NEWS OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SOUTHERN VIRIGNIA

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What’s Inside This Issue

On Our CoverSummertime – And the Living Is Easy

Legendary American composer George Gershwin prob-ably said it best in his opera “Porgy and Bess” with the line “Summertime – And the Living Is Easy”. Here is hoping it is so for you this summer. Scenes from past, present and hopefully future summers grace the cover of this issue of the Jamestown Cross. In this series of images from Chanco on the James and Camp Chanco, people participate in worship on the river bluff in some of God’s wonder- ful creation; quite paths in the woods invite a walk on “the road less traveled” as Robert Frost wrote and “Rolling on the River” (maybe a little of a reach) from John Fogerty’s Creedence Clear-water Revival group in 1969. On this page, a Chanco camper gets “ready to fly” on the zip line that is part of so many folks’ camp experience. Have a good summer!

A Message From Our Bishop Page 1 Ed Tracy Named Canon For Administration Page 3

Gay Lloyd Gibson Pinder’sFamily Memoirs Page 4

The Life and Work of Ven. Dr. Erasmus LaFayette Baskervill Page 9

St Michael’s OrganDedication Page 13

Talbot Hall Task Force Completes Work Page 12

New Wine Process Moves Forward Page 19

Dear Diocesan Family:

As the Easter season fades into “ordinary time” and spring becomes summer in Southern Virginia I want to take this opportunity to address two mat-ters in our diocese that impact our common life and to share some news with you.

New Wine UpdateFirst, I want to update you on the recent New

Wine regional conversations. I am deeply appre-ciative of those clergy and lay leaders who were willing to devote a Saturday morning or afternoon to engage in the reflection process. The meet-ings were, by and large, well attended, spirited and productive. Likewise, I am thankful for the clergy who offered another layer of reflection at the May Clergy Day at Chanco. Information from all sources will now be assembled and discussed by the Executive Board at their June meeting. Over the next few months the Board and I will strive to forge a strategic plan for moving forward in Mis-sion in our diocese.

While it would be premature of me to offer any conclusions at this time, I do believe there are certain general patterns that are emerging from the New Wine process. Clearly, many of our parishes are searching for new ways to raise up and to train new lay leaders in congregational settings. The need to reinvigorate the ministry of the baptized and to move beyond the constraints of a system in which clergy are the sole “religious professionals” is a repeated theme. Likewise, the general desire to find ways to bring “new people” into our con-gregations received considerable attention.

Perhaps most palpable desire is for improvement in communications across the diocese. While it is not always clear what exactly people mean by “communications” or what exact form such im-provement might take concretely, it is clear that leaders are desirous of being better connected with both the office of the bishop as well as with one another. Overall, I sense that as an Episcopal culture, we are in the middle of a very difficult seismic transition in the way we communicate with one another. As the diocese increases its use of information technology as its main source of immediate communication – a direction that is inevitable for the entire world - we are challenged to develop new disciplines within the diocesan system and within parish settings for passing that information along to the person in the pew. We are also challenged to move forward and at the same time be sensitive to the needs of those who rely solely on the printed word – such as the

June 2011 | Page 1

A Message From Our Bishop

Jamestown Cross – and are unable to, have not yet, or never will rely on the internet as a point of connection.

These are just a few of the strategic issues which are emerging. I am excited by the oppor-tunities they represent. I am also certain that if we are willing to form new working partnerships across our diocese, and seek creative solutions together, we will move forward!

The Rev. Ed Tracy Joins the Diocesan StaffSecond, I am thrilled to report that the Rev. Ed

Tracy joined the diocesan staff in early May. Ed, a former priest in our diocese, has assumed the duties of Canon for Diocesan Administration. Among other things, he will join me in overseeing the diocesan support staff at Talbot Hall, admin-istration of the diocesan ordination process, the creation of new policies and procedures, oversee-ing diocesan properties, Annual Council planning and the administration of the new Title 4 Canoni-cal process for reconciliation. Please take a mo-ment to read more about Ed’s responsibilities and background in this issue of the JTC.

Ed Tracey’s arrival marks the end of a two year period of transition within the diocesan program staff. I give thanks for all those who have worked with me at Talbot Hall since becoming bishop. I also give thanks for the fact that, once again, I am blessed by the presence of a highly effective team of skilled people working with me day to day.

Within the culture of the Episcopal Church, we certainly live in challenging times! There are days when from my desk at Talbot Hall I ponder how it is that we will manage to do all that we need to do to move forward in Southern Virginia. There are days when I ponder how in the world I can be meaningfully available to 115 congrega-tions across a wide geographical landscape. And in each instance, I am led to the same conclusion: stay the forward course, be faithful, be deliberate, pray and place one’s trust in God. Our challenges are great, but even greater is the potential power

of God working through us, through the partner-ships in ministry we are striving to create and through our re-commitment to strengthening our common life in our diocese.

A Summer AdventureFinally, I want to share with you how I will be

spending some of my time in June. Some months ago, I was nominated to be a civilian participant in the Army War College Annual National Security Seminar in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Army War College was established in 1901 to promote peace by preparing senior military officers to serve in the highest command and staff positions in the Armed Forces of the U.S. Part of the program includes a week during which civilian professionals from var-ious disciplines are invited to attend lectures and interact with students around a variety of issues.

Needless to say, the invitation came as a surprise. As one who has never served in the military, I was curious as to what I might have to offer were I to attend. It was explained to me that the War Col-lege values interaction with civilians who regularly deal with leadership challenges or ethical issues. After some prayerful deliberation, I decided that the invitation would be a unique learning opportu-nity for me and, more importantly, an opportunity to give back to those who risk their lives to serve our country. I am highly cognizant of the fact that The Diocese of Southern Virginia has an unusually large population of servicemen and women, ac-tive and retired. In my experience, a great number of those men and women show an extraordinary spiritual devotion to God and to offering their time, talent and leadership abilities to furthering the mis-sion of the Church.

With a deep sense of curiosity and an even deep-er sense of privilege, I will travel to Carlisle, Pa. in early June to be a War College participant. I have no doubt that this bishop is about to have his mind broadened (the first scheduled lecture on Monday morning will be given by Gen. David Petraeus!). I just hope that I will also have something to offer. Yours,

+HollyThe Jamestown Cross

From Our Bishop (continued)

“I never imagined I would be enjoying ministry as a ‘Canon’ for this or any diocese. It is just not something that ever flew past my radar screen, which at the very least goes to show I would not be a good candidate for a job as an air traffic controller” is one of the first reactions from Canon for Administration Edward “Ed” Tracy. Ed returned to Southern Virginia on May 1 as a member of Bishop Holly Hollerith’s senior diocesan staff.

