Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2012 Issue | Page 9

Photo: Frances Caldwell

The Rev. Jennifer McKenzie, interim
vicar at Epiphany, Herndon, celebrates
the Eucharist at the congregation’s first
worship service back in their home church.

Photo: Emily Cherry

Members of St. Stephen’s, Heathsville
join together outside their church home
to process inside on Palm Sunday.

congregation’s first evening back in its
worship space, members opened the
doors to the building, inviting families
to come and explore the church
grounds. “We wanted them to have the
opportunity to explore the blessings
that God has bestowed on us,” said
Tibbetts. The congregation is looking
at growing its clergy staff, including
calling a “planter-builder” to oversee
the church’s growth process.

The Diocese has made
settlement negotiations with the
other six congregations involved
in the litigation. In these cases, the

Convocation of Anglicans in North
America congregations agreed to
return church property and Episcopal
funds, and to withdraw their appeals.
The Falls Church Anglican is the only
one out of the seven properties
returned to the Diocese that continues
to pursue its appeal.

In addition to the four continuing
congregations, three of the returned
properties did not already have
continuing Episcopal congregations
associated with them. The Diocese
already has reinstated Episcopal
worship services at St. Paul’s,
Haymarket, and the property of Church
of the Apostles, Fairfax, also has been
returned to diocesan ownership. The
Diocese has arranged a 16-month lease
with the congregation of Truro Church,
Fairfax, and both parties have agreed
to enter into a “covenant of mutual
charity and respect,” which the Rt.
Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, bishop of
Virginia, describes as “an opening for a
transformative witness to many across
the worldwide Anglican Communion.”

“It is heartening to consider how
the Diocese of Virginia is responding
to the staggering richness of the
possibilities before us,” said Henry
D.W. Burt, secretary, in a recent
letter to the Diocese. “Each of the
continuing congregations remains
profoundly committed to its mission
and ministry. They are experiencing
significant growth, and Dayspring
teams are considering a number of
transformational mission efforts
at churches where no continuing
congregation exists. There is
tremendous energy and a gracious
spirit ever present in this work.” t
Excerpted from an article originally
written for Episcopal News Service.

Photo: Courtesy St. Margaret’s

The members of St. Margaret’s gather
together to celebrate Easter.
Summer 2012 / VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN

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