The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Proceedings
The president recognized the Rev. Fletcher Wells, St. George’s, Fredericksburg, who spoke
in favor of the motion, and said that he would have liked to participate in Council as a
college student.
There was no further discussion. The president called for the vote. The motion was
carried, and C-1 was adopted on second reading and declared now effective.
Mr. Causey introduced C-2, regarding the number of Council delegates for churches, and
asked leave to address Council. The president granted him leave. Mr. Causey thanked the
Rev. Richard Fichter for his research on C-2 and to all who participated in the discussion.
The Committee identified two issues regarding C-2: first, is the current system of
determining lay delegates working effectively, and is it accurate, and second, if not, what
would be a better system The Committee also concluded that study of this issue provides
us with an opportunity to decide who we are as a Diocese, and that that opportunity
should be seized. The Committee identified a need for accuracy and integrity in
determining lay delegates, and for a need for accountability for those who do the counting
that determines lay delegates. Other factors are the polity of our Council and the size of
our Council. The Committee was not prepared to recommend approval of the amendment
as submitted, and determined that it needed more thorough consideration.
Mr. Causey recommended that C-2 be referred to a special committee to be appointed by
the Bishop and to report back to the 214th Annual Council.
The president called the vote. The motion was carried and C-2 was referred to committee.
Mr. Causey thanked the president and requested to be discharged. The president
discharged the Committee with gratitude.
Report of the Standing Committee
The president called on the Rev. Hilary Smith, rector of St. Paul’s on the Hill, Winchester,
and president of the Standing Committee, to offer the Standing Committee’s Report.
Ms. Smith addressed Council:
Bishop Lee, Bishop Johnston, Bishop Jones, Bishop Matthews, delegates, honored guests,
companions in ministry,
During 2007 the Standing Committee sought to serve our bishops, the clergy and people
of our Diocese and the wider Church. Much of the work of the Standing Committee
focused on our normal duties regarding the ordination process, applications for parish
indebtedness and serving as a council of advice to our bishop. I hope to give you an
overall sense of our work this past year by highlighting certain aspects of our duties. A
complete list of our official acts will be included in the journal of this Council.
First it is my privilege to introduce the members of the Standing Committee. You can
read about the duties of Standing Committees in the Canons, but that which defines the
Standing Committee of the Diocese of Virginia is the commitment of its members to
serve tirelessly for the benefit of our shared ministry and to the glory of God. With much
gratitude I thank the members of the Committee for all that they did in 2007. Please stand
and remain standing as I read your names: The Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, Mr. Dick
Shirey, Mr. Henry Burt, Ms. Sarah Bartenstein, Mr. John Keith, the Rev. Melana Nelson-
Amaker, the Rev. David May, Mrs. Martha High, Mr. Alex Slaughter, the Rev. Daniel
Robayo, the Rev. Susan Goff. Thank you for your service.
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 111