No stranger to the Diocese of Southern Virginia – Ed was the Rector of Johns Memorial Church in Farmville from 1998 to 2006. During his tenure there, he shepherded the congre-gation through significant spiritual and physical growth.

“I am very excited that Ed’s going to be joining our diocesan staff,” Bishop Hollerith said. “He brings not only strong experience as a parish priest but also a very thorough knowledge of our diocese, having served as a rector and as past chair of the Standing Committee.”

Ed also brings a wide range of business experience with him to his new ministry. Before his ordination, he spent 12 years in a variety of management capacities for the Maloof Companies in Albuquerque. “Ed’s experience makes him uniquely qualified for this role. His business acumen and gifts for strategic thinking and plain speaking combined with his passion for the ministry of the church will be a blessing to our diocese,” said Bishop Hollerith.

As the Canon for Administration, Ed will assist the bishop in a variety of ways. Some of his duties will include: plan-ning and oversight of Annual Council; administrative support to the Executive Board, Nominating Committee and Com-mission on Ministries; and oversight of diocesan administra-tive staff and diocesan properties. He will also act as the Bishop’s representative to the Chanco Board.

Describing his ministry path, Ed continued “I came from a healthy and wonderful parish in Ashland, June 2011 | Page 3

Virginia called St. James the Less (SJTL). It was named after one of the 12 apostles. SJTL is comprised of very talented, delightful and caring people, with great leadership, fantastic youth and outreach programs, including a Free Clinic. They also practice exemplary stewardship of time and resources to both the parish and the diocese. To leave parish ministry in such a mission minded family was a very difficult decision and some might say down right nuts too! But I believe that God has called me to this place and as difficult a decision as it was to leave my home in parish ministry, I believe it is the right call at the right time.

“Now I have traveled across diocesan borders to miracu-lously arrive back home again. The ways of the Spirit are indeed marvelous and mysterious.

“The Episcopal Church in Southern Virginia is home because of the opportunity I was given to serve as rector of Johns Memorial in Farmville for 8 ½ years. It is home because of the many relationships and friendships I have made over those years. I came to know the Bishop Hol-lerith before he was bishop when he served as rector of Bruton Parish and I served on the Standing Committee. We worked together well in the past and became friends over those years. I can say that if it had been anyone else who had asked me to serve in this position I would still be back in Ashland. Now I return to a familiar place overflowing with people I love and care for as brothers and sister in Christ. I must say it’s good to be home again . . .”

Looking forward, Ed asked himself a question that many of you may be asking: “What does a Canon for Administra-tion do?” His response: “I’m still on a learning curve about that myself. In short as Canon for Administration, I oversee a greatly dedicated, hard working (and dare I say, Fun!!!) diocesan staff. Representing the bishop, I sit on the board of Chanco, oversee Diocesan Council, The Ordination Explora-tion Program (OEP), the Commission on Ministry, anything dealing with diocesan property issues, make sure the new Title IV canons (disciplinary canons) proceed in order, along with about a thousand other things.

“It’s probably easier to say what I don’t do. I don’t do ordinations or confirmation (The bishop does). I don’t over-see the Transition Ministry with clergy and parishes (The Rev. Canon Michael Spear Jones does that). I’m sure you are about as clear now as I am. There’s a lot to be involved with and that is probably the part I like best. I get to work in a lot of different ministries with a lot of very talented lay people and clergy who really make it all happen. With you and the bishop, I get to help guide the ministry and the mis-sion of God’s church so that Jesus saving grace may be seen and experienced in as many lives as possible. It is indeed a surprise, a gift and blessing to be here, back home again.”

(continued on page 18)

Ed Tracy Named Canon For Administration

TRANSITIONS

by Nancy Smith St. Aidan’s Church, Virginia Beach

Gay Lloyd Gibson Pinder, 90, embraces life with energy and spirit women half her age may well envy. An active member of St. George’s, Pungoteague, she still drives her own car. Gay lives in a round house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia filled with mementos of her life as daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter, sister, niece, aunt, wife, and mother of Episcopal priests and bishops. Both of her grandfathers were Bishops.

“All of them graduated from Virginia Seminary,” Gay says.

Gay’s family memoir spans nearly two centuries. In 1841, Gay’s great grandfather, the Rev. Churchill Jones Gib-son, the first Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) graduate in the family founded Grace Church in Petersburg, Virginia. Construction began on Grace Church, a large Gothic struc-ture on High Street before the Civil War. Once completed, the church seated 800 people.

During the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee, an Episco-palian, signed papers permitting the Rev. Churchill Gibson’s young son, Robert Atkinson Gibson, to cross Union lines from Petersburg to be confirmed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond.

Robert, Gay’s grandfather, followed in his father’s foot-steps becoming the second VTS graduate. His ministry led him to Cincinnati, Ohio. Back then news traveled slowly. One day Grandmother Gibson, Susan Stuart from Staunton, Virginia, read a notice of interest to the family in the news-paper.

“You’ve been elected bishop of Virginia,” she said.As the 19th century came to a close, the Gibsons moved

back to Virginia and settled in Richmond. After five years as bishop coadjutor, the Rt. Rev. Robert Atkinson Gibson served as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia from 1902 until his death in 1919.

Under his guidance, the Blue Ridge archdeaconry was established, and the majority of Virginia’s black parishes were founded. For the 1907 General Convention, which was held in Richmond, Bishop Gibson devised a diocesan seal instructive of the origin and history of the Diocese of Virginia. It is still in use today as the bishop’s seal. He did a great work of repossessing, restoring, reopening and reactivating many of Virginia’s colonial churches which had long stood idle or in a state of near ruin.

The Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration consecrated in 1925 at Shrine Mont near Orkney Springs, Virginia and built with the vision and direction of the Bishop Gibson’s son-in-law, Rev. Edmund Lee Woodward, M.D., husband of Gay’s Aunt Frances Gibson, is a memorial to Bishop Gibson’s ministry and a testimony to the great love that his people had for him.

Churchill Jones Gibson, son of Gay’s brother, the Rev. Churchill Jones Gibson reinforced family ties to Shrine Mont recently when he joined the staff as director of development.

Shrine Mont holds a special significance for Gay. Her fa-ther, Churchill Jones Gibson, Bishop Gibson’s fifth child and the third generation to graduate from VTS met Gay’s mother Gay Blackford Lloyd, at Orkney Springs. The Gibson and Lloyd families vacationed at the mountain resort north of Har-risonburg, Virginia before the Shrine was built.

“Mother and father started courting at Orkney Springs,” Gay says. “They were a darling pair. No one thought it would work, but it was wonderful.”

