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Spring Conference for Clergy, Lay Professionals and Clergy Spouses

May 2 - May 4

Shrine Mont

This year’s gathering presents a wonderful opportunity for clergy, clergy spouses and lay professionals of our Diocese to reconnect, rest and reflect in the beautiful mountains of the Shenandoah. The program will focus on exploring how we might courageously have conversations about race and racial justice in our world. Our program will be led by COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION®, a talented and award-winning team of racial justice experts who will help us to develop practical skills to sustain and deepen our conversations on racial justice and healing. We will learn together how to talk with courage and increasing confidence about a topic the cultures around us train us to avoid. We hope you will mark your calendar and plan to attend this year’s Spring Conference at Shrine Mont. Register here .

You Belong at Shrine Mont Camps

Have you registered your camper for Shrine Mont Camps 2022?Do you know a member of your church that would love to explore and start new friendships? Shrine Mont Camps gives campers the opportunity to experience independence while learning about God. Come enjoy campfires and starry nights with us on the mountain. Register TODAY!

Filling the Gap

Local school administrators estimate that more than half of the children in Shenandoah County Schools are being parented by grandparents. Sheila Helsley is one of them. In the early 2000s, while working full time, she suddenly found herself caring full time for her 2-year-old granddaughter. She later took on the care of her 11-month-old grandson. Their mother, Sheila’s daughter, suffered from drug addiction and was not able to provide safe care for the children, so Sheila was ultimately granted custody. Knowing that there were so many grandparents in similar circumstances, Sheila longed to create a support network to help other grandparents to meet the multifaceted challenges – financial, legal, educational, emotional, and more – of raising grandchildren in their golden years. Read more.

Got a Good News story to share? Send it to Nancy Chafin.

Bishop Search Update: Meet and Greet Events Announced

The Transition Committee continues its work in support of the Diocese’s search for a Bishop Diocesan XIV and is planning various ways to provide information to the community when the slate of nominees is announced in late March.

A series of “Meet and Greet” events with the Bishop nominees will be held throughout the Diocese between May 20 - May 24.

Note: Dates and locations are confirmed. Times are tentative and subject to change.

Friday, May 20	All Saints, Richmond	6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 21	St. Margaret's School, Tappahannock	9:30 -11:30a.m.
Saturday, May 21	St. John's, McLean	5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22	Christ Church, Winchester	4:00-6:00 p.m.
Monday, May 23	St. Paul's Memorial, Charlottesville	7:00 - 9:00 pm.
Tuesday, May 24	Trinity, Fredericksburg	6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Some, if not all, of these Meet and Greets will be livestreamed. All members of the Diocese are invited to submit questions to the nominees for consideration by the Transition Committee in developing these sessions. Send your questions to bishoptransitionva@gmail.com using the subject line “Meet and Greet Questions.” Please provide your name, church name and location in case someone needs to contact you for clarity.

Following these events, and as previously announced by Bishop Susan Goff, the Electing Convention will be held on Saturday, June 4 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria. Attendance at the Electing Convention will be limited to voting delegates. The event will be livestreamed. Registration details will be available soon.

The ordination and consecration of the Bishop Diocesan XIV will occur at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 3 at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond. St. Paul’s has a capacity of more than 2,000 and ample parking, which will accommodate the expected attendance at this service. The Standing Committee agreed with the Transition Committee’s recommendation that this location is preferred over large secular venues as it is a place where prayer is offered and Jesus Christ is celebrated. There are still many details to be worked out, but Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has confirmed this date and will preside at the Consecration.

New Faces on Diocesan Staff

The diocesan staff welcomes three new team members this month.

Jennifer Cox joined the Bishops' Office February 22, as Administrative Assistant. She will provide support to Bishop Brooke-Davidson with meeting coordination, travel and all other administrative needs. She can be reached at 804-643-8451, ext. 1052 or at jcox@thediocese.net.

Gloria Parham will serve as Administrative Assistant for Episcopal Ministries supporting the Canon to the Ordinary, the Transition Minister, and the Minister for Vocational Development. She will support the ministries of ordination, clergy deployment, and the work of nurturing congregations and their leaders. Her first day at Mayo House was Monday, March 7. She can be reached at 804-643-8451, ext. 1053 or at gparham@thediocese.net.

As previously announced, the Rev. Shirley Smith Graham has been called to serve as Interim Transition Minister. Shirley will manage and oversee the deployment and transition process for clergy and congregations to ensure a faithful and successful process of calling clergy to new positions in the Diocese. She begins her new ministry on March 28.

Ukraine Crisis Response Fund Established by Episcopal Relief and Development

People across our Diocese have been asking how they might support the more than one million persons who have been displaced because of the aggression and warfare in Ukraine. Episcopal Relief and Development has established a Ukraine Crisis Response Fund, working with organizations on the ground in Europe. Please pray for the people of Ukraine and about how you can support them.

Monacan Indian Nation Expresses Thanks to Diocese of Virginia for Support of Alternate Route for Water Pipeline

The Monacan Indian Nation today celebrates the selection of an alternative route for the construction of the James River Water Authority water withdrawal and pipeline, thereby averting destruction of the Monacan historic capital of Rassawek, home to Monacan people through 200 generations. This rare victory for the preservation of tribal sacred places comes after more than four years of determined public advocacy by the Nation. In a statement released today, the Nation expressed its thanks to the Diocese, which passed a resolution at its 2019 Annual Convention protesting the water project.

On the Calendar

Upcoming at Shrine Mont

March 25-27 Fly Fishing Fundamentals Come to Shrine Mont and learn the basics of fly fishing from tying a fly to experiencing the first bite on the river – all while enjoying our hospitality and great food. During the three-day event, students will start with the basics of casting, practice on a stocked pond and then hit the South River for a day of quality fishing.

Upcoming at VTS

March 31, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. The Immanuel Chapel Concert Series at Virginia Theological Seminary is pleased to welcome the New York Polyphony. Admission is free. Register here .

In Our Churches

March 19- 20 The Rev. Dr. Jennifer Ayres, Associate Professor at Candler School of Theology at Emory University will be at St. Paul's Memorial, Charlottesville, to explore the topic of Becoming Inhabitants: Christian Life and the Art of Living Well, helping us live out an environmentally connected spirituality. Details.

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Diocese of Virginia