William & Mary honors the Rev. John Kerr with Sullivan Award

At this weekend's commencement, the College of William & Mary will present the Sullivan Award to the Rev. John Kerr, Episcopal chaplain to the faculty, staff and students. 

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, given in the form of a medallion, is in recognition of influence for good, taking into consideration such characteristics of heart, mind, and conduct as evince a spirit of love and helpfulness. It is awarded each year to one man and one woman from the graduating student body and to a third person who has a close relationship to the College (e.g., staff, coaches, campus ministers, etc). The recipients are chosen by the Commencement Committee at the end of the Spring semester on the basis of nomination from members of the College community.   

Born in Scotland, the Rev. John Kerr is a graduate of the Universities of Toronto, Leeds, and Nottingham. He was ordained Deacon and Priest in Oxford Diocese of the Church of England in 1977/8, serving his Title in Windsor Parish. He then returned to academic life, serving a bivocational ministry, lecturing in physics, chemistry and theology. He was awarded an Athlone Research Fellowship at Leeds University, and a Visiting Research Fellowship at both Merton College, Oxford, and the University of California Berkeley's, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. Fr Kerr was one of the founders and second Warden of the Society of Ordained Scientists. He was the first Bruton-Rockefeller Resident Scholar.

Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church 2014 annual gathering is June 26-28

RMEC's 2014 Gathering will be hosted by the Diocese of Western New York at Trinity Episcopal Church in Buffalo New York, June 26-28. The conference experience will include practical, reproducible educational offerings, participation in an innovative Twelve Step service sponsored by the Diocese and fellowship with other recovering Episcopalians. Conference attendees will also include be introduced to the Hope Center, a new diocesan sponsored center that serves as a safe place for recovery in the Buffalo community. The major theme of this conference will focus on the role the church can and should perform as part of the healing journey from addiction to recovery.

Guest speakers will include: The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke, adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary in New York City, who pioneered a tremendously successful course of study on the Church's role in the treatment of alcoholism and addictive illness. The Rev. Dr. John MacDougall, D.Min., is Director of Spiritual Guidance at Hazelden, and serves as the clinical director for the Spiritual Care Department and the Family Program in Hazelden's Center City, Minnesota campus.  

e-Formation conference at VTS has lots to offer Christian educators and church communicators

Join other faith formation ministers, communication ministers, and clergy at this conference offered by Virginia Theological Seminary on faith formation for a connected digital world. Program includes workshops, intensive courses, break-out groups, and public presentations on everything from Google tools to digital curriculum resources. Speakers include G-dcast's Sarah Lefton, author Bruce Reyes-Chow, church social media expert Meredith Gould, and many, many more. Cost is $348 including meals. On and off-campus housing available. Single-day passes and student discounts also available. On-campus housing deadline: May 15. Hotel discount expires: May 5. Go to www.eformationvts.org for complete information and registration. 

Province III Synod to be held May 19

Province III Synod will be held at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg, West Virginia on May 19.  Hospitality is scheduled for participants staying overnight on May 18.  Hotels accommodations are the responsibility of each individual. The morning program will focus on the work of Task Force for Re-imagining the Episcopal Church (TREC). The Reverend Bradley Hauff (TREC member from Province III) and Mr. T. Dennis Sullivan (TREC member) will update us on the Task Force's progress and are most interested in receiving input from our Province. At the afternoon business meeting, the Ad Hoc Committee will report on the diocesan allocations (assessments) with proposals to consider a change of the way the allocation is calculated as well as proposals for changes to budget preparations and reporting. For more information contact the Rev. Barbara J. Seras, Province III Coordinator, p3coordinator@earthlink.net or 717-385-2667. Go to www.province3.wordpress.com for more information and registration.

ECW News: Deadline for scholarship application is near!