Gay Blackford Lloyd grew up in Norfolk. Her father, the Rev. Arthur Selden Lloyd, served as rector of St. Luke’s from 1885 to 1899. A fire destroyed St. Luke’s in 1921. When plans were made for a new church, the depression brought about the decision to combine the congregations of Christ Church, St. Luke’s and St. Andrew’s to form today’s Christ and St. Luke’s Church. Rev. Lloyd’s portrait hangs outside Lloyd Hall.

In 1909 Grandfather Lloyd, the second bishop in Gay’s life, was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor in the Diocese of Virginia. The next year he resigned to assume the Presidency of the Board of Missions of the Episcopal Church, an organization that he had earlier served as secretary. He made a lasting contribution to the Church’s mission and devoted the next 10 years of his life to that work. Gay remembers visiting the Lloyd grandparents in New York City. In 1921, Arthur Selden Lloyd became Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of New York and served until his death in 1936.

Gay’s father, Churchill Jones Gibson, entered VTS in 1910, graduated in 1913 and married Gay Lloyd that year.

The third daughter, Gay was born in Lexington, Virginia when her father was rector of Robert E. Lee Memorial Chapel The Jamestown Cross

Gay Lloyd Gibson Pinder’s Family Memoir Spans Nearly Two Centuries

and vocational rehabilitation of the women at VCCW.

Gay graduated from high school in 1939. She juggled studies at the Richmond Profess- ional Institute now Virginia Commonwealth University, with social obligations as a debutante. She met Joseph Pinder, a school friend’s brother, at an opening night production of “Tree of Liberty,” a story of the founding of Colonial Williams- burg. He had a role as one of the Howard’s of Virginia.“We sort of caught on,” she says.

Joe graduated from the University of Virginia, took a job at the Naval Base in Norfolk and commuted in his Piper Cub to court Gay in Richmond. They fell in love. Soon after the United States entered World War II in 1941, Joe joined the Army Air Corps. Gay joined the workforce of women who filled jobs as men went off to war. She earned 34 cents an hour at DuPont doing routine chemical analyses until the union stepped in and raised the wage to 98 cents. She worked in the motor corps, made bandages as a nurse’s aide and sold war bonds.

On leave before heading to Lubbock, Texas for training as a glider pilot, Joe visited Gay in Richmond. Gay’s father married them April 3, 1943.

“Father said he would have married us on Sunday in the middle of Lent to get rid of the telephone bill,” Gay says. And he did marry Gay in the middle of Lent.

A week later the newlyweds arrived to find Lubbock teem-ing with hundreds of glider pilots and their families looking for a place to stay. Gay decided to ask about lodging at the Episcopal rector’s home. As she knocked on the Rev. John Winslow’s front door, Joe reminded her not everyone is hospitable like her father. What a wonderful surprise to find John’s wife, Leyburn, was a friend of Gay’s sister Susan.

When Joe’s eyesight curtailed his bid to be a glider pilot, he served as a captain in the Air Transport Command in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and in Brazil where he directed air traffic between the European and Pacific theatres. At the end of the war Gay joined him in Brazil for a year.

The couple moved in with Gay’s parents in Richmond, when Joe’s tour of duty ended, Joe returned to contracting. Gay assembled a layette. The Pinders’ first child, Gay Lloyd, was born at Stuart Circle Hospital right around the corner from St. James. Their second child Anne Winston was born two years later.

In 1949, Joe received a letter from the Rt. Rev. Frederick Deane Goodwin, Bishop of Virginia, asking if he intended to enter the Episcopal priesthood. He was a postulant before the war. With Gay’s blessing, Joe joined the fourth generation of VTS graduates in her life.

Joe bought property across the road from the seminary in Alexandria and built a new home for the family. Con-

on the campus of Washington and Lee University.“I’m a mountain girl who married Tidewater,” she says.

At home now on Pungoteague Creek near the Chesapeake Bay, she pines a bit for the mountains of her youth.

Gay was nine years old when her father accepted a call to be rector of St. James in Richmond. One year later, Gay gladly gave up her status as youngest child in the Gibson family. Churchill Jones Gibson, destined to be the fourth generation to graduate from Virginia Seminary, was born. Gay and her older sisters, Betsy and Susan, loved and ad-mired Churchill, and he loved and admired them.

“My brother was so nice about his ancient sisters,” Gay says with a smile.

The Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith, IV, Bishop of Southern Vir-ginia, was nine years old when he first met the Rev. Churchill Jones Gibson, chaplain at St. George’s Camp at Shrine Mont. Holly attended St. Stephen’s School in Alexandria, Virginia, and they met again. Churchill served as chaplain at St. Ste-phen’s School from 1966 to 1977. He served as chaplain and associate dean of students at Virginia Theological Seminary from 1977 to 1995, and was named professor emeritus when he retired. In his retirement, he served as interim rector in many parishes until his death in 2008.

“He influenced me by preaching the Gospel at me at every opportunity in an attempt to convert me from a heathen teen-ager into a mature Christian adult,” Holly says.

“Whenever I see our Bishop Holly, he tells everyone, ‘Her brother is the reason I’m in the ministry,’” Gay says. “I think my brother did very well.”

The four Gibson children grew up in Richmond during the great depression right across the street from St. James. The church-centered life often lacked luxuries like store-bought clothes. Gay’s mother made the children’s clothes.

“When the children asked, ‘Are we poor?’” Gay remem-bered, “Mother said with a lilt in her voice that made us proud, ‘We are rich in spiritual values’”.

Like all parents, Mother Gay Gibson worried about her children’s happiness. She shared her concern with Grandfa-ther Lloyd. He said, ‘Pray to the Lord they will have happy hearts and leave the rest to Him,’ Gay says. “The Lord was with us all the time.”

Many guests, from visiting missionaries and clergy at time of Council to soldiers during World War II, shared room, board and conversation at the Gibson home.

“Mother would ask the soldiers three questions: would you like to take a bath?; would you like to give $1 for the chapel at the Goochland County Prison for women (Today, the Vir-ginia Correctional Center for Women) on the James River?; and have you ever thought of going into the ministry?” Gay says.

Through the efforts of Gay’s mother and many contribu-tors, and the influence of Elizabeth Kates, the first warden at the prison, the chapel was built. The Elizabeth Kates Foun-dation continues to maintain a fund to support the educational June 2011 | Page 5

Gay Lloyd Gibson Pinder’s Family Memoir Spans Nearly Two Centuries

The Jamestown Cross - June 2010

struction began in July. Gay moved in with their family in September.

“It was a wonderful three years,” Gay says.The third child Joseph William joined the family in 1950.

