Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2014 Issue | Page 29

Council Prep 101

What happens when 800 clergy and lay leaders from across the Diocese of Virginia
gather for two days and two nights of business, fellowship and conversation?
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming Annual Council meeting.
Logistics
• 219th Annual Council of the Episcopal

Diocese of Virginia
• January 24-26, 2014
• The Downtown Richmond Marriott
• Register by Jan. 10.
• Make lodging arrangements by Jan. 8.
• Submit resolutions, amendments,

nominations and annual reports by
Jan. 8

will offer meditations in his capacity as
chaplain for the 219th Annual Council.
The State of the Diocese

The Friday morning session of
Council will feature a new format full
of stories, photos and song aimed
at inspiring attendees to stretch
outside of our comfort zones, explore
new ministries and engage with our
communities in creative ways.

Thematically Speaking

Attendees will gather under the
theme, “Awake, My Soul, Stretch Every
Nerve.” In choosing this hymn for a
theme, “We embrace an opportunity
for us all to take a fresh look at our
shared ministries, and to breathe new
life into the mission we do together,”
said Bishop Johnston.

Engage and Interact

We’ll also include plenty of time
for fellowship and conversation.
New this year will be the chance to
participate in a real-time, interactive
electronic survey to share your
thoughts and feedback on our work
together in the Episcopal Church.

Our Guest Chaplain

The Rt. Rev. Humphrey S. Peters,
bishop of the Diocese of Peshawar
in the Church of Pakistan and deputy
moderator of the Church of Pakistan, a
member of the Anglican Communion,

Our Exhibit Hall

Our Exhibit Hall is the place to
stop to learn more about committees,
ministry teams and outreach
opportunities. Find out about the farreaching work of the Committee on the

Stewardship of Creation; learn more
about the Shout It from the Mountain
Campaign for Shrine Mont Camps; or
get to know the upcoming class of
seminarians. We hope you’ll take the
time to stroll the Council halls and visit
our exhibitors.
Worship Together

As always, our time together
will be grounded in a rich and diverse
worship experience, including compline
and morning prayer, a mission prayer
service, plus a celebratory Eucharist at
the nearby St. Paul’s, Richmond.
Full Details

Visit thediocese.net/Council/2014
for more info, plus links to registration
materials. t

Council continued from page 26

conducted each day at multiple times
before, during, and after the business
sessions in Episcopal churches and
those of other denominations. The
press consistently commented on the
spirit of this worship, the powerful
sermons preached, and the decided
effect on the Episcopalians gathered
and the local community of all
denominations.

Constant military action in Virginia
and U.S. Army occupation of various
portions of the state throughout the
Civil War prompted significant changes
to the diocesan annual meeting.

Meetings continued to commence on
the third Wednesday in May, but always
in Richmond and always at St. Paul’s
Church. All business was condensed
into two days (except in 1863 with three
days) and accounts of large numbers of
visitors and additional worship services
at multiple churches disappeared from
press accounts.

Meanwhile, recorded attendance
plummeted, with an average of 41 clergy
and 26 laity attending. Many regular
attendees in both orders were absent.
Persons located on the periphery of
the Diocese, in areas controlled by the

U.S. Army or in such dispute as to make
travel to Richmond equally impossible,
no longer attended. Nearly 90 percent
of those present at these councils lived
south of the James River and west of
Williamsburg. Not surprisingly, 25 percent
of both orders lived in Richmond. While
war did not make diocesan business
less important, it certainly curtailed the
number of Virginia Episcopalians who
could gather to conduct this business and
to enjoy the fellowship and community of
their friends and colleagues in a time of
great stress, hardship and turmoil. t

Winter 2014 / Virginia Episcopalian

27