“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;” 1 Peter 5:2
Dear Friends:
On Monday night, your vestry, with great thanksgiving, bid farewell to Mary Erdeljon, Susan Simmons and Jeanne Trimble for their exceptional devotion to their three year term as vestry folks. At the same time, your leaders, having extended an equally abundant thanks for the leadership of Keola Nosaka as senior warden, Ryan Hale as junior warden and Don Brill as treasurer, elected Melissa Woodhead as senior warden, Elaine Perry as junior warden and Don Brill as Treasurer. We are blessed with these continuing elected leaders who join with newly elected Susan Buckner, Susan Forbes and Scott Meyer and the ongoing leadership of Richard Durkin, Ben Eckman, Doug Hansen, and Michelle Walter. There is no better witness of Church leadership than these faithful folks.
The Church, as described in the Bible, is the “Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head”, called to “restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (The Book of Common Prayer). Through faith, active participation in the study and reflection of scripture, prayer, worship, renewal and restoration through the holy sacraments, we believe we’re called to go out into the world as Jesus incarnate, caring for others, healing, teaching, helping and preaching, to make God’s world known. The Church carries out this mission through the ministry of all. Included in the ministry of all are the ministers of the Church: lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons. A bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, as a leader, and a pastor, guarding the faith, unity and discipline of the whole Church. Bishop’s proclaim the Word of God, serve as reconcilers, and builders of the Body of Christ.
The Diocese of Virginia, considered the largest Episcopal diocese in North America, celebrates more than 80,000 members, 425 resident clergy, 180 congregations, six schools, two diocesan centers, six diocesan homes and the largest Episcopal seminary in the world. With an annual average Sunday attendance in worship of over twenty thousand, and priorities to build the kingdom of God through youth and young adult formation, strengthening existing congregations, intentionally reaching out to those seeking God, recognizing our diversity establishing multicultural and ethnic ministries and loving and serving those in need, in November of 2017, Annual Convention for the Diocese of Virginia consented to elect another Bishop Suffragan.
The word Bishop comes from the Greek word “episkapos” which means overseer. Episcopal also stems from the same root epi-scope. Epi means on or above. Scope, or skopion means to look, to watch and see for opportunities to act in the name of Jesus Christ. Consequently, the bishop is the overseer of some 80,000 people who, as the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia, are carefully keeping watch and actively involved in building the body of Christ and making God’s world known. Suffragan stems from the Latin word, suffragari, which means “to vote for, support, favor”. Therefore a Bishop Suffragan is elected to assist the Diocesan Bishop. Bishop Susan Goff serves as a Bishop Suffragan. In November of this year, The Diocese of Virginia will elect a second Bishop Suffragan. We need your help in electing a second Bishop Suffragan.
Please attend a Listening Session here, with Epiphany, this Sunday February 25 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Following a brief introduction, we will responding to the following questions:
- What do you consider to be the three strengths, treasures or assets of our Diocese?
- What do you see as the greatest challenge our Diocese faces going forward in our call to be the Episcopal Church of what Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls, “The Jesus Movement”?
- What traits are needed in a Bishop Suffragan to carry out his/her ministry in Virginia?
- In envisioning the new Bishop Suffragan, what is one word that describes a significant quality of this Bishop?
We’re reminded the second Bishop Suffragan will share responsibilities with Bishop Johnston and Bishop Goff which includes:
*support and development of congregations, and leaders.
*support of the number of Diocesan ministries
*serve as a voice of faith in the public square
*serve as a leader in local, national and international mission
*articulate a vision for the Church for the 21st century
*participating in the governance and councils of the wider Church.
*pastoral care of clergy and their families
*support and development of campus ministries
*nurturing of ecumenical and interfaith relationships
The Listening Session is intended for all, especially older youth and adults. Your thoughts and opinions have a direct impact on who our second Bishop Suffragan will be, especially as he/she will reside primarily in Northern Virginia.
Thank you for being the Church, for believing in how God calls us to be the Church, and in serving as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, making God’s world known as the community of the Church. I look forward to learning from you!
Sunday morning following 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. worship, plan to attend Seldon’s very informative Table Talk Bible Study on the gospel of John. As well, the second focus group regarding Epiphany’s Music Ministry will be held immediately following worship with Elaine Perry, our newly elected Junior Warden, facilitating. Those new or nearly new to the life of Epiphany are enthusiastically invited to attend a brief Newcomer Event following worship to learn more about our common life and from one another. We are a full body of Christ active in our life as the Church.
Thank you for your good work in building the kingdom of God.
Many blessings,
Hillary