Presiding Bishop calls for Good Friday Offering to support ministry in Jerusalem & the Middle East

"The Good Friday Offering of our Church is one way to help connect the love of Christ on the cross with our support of the ongoing ministry of love and compassion carried out by our Anglican sisters and brothers throughout the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East," Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry wrote to the bishops and clergy of The Episcopal Church. "Whether funding a hospital in Gaza or the West Bank, or an eye clinic in Aden, or women's programs, or summer camps and leadership training for young people, the Good Friday Offering is making a difference in the lives of so many."

In his Good Friday letter, Presiding Bishop Curry asks each Bishop and congregation to consider providing assistance for the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

"I believe our partnership with those who keep the faith of Jesus alive in the region, where our Lord walked and began his movement, is a significant aspect of our work as part of the church catholic," he wrote.

Information, including bulletin covers and bulletin inserts on the Good Friday Offering, is available here. 

No Longer Strangers: Free, new resource for exploring immigration issues

Forward Movement invites individuals and congregations to explore the difficult but important issues of migration and immigration in a new, free resource, No Longer Strangers: Exploring Immigration Issues. The downloadable booklet encourages discussion of migration and immigration through the lens of scripture and shared Christian values, presents opposing viewpoints, and invites people to talk about the issues with civility and respect. The booklet includes biblical references on hospitality, examples of migrations as they appear in the scriptures, and thought-provoking questions that can be used for both personal study and group discussion.

127th Annual Council focuses on change

 

The 127th Annual Council met February 8-9 at the Williamsburg Lodge. Much of the work of this year's Council related to the search for a new bishop for Southern Virginia, and keynote speakers focused on changing ways of doing church.  

 

	Bishop Magness with keynoters Bobbe Fitzhugh and Gannon Sims

Council affirmed the Standing Committee's call of Bishop Jay Magness as Bishop Diocesan Pro Tempore, to serve until the consecration of a new bishop. Bishop Magness addressed Council and preached at the Council Eucharist. In his address, Bishop Magness shared many things for which Southern Virginia can be joyous and thankful. But he spoke of change, both here in Southern Virginia and the wider Church. While the message of Christ's redeeming love stays the same, everything else is changing. You can read the Bishop's address here and his sermon here.   

 

Keynote speakers at this year's Council were Gannon Sims and the Rev. Bobbe Fitzhugh of Fresh Expressions. Sims' presentation, "A Future for the Church", and Fitzhugh's "From Maintenance to Mission: Taking the Church Back to What Jesus Started" focused on ways for congregations to reach those who are not comfortable with or interested in traditional ways of doing church. Lively table discussion followed each presentation and there was excitement about the many possible "fresh expressions" in our congregations. Resources recommended by our keynote speakers included: From Steeple to Street by Travis Collins; Fresh Expressions of Church by Travis Collins; Dinner Church by Verlon Foster; Seven Practices of Church by David Fitch; and Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger.     

 

	Bishop Hollerith was honored by Council

The Nominating/Search and Transition Committees gave a report to Council that included presentation of the new Diocesan Profile and the timeline for the search process. Before the close of business on Friday evening, Bishop Hollerith and his wife, Lizzie, were welcomed into the chamber as Council honored Bishop Hollerith's decade of ministry to Southern Virginia with speeches, gifts and champagne. After Council adjourned, the festivities continued at a reception.   

 

Council passed the proposed 2019 diocesan budget and elected new members of the Standing Committee, Disciplinary Board and delegates to Provincial Synod.  

• Standing Committee: Helen Sharpe-Williams (Grace, Norfolk) and the Rev. Cameron Randle (Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach)
• Disciplinary Board: Bob Motley (Ascension, Norfolk); the Rev. Charles Bauer (Hickory Neck, Toano); the Rev. Lauren McDonald (Bruton Parish, Williamsburg)
• Provincial Synod: Alice Webley (All Saints, Virginia Beach) and the Rev. Grant Stokes (Trinity, Portsmouth)

Bishop Magness with the Council Youth Delegation

 

Four resolutions were considered by Council. Resolution CON-1 made language changes to portions of the Diocesan Constitution to make that language gender neutral. The resolution passed. Resolution R-1 was related to the election of the board of trustees of the Boys Home of Virginia and was passed. Resolution C-1, and the related Resolution C-2, was proposed by the Mission Share Task Force and offered a plan for congregational giving to diocesan ministry that adopted 10% tithe as the minimum standard. There was considerable debate on Resolution C-1, which was ultimately tabled. Resolution C-2 was withdrawn.

 

Many more photos from Council are available on our Facebook and Instagram. Thanks to Jackie Rochelle of Epiphany, Norfolk, for serving as Council photographer.

