Dear Friends,

Today is a different kind of Hump Day message because we are coming up on the election of our new Bishop: June 4, 2022. In the coming days: Friday, May 20 – Tuesday, May 24, you have opportunities to meet and hear from the candidates for bishop in person or online. We encourage you to learn about these candidates and talk with us about them. The schedule is at the end of this message.

During the Sunday announcements and at our Annual Meeting in February, we (Rev. Dina and Don Brill, respectively), shared that the Diocese of Virginia was in the process of searching for a new bishop to replace Bishop Susan Goff. Bishop Goff retires at the end of the year. 

The diocesan Search Committee has done a similar discernment process as we have recently done here at Epiphany for a rector. The Committee passed from the list of applicants their selections to the Standing Committee for the Diocese. The Standing Committee functions somewhat like a parish vestry. Click HERE to learn more about the Standing Committee.

The four candidates for our consideration as the 14th Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia are:

  • The Rev. Joseph Hensley, Rector, St. George’s, Fredericksburg, VA
  • The Rev. Canon Alan James, Interim Canon Missioner, Diocese of Western Michigan
  • The Very Rev. Gideon Pollach, Rector, St. John’s Church, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
  • The Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Ministry within The Episcopal Church.

You can learn more about these candidates by visiting the special website for the bishop search at https://www.virginiabishopsearch.org. You can see an Epiphany member photo on the home page! Click ‘Meet the Nominees’ at the top of the page to view each candidate’s resume, application essay, and short video.

In the following schedule, all but the Friday evening and Saturday morning sessions have online viewing capabilities.

  • Friday, May 20 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM in Richmond at All Saints Church, 8787 River Road.
  • Saturday, May 21 – 9:30 – 11:30 AM in Tappahannock at St. Margaret’s School, 444 Water Lane.
  • Saturday, May 21 – 5:00 – 7:00 PM in McLean at St. John’s Church, 6715 Georgetown Pike > Livestream: https://vimeo.com/703873645
  • Sunday, May 22 – 4:00 – 6:00 PM in Winchester at Christ Church, 140 W. Boscawen Street > Livestream: https://youtu.be/xGEb4dcXOxc
  • Monday, May 23 – 7:00 – 9:00 PM in Charlottesville at St. Paul’s Mem. Church, 1701 University Avenue > Livestream: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81447617223
  • Tuesday, May 24 – 7:00 – 9:00 PM in Fredericksburg at Trinity Church, 825 College Avenue > Livestream: https://www.facebook.com/trinityfredericksburg

Livestream links are also available through the Meet the Nominees page: Meet and Greet | Search for the XIV Bishop of Virginia (virginiabishopsearch.org).

Dina and I have schedule conflicts with the local Northern Virginia session Saturday and will be traveling to Fredericksburg on Tuesday. You are welcome to join us! 

We both welcome your input on any of these candidates.

In Peace,

Rev. Dina (Rector) & Don Brill (Lay Delegate)