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The 124th Annual Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia convened February 5-6 at the Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center.
Bishop
Hollerith addressed Council on Friday morning. "Without a doubt, the
greatest challenge of my episcopate has been one of discerning and
helping others to discern what it means to be the Episcopal Church in
the 21st century." The bishop shared his thoughts on "what's working" in
Southern Virginia. He also spoke about changes experienced in The
Episcopal Church and our own diocese in 2015 and a look toward 2016. Click here to read his address.
The preacher for the Council Eucharist on Friday morning was the Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye A. Wilson, rector of St. Andrew and Holy Communion Episcopal Church in South Orange, New Jersey, who was national president of the Union of Black Episcopalians from 1997-2004.
Our keynote speaker this year was the Very Rev. Mike Kinman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, MO. Kinman gave two presentations to Council, "#Ferguson Theology" and "Sacred Conversations About Race and Class, Power and Protest". Following the Ferguson police killing of Michael Brown, Jr., Kinman was an advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement and provided sanctuary for the movement at Christ Church Cathedral. Materials from Kinman's presentations (slides, with links to videos, and notes) are available on the Annual Council page of our website.
The preacher for the Council Eucharist on Friday morning was the Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye A. Wilson, rector of St. Andrew and Holy Communion Episcopal Church in South Orange, New Jersey, who was national president of the Union of Black Episcopalians from 1997-2004.
Our keynote speaker this year was the Very Rev. Mike Kinman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, MO. Kinman gave two presentations to Council, "#Ferguson Theology" and "Sacred Conversations About Race and Class, Power and Protest". Following the Ferguson police killing of Michael Brown, Jr., Kinman was an advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement and provided sanctuary for the movement at Christ Church Cathedral. Materials from Kinman's presentations (slides, with links to videos, and notes) are available on the Annual Council page of our website.
Saturday afternoon, Kinman posted on Facebook, "Today's highlights at Annual Council of Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia:
- Watching people listen deeply to and wrestle with the wisdom, passion and brilliance of Brittany Ferrell, Alexis Templeton, Traci Blackmon and Ruby Sales.
- Talking about Jesus and being the church in this Kairos moment that is emerging around human rights in America.
- Talking about being trauma-informed church and naming our addictive family systems -- and hearing incredible resonance.
- Leading 400-500 Episcopalians (the majority of whom were white and over 55) in the Assata Shakur chant (3 times, shouting it at the end) because until everyone is free none of us are free. Really wish I had film of that one! 'It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and support each other.We have nothing to lose but our chains.'"
Elections at Council
Visit our Facebook page for lots of photos from Annual Council. Thanks to Jackie Rochelle of Epiphany, Norfolk, and Carlyle Gravely of St. George's, Newport News, for their assistance with photography.
The following elections took place at this year's Council:
Standing Committee: The Rev. Conor Alexander, Mr. Scott Norris
Standing Committee: The Rev. Conor Alexander, Mr. Scott Norris
Disciplinary Board: The Rev. Dale Custer, The Rev. Susan Grimm, Mr. Matthew White
Provincial Synod: The Rev. Frederick Walker, Ms. Andrea Morgan
Resolutions
The two canonical resolutions before Council this year, C-1 and C-2, both passed unanimously.
Resolutions
The two canonical resolutions before Council this year, C-1 and C-2, both passed unanimously.
Visit our Facebook page for lots of photos from Annual Council. Thanks to Jackie Rochelle of Epiphany, Norfolk, and Carlyle Gravely of St. George's, Newport News, for their assistance with photography.
