The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Annual Reports
about events in their communities that provide advocacy, education and assistance to the
mentally ill. We also plan to include success stories where parishes have addressed some of
the challenges associated mental illness in creative and empowering ways.
The members of the Mental Health Committee express their gratitude to the Diocese for
making this ministry possible. While there will always be much work to be done, we feel
very privileged for each opportunity to provide educational opportunities, or even just
an understanding ear to our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Virginia.
Su b m i t t e d b y Ba r b a r a Am b r o s e, Ch a i r
Commission for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct
Thankfully, the primary work of the Commission continues to be providing trainings for
the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and for the Prevention of Adult Sexual Misconduct.
Over 30 trainings were offered throughout the Diocese, and Commission trainers also
offered both child and adult trainings for the students at Virginia Theological Seminary.
We continue to work on training new trainers, especially those in regions of the Diocese
not currently served by trainers. The training for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse is
now available and has been offered in Spanish.
In October, I attended a pilot training of trainers in “Safeguarding God’s People,” a new
program for the prevention of adult sexual misconduct developed by Church Insurance
Group and Praesidium (the same folks who designed “Safeguarding God’s Children”).
The program will be available early in 2008 and is more inclusive of lay people.
Congregations are reminded that both trainings are required of all paid employees. The
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse training is also required of all volunteers who work
with children and youth at any time other than Sunday morning.
A new policy, effective September 1, 2006, requires all adults who go on mission trips
involving children or youth to take the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Training
and for the designated leaders of mission trips to take the Prevention of Adult Sexual
Misconduct Training as well.
The Policy and Procedures Manual is available online through the diocesan Web site. An
up-to-date list of trainings is also available on the Web site.
Su b m i t t e d b y Th e Re v. Ja c q u e l i n e C. Th o m s o n, Ch a i r
Commission for South African Partnership
The Commission for South African Partnership (CSAP) seeks to foster and deepen
relationships between the people of the Diocese of Virginia and the Diocese of Christ the
King (South Africa).
Background: The Partnership arose out of the friendship between two Peter Lees, and
officially formed when the Rt. Rev. and Mrs. Peter James Lee traveled to South Africa
in 1990 to attend the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Peter John Lee, the first bishop of the
new diocese of Christ the King. This diocese was created to serve a rapidly increasing
population in an area just south of Johannesburg stretching from the southern suburbs
of that city to the Vaal River. It is bordered by the Southwest Township (SOWETO) and
the Cape Town Freeway. A high percentage of its residents live in poverty and many
of its churches meet in schools or even open air sheds. Since the establishment of this
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 143