Wonder in All: The Art of Powerful Questions with Melissa Rau
October 21 – 23
Shrine Mont

What would it look like if we stopped asking the wrong questions? How might our faith communities transform and flourish if we changed our current narrative into something compelling and attractive to those who need to hear Christ’s message of love, hope, redemption and healing? At the Bishop's Fall Conference for lay professionals, clergy and spouses, participants will spend time together talking about the art of powerful questions and discover practical ways to let go of old paradigms, re-imagine new approaches to forming disciples, and gain new insight for leading thriving congregations. Join us as we practice what it means to have inquiring, discerning hearts and “Wonder in All.” 

Last year’s popular workshop leader, Melissa Rau, will return to lead the plenaries at the Bishop’s Fall Conference this October. Conference registration . Child care registration .
Bishop Goff Announces Appointment of Assistant Bishop
The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese of Virginia, is honored to announce the appointment of the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson as Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia. Bishop Brooke-Davidson has been Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas since July, 2017. 

“Bishop Brooke-Davidson will bring tremendous gifts to our Diocese,” Bishop Goff said. “We will be strengthened by her clarity, commitment, and ability to ask good questions, along with her skill in helping a community seek faithful answers. She is the right person at the right time to share in leadership and support of our mission and ministry.” Read more about Bishop Brooke-Davidson. | Full page bulletin insert. | Half page bulletin insert.
Two New Diocesan Staff Members
Join us in welcoming Mark Eastham, o ur new Secretary and Chief of Staff, and Paige Carnohan, Financial Associate, to the diocesan staff.

Mark was most recently Head of School at Stuart Hall School, one of the six incorporated Church Schools of the Diocese of Virginia. As Secretary and Chief of Staff, Mark will coordinate diocesan convention, provide leadership and support to governance bodies of the Diocese, and oversee diocesan staff development. Read more about Mark . 

Prior to joining the diocesan staff, Paige worked as a Community Relations Manager at Triangle Rock Club, a rock climbing fitness center. As diocesan Financial Associate, she will oversee benefits and payments while assisting the Treasurer and Financial Administrator with key financial tasks. Read more about Paige .
Register Now for Annual Convention
November 14-16
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington
 
The registration form, hotel information, and procedures for submitting resolutions, nominations and amendments are now available on the Annual Convention webpage . Register before October 4 to receive early bird pricing ($215). After October 4, the registration fee is $265.
 
If you have not submitted your Certificate of Election form, please do so as soon as possible. Delegate registration cannot be processed until the church’s Certificate of Election (COE) form has been received by the Convention Registrar .
Save the Date: Formation Leaders Retreat
October 26, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Trinity, Fredericksburg

The Office of Christian Formation is offering the first Diocese of Virginia Formation Leaders Retreat in October. Speakers will discuss the Way of Love resources, toolkits for Youth Ministry and Children's Ministry and more. Come network, learn and grow in your connections with fellow formation leaders! Registration is $15 for a single person, or $30 for up to four people from the same church. Additional details and registration coming soon.
Retired Clergy and Spouses Luncheon
October 15 | 11:30 a.m.
Goodwin House, Alexandria
October 28 | 11:30 a.m.
Westminster-Canterbury, Richmond
The Bishops will host luncheons for all retired clergy, their spouses, and surviving spouses in October. Those residing within the Diocese of Virginia, whether canonically resident or not, are invited, but you must reserve your place by October 1. Please click here to view the invitation and for information about responding. Questions? Contact Kate Wettstein at [email protected] or (800) 346-2373 x 1033.
Ordinations to the Priesthood
On Saturday, September 7, Bishop Goff ordained (left to right) Daniel Johnson, Amanda Kotval, Patrick Keyser and Kristin Wickersham to the priesthood. The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew McGowan, Dean & President of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, gave an inspired sermon . Thank you to St. Mary's, Goochland, for hosting this special occasion.
ECW Fall Meeting and UTO Ingathering
October 19 | 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Pohick, Lorton

The Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Virginia will hold it's 129th Meeting and 130th UTO Ingathering this fall. Attendees will hear about the Triangle of Hope youth pilgrimage trip to Ghana and learn how your church can be involved in the next three-year pilgrimage cycle. They will also learn about the Church's response to the opioid crisis and the diocesan Addiction and Recovery Team's program on "Hope and Healing." Pohick will offer a historical tour of the church. Register .
Trustees of the Funds Seeks Board Nominations
The Trustees of the Funds, a Related Organization in the Diocese of Virginia, is charged with the oversight of professionally managed investment portfolios that benefit churches and other organizations in the Diocese in Virginia. It supports leaders of each participating body to be good stewards of their resources for the sake of present and future mission. If you or another Episcopalian you know would like to be considered for election to the Trustees of the Funds board, please fill out and return the interactive nomination form .  Learn more . 
Fall Camp for the Young at Heart
October 28-31
Shrine Mont

Back by popular demand, Philip Gulley returns to Fall Camp as the keynote speaker. Philip is a retired Quaker minister who believes that one of the worst things that has happened to society is that houses no longer have front porches. Philip is a wonderful storyteller and author. Campers will be entertained by folk theologian Ed Kilbourne, known for his collections of moving music, quirky humor and insightful monologues. Ed has earned a reputation as one of America's cutting edge religious communicators.

Fall Camp is a 4-day conference for campers 55 and older. A fabulous retreat that includes workshops, worship, fellowship and lots of down time for relaxing on the porches. Cost: $270 per person; $350 for a single room. Register . 
Christ in Crisis: Author Talk with Jim Wallis and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
September 25 | 6 - 8 p.m.
National City Christian Church, Washington DC

Bestselling author and Christian activist Jim Wallis urges America to return to the tenets of Jesus as the means to save us from the polarizing bitterness and anger of our tribal nation. In Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus, Jim Wallis provides a path of spiritual healing and solidarity to help us heal the divide separating Americans today. Presiding Bishop Curry wrote the foreword to this book and will be a part of this conversation.
Support in the Wake of Hurricane Dorian
Members of Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Program are working closely with dioceses affected by Hurricane Dorian. With your help, the organization’s Partners in Response and Resilience stand ready to respond in the coming weeks as the full extent of the storm becomes clear. Make a donation.
Upcoming at VTS
The Poetics of Theology: Readings and Reflections
Tuesday, October 1, 7-8:30 p.m. | Free. Join author and professor Robert S. Heaney in conversation about his latest book,  Post-Colonial Theology: Finding God and Each Other Amidst the Hate . Attendees will reflect on their personal faith journeys alongside readings from the book. Learn more and register . 
Join Us in Prayer
Please pray for Little Fork, Rixeyville; Emmanuel, Middleburg (pictured); Farnham and St. John's, Warsaw; McIlhany Parish, Charlottesville; and St. Paul's, Ivy, as they prepare for their Bishop's Visitations this month. We pray for Bishop Ihloff, Bishop Gulick, Bishop Jones and Bishop Chilongani (Bishop of Central Tanganyika, Tanzania) in their travels to these congregations. 

Please pray for Bishop Goff and Bishop Ihloff as they travel to Minneapolis for the House of Bishops meeting. 

Please pray for the regional Deans as they meet this month.
Church Events
September 14 - 15: Food, Feasting and Faith with Kendall Vanderslice Explore the intersection of food and theology, attend a bread baking workshop, and worship over dinner. Trinity, Charlottesville.
October 4-5: Dismantling Racism Workshop Pohick, Lorton.
October 4-6: Singing off the Page A weekend of singing in community, engaging our voices in encounter with the living God. Trinity, Charlottesville.
October 5: Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse St. Luke's, Alexandria.
October 16: Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse All Saints, Richmond.