Missioner for Latino Ministries departing Southern Virginia

Angelica Garcia-Randle, Missioner for Latino Ministries on the Eastern Shore, will be departing for a position on the West Coast early next month. For the past three years, Garcia-Randle has served the Diocese of Southern Virginia as its first Latino Missioner. Her ministry has included advocacy, counseling, fund-raising and missional work with the Latino immigrant and migrant worker population on the Eastern Shore. She has worked in collaboration with a number of parishes on the Shore and throughout the diocese, particularly in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. She will remain in her current role until March 1, 2019.

 

"I've known Angelica for nearly twenty years," says The Rev. Canon Jaime Edwards-Acton, Executive Director of the non-profit Jubilee Consortium in Hollywood, CA, where Garcia-Randle will administer a new program (Jubilee Jump!) emphasizing healthy lifestyle choices for Latino youth. "I have experienced her to be passionate about bringing positive change to people's lives. She is friendly, artistic, organized, outgoing, relentless and fearless. These are the leadership qualities we need to transform our humble jump rope clubs in under-resourced neighborhoods of Los Angeles into a vibrant, competitive league that will help young people to become healthier, learn valuable life skills and grow as community leaders."

 

Garcia-Randle has served as Missioner while pursuing a BA in Applied Design, with a concentration in photography, at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD. She plans to return to UMES to complete her degree at the end of the Jubilee Jump! Grant administration cycle in 2020. Her husband, The Rev. Cameron Randle, presently serves as Priest-in-Charge at Eastern Shore Chapel in Virginia Beach. Together, the Garcia-Randles founded Dos Santos Community Services, a non-profit created to undertake Latino ministry on the Eastern Shore when no formal diocesan avenue for Latino ministry existed.

 

"We will miss Angelica and her enthusiasm and compassionate activism for and with the Latino people on the Eastern Shore," notes The Rev. Jeunee Godsey, member of the diocesan Latino Ministries Board. "She has been able grow the ministry of Dos Santos, build ecumenical and community partners, and help churches throughout the diocese minister in effective ways on the Eastern shore. The need for Latino Ministries continues, and I, and the rest of the Latino Ministries Board, look forward to working with our Bishop and Executive Board as we look to continue and expand the diocesan work with our Latino brothers and sisters."

Canterbury Gala & Silent Auction tickets on sale

Get your tickets today for the 2019 Canterbury Gala & Silent Auction being held in the Christopher Wren Building on the William & Mary campus on Saturday, February 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $75. Proceeds from the gala support the Canterbury Missions Fun which provides grants to various charities and scholarships to William & Mary students for international mission trips.

 

To attend, please visit bit.ly/CANTERBURYGALA-2019 or email anarducci@brutonparish.org for tickets. To donate items for the gala, please contact Alex Maneval at armaneval@email.wm.edu.  

 

Safety for faith-based organizations

Often people view places of worship as safe zones and get lulled into a false sense of security. However, our faith communities can be extremely vulnerable, and violence can occur.

 

The Diocese of Southern Virginia in conjunction with the Virginia Fusion Center is providing a conversation starter presentation to offer guidance to help our faith communities balance the need to be both welcoming and safe at the same time. First Sergeant Austin White, Deputy Director of the Virginia Fusion Center will facilitate the training and will discuss the following topics:

• Threats and vulnerabilities to houses of worship
• Addressing potential threats
• Policy and planning
• Safety in outreach settings
• Civilian response to active shooter
• Mitigation strategies
• Developing a mindset of preparedness to respond to threats

Please join us on Saturday, March 23 from 10 to noon for this important discussion in Miles Hall at St. Martin's, 1333 Jamestown Rd., Williamsburg. This event is free. Click here to register.

Pilgrimage opportunities

St. Michael's Israel Pilgrimage - October 14-28, 2019 

Join the Rev. Jeunee Godsey and St. Michael's, Bon Air, parishioners for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in October! This active 15-day trip will visit early Christian sites around Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth and enjoy guest lectures on contemporary issues. The tour Guide will be Iyad Qumri, a Palestine Christian and Canon in the Diocese of Los Angeles.  Accommodations will be at St. George's Guest House and the Sisters of Nazareth. Cost will be approximately $4300 all inclusive, including: tour; airfare; ground transportation; room and meals. Space is limited. Please contact Ann Cronan, trip coordinator, to sign up or if you have questions - cell: 804-539-5041, home : 804-639-1005.

Oberammergau Passion Play & Italy - August 17-28, 2020 

Every 10 years since 1634, the most famous Passion Play in the world has taken place at Oberammergau in Germany. You are invited to experience this ancient, historic Passion Play and the village of Oberammergau with the Rev. Travis Greenman and her husband, Hal, August 17-28, 2020. Following the play, enrich your minds and hearts traveling through the Alps to visit Assisi, Florence, and Rome. You are invited to join this exciting spiritual pilgrimage.  Click here for the trip brochure.