Annual Council on March 5, 2016. Links:
1. Our page.
3. Diocesan video on "Connected in the Kingdom"
4. Agenda
6. Bishop Shannon’s address (NEW!)
7. Bishop Goff’s report (NEW!)
8. Bishop Gulick’s Report (NEW!)
Catherine Hicks, Roger Key, the St Peter’s delegate, attended.
Annual Council features addresses and meditations by the Bishops. People are elected to serve on the Standing Committee (the Vestry of the Diocese), the Trustees of the Funds, and the Virginia Diocesan Homes. Annual reports for the year are made available. The budget for the coming year is debated and ultimately approved. Resolutions from the church are debated
In the past several years, the Diocese has made presentations on innovative ministries that are taking place all over the Diocese. These have been very popular and spotlight areas of the Diocese that are overlooked where great things are happening. The 2016 council was cut short so these were not included
Annual Council for the delegates is above all like a family reunion, reconnecting with friends in the Diocese who are seen only at this event. It is a time for education – learning about the direction of the Diocese, examples of ministry and asking questions about our life together. There are fun events – receptions, entertainment and time for discusssion
C. Quotes from Pastoral Addresses
"We need to change the question from ‘How do we get people to come in?’ to ‘How do we get people to go out?’"
Bishop Goff
"I want to equip the saints for the work of discernment" as we consider the refugee crisis, gun violence, racism and poverty.
In baptism, we die to sin, and you can’t scare dead people. Matthew 25 is our new anthropology.
Bishop Gulick
"Our commitment is to each other in Christ, not each others’ opinions. "Be an activist! There I’ve said it." "I insist that our church simply cannot remain silent in the face of [systemic racism in America]."
-Bp. Johnston , encouraging churches to work toward racial reconciliation in their communities.