Joe was ordained in 1954 and assigned to Wicomico Church, Wicomico Church, Virginia. The role of rector’s wife came naturally to Gay. She hosted Junior Auxiliary meetings in her home and taught the children the five fields of service. Churchill Gibson, the fourth child was born at Wicomico.

In 1954, the family moved to Halifax where Joe served as rector of St. John’s Church. The fifth child, Elizabeth Lloyd, better known as Betsy, was born in Halifax. Then Rt. Rev. David Shepherd Rose, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese, asked Joe to start a church in South Richmond. Joe found and bought 10 acres of prime land on Chippenham Highway and Route 147. In Alexandria, Joe built a home for his fam-ily; in Wicomico he built a parish hall. In South Richmond, he built a congregation and a church. With the help of an architect, Joe designed a portable church, dubbed an “instant church,” that could be taken down and moved to a new mis-sion site when a permanent structure was built. Five of these churches, built in the Diocese of Southern Virginia to be portable, became permanent. Construction began in July. In September the first service was held the new church named Redeemer.

“Joe had to have confirmation before he could have a vestry,” Gay says. “We were missionaries in suburbia USA. People of all denominations and walks of life came together at Redeemer.”

Six years later Bishop Rose called Joe to Virginia Beach to organize a mission. Joe found the land on Great Neck Point through Mr. Joe Addington and he built All Saint’s Episcopal Church. On May 11, 1969, the congregation attended the

first service in their new church home.In 1978, Joe and Gay retired and moved to the Eastern

Shore of Virginia. Sons Joseph and Churchill took a year off to help build their parents first home on Pungoteague Creek. It sits in front of the round house Joe built before he died in 1992.

Before Joe’s death, son Churchill was ordained by the Rt. Rev. Rustin R. Kimsey, Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon and the Most Rev. Desmond M. Tutu. Today, the Very Rev. Churchill Gibson Pinder serves as dean of St. Ste-phen’s Cathedral in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Churchill and his cousins make up the family’s fifth generation of Virginia Theological Seminary graduates. The Rev. Stephen Rintoul Davenport III, Gay’s sister Susan’s son and Churchill’s godfather graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1970. His brother, the Rev. Robert Atkinson Davenport at-tended seminary during the 1980s with Churchill. He is rec-tor at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Norfolk. Cousin Webster S. Gibson, Uncle Churchill’s son, is rector of Christ Church in Winchester, Virginia.

When Gay reflects on her life, she sees good fortune.“I was a daughter with really remarkable parents. I was a

sister with very compatible siblings. I was a wife with a very nice husband. I am a mother with strong, healthy children and five healthy grandchildren. Those are the persons that I am. I married a “Shaker-Maker” and my strong point is adaptability so that worked well. With my whole life being tied to the Church – having never being forced to question my faith to any truly deep degree – I feel the Grace of God has been with me. My life has just happened – I have really never done anything. Life has just come to me. I have done it; I hope the best I can. I have been born with my happy heart and have loved my life and look forward to what comes next.”

Gay Lloyd Gibson Pinder, continued

The Rev. Robert B. NewlandThe Rev. Robert B. Newland passed away November 14th

in Durham, New Hampshire. Born in 1933 in Long Beach, California, he received a degree in chemical engineering from California Polytechnic Institute in 1955.

After serving in the Army, Robert attended Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduating in 1966. He was ordained a Deacon in 1966 and a Priest in 1969 by Bishop George Gunn. He was the curate at Trin-ity Church in Portsmouth and the rector at St. Aidan’s in Virginia Beach. He also served parishes in New York and Maine and worked for the Diocese of Maine.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years June, 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

The Rev. Claude Turner Jr.The Rev. Deacon Claude J. Turner Jr. went to his last

home to be with his Lord Tuesday, May 17, 2011. His 90 years were well-spent and productive. He was ordained a deacon in 1984 by Bishop Charles Vaché and served at Good Samaritan and St. Aidan’s Churches in Virginia Beach. He also served as Port Chaplain at the International Seamen’s House in Norfolk for many years and was a volunteer at Sentara Leigh Hospital.

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1921, he joined the Navy in 1938. Upon retiring from the Navy, he returned to his wife and children in California. He was hired as a sheriff’s deputy in San Mateo County. During this time he became active in the Episcopal Church and eventually entered the seminary. While attending the seminary, he volunteered at the San Fran-cisco branch of the International Seamen’s House, and found what he considered his true calling, serving the international seafaring community. In 1979, Claude and Diann moved back to Virginia and settled in Virginia Beach, where they lived for the rest of his life.

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVED OUR DIOCESE

June 2011 | Page 7

Alexander P. Grice, IIIAlexander P. Grice III

departed this life December 14, 2010. Born and raised in Norfolk, Alex attended the Norfolk Division of William and Mary (now Old Dominion University).

Alex loved his parish and he loved his diocese. He served both with distinction.

As soon as it was canonically possible, he was elected to the Christ and St. Luke’s parish vestry which he served frequently as Register, Junior Warden and Senior Warden. Generations of acolytes knew him as a friend and mentor who looked after them, encouraged them and taught them to value their service as an important ministry that had meaning. Later he served as the first Verger of his parish.

He served the Diocese and the wider church five times as a Deputy to General Convention and was instrumental in acquiring the present property for Chanco on the James and Camp Chanco where he served on the Board of Managers. He served as Verger for Council’s Festival Eucharist and Master of Ceremonies for several Bishops’ consecrations. He and his wife Barbara were the first Hosts of Diocesan Coun-cil. He was also an early leader of the Cursillo movement in Southern Virginia.

Alex also was a master craftsman who built altars for Talbot Hall, Chanco, and the Canterbury Center. His crown-ing achievement was to build the present Christ and St. Luke’s free-standing high altar, which allowed the celebrant to face the congregation but did not change the sightline to the reredos.

Survivors include Barbara, his wife of 63 years, three sons and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Boston M. Lackey, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Boston McGee Lackey, Jr., 89, died at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1921. He grew up in Lenoir, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1942. He then entered Virginia Theological Seminary, receiving his M.Div. degree in 1944. He was or-dained Deacon in 1944 and Priest in 1945 by Bishop Robert Gribbin of Western North Carolina. He also completed a Master of Sacred Theology at Sewanee in 1969 and a D.Min. at VTS in 1989.

In Southern Virginia, he was the Rector of Christ and Grace in Petersburg for 36 years. He also served at Mer-chants Hope in Prince George County and Richie Memorial in Claremont. His service in Southern Virginia also included a term on the Standing Committee of the Diocese. Besides Southern Virginia, he served parishes in North Carolina and Connecticut.

