New Youth Ministry Toolkit now available online

The 2012-2013 Youth Ministry Toolkit is now available for download at our website. The Youth Ministry pages of our website are all updated with the latest resources, forms and upcoming events for the 2012-2013 program year. Go to www.diosova.org/youth to take a look and download the new Youth Ministry Toolkit.

Bettyrene Pope elected to serve on Executive Board

Our thanks as a diocese go to Bettyrene Pope, St. John's Parish, Hampton, for her willingness to be elected to a partial term on the Executive Board, on behalf of Convocation V, following the resignation of Bill Rhode, due to his move.

CE-Net hosts Dorothy Linthicum

 CE-NET (Christian Education Network) invites you to attend our Thursday, September 20 gathering at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church, Toano, from 11:30 to 2:00. Dorothy Linthicum has studied and taught human growth and faith development, researched the changing demographics in the Church and our culture, embarked on a new field of study about spirituality of the elderly, and continues her role as managing editor of the Episcopal Children's Curriculum and Episcopal Teacher. She teaches at Virginia Theological Seminary, and has a passion for Christian formation and its role in weaving together disparate parts of parishes into a tapestry of beauty and function for spreading the Good News. The cost for this event is $5 which will include lunch. Please register via the link below no later than September 10 if you wish to join us for this informative session. Click here for more information and registration.

Seeds of Hope Grants: Funds still available

The Seeds of Hope grants help support new and expanded social justice ministries proposed by parishes, diocesan departments and commissions. The deadline for applications was August 1, and we received several fine applications. Even if we were to approve all the proposals we still have funds available for 2012. Therefore, we are extending the deadline until Friday, August 24. Applications and more information are available here.

Nominees considered for special task force on church structural reform

Episcopalians wishing to be considered to serve on a General Convention-mandated task force focusing on church restructure may access an online nomination form here.  People may nominate themselves or others. Nominations will be accepted until Thursday, August 23.

Approved at the recently-concluded General Convention 2012, Resolution C095 calls for development of a 24-member task force charged with presenting a plan to the next General Convention in 2015 "for reforming the Church's structures, governance, and administration."

The task force members will be appointed by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and President of the House of Deputies the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings by September 30. According to the resolution, "The membership of the Task Force shall reflect the diversity of the Church, and shall include some persons with critical distance from the Church's institutional leadership." In addition, the task force will conduct a special gathering with representation from every diocese in preparation of its final report, due by November 2014.  The date and location of the special meeting will be determined later. 

A message from the Presiding Bishop regarding the 77th General Convention

"We emerge with abundant hope, better discipline for working together and with partners beyond this Church, for our fundamental reason for being - engagement with God's mission."  Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori's message regarding the 77th General Convention was released on August 3 and is available  here.

You can find a thorough overview of the work accomplished at General Convention here. Bishop Hollerith's letter to the Diocese about the 77th General Convention and his interview regarding General Convention resolution A049, the blessing of same gender unions are here.

Community Organizing training, Sep. 21-22

Friday & Saturday, September 21-22

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Paul's, Petersburg

Discover how the passions in your church and your community can translate to positive change.Using the Asset Based Community Development model (ABCD), the Episcopal Church Center is partnering with the Diocese of Southern Virginia to provide expert community organizing training to churches and community organizations. Grow your church by building into your community. Learn how to discover the gifts in your community and deploy them for action. Learn how to develop networks of community partners to make positive change. This training is good for teams from congregations, and even better when teams include other local people and partnering organizations.  Click here for an event flyer. Click here for more information and registration. Because of a grant from the Episcopal Church Jubilee ministry office, this event is only $25.00 for both days, including lunch. Scholarships are available. Hosted by St. Stephen's and St. Paul's, Petersburg, held at St. Paul's. Local hotel information available on the registration page.