The Wider Church

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

We are part of something larger than ourselves.

 

Of course we are part of the great plan of salvation, the cosmic work of Jesus Christ in the world.  But I also mean this statement in a very literal and technical way.

 

Our parish is not a congregation unto itself.  In some traditions, the basic unit of organization is the local gathering—the people who meet week in and week out.  Anyone who comes on Sunday gets a vote, and the people and their clergy get to make all the decisions, for good or ill.

 

Not so in our Episcopal tradition.  For us, the basic unit of organization is the diocese, a collection of churches (173 in our Diocese of Virginia) under a bishop (in Greek, episkopos—hence the denomination’s name).  This structure means that we share our life—our joys and our struggles and our challenges and our resources—in a larger orbit. 

 

As you read this, lay and clergy delegates from our diocese will be gathered together in Richmond for our 231st Annual Convention.  This meeting shows the reality of who we are: not just one congregation in isolation, but part of a web of mutual care and belonging.

 

At Convention, our delegates (the three clergy, plus Rushad Thomas, Celia Schultz, and regional youth delegate Perrin Chiaow) will listen to stories from around our diocese.  They will vote on resolutions about the direction of our church.  They will elect members of the Standing Committee, which is basically a vestry for the diocese.  They will share communion together with the whole convention assembled.

 

As we do these things, we remember that we are part not just of a church, but the Church—one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.

 

Please pray for us who gather.  We hope to tend and steward the gift Christ has given to us all.

 

Yours in Christ,

Anne+