116th Annual Council
February 1 - 3, 2008
at the Williamsburg Lodge
was wonderful, thank you one and all.
Elections & Resolutions Results [here]

A summary tabulation of your EVALUATIONS is [here]

We gather to take up the Councils of the church,
        in a spirit of peace.

May the healing begin. . .
            and Lord,
                    let it begin with me.

Truly a highpoint of the Council.  Thank you, Bishop Rowe.  We are blessed by your words and by your presence among us.  Bless you for your healing touch. 

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, the Eighth Bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania, will preach at the Diaconal Ordinations and then provide a Keynote Address at the Opening Session of the 116th Annual Council of the Diocese later that evening.
“It’s a great day in the Kingdom!” These words led Bishop Rowe’s statement in the nomination package for the election of the eighth bishop of Northwestern Pennsylvania in the spring of 2007. He was elected May 19, 2007 on the first ballot from a slate of four candidates and was consecrated on September 8 at Harbison Chapel at Grove City College, his alma mater. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was the Chief Consecrator. At 32, Bishop Rowe is the youngest member of the Church’s House of Bishops.
His upbeat outlook was further expanded in a recent article in Forward, the newspaper of the Diocese. “I am encouraged by a willingness to move forward in new and exciting ways together. Our movement toward the Kingdom requires us to spend some time in preparation and waiting. As we engage this wonderful new day, I would ask for your prayers. Pray for the Holy Spirit to release in us the gifts that we need for the building up of the Kingdom in this place. Pray for your bishop, the clergy and all the people of this diocese. God is leading us to new places and will continue to touch us so that we see the path ever more clearly.”Bishop Rowe was born and raised in Northwestern Pennsylvania and graduated from Grove City College and Virginia Theological Seminary. He was the rector of St. John’s Church in Franklin, Pennsylvania from 2000 until his election. He and his wife, Carly, chaired the Diocese’s Young Adult Program, he served on the Standing Committeeand they were active in Diocesan affairs. He also served his community as an elected member of the Franklin Area School Board and as Chair of the City of FranklinHousing Authority.There are approximately 4,800 Episcopalians in the 36 congregations of the Diocese, which is composed of 13 counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania with its headquartersin Erie.
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All of the Annual Council documents (agenda, resolutions, nominations and proposed budget) are now available to download and print from this page. While we will provide printed documents at this Council (2008), this is a preview for future Councils when you will be asked to print all the documents in advance and bring them with you to Council. The only paper documents distributed will be name badges, banquet tickets and voting ballots. We believe this will greatly improve our stewardship of time and materials. An Evaluation of Council form is provided. Comments about the convenience of having these documents in advance, the ease of accessing them online and your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

