The Diocese of Southern Virginia is comprised of 122 parishes and more than 170 clergy.

The Diocese was formed in 1892 as a spin off from the Diocese of Virginia, which dates back four centuries to 1607, when colonists sent from England paused on their way into the Chesapeake Bay for fresh water and a view of their new land.

The Reverend Robert Hunt, spiritual advisor to the settlers, planted a cross into a sand dune near Cape Henry, proclaiming England's unique brand of Christianity as the official faith of the new colony. The Church of England (Episcopal Church) would remain the established church of Virginia for the next 172 years.

Today, the Diocese stretches more than 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean westward to Appomattox, and from the south side of the James River at Richmond to the North Carolina border. It includes the large metropolitan areas of Hampton Roads and Greater Richmond.

There shall be a Council of this Diocese which shall convene annually in one session to be held in February of each year at such place or places within the Diocese as shall have been designated by the previous Council. When necessary or expedient to change places or dates so designated, the Bishop with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee, or if there be no Bishop, the Standing Committee, may order a change of place or date of meeting upon four weeks advance notice to clergy entitled to seats and to the congregations entitled to lay representation in the council.

A diocesan bishop is the ecclesiastical authority in a diocese, elected by the diocese to serve until he or she retires or dies. A suffragan bishop is elected by a diocese to assist the diocesan bishop. Neither an assistant nor a suffragan has the right of succession. A bishop coadjutor is elected to succeed a diocesan bishop and traditionally assists the diocesan for a specified period of time before being installed as the diocesan. An assistant bishop is an already- consecrated bishop appointed to serve a diocese, often for a specified period of time.

The Standing Committee of the Diocese consists of six members, three of whom shall be of the clerical order entitled to membership in the Council, and three of the lay order who shall be adult confirmed communicants of the Church in this Diocese in good standing. The Council annually elects one clergy and one lay individual to serve for a term of three years. Each member of the Standing Committee serves until a successor is elected. No person may serve as a member of the Standing Committee for more than three consecutive years, unless filling an unexpired term. The Standing Committee has the authority conferred upon it by the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and of this Diocese.

There shall be an Executive Board of the Diocese constituted as the Canons shall direct and with the authority and duties committed to it in this Constitution and the Canons of the Diocese.