The Rev. George J. SmithThe Rev. George J. Smith passed away December 15, 2010. Born in Denver, Colorado in 1929, he received his under-graduate degree from Colorado College in 1951 and his M.Div. degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1954. He was ordained Deacon and Priest by Bishop Arthur Kinsolving of Arizona in 1954. In Southern Virginia, he was the Rector of Hickory Neck Church in Toano from 1976 to 1985. He also served at Grace Church, Drakes Branch and Christ Church, Halifax. Outside this diocese, he served churches in Utah, Wyoming and Ari-zona and spent much of his ministry working with the Native American peoples of the west.

(cont. on page 18)

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVED in SOUTHERN VIRGINIA TRANSITIONS

The Rev. William I. Jones, Jr.The Rev. William I. Jones, Jr., passed away November 29,

2010 in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Born in Harrogate, Ten-nessee in 1924, he received degrees in Music from the Cin-cinnati Conservatory and graduated from Virginia Theologi-cal Seminary in 1967. He also received a PhD from Florida State University in 1973.

He was ordained Priest by Bishop Edward West of Florida in 1968. He served Grace Church, Emporia and Christ Church, Stony Creek in this diocese from 1973 to 1987. He also served churches in Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and three children.

The Rev. J. Williamson BrownThe Rev. J. Williamson “Bill” Brown, Jr., died November

13, 2010. Born in 1929, he was ordained an Episcopal priest at age 40 after service in the Army and an early career with Merrill Lynch.

He most recently served at St. James’, Accomac and St. George’s, Pungoteague. He also served churches in Ken-tucky. He was a happy man with many interests (flying, sail-ing, racing sports cars in his youth). He believed himself to be richly blessed and will be remembered for the joy he found in his faith, his family and friends and all animals.

He is survived by his wife Joan and two children.

Erasmus LaFayette Baskervill was born October 3, 1870 in Clarksville, Virginia, the first freeborn child in his fam-ily. His parents were passionate about education and sent the young Erasmus to the Boydton Academic and Bible Insti-tute, a Virginia institution established in 1879 by the Boston physician, Charles Cullis, for the “Christian Education of the Negro people.”

In 1894, the 24-year-old Baskervill had mastered the Bible Institute’s academic requirements, and after receiving his credentials, entered the U. S Army. He so distinguished himself during a second tour of duty in the Philippine War campaign as a leader of men that J. D. Leitch, his Captain and Adjutant, wrote admirably that “he showed such intel-ligence and ability that I recommended him for a Commis-sion as a 2nd Lieutenant.” Honorably discharged from Teddy Roosevelt’s army in December 1903, he immediately married his sweetheart in the beautiful Boydton Institute’s chapel where he had received his formal education and religious training.

Baskervill’s parents had so instilled in him the impor-tance of education as the basic tool to uplift the colored race, still destitute years after the Civil War and Reconstruction, that his lifetime work centered on providing a Christian edu-cation to African Americans. In September 1904 he enrolled in Bishop Payne Divinity School of Petersburg, Virginia.

Bishop Payne Divinity School had been started years earlier to accommodate James Solomon Russell, a former slave and the first African American to seek admission to Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexander, Virginia. Fol-lowing his training at Payne, Russell went on to found Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia and more than twenty Episcopal churches in Southern Virginia. Moreover, Russell became the first African American elected to the bishopric in the Episcopal Church, USA.

Baskervill graduated in 1908 with top honors from Bishop Payne and began as a postulant in the Diocese of Lexington (the eastern part of the state of Kentucky). The Rt. Rev. Lewis W. Burton, Bishop of Lexington, ordained him Deacon at the St. Andrews Church, Lexington. Shortly afterwards, he continued his service as Deacon at St. James Church in Portsmouth, Virginia, working under the Rev. J.

M. B. Glee. Called back to Lexington in 1908, he assumed the title of Presbyter-in-Charge of the St. Andrew’s mission after he was ordained to the priesthood. Baskervill contin-ued working to improve the plight of the poor. Tirelessly, he raised funds to support educational ventures and nurtured a nonsectarian kindergarten program. Called to the Diocese of South Carolina in 1913, he became Rector of Charleston’s Calvary Church and within a year, assumed responsibility for the entire Archdeaconry. He served in this position until his death in 1937, forming and administering twenty-eight parishes and missions, fifteen day or parochial schools and industrial and midwifery programs for adult men and women.

What is most impressive and inspirational about Basker-vill is that his ministry occurred during the Jim Crow era in America when African-Americans experienced brutal and dehumanizing treatment including lynchings, house burnings, social and political ostracism. Undaunted, he persevered, continuing to preach Christ’s message of love and inclusion. He solicited funds for the Archdeaconry from northerners who were sympathetic to the dilemma of disenfranchised blacks.

In addition, Baskervill engaged in the great debate be-

The Jamestown Cross

The Life and Work of Virginia’s the Ven. Dr. Erasmus LaFayette Baskervill, 1870-1937

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams with Charles Farrar

By Charles Farrar, S.Th. (Cantur)

June 2011 | Page 9

Episcopal Church Women of the diocese elected the 39th ECW diocesan president at the 2010 Fall Annual Meet-ing. The Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith, Bishop for the Diocese of Southern Virginia, installed Dr. Angela M. Parker, St. Paul’s Memorial Chapel, Lawrenceville, at St. Aidan’s, Virginia Beach October 30. Dr. Parker’s installation adds a new dimension to the ECW story in Southern Virginia. She is the first daughter of a former president to take office. Her mother, Pearl Parker, served as the 34th ECW diocesan presi-dent from 2001 to 2003.

Other officers were also installed, including Barbara Tay-lor, St. Francis, Virginia Beach, first vice president; Frances Medley, Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, second vice president; Grace Martino-Strid, Good Shepherd, Norfolk, treasurer; Priscilla Condyles, Manakin, Midlothian, commu-nication chair; LeMoine Jones, Galilee, Virginia Beach, cor-responding secretary; Katherine Patterson, Christ and Grace, Petersburg, parliamentarian; and Mary Ordeman, Hungars, Bridgetown, Special Stewardship Chair.