Communicants of Southern Virginia with a 3.0 GPA who will be enrolled full-time in the coming year are eligible for ECW scholarships! Download a simple, one-page application form with all the needed steps to take at the diocesan website. Although the original deadline date given was April 30, special circumstances have allowed a modest extension: the application package can be sent so it is received by Monday, May 5. Contact Susan Broaddus, 757-623-0205 or broaddussusan@aol.com, if you have any questions.

ECW Annual Spring Meeting: How to transform your ECW - the Redeemer success story

Two years ago, the ECW at Redeemer, Midlothian, like many ECWs in the Diocese of Southern Virginia, struggled to survive. Then, they decided to transform their ECW program. Today, meetings are well-attended. Volunteers gladly help with outreach and service projects and enjoy enriching fellowship. What inspired the women of Redeemer, and how did they accomplish this transformation? Come to the ECW Spring Annual Meeting at Good Shepherd, McKenney, VA, May 17 to hear first-hand how they did it. Redeemer ECW board members who drove the ECW transformation will share their success story. To RSVP, contact Louise Boss, 757-678-5331 or louiseboss@exede.net,

by May 5.     

Witness the roots of the conflict in the DR Congo at St. Paul's, Norfolk, on May 31

Women-to-Women will present a full-length docudrama facilitated by long-term medical missionaries to Congo, Doctors Richard and Judith Brown. The film, White King, Red Rubber, Black Death, shows the roots of the modern-day brutality in Congo as it examines the controversial history of King Leopold II's treatment of the Congolese. Thanks to missionaries of the era, the world learned of the goings-on and stood up to Leopold.Save Saturday, May 31 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. for this free event with refreshments and discussion. Donations to Women-to-Women for the women's work of the Anglican Church in Bukavu Diocese will be most gratefully received.For more information contact Susan Broaddus at  broaddussusan@aol.com or Mac McKinney at Mac166688@aol.com.    

Cursillo #153 and #154

The Men's Cursillo Weekend #153 held April 24-27 was a gorgeous weekend filled with sunshine, faith and friendship as 13 candidates and their team worshiped and shared fellowship together.  In the words of one #153 candidate, Kevin Bates of Emmanuel, Virginia Beach, "Glory to God! I have just come home from the MOST AMAZING three and a half days of being with a phenomenal group of men, gathered for a Cursillo retreat! I learned a lot about myself, the Church, and Christ. For those who know Cursillo, and especially those of you who were praying for us, thank you, and bless you! There are not enough words in my vast vocabulary to express the impact of this past weekend upon my life! I am truly blessed!" The Women's Cursillo retreat #154 is this coming weekend May 1-4. Please keep the 17 candidates and team of this weekend in your prayers. For more information on Cursillo, please visit the website at www.cursillodsv.org.

VIPCare forum: Compassionate Care for First Responders Impacted by Tragedy and Trauma

Thursday, May 1, 9 a.m. to noon

Location: Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Avenue, Richmond

Admission is free (for continuing education credits a $35 processing fee is charged)

The Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare) invites members of the clergy, religious leaders of all faith traditions, and the general public to a forum on "Ministry in the Midst of a Crisis."

While members of faith traditions are not first responders in the traditional sense of police, emergency medical technicians and firefighters, they are called once the immediate physical danger has passed to assist both the responders and the victims process the trauma. This forum offers a panel discussion with VIPCare clinical staff and police department chaplains, who have significant professional experience responding to major traumatic events. The panelists are also published authors in the field of post-traumatic stress and recovery.

  

Panelists will be: Dr. Donald  D. Denton, VIPCare staff, "Welcoming the Warrior Home"; Sergeant Steven Chumley, Chaplain, Virginia State Police; The Rev. Lloyd Jackson, Chaplain, Henrico Police Department. Participants are invited to bring examples of their own experiences with crisis and trauma intervention to the meeting to discuss with members of the panel.

To register please call VIPCare at 804-282-8332 or email vipcare@vipcare.org, with "Forum on Trauma and Support" in the subject line.