Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2014 Issue | Page 11

‘A Light Shines, A Voice Calls’
The Rev. Canon Patrick J. Wingo
“What to do?” That’s the question we ask ourselves time
and time again in our faith journeys. In 2012, that was the
question when several properties were returned to the
Diocese following litigation. Through the fog of uncertainty,
a light began to shine. A still, small voice was heard. And the
Dayspring initiative was created, giving to the five continuing
congregations and the whole Diocese a new energy and new
path to continue God’s mission.

That same question – and that new path – can be found
beyond the litigation, and beyond the walls of those five
congregations.

“What to do?” The energy that surrounds the Dayspring
movement and the continuing discernment of that question

is not unlike the energy that begins to churn inside a person
who seeks a deeper connection with God in order to respond
to God’s call. It’s the same energy that drives a group of
people thinking about how to better equip those who are
called to lay ministry, the fruits of which will be seen early
next year. It is based on the idea that we are all called to
ministry in God’s church, and ministry is found through
prayer and discernment in community – a light shines, a voice
calls. We do our best to hear and interpret that voice, and to
respond as God would have us.

Here, we explore the process of discernment in the
Diocese of Virginia – and how we can all be a part of that
process.

An Open Heart, An Open Path
Fresh eyes on the discernment journey

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When the Rev. Deacon Frederico Garza began discerning a
call, he started with something of a blank slate. “I had no
idea what I really wanted to do,” said Garza. ”I just knew I
needed to do something.”

So he turned to his vicar, the Rev. David Perkins, then
of All Souls’, Mechanicsville. Garza had joined the team to
launch the new church plant of All Souls’, and quickly became
involved in outreach projects and the youth group. He was
employed as an engineer – but “there was a dissatisfaction
with it,” said Garza. “I needed to do something else.”

Enter the diocesan discernment process. Perkins, who
had chaired the Task Force on Ministry and the Committee
on the Diaconate under Bishop Peter Lee, encouraged Garza
to attend one of the first Diocesan Discernment Retreats
in May 2006. The retreat introduces a group of folks to the
art of spiritual direction and the orders of ministry, and is an
important first step in the discernment process.

Another crucial part of that process is the Parish
Discernment Committee. Guided by a trained Diocesan
Spiritual Discernment Facilitator, the aspirant works
with members of the congregation to explore a path
of discernment. “I think that what’s exciting [is that]
people would find this a way of being in community that
helped them feel like they were really part of the body of
Christ,” said Liz Ward, current chair of the Committee on
Discernment. “Discernment is not about just having one

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Emily Cherry

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Discernment continued on page 10

Winter 2014 / Virginia Episcopalian

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