Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2012 Issue | Page 16

GOD BREAKS IN

Dayspring marks a fresh start in Virginia
EMILY CHERRY
During his pastoral address to Annual Council, the Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston
acknowledged that, for the past five years, our diocese has been “navigating a
complex set of circumstances regarding our effort to return Episcopal properties
to the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Virginia.”

Such a statement is hardly
news to Episcopalians in Virginia –
but the statement that followed is:
the announcement of Dayspring, a
comprehensive, diocesan-wide initiative
involving many leaders in our diocesan
community as we respond to the
January 10 opinion returning Episcopal
properties to the diocese. “I want to
have a witness to the world, particularly
the Anglican world, not just an ‘outcome’
in the court,” said Johnston. “In my view,
the Diocese of Virginia is best positioned
of all Episcopal dioceses to make such an
epoch-shaping witness.”

So just what does that mean? It
means “a new day in the Diocese of
Virginia,” as Johnston explained to the
appointed members of the Dayspring
team at a March 1 meeting at Aquia,
Stafford. The Dayspring team is made up
of representatives from all parts of the
Diocese who come together to answer
some tough – and exciting – questions:
How can we best support the Episcopal
congregations who have been in exile?

How can we best use the returned
property, the newly released resources
and all of our resources for the mission
of the Church? Where is the Holy Spirit
calling us in this journey? “We’ve got
to remember that this has a very big
picture to it that goes beyond our own
boundaries,” said Johnston. “After
five years of litigation, new challenges
and new opportunities are opening
all the time.” Dayspring is a chance to
step back and examine options and
new possibilities, a chance to see “God
breaking in to do something new,”
said Johnston.

Dayspring will have three teams:
Vision, Resources and Communications.
The Vision Team will examine those
challenges and opportunities we now
face. “The Vision Team is working to
discern the movement of the Holy Spirit
as it articulates the vision, the hopes,
the dreams and the direction” for
ministry in the returned properties and
the congregations, said the Rev. Canon
Susan E. Goff, canon to the ordinary

and staff liaison to the Vision Team. The
Resources Team will work to support
the Vision Team’s strategy by handling
the business aspects related to the
properties. The Communications Team
will work to tell the story of the new day
dawning in the Diocese.

Henry Burt, secretary of the
Diocese, also addressed the subject in
his report to Council. “The question
will be – always – how can the mission
of this diocese and its people best be
served by a building, a house, a piece of
land or a fund?” said Burt. “Every layer
of this diocese will and must have input
into this effort.”

In the inaugural Dayspring meeting,
Johnston also called for such support
throughout the Diocese: through
constant prayer; through open hearts
and minds; through cooperation; and
through patience. “We’re going to be
pushed by the Holy Spirit in this work,”
said Johnston. t

Four congregations have been worshipping in spaces outside their church homes
for the past five years. Now, as they discern their next steps, they reflect on the dawn
of Dayspring, in their own words.
DISCERNMENT

ENERGY

“Hopefully, the Dayspring effort will nurture our parish and allow us
time for discernment of the many issues.”

Bob Frazier, St. Margaret’s, Woodbridge

“I like the word ‘Dayspring’ because it has a sense of energy and
‘springiness.’ The energy of springing into a new future is a quality of
the congregation of St. Stephen’s that I’ve always found inspiring.”

The Rev. Lucia Lloyd, St. Stephen’s, Heathsville

“Let us now be silent and listen what God is calling us to do. As we
talk about what we have learned in our silence, we will need to be
good stewards and care for what the Lord has provided. He has
brought us too far to turn around now.”

Alton Tucker, St. Margaret’s, Woodbridge

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VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN / Spring 2012

“It is also a new day for us in another sense, that our congregation
has grown to welcome wonderful new people who wanted to join us
on this church adventure, and have added their energy and faith and
enthusiasm to ours.”

The Rev. Lucia Lloyd, St. Stephen’s, Heathsville