Help connect graduates with Canterbury programs

As your high school seniors prepare for graduation and begin to transition into college life, please help them stay connected to Episcopal community by taking a moment to contact college chaplains on their behalf.  Facilitating connection with Canterbury programs can make a big difference in the spiritual and social life of young people starting their college careers.  Go to http://www.diosova.org/college to find information about programs in our own diocese and throughout Virginia.  For students who will be attending college out of state, please contact Ashley Scruggs at ascruggs@diosova.org if you would like help making this connection.

Presiding Bishop & Archbishop Tutu to discuss mission in live webcast

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will conduct a conversation about mission with Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a live webcast on Saturday, May 19 at 3:30 pm Eastern. The live webcast will be available at no fee on the website of the Episcopal Church www.episcopalchurch.org and will be available on demand afterwards. Framing the conversation on the Anglican Five Marks of Mission, the questions to be explored are: "What does Mission mean to me"; and "What does mission look like in the world."

"I look forward to a stimulating conversation with Archbishop Tutu, and am very grateful for this opportunity to prompt wider conversation about God's mission," Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori stated.  

The May 19 event is the first in a series of discussions about mission with the Presiding Bishop and other prominent religious leaders. The event is ideal for congregation and group viewing, adult forums, discussion groups, etc.

Mission Initiative Grants for 2012

The Mission Network is again making available grants of up to $1000 per Convocation to be used in an Evangelistic Mission Initiative. You know your context and culture best, so we are allowing you to use the money in a way that makes the most sense for your situation. Be creative! How can you raise the visibility of the Episcopal Church in your area? How could you better equip the congregations in your Convocation to be more inviting and welcoming? Work with your convoccation's dean. New this year: Congregations, coordinating with their deans, may apply for a grant after June 1 if their convocation as a whole has not applied. Deadline is Oct. 1. Click here for the 2012 Mission Initiative Grant form, ideas and FAQs.

NACBA Chapter holds 2012 conference in Norfolk

The Tidewater Chapter of the National Association of Church Business Administrators is holding their 2012 conference, "Keeping Your Church Out of Hot Water," on April 27-28 in Norfolk. The conference includes more than 20 workshops on administration and leadership, finance, taxes, banking, insurance, communications, personnel, security and more. Among workshop leaders will be Mark Markuson of Church Insurance who will address risk management, and Ann Turner, diocesan communications officer, who will address communications technology. The conference will be held at First Baptist Church, 312 Kempsville Road, Norfolk. For more information and registration, go to www.nacbava.org.

"Team Episcopalian" takes on the Greenbrier River Trail to raise money for the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association (AMA) is sponsoring a fundraising bike ride on the Greenbrier River Trail in West Virginia from May 17-20. The Rev. Keith Emerson, rector of St. Paul's Suffolk, has formed "Team Episcopalian" to encourage members of the diocese to participate and/or donate. Click here for more information about this event. Contact Keith if you are interested in participating in the ride or have questions, 757-539-2478 or keith@saintpauls-suffolk.org.

Live webcast to address General Convention 2012

General Convention 2012 of the Episcopal Church will be the topic of a live webcast on Wednesday, May 9 at 1 pm Eastern. The webcast, originating from Indianapolis, the site of this year's General Convention, can be accessed live or on demand at  www.episcopalchurch.org. Participants in the live webcast will be: Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori; President of the House of Deputies Bonnie Anderson; Executive Officer and Secretary of the General Convention, the Rev. Gregory Straub; and Bishop Catherine Waynick of the Diocese of Indianapolis, the host diocese. Questions will be accepted via email at publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org and from the invited guests in the audience.

Experts focus on The Intersection of Poverty & the Environment in live webcast on April 21

Experts will examine The Intersection of Poverty and the Environment on April 21 in a live webcast beginning at noon. The program will be available at no charge on the Episcopal Church website www.episcopalchurch.org. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panelists during the two-hour webcast, originating from St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Salt Lake City, UT. A Facilitator's Guide and resources to optimize viewing and participation are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/intersection. The event will be moderated by Kim Lawton of PBS's Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly. Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will lead the program with her keynote address. Resources such as bibliography, materials for community and individual review, websites, discussion questions, Sunday school lessons, environmental resources will be available. The forum is ideal for group watching and discussion, or on demand viewing for Earth Day observations as well as Sunday School, discussions groups, and community gatherings.