Meigan Chan, Province III representative to the ECW National Board, attended the meeting and reported on a re-cently completed partnership between the Episcopal Church Women, the Episcopal Women’s Caucus and the Anglican Women’s Empowerment. The partnership was formed to encourage participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

Left to right ; Mary Ordeman, Hungars, Bridgetown, Special Stewardship Chair; LeMoine Jones, Galilee, Virgin-ia Beach, corresponding secretary; Frances Medley, East-ern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, second vice president; Priscilla Condyles, Manakin, Midlothian, communication chair; Barbara Taylor, St. Francis, Virginia Beach, first vice president; Dr. Angela M. Parker, St. Paul’s Memorial Chapel, Lawrenceville, president and Grace Martino-Strid, Good Shepherd, Norfolk, treasurer. Katherine Patterson, Christ and Grace, Petersburg, parliamentarian, was not present when this photo was made.

tween Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Dubois about the most effective method, labor or learning, to elevate the black race. Erasmus, similar to James Solomon Russell, sought common ground between the two philosophies. For example, he fought to erase the reality that saw seventy percent of black males drafted from rural South Carolina during World War I not being able to read or write. During the Depres-sion, he served as a member of the Governor’s Unemploy-ment Commission, led Hampton Institute’s (now Hampton University) Conference of Ministers and the Inter-Racial Commission, and the Commission on Religious Education among Negroes.

During the early 1900’s, men like Bishop Edward Thomas Demby of Arkansas and Bishop Henry Baird Delany of North Carolina joined Archdeacon Baskervill and were accountable for most of the work to improve the religious, educational, and social condition of their “colored” flocks in the Episcopal Church, USA. Their task was fraught with ob-stacles. Many blacks felt these men should have challenged the Church more and some viewed them as tokens since the Church still held to separation of the races. Baskervill, however, continued to evangelize and labored on to provide instruction for thousands of South Carolina’s rural black children.

Archdeacon Baskervill died on June 12, 1937, becom-ing ill after presenting one of his six children, Lewis, to the Bishop for ordination to the priesthood. He rests in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D. C. Today, a tangible legacy still thrives and serves in Charleston, South Carolina. His beloved Calvary Episcopal Church is in its one hundred and sixty-second year.

A fitting testament to his character, vision, and dedica-tion to Christian service can be found in his appointment to a Commission at the 1931 General Convention. Erasmus and the Commission were charged with studying “the status of the Negro in the Protestant Episcopal Church” and “recom-mending to the next General Convention methods whereby a fuller measure of leadership may be developed among them.” Some of the challenges studied by that Commission have been addressed over the years but, long after these 1934 recommendations, some still await action.

Editors Note: Mr. Charles Farrar is a James Solomon Russell Scholar in Philosophical and Religious Studies from Saint Paul’s College. He also received the Lambeth Diploma of Student in Theology from the Archbishop of Canterbury for his research on Archdeacon Baskervill.

The Life and Work of Virginia’s the Ven. Dr. Erasmus LaFayette Baskervill, 1870-1937

Southern Virginia ECW

Installs New Officers

visit our website www.diosova.org

The first annual “Stations of the Cross” ecumenical service was held this year in the newly constructed Central Park in Cape Charles.

Four area churches, St. Charles Catholic Church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church and Trinity United Method-ist Church participated along with a crowd of 120+ people of all ages, ethnic groups and color. Members of each church took turns in carrying the Cross as others sang various hymns along the path of all 14 stations. Various participants expressed appreciation for this deeply moving experience of walking the Way of the Cross.

Area ministers participating included The Rev. Michael Breslin, St. Charles Catholic; The Rev. Don Donovan, St. Charles Catholic; The Rev. Sr. Patricia Kellam, Emmanuel Episcopal; The Rev. Fulton Sessoms, First Baptist; and The Rev. Elizabeth Lutz, Trinity United Methodist.

The Jamestown Cross

Cape Charles Good Friday 2011

On Tuesday, November 16th, the Rev. James Blair chapter of the National Society, Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century, a lineage organization, held a ceremony in which Hickory Neck Church’s importance as a historic site was rec-ognized. A bronze plaque, installed near the sidewalk leading to the entrance to the historic chapel, states:

In 1774 a north transept was added to Hickory Neck Church, built in 1734. The

church served as a hospital during the American Revolution. In 1825 the main

body of the church was razed and the north transept, still used for worship services, was converted into a school.

Placement of this marker brings national recognition to our special hilltop, where the faithful have been gather-ing for worship for 276 years. Eighteenth century Hickory Neck Church is on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.

Hickory Neck Receives National Recognition

June 2011 | Page 11

Seeking new ways to effectively live as Church in the 21st Century can often lead us to re-examine our ancient roots. Such is the case at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ports-mouth. In January, Fr. Derek Harbin began his ministry as the 16th rector of this historic congregation that was founded in 1848. Derek, along with his wife Clifford, had each served for a decade as Church Planters in an emerging Episcopal congregation in Charlotte before coming to Hampton Roads. Their respective experiences as church planters had con-firmed for them the transforming power that the catechume-nal process and Patristic liturgical practices, integrated with musical variety and technology, can provide meaning for 21st century adults and children who are looking for experiential, authentic and spiritual communities to help them navigate life.

The people of St. John’s are not what you might expect to find in an historic Hampton Roads church. In 1998 the parish intentionally made the decision not to become a “museum” and began to explore worship opportunities that would broaden their engagement with the culture. After a decade of exploration, they remain committed to the challenge of finding innovative ways to reach beyond the parish. When an adult came forward seeking baptism in early 2011, the parish

photos by Misty Graves quickly created a catechumenal process with over two dozen participants to shepherd this candidate toward his new life in Christ. Sunday adult forums focused on the early Jerusalem church’s celebration of Holy Week. Teams of parishioners creatively worked to create worship experiences that were moving, fresh and timeless. The culmination of this journey was an Easter Vigil that few will ever forget.

The ancient tradition of the Church was to baptize adults by immersion on the night that Jesus passed over from death to life. Surprisingly to many Episcopalians, that tradition is preserved in the Prayer Book rubrics which specify that the “candidate is presented to the Celebrant…who then im-merses” in copious amounts of water. Illumined by candle-light and surrounded by chant, Mick’s old life drowned in the waters of the font as he emerged to a risen life in Christ. Like the ancient Kings of Israel, ounces of Holy Chrism were poured on his head as he was sealed by the Holy Spirit. That evening, he was clothed in a new white garment, received the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, sipped from a chalice of milk and honey, and joined his sisters and brothers at St. John’s as together they continue to find new ways to share the light of Christ with the world.

Things Grown Old Made New

Updated Web Launch at www/diosova.org

Diocesan Website Gets New Look

Have you been frustrated with the load time for the dioce-san website? If the answer is YES, there is some good news. The site – diosova.org – has a new host and a new look.

It is designed to be fast loading and easy to navigate. The site is still under construction, so click the link, bookmark the site and visit often. If you already have the site bookmarked, you may have to reset it if your browser does not automati-cally redirect you to the new site.

New resources will be added throughout the summer, including a Young Adults page, Bishop’s page, liturgy, com-munications and other resources for congregations.

Check with us often as we improve this communication channel to better connect our diverse diocese.

