This is the day, let the journey begin!
with keynote speaker 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.
The 131st Annual Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia will take place Saturday, February 25, 2023 in Williamsburg, at the DoubleTree Hotel located at 50 Kingsmill Road. We will convene Council at 9:30 a.m. and will adjourn by 4:30 p.m. We will not have a block of rooms at the hotel, so those who wish to travel to Williamsburg on Friday should make their own lodging arrangements.
Annual Council will include a combination of virtual and in-person events:
- As in the past two years, there will be live virtual events on the evenings of Tuesday and Thursday in Council Week, February 21 and 23.
- There will be no evening event on Ash Wednesday, February 22.
- While clergy and lay delegates will need to be present in-person to vote, the Council meeting on Saturday will be livestreamed for any others to watch.
- All Council events will be recorded for later viewing.
- We will continue to use electronic voting at Council this year. Each delegate will receive a voting device when they check in at registration on Saturday morning (no downloading apps!).
Annual Council Registration
Registration for Annual Council is now open. 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 is 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 (click here to join this meeting)
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 (click here to join this meeting)
Delegate Materials for Annual Council (2023)
Delegate materials are posted here as they become available.
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.
