Episcopal Press and News
Virginia Holds Annual Council Meeting
Episcopal News Service. February 16, 1989 [89029]
RICHMOND, Va.(DPS, Feb. 16) -- Delegates to the 194th Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia unanimously approved a $3,080,419 budget, of which 52 percent will go to mission, and authorized the creation of a Diocesan Fund for Human Need to support and encourage local parish outreach efforts.
Opening this year's diocesan council, held January 26-28 in Richmond, was a service of welcome for the new assistant bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. Robert P. Atkinson, who joined the staff on January 1. Atkinson had previously served for 13 years as Bishop of West Virginia. The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, Bishop of Virginia, asked last year's diocesan council to authorize the appointment of a "seasoned" bishop to assist him in leading the 78,000-member diocese - - the third largest in the Episcopal Church. In his sermon, Atkinson said, "I am ready for a change of focus in my ministry, strong in my sense of call to be a bishop, full of energy for a new challenge with a heart full of thanksgiving to God."
Also addressing delegates were the Rt. Rev. Alpha Mohamed, Bishop of the Diocese of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and the Hon. Eva S. Teig, Secretary of Human Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Their remarks tied in with the council's theme, "The Great Commission" (Matthew 28: 16-20), in which Jesus summoned his disciples to build the Church and serve people in need.
Mohamed, who was Bishop of Central Tanganyika when that diocese became a companion diocese to West Virginia, expressed gratitude for the relationship with Atkinson's former diocese. He also noted outreach efforts initiated by the Diocese of Virginia, saying that "the Church of God in the Diocese of Virginia could be a beckoning for hope in the world."
In her remarks to delegates at the council banquet, Teig stressed the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors to meet human need, and noted that volunteerism has its roots in churches and synagogues.
In his pastoral address, Lee noted that Atkinson will work closely with small congregations. He also restated the diocese's "strong commitment to evangelism and mission," and urged delegates to support a diocesan-wide fund that would be "a new instrument for outreach within our diocese" and that would complement the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief (PBFWR) on a national and international level.
Delegates later approved the creation of such a fund, to be called the Diocesan Fund for Human Need. The executive board of the diocese will administer the fund, thereby eliminating administrative costs and ensuring that all donations are used directly for outreach. The board will offer congregations matching grants for outreach funds raised or in recognition of volunteer efforts. The fund will especially provide an opportunity for congregations with limited monetary resources to initiate and participate in outreach projects.
The budget approved by delegates includes $10,000 for the new fund, which will receive voluntary contributions from individuals and churches.
Among the priorities reflected in the 1989 budget were the diocese's traditional commitment to mission, as evidenced by its pledge to the national Church (34 percent of the diocesan budget); support of ecumenical ministries such as the Virginia Council of Churches; funding for missioners to develop and organize new congregations; and funding for special ministries, such as ministry with deaf persons and Korean ministry.
Delegates also approved a diocesan canon that would permit early intervention by the bishop when there is a conflict between congregation and clergy and between rectors and assistant rectors. This canon, which is similar to a change enacted to the national canons at last summer's General Convention, is designed to help prevent the formation of potentially damaging relationships when there is dissension in a parish.
Two Hispanic congregations that recently became missions of the diocese were represented for the first time by their own delegations. In recognition of their new mission status, the Hispanic congregations of Grace Church, Alexandria, and St. George's, Arlington, were renamed La Iglesia de Cristo Rey and La Igelsia de San Jose, respectively.