Presiding Bishop calls on all Episcopalians to help Saint Paul’s College survive

Saint Paul's launched its "Now & Forever" campaign last November with the goal of raising $5 million. With the May 17 deadline fast approaching, the college needs to close a $1.2 million gap in the drive. The fund-raising campaign, along with budget right-sizing and organizational re-structuring at Saint Paul's, are key elements in the school's drive to be reaffirmed with full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in mid-June.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in an open letter to Episcopalians dated May 1, said Saint Paul's "has played a vital role in the life of our church since its founding in 1888." "We need the leadership and service of these students and graduates in our common life. We also need your assistance to help the students and faculty" to "continue their strong record of achievement now and well into our shared future," the bishop added. "Our challenge is to share the abundance of our lives with these students and this institution, so that all might share in the gifts that are being raised up in classrooms, playing fields and volunteer programs in southern Virginia."

Investor Charles M. Royce and his wife Deborah are offering a $250,000 challenge grant of $1 for every $2 raised of unrestricted gifts through the May 17 deadline. The first $500,000 raised will become $750,000 toward the $1.2 million goal. "As Episcopalians, we share a deep, spiritual commitment to support educational institutions and strengthen communities," said Royce. "We take pride in Saint Paul's College and its important mission. With this gift, my wife Deborah and I hope to help ensure that Saint Paul's College will be able to continue to help young people fulfill their potential and serve and lead in their communities."

"We are humbled and honored to receive this support in our hour of need," said Saint Paul's College CEO and Interim President Eddie N. Moore, Jr. "For more than a century, Saint Paul's has evolved with the times, but remained united in mission with our founding Church to provide all students - and particularly the under served - with a strong sense of community, with spiritual guidance, and with a thirst for lifelong learning that would form them for service and leadership."

You can learn more about Saint Paul's College and make a donation online at www.saintpaulsnet.com.

Preservation Virginia calls Talbot Hall endangered

On May 7, 2012, Preservation Virginia will issue a list of sites across the Commonwealth that face threats which would detract from their historic integrity. It is our understanding that one of the sites included on this year's list may be Talbot Hall.

If this is the case, Preservation Virginia will have made this decision without full knowledge of the facts surrounding the potential disposition of the property.

In a response to Preservation Virginia, Bishop Hollerith has made it clear that as the faithful duly-elected leaders of the Diocese of Southern Virginia consider the conveyance of the property for future use, they are being extremely careful to assure the preservation, and hopefully restoration, of the historic house. Indeed, the resolution passed at the Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia in February specifies that the preservation of the historic house will be a primary consideration in its disposition. The decision regarding the disposition of the property will be made only after careful consideration by each of the more than thirty members of the Executive Board and the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Southern Virginia who are committed to follow the intent of that resolution.

The 34,000 people of the Diocese of Southern Virginia have been good and faithful stewards of the Talbot Hall manor house within the limits of our financial ability for more than 50 years. It is our intent to be nothing less than good and faithful stewards of this house as we consider its future disposition.

Easter Season reflection from Bishop Hollerith

"When one considers the various Easter accounts of the Risen Lord appearing to the disciples, it becomes clear that for the early Church the resurrection was much more complex and much richer in character than a single event fixed in time. The meaning of the resurrection was revealed not all at once, but gradually, with each appearance adding more depth to the rich texture of the disciples' personal and community experience of the risen Jesus. The beauty of the Easter season as we celebrate it in our tradition is that each Sunday we too learn a little more about the miracle - a little more about its startling implications for our lives." Click here to read more.
 

You can also access the Bishop's reflection on our website.

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.