79th General Convention convenes July 5-13

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church that gathers every three years. Southern Virginia will be sending a deputation of clergy and lay people, along with Bishop Hollerith, to this year's gathering - the 79th General Convention in Austin, Texas, July 5-13.

We'll be using this blog to post news about General Convention before, during and after our time in Austin. In the weeks leading up to General Convention, we'll be posting information that will help you understand how General Convention works and its importance in the life of the Episcopal Church. While we're at General Convention, we'll use the site to post daily updates and photos. You'll also be able to find lots of photos on

our Facebook page and Instagram, @Diosova.  

Alternative safe church training for VBS staff

Due to the unique nature of Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs, the Diocese is offering an alternative safe church training option for VBS directors to use with their VBS staff.  Given that the training focuses exclusively on the VBS setting, the safe church certification will expire immediately after the VBS program concludes. The training consists of one online course that is camp/VBS focused and a PowerPoint highlighting key safe church issues to be aware of and discussed with VBS staff.  If you are interested in utilizing this VBS safe church training option for 2018 VBS programs, please have your VBS director contact Susan Allen at sallen@diosova.org.

Boys Home grads receive gifts, scholarships from Southern Virginia's ECW

	L to R: Left to right: Alvin Biggs, Nancy Sands, Shama Baggott

Nancy Sands, former president of the diocesan ECW, traveled from Danville representing the Episcopal Church Women of Southern Virginia at the Boys Home Awards Banquet on May 11. She awarded each of the Boys Home graduating seniors with a gift in the amount of $100.

 

The Episcopal Church Women of Southern Virginia also presented $1,000 scholarships to two students planning to attend Dabney S. Lancaster Community College. Shama Baggott and Alvin Biggs were the recipients of those awards. Alvin plans to pursue General Studies. Shama will study Information Systems Technology

CE-Net online gathering

It's been some time since CE-Net (Christian Education Network) has gathered. We are trying an evening gathering to provide an opportunity to include not just full time folks, but those who are may work part time and have full time jobs and volunteers. We hope you can join us for an online gathering via Zoom on Monday, June 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. We'll spend just a little bit of time checking in and spend most of our time talking and listening to one another about, "What are you doing this summer to prepare for the fall?"

If you are interested in participating, please email Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org, in the Diocesan Office. She will send you the link you'll need to join the meeting. Whether you use a computer, phone or tablet to join the meeting, make sure your device has video capability and microphone enabled. If you have not used Zoom before, click here for a quick introduction on how to join a meeting. Zoom is very user-friendly and you do NOT need a Zoom account to participate.

June 18 webinar recounts Episcopal Church legacy of welcoming refugees

Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations is hosting a one-hour free webinar, Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome, on Monday, June18 at 4 pm Eastern. Presented as part of the World Refugee Day observance on June 20, the webinar will be a conversation about the history and present of the Episcopal Church's legacy of refugee welcome. Registration is required and available here. The webinar will be available on-demand following the event.

Registration open for Safe Church training

Registration is now open for the remaining Safe Church classroom trainings scheduled for this year. Online training is also available. Click here to register for any of these trainings:

• June 16 - St. Paul's & St. Andrew's, Kenbridge
• September 8 - Ascension, Norfolk
• September 15 - Trinity, South Boston
• September 22 - St. Andrew's, Newport News
• October 13 - St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach
• October 27 - St. Matthias', Midlothian

Click here for more information on Safe Church Training and who should take it. Current diocesan policy requires re-certification every three years for online training and every five years for classroom training.   

Episcopal Asset Map unveils redesigned site, invites full participation across church

The Episcopal Asset Map, an online platform showing the location and ministries of Episcopal churches, schools and other communities, has been revamped and refreshed with more-detailed information, easier access and ease of navigation.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, in a video available here, called the Asset Map "truly a tool, a resource" and points out that it has been "revised, expanded, updated, user-friendly and now includes virtually the entire Episcopal Church from the largest cathedral to the smallest house church."

The Episcopal Asset Map is a join project of the Episcopal Church and Episcopal Relief & Development. This innovative partnership tracks local ministries and shows the location and the array of ministries and programs offered by Episcopal congregations, schools and institutions throughout the church.

Because the map is grassroots-populated, local congregations are able to post the most relevant and up-to-date information such as summer worship schedules or special programs that respond to the needs in their communities.    

 

For more information about the Episcopal Asset Map, visit  here. A short video is also available in English and in Spanish.