Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Spring 2013 Issue | Page 5
Staff Transitions
On March 25, the Rev. Deacon Ed Jones joined the
diocesan staff as secretary and chief of staff. Ed is a
longtime member of St. George’s, Fredericksburg. He
was recently ordained to the vocational diaconate after
serving his practicum at St. Mary’s, Colonial Beach, where
he now serves as deacon. As secretary, Jones will manage
the governing bodies of the Diocese, including Annual
Council, and will provide oversight of communications
and public relations in the Diocese. He will also serve
as senior adviser to the bishops and as point of contact
for the legal team on issues pertaining to litigation,
employment and real estate. As chief of staff, Ed will
supervise and support 22 diocesan staff members.
Jones is a career newspaper-man, having spent his
40-year career at the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star,
where he has served as editor for 12 years. Before his
role as editor, Jones was also managing editor, editorial
page editor, film critic, radio host, political reporter and
columnist for the award-winning newspaper.
At the diocesan level, Jones has served as editor of
Center Aisle, the Diocese of Virginia’s daily opinion journal
given as a gift to General Convention, since 2000. He
recently completed a term as president of Region I, and
has also served as chair of the diocesan Task Group on
Same-Gender Blessings, chair of the diocesan Resolutions
Committee, a member of the Committee on Priesthood
and a member of the Young Priests Initiative. At St.
Council continued from page 2
Christopher, founder of Horizons
Stewardship Company, spoke to
that theme in his keynote addresses.
Addressing Council members in
two plenary sessions, Christopher
preached a message of abundance in
the messaging of the Church. “When
we do what Christ called us to do, we
don’t have stewardship issues, because
you can’t help but give when you love
Jesus,” said Christopher, who also
pointed out that the church is receiving
the lowest percentage of giving to
nonprofits in history.
“Our giving to religion continues
to slide in a direction that is not healthy
and good, and is certainly not good for
the Kingdom of God,” said Christopher.
“If we are to be the hands and the feet
… we are going to have to have the
funds to do it.” With large numbers of
nonprofits vying for a finite amount of
money that individuals are willing to
donate, he explained, competition is
George’s, Jones has served as senior
warden and as chair of the Rector
Search Committee, the Outreach
Committee and the Adult Education
Committee. He received his B.A.
from Harvard University and his
J.D. from the University of Virginia
School of Law. He and his wife,
Jones
Peggy, live in Fredericksburg, and
Photo: The Free Lance-Star
Jones works out of the diocesan
offices at Mayo Memorial Church House in Richmond.
“Ed brings a unique set of gifts to the diocesan offices,
including remarkable leadership experience and firstrate communications skills,” said the Rt. Rev. Shannon S.
Johnston, bishop, in a letter to the Diocese. “In his time
as a candidate for the vocational diaconate, Ed built a
bridge ministry around reconciliation, and I know that this
particular focus will be a great asset to our diocese. I very
much look forward to welcoming Ed to the staff, and hope
that you will join me in doing the same.”
Jones succeeds Henry D.W. Burt, who served as
secretary from 2008 through January 2013 and who now
works as office administrator at Troutman Sanders.
As this magazine went to press, the Diocese was
also conducting a search for a new staff officer for
stewardship and congregational development. Stay tuned
to thediocese.net for more details on that search. t
fierce. “The question we need to move
from is not, ‘Why give?’ but ‘Why give
to you?’” Christopher explained. “The
number one reason why we give is a
belief in the mission of the institution.”
The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, bishop
suffragan and chaplain, also focused
on “Setting God’s Table” in a variety
of ways. In her sermon at the Council
Eucharist, Goff reported on the vast
number of congregations involved in
food and feeding ministries. “In these
ministries, Christ is present,” said Goff.
“May your joy be complete as Christ
breaks you open to set God’s table and
feed the hungry, to serve side by side
with those who are in need, and to be
the body of Christ that you receive in
the Eucharist.”
Council business included the
adoption of resolutions celebrating
50 years of Shrine Mont Camps,
responding to gun violence and
supporting peace in South Sudan.
Members of Council also adopted a
budget of $4.3 million and elected a new
class to the Standing Committee.
Council joined in celebration
when 150 members of St. Peter’s in
the Woods, Fairfax Station, all decked
in red, processed into the Council hall
to celebrate their achievement of full
church status. “It’s just an honor and
a privilege to be standing before you
with this group of people,” said the
Rev. Dede Duncan-Probe, rector. “This
is the most faithful, brave, honest,
caring group of people, who are
absolutely dedicated to living out the
Gospel of Jesus Christ … and who are
very much strong supporters and look
forward to being part of the Diocese as
adult members.” t
Visit the Council website for audio recordings
and transcripts of the bishops’ addresses, plus
Dr. Christopher’s presentations:
thediocese.net/Governance/Council/2013.
Spring 2013 / Virginia Episcopalian
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