The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Proceedings
2007 revenue plus expenses, excluding the legal overage, ended 2007 $245,573 to the good. So
we were able to control expenses in light of what was going on in the larger church.
Sadly, life does not allow you to exclude what is unpleasant and the reality of the legal bills
must be met whether or not the attorney general crosses the line between church and state.
It was put to me not once, not twice, but several times as we entered the fall that several
churches had parishioners who were pressuring clergy to allow them to restrict their
parish pledging from going to the Diocese, as if it were an unrelated entity. The demand
from these parishioners was that was that they wanted none of their money to go to pay
legal expenses. I said it at each occasion then and I say it now. When you allow restricted
giving at any level, you embark upon a slippery slope. Will you allow restricted or
restrictions on giving to funding male or female clergy, white or “colored” staff When
you think you are controlling your money, your money is actually controlling you.
And finally, I ask those persons demanding that God’s gifts be restricted to put
themselves in the place of our brothers and sisters in Christ in Falls Church, Heathsville,
Herndon and Woodbridge. If there is ever an expectation of what it means to be a part of
a diocese, I hope you would expect your diocese to stand up for you rather than run, cave
in or simply not care. I know what I would expect of my diocese, and that’s it.
When Mr. Metheny presents the budget tomorrow, you will be reminded that the budget
includes a line item for debt service, and I hope you understand why. I am keenly aware
that resources are scarce, especially so for a diocese so reliant on parish generosity.
When we struggle as a diocese to properly fund ministries, or provide adequate staff—
staff to assist those in need—and we support our communal diocesan life at just under
6 percent of parish giving, placing us at absolutely dead last of dioceses in the Episcopal
Church, we need to address the strength of our messaging and teaching in what it means
to be an Episcopal Church.
Episkopos: of or pertaining to bishops.
The possibilities for us are great. Find that strength within you.
My friends, thank you for your support and especially for your trust in the financial
management of our Diocese.
Report of the R-5 Commission
The president recognized the Rev. John Ohmer, St. John’s, Leesburg, and Chair of the 2007
R-5 Commission.
Mr. Ohmer asked the other members of the Commission to join him.
Mr. Ohmer addressed Council:
Bishop Lee, Bishop Johnston, Bishop Jones, honored guests, members of Council, brothers
and sisters in Christ,
It is my honor and my duty to bring you the report of the R-5 task force. Resolution Five,
which was passed by Council last year, dealt with the matter of blessing of same-sex unions.
Because that’s an inherently controversial topic with lots of viewpoints being strongly
held, Bishop Lee’s first priority in establishing a commission to deal with this matter was
The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 93