February 6-7, 2015
Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center, Williamsburg, VA.

Click here to see photos from this year's Annual Council.
 

Bishop Hollerith's Sermon

Click here for a pdf of Bishop Hollerith's sermon at the opening Eucharist.

Elections at Council

Standing Committee
Clergy - The Rev. Elizabeth Felicetti, St. David's, Chesterfield
Lay - Ms. Cleo Shield, Johns Memorial, Farmville

Disciplinary Board
Clergy - The Rev. Sandra B. Kerner, St. Luke's, Powhatan
Lay - Mr. Larry Clark, Trinity, South Boston; Mr. Albert Poole, St. Aidan's, Va Beach

Young Adult Alternate to General Convention
Lily Burroughs, Old Donation, Virginia Beach

Courtesy Resolutions

Diocese of Maryland Courtesy Resolution

Memorial Resolutions

Video Presentations

We are all missionaries

Finding the Center (communication)

The Gathering Place (video is on St. Michael's, Bon Air, Facebook page)

Laundry Love

Creating Church (music program)

Delegate Materials

Delegate materials will NOT be available at Council. Delegates should download or print the documents to bring with them. Note: no Resolutions were submitted to this year's Council.

Schedule of Events

Minutes of 122nd Annual Council

Rules of Order

Seat & Voice

Bishop's Nominations

Bishop's Appointments

Executive Board & Deans

Nominees for Election

Order of Business

2015 Budget

Status of Parishes & Missions
 

Keynote Speaker: Diana Butler Bass

This year's keynote speaker was Diana Butler Bass, author and independent scholar of American religion and culture, on "Awakening and the Work of Transformation." Recordings of Dr. Butler Bass' three talks are available on CD and can be borrowed from the Canon for Formation Caroline Black, cblack@diosova.org or 757-213-3377.

Diana Butler Bass received her Ph.D. from Duke University. She has taught at Westmont College, the University of California at Santa Barbara, Macalester College, Rhodes College, and Virginia Theological Seminary. She is the author of eight books, including most recently Christianity after Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening. Her groundbreaking study of mainline vitality, Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith was named one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and Christian Century, won the book of the year award from the Academy of Parish Clergy, and was featured in a cover story in USA Today. Her next book will be Grounded: Finding the Spirit of God in the Spirit of the Age, scheduled for publication in Fall 2015. Follow her on Twitter: @dianabutlerbass.

Worship at Council

All worship will be projected. Delegates may print or download these documents and bring them to Council.

Holy Eucharist

Daily Worship 

Clergy: White or gold stoles

The Council offering will go to the Church of the Good Samaritan, Virginia Beach, for meals and staff salaries for the a summer camp for neighborhood children co-hosted with Enoch Baptist church. The program provides a safe space for more than sixty African American children from low income families while their parents are at work.

Church Communicators at Council

Church communicators are an integral part of connecting their Convocations and congregations with Council while it is in session (via email, blogging, social networks) and, afterward, by reporting on the work was accomplished (via presentations to Vestries and forums, newsletter articles, blogs, etc). Communicators can apply for credentials that will permit them to attend Council at no cost.

Bishop's Closet at Council: Re-purposing vestments and church goods 

Are there vestments you or your church doesn't need? Are there altar hangings you do need? Religious items you wish to find a good home for? Things your church needs? Bring those vestments and other worship items to Annual Council to the Bishop's Closet, a free exchange self-serve room where you can leave or take any items. (You don't have to bring to take.) If you can attach measurements or sizes to your items, that would be appreciated. If you have large or very heavy or bulky items (statuary, boxes of prayer books, etc.) we can post a description and picture so that interested churches can contact you. After Council, any leftover items will be given to St. Mary Mission, an organization based in Lancaster, PA, that finds new homes for liturgical items to missions and churches in need. For more information, contact The Rev. Canon Jeunée Godsey, jgodsey@diosova.org  or 434-603-1782.