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Colonial Williamsburg is midway between Richmond and Norfolk on I-64 (exit 238). From Interstate 64, take exit 238 onto Route 143 East. Follow Route 143 to the second traffic light and bear right onto Route 132 (Henry Street). Continue on Henry Street through the Historic Area. At the third traffic light, turn left onto Francis Street. Turn right on the second street (South England); the Lodge is immediately on the right.
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Arrangements have been made for a block of rooms at the Williamsburg Lodge and Woodland Suites at a special group rate. Reservations with either of these hotels should be made directly with the hotel of your choice using the Group Rate Reservation number. Each reservation must be accompanied by a deposit equal to the first night’s lodging per room and must be received by the hotel no later than Friday, January 19, 2008 in order to secure reservations. If our room block is sold out prior to that date, the special room rate may no longer apply.
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Registration is now open for the 116th Annual Council
Information for individuals: All clergy, delegates, alternates, and visitors attending Annual Council need to register. (If you are an alternate who is not planning to attend Council there is no need to register.) You may register by contacting your parish administrator. All registrations must be coordinated and submitted through the parish office. The Registration Fee of $35.00 should accompany your request to be registered.
Information for parish administrators: Please use the registration form. Registration forms are due by January 19, 2008. The Registration form should be accompanied by a check covering the Registration Fee for all registrants.
If you have changes in your delegation after January 19th just bring your letter directly to the Credentials table which is located in the Administration Office
During Council, registration will be in the Administration Office on Friday: 4:00 -7:00 p.m. and again Saturday: 8:00 - 9:00 am.
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Date	Conv.		Location	Time	Dean
01/07/08	I		Hungars, Bridgetown	7 PM	The Rev. R.J. Johnson
01/13/08	II		Old Donation Church, VB	5 PM	The Rev. Kathleen A. Bobbitt
01/08/08	III		Epiphany, Norfolk	7 PM	The Rev. Richard Bridgford
01/09/08	IV		St. James’, Portsmouth	7 PM	The Rev. John Agbaje
01/10/08	V		Bruton Parish, Williamsburg	7 PM	The Rev. Michael Delk
01/14/08	VI		St. Michael's, CH	7 PM	The Rev. Marjorie Bevans
01/17/08	VII		St. David's, Chesterfield	7 PM	The Rev. Gregory Hodgson
01/16/08	VIII		St. Luke’s, Blackstone	7 PM	The Rev. Sandi Kerner
01/15/08	IX		Christ Church, Danville	7 PM	The Rev. Cleon Ross
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Elections to be held for the following positionsThe Nominating Committee's Nominees are [here] Additional nominations may be made from the floor.
Deputies to the Provincial Synod
Deputies to General Convention
Members of the Ecclesiastical Court
Members of the Standing Committee

ELECTED:
Standing Committee: The Rev. Michael Ferguson, Mrs. Debbie Quam
Ecclesiastical Court:  The Very Rev. Kate Bobbitt
Deputy to Provincial Synod: Mr. Steven Berry
Deputies to General Convention 2009:
                                        (in no particular order)
The Rev. John Baldwin                                    Mr. Carlyle Gravely
The Rev. Michael Delk                                     Miss. Athena Hahn
The Rev. David Teschner                                Mrs. Toni Hogg
The Rev. John Agbaje                                     Dr. Mac Todd
The Rev. Harold Cobb                                     Ms. Olivia Osei-Sarfo
The Rev. Samantha V Alexander                  Dr. Julian Hudson
The Rev. Gary Butterworth                           Ms. Susan Jones
The Rev. Connie Jones                                    Mr. Timothy Sessions

Canonical Resolution 1 (Funding, submitted by Executive Board) - Amended & Passed
Canonical Resolution 2 (Funding, submitted by Vestry of Eastern Shore Chapel) - Withdrawn
Canonical Resolution 3 (Mission Stations, submitted by Dept. of Mission) - Passed
Canonical Resolution 4 (Exec.Brd Mbr replacement, submitted by Executive Board) - Amended & Passed
Canonical Resolution 5 (Canon XIV, submitted by Status) - Passed

Resolution R-1 (MDGs) - Passed
Resolution R-2 (Payday Lending) - Amended & Passed
Resolution R-3 (Windsor Compliance) - Amended & Defeated
Resolution R-4 (Indian Tribes) - Passed [here]
Resolution R-5 (Sudan) - Passed [here]

Resolutions of the Bishop's Address Committee [here]


