Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2013 Issue | Page 4

Council Focuses on Reconciliation, Stewardship
Emily Cherry
Disagreement played a starring role in
the 218th meeting of the Annual Council
of the Diocese of Virginia in January –
but not in the way you might imagine.
In his annual pastoral address, the
Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, bishop,
spoke about the value of not reaching
a consensus, and the possibility for
disagreement and reconciliation to
coexist. “We must want reconciliation
and be open to the possibility of it,” said
Johnston. “That’s when grace happens.”

He added, “The core of my faith is
utterly and absolutely defined by the

Apostles’ and Nicene creeds. I do in
fact believe that the Holy Scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments contain
all things necessary for salvation. But
I also think that, inevitably, people will
have differing ways of understanding,
interpreting, appropriating and
applying these essential truths. I do
not accept that my own dearly held
faith is in any way compromised by
agreeing to disagree over the ways
in which the catholic and apostolic
Church gives witness and offers
ministry, any more than I feel that my

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1 Bishop Johnston greets
members of St. Peter’s in the
Woods, Fairfax Station, as
they’re recognized for achieving
full church status.

2 Dr. Clif Christopher, keynote
speaker for Council, preached
a message of abundance in his
presentations on stewardship.
Photo: The Rev. Ed Miller

Photo: Emily Cherry

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Council continued on page 3

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Church is compromised by my doing
so. Furthermore, although sometimes
I don’t live up to this ideal, I want
always to keep an open and respectful
mind to other points of view. To me,
the plain fact is that I – we – need to
hear and understand other views of
Christian truths.”

“Setting God’s Table” was the
theme for this year’s meeting, which
took place at the Hyatt Regency
in Reston, Va. Presenter Dr. Clif

Virginia Episcopalian / Spring 2013

3 The Rt. Rev. David Jones,
retired bishop suffragan, and the
Rt. Rev. Mano Rumalshah, former
bishop of the Diocese of Pakistan,
join in worship at Council.

4 St. Peter’s in the Woods
brought 150 parishioners to the
Hyatt Regency in Reston during
Council to celebr