The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Annual Reports
them to serve in each other’s churches where desired and needed. We are fortunate to have
the National Ecumenical Executives of both denominations serving as our presenters: the
Rev. Donald McCoid of the ELCA (Bishop Emeritus of the Southwestern Pennsylvania
Synod of the ELCA), and the Rt. Rev. Christopher Epting of the Episcopal Church. Bishops
and clergy of the Episcopal Dioceses of Virginia, the Metro and Virginia Synods of the
ELCA and the Diocese of Washington D.C. are invited to share in this opportunity.
Our last General Convention approved Interim Eucharistic Sharing with the United
Methodist Church when authorized by the bishops of both denominations. Bishops Lee
and Jones, along with Bishop Ted Schneider of the ELCA and Bishop Charlene Kammerer
of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, shared in a joint celebration
of the Holy Eucharist at the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Arlington in
January 2007. A very user friendly five-session study guide, “Make Us One with Christ,”
designed to help Methodists and Episcopalians get to know each other, is now available
online. We encourage Methodist and Episcopal Churches in proximity to use this means
of understanding each other.
Members of DEIC shared in the LARCUM Conference featuring the Dr. Ted Campbell
of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University who focused on the
theme, “The Gospel: The Heart of Christian Unity,” and also witnessed the signing of our
statewide LARCUM Covenant by Bishop Shannon Johnston.
DEIC members grew in our understanding of interfaith relationships as we attended
the Joint Annual Ecumenical Retreat of the Virginia Council of Churches with Dr.
Shanta Premawardhana, then Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations of the
National Council of Churches. He guided us in looking at how forgiveness, justice and
reconciliation are understood and practiced in other faith traditions.
Members of our commission attended the Annual National Workshop on Christian Unity in
Arlington, VA which equips us to understand ecumenical developments at both the national
and international levels. This workshop meets by invitation in various locations with 2008
being in Chicago, and the 2009 workshop in Phoenix, chaired by our co-chair, the Rev. Dr.
Christopher M. Agnew. He also serves as ecumenical coordinator for Province III of TEC.
Members of DEIC welcome and seek the opportunity to speak to each Regional Council
at least annually on our current ecumenical commitments and interfaith developments.
We give thanks for the ministry of John Seidel, the first Lutheran member for our
commission with voice and vote, and wish him every blessing in his retirement.
Su b m i t t e d b y Th e Re v. Dr. Ch r i s t o p h e r M. Ag n e w a n d Th e Re v. Ch a r l e s R. Sy d n o r Jr.,
Co-Ch a i r s o f DEIC
Committee on Education
Our Mission
The Committee on Education is creating opportunities for Christian educators in the
Diocese to build community by inviting all to a common table to be fed, and to feed others.
Objectives that may help achieve the Committee’s mission are:
• Hosting regional lunches/dinners
• Simply Education Day
• Articles (Virginia Episcopalian, e-Communiqué)
• Committee members as available resources
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 137