Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2012 Issue | Page 30

FROM DISCERNMENT, DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP FORMS
ED KEITHLY
Two passages guide discernment for
the Diocese of Virginia’s Commission
on Ministry: “The Lord is near. Do
not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your
requests be known to
God,“ (Philippians 4:5-7)
and, “The gifts Christ
gave were that some
would be apostles,
some prophets, some
evangelists, some
pastors and teachers
to equip the saints for
the work of ministry, for
I l l:
Jo
building up the Body of
hn
Di
Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). For
xo
n
the Diocese of Virginia, discernment
is at the heart of our ability to “build
the Body of Christ.” Virginia cannot
know what “the work of ministry is
without prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving.” This knowledge informs
the process for identifying and raising
up leaders for the Church. In