Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Winter 2015 Issue | Page 2

Letter to the Editor Who We Are While I sympathize with the Palestinian civilians who are casualties of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, I must take issue with Nina Cullers’ letter in your Fall 2014 issue of the Virginia Episcopalian. One must first understand that the nation of Israel is struggling for its very existence. It is surrounded by enemies, including Hamas, whose stated goal is its destruction and the extermination of all of its Jewish citizens, i.e., a second Holocaust. Contrary to what Ms. Cullers implies, Israel does not target civilians. Hamas, in its cowardly approach, intentionally hides its missile launchers within Palestinian civilian enclaves – schools, neighborhoods, hospital compounds, etc. Israel is forced to counterattack the enemy where it is, and civilian casualties result. This is intentional by Hamas in a cynical effort to sway world opinion against Israel. Hamas, conversely, does deliberately target Israeli civilians with its thousands of indiscriminate rocket attacks and suicide bombers. What choice does Israel have? What would you have them do? There have been many peace agreements with Israel making concessions; what it always gets in return is rockets and suicide bombers. As has been said, were Hamas and its allies to lay down their weapons tomorrow, there would indeed be peace. Were Israel to lay down its arms, it would be annihilated. Look at both sides of the coin. The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia Ted Williams Ware Parish, Gloucester Virginia Episcopalian WINTER 2015 Volume 124 Issue 1 Published by the Diocese of Virginia – Circulation 19,000 Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston Bishop Suffragan: The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff Assistant Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick Jr. Editor: Emily Cherry Design/Layout: John Dixon Advertising/Copyediting Assistant: Kendall Martin For Christ. For this time. For all time. The Mayo Memorial Church House: 110 West Franklin St. Richmond, VA 23220-5095 800-DIOCESE 804-643-8451 Fax [phone] The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church. We are a community of 80,000 baptized members and 425 clergy in 38 counties and serveral cities of central, northern and northwestern Virginia, serving the world through 182 congregations, six diocesan schools, two diocesan centers and six diocesan homes, and home to the largest Anglican seminary in the world. Our episcopal seat is the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, Orkney Springs. Organized 1785. How to Reach the Diocesan Staff: Paris Ball, Director of Christian Formation [email protected] ext. 1042 Buck Blanchard, Director of Mission and Outreach [email protected] 1016 Mary Anne Bryant, Assistant, Mission and Outreach [email protected] 1017 Joy Buzzard, Financial Administrator [email protected] 1022 Emily Cherry, Communications Director [email protected] 1021 Melissa Eadie, Intern, Mission & Outreach [email protected] 1019 Stephanie Higgins, Bp. Assistant, Congregational Support [email protected] 1031 Edward W. Jones, Secretary of the Diocese, Chief of Staff [email protected] 1030 Kathlyn Jones, Transition Ministry Assistant [email protected] 1038 Wilbert “Skeet” Jones, Sexton 1028 Ed Keithly, Deputy Director, Transition Ministry [email protected] 1015 Mildred Lofton, Bookkeeper [email protected] 1023 Bill Martin, Assistant to the Secretary [email protected] 1025 Kendall Martin, Assistant, Communications [email protected] 1029 Meg Schwarz, Assistant, Christian Formation [email protected] 1043 Julie Simonton, Staff Officer for Congregational Development & Stewardship [email protected] 1035 Karen Smith, Receptionist/Assistant [email protected] 1010 Ted Smith, Treasurer [email protected] 1046 The Rev. Mary Thorpe, Transition Ministry Director [email protected] 1013 Michael Wade, Asst. to the Director of Christian Formation [email protected] 1027 Kate Wettstein, Assistant to Bishop Gulick [email protected] 703-241-0441 Amy Williams, Assistant to Bishop Johnston [email protected] 1012 The Rev. Canon Pat Wingo, Canon to the Ordinary [email protected] 1024 Virginia Episcopalian (ISSN 15353621, USPS 019711) is published quarterly by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, periodicals postage paid in Richmond, 23232-9998. Copyright 2014. Contact the editor for reprint permission. Views expressed in this newspaper are not official statements of policy by the Diocese. Editorial/advertising policy is set by the editor and Executive Board. Postmaster: Send changes of address to the Virginia Episcopalian , 110 W. Franklin St., Richmond VA 23220. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. Communicants: $5/year Non-Communicants: $6/year