VIPCare Pastoral Ministries Consultation & Support Program

The Virginia Institute for Pastoral Care is offering a Pastoral Ministries Consultation and Support Program for parish and specialized ministry leaders in an ecumenical and small group setting. The program is designed to promote mature pastoral leadership and healthy congregational dynamics in a complicated age, this program will offer twice monthly sessions focused on facilitating ministers' growth, ministry consultation, and periodic forums on high interest topics. Share and learn with your peers what you do and who you are. Program begins in October. Click here for more information and registration. 

Ridley Foundation awards $91,575 in scholarships

The Ridley Foundation Board awarded scholarships totaling $91,575 to 37 students from the Diocese of Southern Virginia and Southampton County for the 2013-14 academic year. Click here for a list of this year's recipients. Here's what some of them had to say:

"I would like to take a moment to express my sincerest thanks to Ridley Board for selecting me as a recipient of The Ridley Foundation's scholarship. My passions for learning and serving my community are enduring and will continue to infiltrate every aspect of my life, during college and beyond. The Ridley Scholarship is making an enormous difference in my life by helping me and my family to pay for my college education. No number of 'Thank You's' will ever truly express how much I appreciate this generous award." - Kristen L. Cooke - Emmanuel, Franklin                                                                                      

"Words couldn't explain how I feel. As a single mother living in poverty, no college degree, and a teenage son it has really taken a toll on my revenue, but thanks to the committee and prayers I'm on my way out of the impoverished area. The committee has taught me the true definition of giving back." - Judy Wyche - St. Thomas', Freeman

"I was flabbergasted when the scholarship came in the mail. My parents were ecstatic and I felt a sense of accomplishment for working hard in high school. I can't thank you enough for awarding me with such an honor. For the second semester, I know I am supposed to send in a transcript to show what I've done for the first semester. I plan to attach pictures of the campus and surrounding area just to show you what is being funded!" - Patrick Mahloy - St. Andrew's, Newport News

"Your support is truly a blessing to my family and we are very grateful. As I head back to Virginia Tech for my last year I will remember your generosity and continue to pay it forward. I look forward to continuing to serve my community as well as finish up school and get ready for the next chapter of my life." - Peter Gunderson - St. Thomas', Chesapeake

"Thank you so much for the scholarship you have awarded me with. I appreciate it greatly and know it will help me a lot in the future. I look forward to attending James Madison University to try and become an Occupational Therapist and these funds will definitely help"- Bethany Vann - Southampton County, VA

"I was both surprised and honored to receive the Ridley scholarship. I sincerely appreciate your generosity. I appreciate your confidence in me and willingness to contribute to my future education. I am currently attending Tidewater Community College and look forward to completing my Bachelor's Degree at Virginia Wesleyan College. At the current time, I plan on majoring in Secondary Education in hopes of one day teaching History." - Ryan A. Watson - St. Mark's, Suffolk

Fall Clergy Conference Nov. 12-13

The Fall Clergy Conference - "Stewardship: Resourcing the Great Commission" - will be held November 12-13 at Chanco on the James. Our speaker will be the Rev. Canon Timothy Dombek, Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Arizona. Timothy serves as an officer of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and has created an online Stewardship University called "Stew U."

He will lead us through an exploration of our own stewardship as clergy who must provide leadership in this area of growing as disciples.

His topics will include:

• Straight Talk about Money in Your Life
• The Truth about Church Budgets
• 3 Simple Rules of Tithing
• The Importance of Spiritual Gifts
• Planned Giving - What You Pass On
• Raising Money in Tough Economic Times

The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. on November 12 and conclude by 3 p.m. on November 13. There will be an optional Quiet Day on Monday, November 11. Registration information and a schedule will be available soon.

Province III evangelism conference Oct. 25-26

Province III Evangelism Ministries will present a unique evangelism conference in Martinsburg, West Virginia on October 25-26. "The Human Heart: The Soul of Evangelism" features speaker the Rev. Dr. Alvin Johnson. Cost of the conference is $60 and includes meals. Click here for details and registration. For more information contact the Rev. Mary Norton, rev.mary7@gmail.com or the Rev. Barbara Seras, p3coordinator@earthlink.net.

Joint Nominating Committee for the Presiding Bishop issues survey for your input

The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Presiding Bishop (JNCPB) has issued a survey and is inviting responses from all Episcopalians. "In the summer of 2015, the Church will again assume the responsibility for electing the next Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church," explained Sally Johnson, co-chair of the Committee. "To assist us in that work, the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop has issued a survey seeking data that will be helpful in our process of developing the profile of the type of leader the Church is seeking."

