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.