The Jamestown Cross

The Talbot Hall Task Force, charged by Bishop Hol-lerith to receive and recommend proposals regarding the future of Talbot Hall, has completed its work and reported its recommendations to the diocesan Property Committee.

Recognizing that the property is an extraordinary gift from God through the generosity of the Talbot family, the Task Force committed itself to an exhaustive review of any options that would allow the diocese to retain ownership of the property. The Task Force was also sensitive to the fact that the property has historic and environmental value that should remain intact.

Of the proposals received, the Task Force recommended that the Property Committee consider two program ideas that were consistent with the diocesan mission and also had the potential to be financially sustainable: (1) Event Rental Facility and (2) Environmental Center/Sailing Center. Either of these proposals could involve the diocese retaining owner-ship of the property or establishing a charitable foundation to which the property would be transferred.

The Task Force, chaired by the Rev. Dr. Stanley Saw-yer of All Saints’ Church in Virginia, was appointed by Bishop Hollerith following two town hall meetings concern-ing the future of the Talbot Hall property. Nine members from across the Hampton Roads region joined Sawyer on the group. The Talbot Hall Task Force was charged by the Bishop with “hearing and vetting all the excellent ideas we’ve heard along the way and others that may arise in the meantime.” The Bishop continued, “if there’s an idea out there that will allow us to carry out our mission in a respon-sible way while continuing to make the property available to our parishes, the neighborhood and others, we’re committed to finding it.”

Rev. Mr. Sawyer described some of the feelings of the Task Force, noting “Each member of the committee comes to this work from a position of passion for the property. Some grew up in the neighborhood, others see the site as an endangered watershed, some feel strongly about the historic character of the 18th century home on the grounds, others see a lost revenue generating opportunity for the diocese and one had the unique experience of living in the Manor House.

“From the outset, we were unanimous on one governing principle: if at all possible, we wanted to see the property re-main in the hands of the diocese. We consider it an extraordi-nary gift from God through the generosity of a family whose mark on Norfolk extended well beyond the boundaries of the land grant. To dispose of it without an exhaustive review of

all the possible options would be to diminish that gift, and we could not imagine that outcome.

“We were equally committed, though, to our responsibil-ity not to overburden an already burdened budget and dioc-esan staff. That commitment required us to consider a wide range of possibilities, including whether the best course of action might be to sell the property and invest the proceeds. We rejected that possibility for a number of sound financial reasons including the fact that the market for such property is severely distressed and likely to remain so for some time.

“But it must be said that the primary reason we rejected a sale is because we felt that the land and the river that flows by it was a gift from God through Carol Talbot and we believed we could do more to further the gospel with the property than without it. Of special interest was the property’s position at the river’s edge and our strong sense that we are in a unique position to preserve the integrity of a watershed that will be vital to the restoration of the Lafayette River.

“As a result, our deliberations came down to one central question: “How do we keep the property and generate enough revenue to create positive cash flow or at the very least, a revenue neutral situation?”

After evaluating the recommendations and conducting a significant amount of research, the Task Force offered two short-term recommendations (Increase rental fees and in-crease the rent for the Episcopal residence to market rates) to take effect immediately and at least two longer term options that appeared to be consistent with the Diocesan mission and also have the potential to be financially sustainable in the long term – one was to expand the properties use as an Event Rental Facility and the second was to establish an Environ-mental Center / Sailing Center.

The report of the Task Force is just the beginning of a process to determine the future of the Talbot Hall property. The next step in this process will be for the diocesan Property Committee to review the report and make a recommendation to the Executive Board of the diocese. “I am deeply thankful for the hard work of the Talbot Hall Task Force, especially their chairman the Rev. Stan Sawyer,” said Bishop Hollerith. “It is clear they worked long and hard to present viable ideas for this unique property.”

The full report of the Task Force is available on the diocesan web site www.diosova.org. The Task Force did not address and made no recommendations regarding the location of the bishop’s office and diocesan administrative offices which are currently located on the Talbot Hall property.

Talbot Hall Task Force Completes Work

June 2011 | Page 13

It Was Standing Room Only At The Dedication Concert For St. Michael’s Pipe Organ

On January 23, 2011, St. Michael’s Church in Bon Air celebrated the dedication of the Gerald Morgan, Jr. Memorial Organ. Gerald Morgan, Jr., a major donor for the organ project, passed away on January 5, 2011. Upon a recommendation from the Organ Committee, and with the blessing of the Morgan family, the vestry unanimously voted to name the organ in Mr. Morgan’s honor. The Rev. Greg Hodgson formally dedicated the organ to the glory of God during the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

The organ is part of St. Michael’s “Building Up, Reaching Out in Faith” Capital Campaign. In addition to the organ, the campaign also incorporates building renovations and beautification of the worship space, bell tower, connection to the parish administration build-ing, handicapped accessible restrooms and more. The church hopes to see the renovation through to its full completion within the next three to five years.

The Dedication Concert performed that afternoon at 5:00 p.m. by Director of Music and Arts Crystal Jonk-man was attended by an estimated 300 people. It was a Standing Room Only crowd. The concert featured works by Marchand, Bach, Reger, Locklair, Howells, Vierne and others.

In addition to parishioners, visitors came from throughout Richmond and beyond to attend the dedi-cation concert. Visitors of note included Mr. Grant Hellmers, Director of the Richmond Concert Chorale, who composed one of the pieces performed especially for the concert: Partita on “Wie schön leuchtet der Mor-genstern” (the Epiphany hymn “How bright appears the Morning Star”).

Also in attendance were several members of the Gerald Morgan family, to whom Ms. Jonkman dedicated two pieces by the composer Max Reger. Once the final chords of the last piece stopped resonating, the crowd immediately rose into a standing ovation lasting several minutes.

George Taylor and John Boody of Taylor and Boody Organbuilders, as well as several members of their staff, traveled from Staunton to attend. Taylor and Boody is considered one of the country’s, if not the world’s, premier builders of tracker-action organs. The organ includes 2480 pipes and four divisions (choir, great, swell, and pedal). The casework includes carv-ings relating to St. Michael: Michael carrying in one hand the scales of judgment and in other the sword of retribution, and on the opposite side of the case, the dragon of evil and sin with which the Archangel Michael did battle. John Boody notes that the organ has “the stops needed to accompany the liturgy and choir and also play a wide range of literature. A flex-ible electric stop action makes changes in registration dependable and fast. This gives the organ new expres-sive possibilities. And the pipes enclosed in the swell box give it a Romantic flavor.” Construction of the organ began in 2008 and it was installed during the late summer and fall of 2010.

