Our final 2014 Region One meeting at Christ Church, Spotsylvania considered where we are in 2014 as a region and provided an opportunity to look ahead to 2015. We had 27 in attendance.
1. Our program guest was Ed Jones, Secretary and Chief of Staff at the Diocese and former Region One president. He talked about five priorities of the Diocese:
A. Creating a greater sense of the Diocese as a true community. We are seeing new people come to the church through outreach and World mission initiatives, the latter he said was unrivaled in the Anglican Community. But why should people come? He cited the fall issue of the Virginia Episcopalian which focused examples of the Diocese being “greater than the sum of the parts” but at the same time the need going forward to make the Diocese more accessible, intentional and upfront showing its diversity and involving the churches. We need to get to know each other better.
B. Demographic challenges in understanding our resources and taking advantage of them. He cited 2014 Annual Council’s resolution, “R8: Strategic Re-visioning and Repositioning Process for the Diocese of Virginia.” “This study is to include a review of locations and values of property, the size and location of congregations, a review of demographic trends throughout the Diocese and the identification of underserved areas of the Diocese.” How can these resources be used in a positive, useful way? The wrong way is the recent proposed administrative merger of 1/3 of the churches in the Catholic Arch Diocese of New York.
C. Continuing Annual Council’s 2014 direction in showing how we work as a community. It showed the extent of ministries in Virginia and was presented in an inviting, inspiring way. Council is important in that it shows how we work together as a community. He cited possible new ways the regions could get involved, such taking Bishop Goff to region events as a “roadshow”. He said that they are considering making pre-council “all digital” to boost participation two weeks before Council.
D. Helping to achieve the goals of the Shrine Mont Capital Campaign. The campaign now will move to the individual churches within each region. It is an important vehicle of youth formation both for the campers and counselors.
E. Revitalizing the role the regions play. The Rev. Robert Banse, priest at Trinity Upperville, is leading an effort to examine the regions to see how they are organized now and how they could be used in new ways in the future. Issues such as current boundaries, enhancing their own identity within a “clericus-type” organization, and inter-region projects are some considerations on the table.
Ed also addressed these priorities in relationship to the 8 initiatives of Region One. The consensus is that these are a foundation for 2015 but may change and evolve as the year progresses. The discussion was then opened to the region representatives for their thoughts. They cited the need to further community through different region settings such as the Region One dinners, Lenten retreats and in general foster opportunities to share stories to enhance relationships and community. A closer look at youth activities was also discussed.
2. Sharon Boivin from St. James Louisa was elected as president and Martin Lewis from Aquia as vice-president for 2015-2016. Sharon spoke of the need for more community sharing and having us get to know each other better, both spiritually and socially. She will alter the time of the next meeting to include a 6pm Eucharist followed by the dinner and meeting. She will also have name plates to facilitate communication as well as possible use of small group discussions. Her focus will be establishing core ideas – what is the overall mission and vision of the region? How do we continue to build this community, particularly through sharing? She used the metaphor of the “front porch” from a communications seminar attended in the past to encourage people to be invited in.
3. The Region passed a $14,030 budget for 2015. This includes a slight increase in pledges from the churches. The spending priorities are similar to 2014 -$2,500 shifted to the youth fund, $2,500 to mission, $2,500 to youth and $2,500 to the congregational emergency fund. Churches should make their pledges known to Jack Gaines by Dec. 15.
4. The Rev. Jay Morris of Aquia, our Executive Board representative, will be asking the Executive Board in its Nov. 6 meeting to propose a change in Diocesan Canon 8(a) for Annual Council, January 2015. Part of the Canon requires that a Regional Council may “adopt and administer a budget” that is “subject to the Executive Board.” He would remove the clause ,“subject to the Executive Board.” The consensus of the region was to support this change.