Revival
This is the day, let the journey begin!
The 131st Annual Council was held on February 25, 2023 in Williamsburg and was livestreamed to our diocesan YouTube channel. Click here to view the recording of this meeting.
Click here for the text of Bishop Haynes' Address to Annual Council. Click here to watch the recording of the Bishop's address.
Click here to watch the recording of the keynote address by the Rev. Canon Lydia Kelsey Bucklin.
Council Election Results:
- Standing Committee: The Very Rev. Dr. Susan Grimm (Clergy); Ms. Michele McCoy (Lay)
- Disciplinary Board: The Rev. Liam Muller and The Rev. Dana VanVliet-Pullin (Clergy); Ms. Vania Blaiklock (Lay)
- Provincial Synod: No nominations were received
- General Convention Deputies (2024): The Rev. Charlie Bauer (head of deputation), The Very Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly, The Rev. Jan Brown, and The Rev. Ashley Urquidi (Clergy); Ms. Faye Felton, Ms. Madeline Hanlon, Ms. Pam Pringle, and Ms. Helen Sharpe-Williams (Lay) Note: Alternate deputies to General Convention will be elected at Annual Council in 2024.
- Constitutional Resolutions CON-1 and CON-2, second reading - approved
- Resolution R-1 - approved
- Proposed 2023 Diocesan Budget - approved
The offering from our Council Eucharist provided $2,571 to go to local food banks and to the Society of St. Andrew to help alleviate food insecurity for those living in our region.
Our keynote speaker was the Rev. Canon Lydia Kelsey Bucklin.
Lydia Kelsey Bucklin serves as Canon to the Ordinary for Discipleship & Vitality in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan and Director of the Mutual Ministry Initiative at Virginia Theological Seminary.
Lydia was formed from a young age in baptismal, collaborative ministry and works with communities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in areas of redevelopment, formation, and baptismal ministry. In her role at Virginia Theological Seminary, Lydia works with Lifelong Learning directing an initiative to enhance theological education with the training and skills needed for today's church, in which the ministry of all the baptized is crucial. Previously, Lydia served the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa for 11 years, in the areas of children & youth, young adults, communications, evangelism, and new initiatives, including co-founding the “Breaking Bread” community, a church plant in the Des Moines area.
Tuesday, February 21 - Click here for today's Council email
Live Events:
- 2023 Proposed Diocesan Budget Q&A, 7 p.m. – Diocesan Treasurer John Fogarty, Program Budget and Review Committee Chair The Rev. Jon Anderson, and Diocesan Director of Finance and Administration Judy Dobson will answer your questions on the 2023 proposed diocesan budget. Click here to watch a recording of this event.
- DCDI in Southern Virginia, 7 p.m. – The Diocesan Church Development Institute (DCDI) has already begun to support participating congregations in their efforts to enliven ministry, to improve communication, to attract new leadership in their respective communities. Join us to hear from participants and leaders of DCDI and to discover how it could help your congregation discover new ways to thrive in in mission and ministry. Click here to watch a recording of this event.
On Demand Reports:
Wednesday, February 22 - Click here for today's Council email
On Demand Reports:
Thursday, February 23 - Click here for today's Council email
Live Events:
- SPC4Life (Saint Paul's College for Life), 7 p.m. – Join SPC4Life President Christopher Stephenson to learn about the reimagining and revitalization of Saint Paul’s College, and the plans to restore its economic partnerships with Brunswick County and the Town of Lawrenceville. Saint Paul's College, one of Virginia's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was founded by James Solomon Russell in 1888 and closed in 2013. Click here to watch a recording of this event.
- Formation and Evangelism with the EYC Board, Chanco, and the Revival Planning Team, 7 p.m. – Our fifth initiative invites all of us to consider how we share our experience of God's love in Jesus. The prospect often sounds scary or uncomfortable. But it doesn't have to! Join leaders from our Youth community, Chanco, and our Revival planning team to talk about how our diocese is beginning to live into this joyfully challenging initiative and providing opportunities for people of all ages and from all walks of life to go deeper into their relationship with God. Click here to watch a recording of this event.
On Demand Reports:
Friday, February 24 – Click here for today's Council email
Delegate Materials for Annual Council (2023)
Delegate materials are posted here as they become available.
Annual Council Registration
Registration for Annual Council has closed. Click here for registration information and instructions.
- Clergy, lay delegates, and lay alternates: $125 registration fee
- Retired clergy, spouses, visitors: $75 registration fee
Registration deadline was February 15.
Pre-Council Convocation Meetings
- Convocation 1 - Sunday, February 5, 1:30 p.m. at St. George's, Pungoteague
- Convocation 2 - Sunday, February 5, 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
- Convocation 3 - Sunday, February 5, 2:00 p.m. at Ascension, Norfolk
- Convocation 4 - Sunday, February 5, 4:00 p.m. at St. Paul's, Suffolk
- Convocation 5 - Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
- Convocation 6 - Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 p.m. at Martin's Brandon, Disputanta
- Convocation 7 - Sunday, February 5, 2:00 p.m. at Manakin, Powhatan
- Convocation 8 and 9 Joint Meeting - Sunday, February 5, 3:00 p.m. via Zoom
Nominations for Elections at Council
The following elections will take place at Annual Council:
- Standing Committee – 1 clergy, 1 laity
- Disciplinary Board – 2 clergy, 1 laity
- Provincial Synod – 1 laity
- Deputies to General Convention for 2024 – 4 clergy deputies, 4 lay deputies
Note: Alternate deputies to General Convention will be elected at Annual Council in 2024.
Click here for information about these positions. Nominations were due to the diocese by January 20, 2023.
Certificate of Lay Delegates & Alternates for 2022-2023
Churches must submit a Certificate of Lay Delegates and Alternates in order for their lay delegates to be eligible to register for Council. Certificates were due by September 1, 2022. Click here for instructions and the Certificate form for the 2022-2023 conciliar year.
2021 Parochial Report
2021 Parochial Reports were due by March 1, 2022. If your church has not yet submitted its 2021 Parochial Report, mail or email it to the Diocesan office as soon as possible. If your 2021 Parochial Report is not submitted your church's delegates will not be allowed to vote at Annual Council (Diocesan Canon XVIII, Section 2).
Disclaimer: The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia reserves the right to cancel any event. In the event of cancellation, registrants will receive a full refund. We also reserve the right to substitute event presenters and modify dates and programs.
Special Needs: The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia serves the entire community and welcomes people with special needs. Please contact Shauna Daley at sdaley@diosova.org or 757-213-3378 at least one week prior to the event with special needs requests.
