair
Mike Diaz
Juli Edwards
The Very Rev. Keith Emerson, Co-Chair
The Rev. Drew Foisie
Bill Hunter
The Rev. Maria Kane
The Rev. James Medley
Cornelia Taylor
Ann Turner
Jeff Vogel
The Rev. Rhonda Wheeler

Virtual Bike Ride Benefits Boys' Home

Paul English, member of the Boys' Home Board of Trustees and immediate Past President of the Board, was scheduled to participate in a transcontinental bike ride to begin June 19 in Astoria, Oregon. His ride was to last 50 days, go through two countries, ten states and one province to total 3,667 miles. Paul was embarking on this journey to raise awareness for Boys' Home and specifically the Boys' Home School in Covington. While raising awareness, he was aiming to raise $100,000 for the school to be used this coming school year. During his final preparation for the ride, Paul sustained a broken collarbone. While he was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to complete his trip, he and the Boys' Home staff decided to turn the ride into a virtual walk/bike ride. Since the virtual ride has been created, there has been a high level of participation from Boys' Home residents, staff and supporters. They are striving to match the 3,667 miles and, so far, have 1,806 miles.

Everyone is welcome to turn in their miles from biking. walking, rowing, swimming or any other activity. Send your miles to Sandra Scruggs at sfscruggs@boyshomeinc.org. Miles will be accepted up to August 20. Donations can be made at boyshomeinc.org, using the link to Paul's Bike Ride. You can follow the progress of the virtual ride on Facebook.

Boys' Home provides residential education for young men, ages 6-18. With the focus of socially and economically disadvantaged young men, they center on those who have great promise, but few opportunities for success. Boys' Home operates on 97% private funds which is why Paul's Virtual Bike Ride for the boys is so important.

New 2011-2012 Youth Ministry Toolkit Available Online

The new 2011-2012 Youth Ministry Toolkit is now available on the diocesan website. You'll also find updated registration and permission forms, Youth Community Covenant, Youth Ministry Planning Calendar, and much more. All of youth pages have been updated for the upcoming program year. Check them out here.

Bishop's Days Registration Open!

Registration for Bishop's Days with Parish Leadership 2011 is now open!

Click to register online for:

EAST: October 8 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk

WEST: October 15 at Redeemer, Midlothian

Click here to download a brochure for registration by mail or fax.

For more information about Bishop's Days for Parish Leadership, including full list of workshops, go to our Bishop's Days blogsite, www.bishopsdays.blogspot.com.

Bishop's Days for Parish Leadership Coming Soon!

Registration for Bishop's Days for Parish Leadership 2011 is coming soon. This year's theme is: Bringing Our Shared Vision to Life: Best Practices for Transforming Ministry. Dates are: October 8 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk and October 15 at Redeemer, Midlothian. Who should attend? Lay leaders, Vestry members, Church staff, and Clergy. Why should you attend? 13 great workshops to choose from, enjoy time with our bishop, network and share ideas, get resources to take back to your church and share. Details and registration will be posted here and at our Bishop's Days blogsite, www.bishopsdays.blogsite.com.

Be A Part of Our Digital Resource Library
This year, instead of a resource fair that participants might not have time to fully peruse, we'll be providing all resources in digital format on a flash drive. If your ministry or organization would like to be included in the digital resource library, please contact Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org or 757-213-3388.

St. John's Portsmouth Selected for National "missio:engage" Program

St. John's, Portsmouth, has been selected by the national church as one of only 12 English-speaking congregations in the United States to join with 12 Spanish-speaking congregations in an exciting congregational revitalization initiative called missio:engage. The goal of missio:engage is to assist communities of faith in the process of re-rooting their ministries in the communities they are called to serve, with enough critical mass "back home" that this initiative is sustainable and avoids "burnout." This is part of a Community of Practice that is committed to learning publicly in the service of the Episcopal Church at large.  

Over a period of sixty days, Tom Brackett, Program Officer for Church Planting & Redevelopment for the Episcopal Church, will work with a team of coaches to train a core group of leaders in each participant parish. Each member of the team will be dedicated to this ministry, alone. Over the following two years, that core group will learn how to offer radical welcome to newcomers in their community, move visitors from being newcomers to fully-formed leaders, reconnect with the realities emerging in the communities they are called to serve and offer relevant outreach that offers God's grace in ways meaningful to their communities.  

"The people of St. John's are excited and energized to be part of this cutting edge venture for the entire Episcopal Church," says the Rev. Derek Harbin, rector of St. John's. "Our hope is that we can better engage our 21st century culture as we strive to fulfill the twin heartbeats of Jesus: inviting and forming disciples in the faith and caring for those in need in our community and world."