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(1 lay to be elected)
The Diocese of Southern Virginia is geographically located in Province III and comprises thirteen dioceses. The Synod meets at least once a year (in June) for about a day-and-a-half with keynote speakers and workshops on issues facing the national church. In the year of General Convention the focus of this meeting is on convention issues and includes the elected deputies of each diocese to General Convention.
Deputies to Provincial Synod are responsible to the Bishop and the Executive Board, and will report to the Board following Synod meetings, and make a written report to the Annual Journal of Council.
One of the three elected deputies will be appointed by the Bishop to serve a three-year term on the Provincial Council and reports to the Bishop following meetings of the Council. The Council meets twice annually (October and February) for a part of a day.
Both the Synod and Council meetings are in a central location in the Province. Expenses to attend these meetings are paid from diocesan funds.
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(one clergy and one lay to be elected)
The Ecclesiastical Court is for the trial of any priest or deacon subject to its jurisdiction. The Ecclesiastical Trial Court will consist of five (5) members of the clergy (priests or deacons) and four (4) lay persons elected by Diocesan Council for three-year terms. All members of the court must be canonically resident within the diocese. Within two months following each winter meeting of the Annual Diocesan Council, the members of the Ecclesiastical Trail Court will elect from among themselves by majority vote one person to serve as Presiding Judge for a one year term.
Within three months following each winter meeting of the Annual Diocesan Council, the members of the court will appoint a duly licensed attorney to serve as Church Attorney for a one-year term.
For more specific and detailed duties in the event of a trial, please refer to the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S.A., Title IV, Canon 4 and Diocesan Canon XXII.
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(one clergy and one lay to be elected)
Article IV of the Constitution of the General Convention provides for the Establishment “Standing Committee” in “every Diocese”. Article IV provides: “When there is a Bishop in charge of the Diocese, the Standing Committee shall be the Bishop’s Council of Advice. If there be no Bishop or Bishop Coadjutor or Suffragan Bishop canonically authorized to act, the Standing Committee shall be the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese for all purposes declared by the General Convention. Membership and Meetings. In this Diocese, the Diocesan Canons provide that the Standing Committee is composed of six members (three clergy and three lay members). Members are elected for a term of three years, with a member of each Order being replaced each year. The Canons of the General Convention provide that the Standing Committee elect from its members a President and a Secretary and further provide that they shall meet “in conformity with their own rules”. By local custom, if the President is a member of the Clergy, the Secretary is a member of the Laity (officers alternate annually between the Orders.) The Committee meets regularly, or weekdays. (Prepared by Standing Committee, July 2003)

Principal duties and responsibilities for Standing Committees are:

1. To serve as the Diocesan Review Committee (which is only body that can issue a presentment to the Ecclesiastical Court against a member of the Clergy charged with an offense.);
2. To consent to the alienation (sale) or encumbrance(indebtedness) of property held by the Diocese, a Parish or a Congregation;
3. To approve (approval is required) the admission of Postulants as Candidates for Holy Orders;
4. To consent, which is required, to ordination to the Diaconate and to the Priesthood;
5. To consent, when the General Convention is not in session, to the election of a Coadjutor Bishop, to the election of a Suffragan Bishop, to the election of a Bishop or Bishop Coadjutor to another Diocese, and to the election of a Presiding Bishop in cases of resignation, disability, or death, and for the ordination of a Bishop;
6. To consent in cases involving the renunciation of the Ministry and Clergy entering secular employment.
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All exhibitors must complete the registration process. Exhibit space is limited. First preference is given to diocesan committees and commissions. Exhibitors may set up exhibits starting at 2 p.m. Friday, February 1. Exhibits must be dismantled by 1 p.m., Sunday, February 3. Exhibitors assume the entire responsibility and liability for losses, damages, and claims arising out of exhibitor’s activities on the Lodge premises and will indemnify and hold harmless the Lodge, its agents, servants and employees from any and all such losses, damages and claims.
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Committees, Commissions and related organizations are required to file an annual written report with the Council. These reports should be addressed to the Secretary of the Diocese and may be emailed to Secretary, Diocese Southern Virginia. Reports should be received no later than January 22, 2008
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Entertainment for this year's banquet features a musical production of vignettes from Les Miserables, brought to you by the parish of St. Martin's, Williamsburg.
The price for the banquet is $35.00 per person. The price includes meal, taxes, gratuities and entertainment. The early returns get the best tables! Each table seats ten people so if your delegation is larger than ten we will attempt to seat people nearby. Once you arrive at Council contact your rector/vicar (or senior wardens of parishes w/o clergy) who will have the tickets in their registration packet. The banquet fee is NOT refundable ($35.00 per ticket), and we cannot accept banquet reservations without an accompanying check.. If you are unable to use your ticket you may advertise “tickets for sale” on the bulletin board at the Information Desk.
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