Welcome Bishop Porter Taylor
Bishop Porter Taylor, our new Assisting Bishop, marked his first official day on the job July 1.

“I am delighted that Bishop Taylor is now a part of our team," said Bishop Goff. "It is a strange time to begin a new ministry, but we’ve got the technology to make it work. I am excited for the people of the Diocese to meet and get to know this wise, compassionate man.”

Bishop Taylor is the retired Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina and comes to the Diocese of Virginia from Wake Forest University Divinity School, where he served as a visiting professor of Episcopal Studies. He will maintain an office in Northern Virginia. He and his wife Jo, an artist, will live in Arlington. Learn more about Bishop Taylor.
Parish Youth Ministries Accepting Applications
Parish Youth Ministries is now accepting applications for committee membership for the 2020-21 program year. Rising 9th-12th graders who have attended a PYM event before are encouraged to apply. Learn more and apply.
Trustees of the Funds Seeks Executive Director
The Trustees of the Funds (TOTF), a related organization of the Diocese, seeks to hire a qualified, self-motivated individual to lead the day-to-day activities of the Trust with emphasis on executing a growth strategy to build the assets of the Trust. The TOTF seeks an ED with a working knowledge of institutional investment management and strong marketing, communication and interpersonal skills. Applications and any questions should be directed to TOTF President Janet Osborn . Learn more about TOTF.   Click to view job description.
Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course
August 10-14
Registration is now open for a special Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course (VELMC), an innovative five-day intensive course designed for diocesan staff, clergy, lay leaders and seminarians to gain practical knowledge and cultural competency for Latino/Hispanic ministry. The course will be conducted online in English, August 10-14, 2020. The five-day VELMC includes 20 hours of online classroom presentations, worship services and group dialogue (conducted in English). These popular sessions are offered by The Episcopal Church’s  Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries  and taught by seminary faculty, clergy, and lay leaders with extensive experience in Latino and intercultural ministry. Learn more and register.
UTO 2021 Annual Grants: Two Grant Cycles Offered
Application deadlines: August 14, 2020 and February 26, 2021

The focus for these annual grants is Recovering with Love and Gratitude: An Episcopal Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Local Contexts . This year there will be two application categories, Sustaining Ministries (available to previous UTO grant sites) and Innovative Ministries (available for start-up or new projects/ministries), at two different funding levels through two granting cycles. Applicants for both grants need to demonstrate how the funds will be used to address needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn. Click for more information about each type of grant, the particular funding levels, informational webinars and to start your application.
Help the Episcopal Church in Navajoland
The Navajo Nation has been one of the areas hit hardest by COVID-19. With more reported cases per capita than any other state, ICU space is limited in their three major hospitals. Many residents have to go 20 or more miles for food and doctor visits. Many homes don’t have running water needed for frequent cleaning. There are many needs to be met, including providing for cleaning supplies and PPE. Please help our siblings in Navajo Nation by making an online donation to Bishop Bailey’s discretionary fund to be used for COVID-19 relief.
Upcoming from Virginia Theological Seminary
  • July 16 Faithful Planning: Strategies for Churches in Liminal Times 3 p.m. via Zoom | Ronald Culmer and Christine Hides share tips and tricks for short and long-term planning in ministry, even when it's difficult to plan or plans change.
  • July 17 E-formation 101 12–4 p.m. via Zoom | Dive into digital ministry! We'll cover Facebook, Zoom and video basics in this four-hour conference and two follow-up group coaching sessions.
  • August 6 – September 10 Small Group Facilitator Leadership Development Thursday evenings, 7:30–9 p.m. via Zoom | Have a parishioner called to lead small group ministry? This six-week learning cohort will develop and support parish lay leaders.
  • August 15 Application Deadline for Auditing Fall Term Master’s Level Classes | This fall, over a dozen master level classes taught by outstanding VTS faculty are open to auditors, lay and ordained, at the cost of $150 per audit hour. Note: acceptance is dependent on space available and permission of the instructor.