The electronic survey on Survey Monkey consists of six substantive questions in areas such as most important personal characteristics of the next Presiding Bishop (life deeply formed by scripture and prayer; skillful manager of people and resources; understand and speak multiple languages), activities (engage in fund raising; head the restructuring of the Church; strengthen our relationships in the Anglican Communion) and areas of focus (articulating a compelling vision for the Church; work to heal divisions in the Church; demonstrate a commitment to interfaith and ecumenical cooperation). Six demographic questions request information on age, race, gender, role in the Church, and years as an Episcopalian.  

"The survey is designed to help us all discern some of the characteristics we hope to see in the person we will elect," noted Johnson.  "We want to hear from Episcopalians throughout the church as this will help guide us in our endeavors."

The survey is located here. In Spanish here. Deadline for completing the survey is September 30.

The Committee will release the profile for the next Presiding Bishop in December.  It expects to open the nomination process on March 1, 2014. For more information contact JNCPB at pbnominatingcommittee@gmail.com.  

Episcopal Church survey input requested for 2014 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Input is requested from members of The Episcopal Church for a questionnaire that will form the foundation of the church's presence and participation at the 2014 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) meeting, March 10-21, 2014. The priority theme for the 2014 UNCSW is "Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and girls.

"Ecumenical Women invite all to participate in deciding on its advocacy priorities," explained Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Officer for Global Relations. "The questionnaire can be answered by anyone affiliated with The Episcopal Church. Answers will be gathered and posted to Ecumenical Women's website, and will be considered in forming Ecumenical Women's advocacy priorities at the UNCSW in 2014.  It will also be used to provide grassroots input into The Episcopal Church's advocacy process and create stories on MDGs and advocacy."

The questionnaire was prepared jointly by Ecumenical Women with input from The Episcopal Church and other faith denominations. The questionnaire can be completed either by individuals or by a group, even though it is marked as "individual." No name is required; demographic information is limited to the location of the respondent and gender. Deadline to participate in the survey is September 20. Data from the questionnaires will be submitted automatically to the Episcopal Church and Ecumenical Women upon submission. From the answers, advocacy priorities will be formulated and a joint written statement prepared to be submitted to UNCSW for the 2014 event.

For more information contact Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Officer for Global Relations, lmain@epsicopalchurch.org.

Boys' Home: An environment for success since 1906

Boys' Home is a residential education facility located in Covington. It has been an integral part of the Alleghany Highlands since 1906. It serves young men ages 6 to 18 who have great promise, but limited opportunities. "We see people in real crisis situations," said Development Director Janet Lemmer. Their mission is to help each resident strive toward becoming a productive member of society, by developing his potential, spiritually, mentally, physically and socially.

In 1906, the Rev. George Rogers, rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Covington, fulfilled the need for access to education and religion in the mountainous area, and founded Grace Mission. After conducting services on a roadside under some trees and then moving to a room in a vacant house, Rogers started a school and Sunday school in an old log cabin. By 1911, when Rogers left the parish, a schoolhouse and chapel had been built. The Mission was renamed The Industrial School and Farm for Mountain Children and Home for Homeless Boys. Rogers' dream became a reality. This was to become Boys' Home.

Today, Boys' Home 1400-acre campus offers recreational facilities, a chapel, and an on-campus school that allows boys to catch up academically before entering the public school system. Vocational-technical opportunities are also offered - including the Boys' Home Christmas Tree Farm. The spiritual life program is vibrant, under the auspices of The Rev. Connie Wolfe Gilman, Boys' Home Chaplain.

How you can help

How can you support Boys' Home and their mission? "An important way people can support Boys' Home is by referring families that are in need of out of home care," said Lemmer. Boys' Home exists to serve young men and their families.

You can also help the staff and residents in more immediate ways:

• Wish List - The Boys' Home website includes a wish list of needed items, ranging from socks to sports equipment. "Our youngest resident is 6 years old," said Lemmer, "so we always need games, books and things for those little guys." Go to www.boyshomeinc.org.
• Sponsorships - Consider sponsoring a Boys' Home resident for Christmas or birthday. A gift of just $100 helps Boy's Home provide a happy Christmas or birthday celebration for a young man living away from his home.
• Just for fun - Come visit with the young men at Boys' Home or invite them for a weekend excursion. "It can be as simple as a trip to the beach, movie night or fishing trip," said Lemmer.
• Mission Works! - This is an opportunity for youth groups, churches and other organizations to work side-by-side with residents and staff in week-long on-campus projects. Some groups return year after year to share in work and fellowship, helping with a "mission" close to home. Boys' Home, hosted a returning mission group of youth and adults from St. John's, Chester, this summer. They worked on projects that ranged from landscaping to assembling beds.

To learn more about Boys' Home and how you can get involved in their ministry, contact Development Director Janet Lemmer, 540-965-7715 or jdlemmer@boyshomeinc.org. Visit their website, www.boyshomeinc.org. Be sure to visit their Facebook page  for updates and lots of great photos.