Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2015 Issue | Page 11

In Their Own Words continued from page 6

The Rev. Kim L. Coleman
Trinity, Arlington
Standing Committee Member

Bishop Goff participates in a radio show interview at the 2014
Annual Council.

Bishop Johnston recognizes the new president of the Episcopal
Church Women, Jodie Pully.

My call to work in diocesan leadership took me by surprise,
although it should not have. Like all the baptized in our
Episcopal congregations, at my confirmation, I embraced my
responsibility as laity to take my place in the life, worship and
governance of the Church. Later, when I celebrated being
called to new ministry as rector of Trinity, Arlington, I received
the Constitution and Canons of the Church, as well as a charge
to obey those Canons and share in the councils of the Diocese.
The only question was how to begin.

I began simply by showing up. As a lay person and then
as ordained, I attended diocesan meetings, stewardship and
race relation training sessions, and Shrine Mont retreats. I said
“yes” to serving on the United Thank Offering grant screening
committee and began supporting Episcopal Church Women
events. Before long, a seasoned diocesan leader asked me to
run for regional election to the diocesan Executive Board. I
currently serve on Standing Committee, and in summer 2015, I
will represent the Diocese as a deputy to General Convention.

The challenges I faced in embracing service as a diocesan
leader were not uncommon ones. I had to step away from a
vigorous and often demanding parish life as well as get over
my own reservations and fears about not being known or not
knowing enough. I also had to change my attitude about my
voice and presence being optional. It was in overcoming these
challenges that I discovered that the view from the diocesan
level is spectacular.

Diocesan leadership has enabled me to see the fullness
of who the Church is, to meet incredibly committed Christians,
and to be encouraged by how we struggle together to be
faithful to our baptismal vows. When it comes to being
hopeful about the future of the Church in general and the
Episcopal Church in particular, I attribute my service to the
Diocese with inspiring me to believe our tomorrows will be
better than our yesterdays. t

Bishop Goff: What books have been on your mind that you’d
recommend to our diocesan audience?
The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing your Organization
and the World, Ronald A. Heifetz, Marty Linsky and Alexander Grashow
A few lines from this book made the time and money spent on it well worth it.
Organic Community: Creating a Place Where People Naturally Connect, Joseph R. Myers
A priest of the Diocese gave me a copy saying, “There’s nothing really new here,
it’s all stuff I already knew, but it makes so much sense.” I agree. The book gives
vocabulary, stories and images to the ways that communities emerge and change.
The Book Thief, Markus Zasuk
My favorite novel of the past year.

WINTER 2015 / Virginia Episcopalian

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