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Elections
Standing Committee
The following people were elected to the 2025 class of the Diocesan Standing Committee, which serves as the council of advice to the Bishop. They will serve alongside the Standing Committee members of the classes of 2023 and 2024:
Mr. Thomas Beatty, St. Philip's, Richmond
Ms. Helen Penrod, Emmanuel, Harrisonburg
The Rev. Santiago Rodriguez, Grace, Alexandria
The Rev. Noelle York-Simmons, Christ Church, Alexandria
Deputies to 81st General Convention
The following people were elected to serve as deputies to the Episcopal Church's General Convention to be held in 2024 in Louisville, KY.
Clergy Delegates
The Rev. Amanda Kotval, St. Paul's, Ivy
The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith, Holy Comforter, Richmond
The Rev. Sven L. vanBaars, Abingdon, White Marsh
The Rev. Daniel Veléz-Rivera, St. Gabriel's/San Gabriel, Leesburg
Clergy Alternates
1) The Rev. Will Dickinson, St. George's, Fredericksburg
2) The Rev. Kathleen Murray, Emmanuel, Woodstock, and St. Andrew's, Mount Jackson
3) The Rev. Andrew Moore, St. John's, McLean
4) The Rev. Herbert Jones, St. Thomas', Richmond
Lay Delegates
Mr. Matt Danielson, St. Thomas', Richmond
Ms. Lillian Hardaway, St. Paul's, Alexandria
Ms. Margaret (Mickie) Jones, St. Mark's, Richmond
Mr. Russell Randle, Christ Church, Alexandria
Lay Alternate
Ms. Cindi Bartol, Christ Church, Alexandria
Deputies to Provincial Synod
The following people were elected to serve as Deputies to the Provincial Synod. The Diocese is part of Province III, which includes dioceses in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and Washington D.C.
Clergy Delegate
The Rev. Kathleen Murray, Emmanuel, Woodstock and St. Andrew's, Mount Jackson
Lay Delegates
Ms. Ellyn (Lyn) Crawford, St. George's, Arlington
Ms. Jane Roth, St. James, Leesburg
Other Highlights
It was a moment of great joy and celebration to welcome a delegation from Church of Our Saviour, Montpelier, into the ballroom to be recognized as they were officially approved to move from mission to full parish status. Church of Our Saviour began as a mission of the Diocese 140 years ago. The church was established in 1882 largely through the support of the Episcopal Church in China.
In his update on the work of the Task Force on Reparations, Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr. said, "Foundational for our work, as we continue to discern it, is developing a healthy and formative spiritual way of being. We have come to understand that reparation is about repair -- the transformation of heart and mind, and the employ of financial resources to right the historic and systemic wrongs that brought about the unequal footing that people of color stand upon. We are clear that our work requires the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit -- which means that we cannot rush through a one-off process but must engage in an intentional time of prayer, discernment, reflection, learning and sharing, before acting."
The Ad Hoc Committee on Shrine Mont Camps reported on its work of the past year. Committee Chair the Rev. Andrew Moore shared the results of a broad, comprehensive survey of camp families. The top five words families used to describe Shrine Mont Camps were: loving, inclusive, welcoming, fun, and spiritual. The Committee’s key recommendations for next steps include: 1) establishing a Diocesan Camps Committee to offer guidance and support to the leadership of the Camps; 2) expanded promotion of Shrine Mont Camps to more communities; 3) creation of a Shrine Mont Camps Alumni Network; and 4) making a top priority to promote the full inclusion of all members of the Body of Christ, especially non-white and LGBTQ+ persons.
For continuing post-Convention coverage, check out the diocesan Facebook page and visit www.thediocese.net. The recording of the livestream of the full Convention proceedings is available in both Spanish and English.
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