Other concerts to introduce the organ featured David Higgs on March 6 and Peggy Marie Hass-Howell on May 6. Future concerts in 2011 will feature Colin An-drews on July 1, Richard Newman on August 21 and Bruce Neswick on October 9.

The Jamestown Cross

The Jamestown Cross won a Polly Bond Award of Excellence at the 2011 Episcopal Communicators conference held recently in Memphis, Tennessee. Editor, picked up the photography award for the photo package (creative and design by Bob Oller, Oler Studios) of the 400th Anniversary Celebration for St. John’s Church in Hampton in the October 2010 issue of The Jamestown Cross.

The Jamestown Cross Wins Polly Bond Award

Chanco is not just for kids!The entire family can enjoy the experience of

God’s great outdoors at Chanco. The young and young at heart are invited to join us at “A Weekend of the Arts in the Woods” from July 15th to July 17th. Come for a day or for the whole weekend.

Join us for a weekend of music, movement, dra-ma, painting and exuberant creativity. This retreat will include joyful music, meaningful worship, and workshops for children, youth and adults. It also will include fun for everyone!

Registration closes on July 1st – don’t wait to register for this fun family experience! Visit the Chanco website for more information and to download a flier and registration form.

Program questions? You can contact retreat

coordinator, Mary Lou Crifasi, by telephone at 757-630-3130 or by e-mail at mcrifasi@eastern-shorechapel.org. You can also contact Chanco for all other information, toll free at 888-7CHANCO or by e-mail at hospitality@chanco.org.

We hope to see your entire family in the magical woods of Chanco this summer!

A Weekend of Arts in the Woods July 15-17, 2011, Chanco on the James

June 2011 | Page 15

Chanco would like to welcome Valerie Delgado, new Hospitality Director at the Chanco on the James Conference Center. Valerie joins Tina Sha-tinsky in this position serving as our week-night and/or weekend hosts to our conference center guests. Valerie brings over 13 years of hospital-ity and customer service experience serving as a Docent with Preservation Virginia (APVA) at Bacon’s Castle museum. She also has past experi-ence with guest service at the Isle of Wight Inn. Valerie is enthusiastic about beginning her new job with Chanco stating that she loves the outdoors and guest service. In her spare time, Valerie serves as a rescue home provider for the SPCA. When you visit for your next conference or retreat at Chanco, please be sure to give Valerie a warm welcome!

Chanco also welcomes our 2011 summer camp staff. They staff week began June 19 with orien-tation; team building; safe church training (if not already completed); basic first aid, safety, manag-ing homesickness and bullying prevention training, just to name some of the skill building experiences during staff week. The majority of the Camp Chanco counseling staff is made up of college stu-dents and many of them are Camp Chanco alumni themselves. They are a team of high energy, posi-tive, conscientious, fun-loving, caring individuals who exude sunshine and Chanco spirit 24 hours a day! The Chanco board and staff welcome them to our team and look forward to working with them in the months ahead as they create an environment of safety, faith, and summer fun for our campers.

CHANCO ON THE JAMES

Chanco Welcomes Hospitality Director, Summer Camp Staff

In April, Operation Military Kids (sponsored by a grant from Virginia State University for youth with at least one parent in the military) was an enormous success! There were 60 youth and staff in attendance for a weekend of outdoor fun. The group reported enjoying themselves immensely and state they plan to return next year! Chanco looks forward to welcoming them back and is pleased to be a part of supporting our military families.

For the first time in known history, Chanco hosted an Easter service on the bluff complete with an Easter egg hunt. The dining hall was decorated for Easter and participants enjoyed a scrumptious lunch buffet with carving stations of ham and roast beef along with delicious side dishes and delec-table desserts. Conference Center Director Stacey Richards organized, marketed and hosted this event for the four area United Methodist churches that make up the Surry Charge. Over 130 youth and adults attended the service and 88 joined us for Easter lunch. Twenty-five youth enjoyed the Easter egg hunt on the bluff and it was a wonderful day of meaningful worship, friendly fellowship and spectacular food!

Interest has already been expressed in a similar service to be held at Chanco for Christmas.

New Events Held at Chanco On the James

Conference Center

The Jamestown Cross

Ed is originally from New York. He moved to New Mexico to attend the University of Albuquerque and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology there in 1974. In 1980 Ed was received into the Episcopal Church. In 1992 he entered Virginia Theological Seminary, graduating in 1995. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1996 in the Diocese of Western New York.

Ed and his wife Lee Ann have been married 25 years. Lee Ann has four children, all of whom live in New Mexico.

The Rev. Bill Starkey The Rev. William G. Starkey died June 3. Father Bill, as he was affectionately called by many, was a retired associate pastor at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. He also served as vicar from October 2002 to September 2007 at St. Simons by the Sea in Virginia Beach and as an interim rector at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Jenkins Bridge. Born in 1926 in West Virginia, he received a B.S. degree from West Virginia Wesleyan University in 1950 and served in the U.S. Navy. Following the service, he spent a career in retail marketing.

After retiring from that career, he followed his calling into the priesthood. He was ordained Deacon in 1980 and Priest in 1981 under Canon 9 by Bishop Robert Atkinson of West Virginia. He served churches in West Virginia until his second retirement in 2002, when he and his wife moved to Virginia Beach to be near family.

In his long ministry, Father Bill was most proud of his authorship and publication of two books of memoirs, Excla-mation Points: Memoirs of a Life Well Lived and Ponderings. The proceeds of these books sales are being donated to the Mission of the Holy Spirit in Norfolk.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife and is survived by two children, 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

At Christ and St. Luke’s Church in Norfolk on December 18, Bishop Holly Hollerith ordained six persons to the Sacred Order of Priests. The new priests include (left to right) the Rev. Les Ferguson of St. John’s in Suffolk; the Rev. Anna Noon of St. John’s in Hamp-ton; the Rev. Robert “Bob” Coniglio of Emmanuel Church in Cape Charles; the Rev. Willis Foster of St. Stephen’s in Petersburg; the Rev. Julia Messer of Emmanuel in Virginia Beach and the Rev. Drew Fossie of Old Donation in Virginia Beach.

Bishop Hollerith was assisted by Bishop Greg Rickell of the Diocese of Olympia (Western Washington State) who also preached at the service. Rev. Fossie originally entered the ordination program from the Diocese of Olympia.

The Rev. Robert D. HarmonThe Rev. Robert Dale Harmon died

October 2, 2010 at his home in Richmond. Born in Gastonia, North Carolina in 1939, he received at BA from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1962 and his M.Div. from the School of Theology of the University of the South at Sewanee in 1965. He also did graduate and doctoral work at the University of Georgia.

He was ordained Deacon in 1965 and Priest in 1966 by Bishop Matthew G. Henry of the Diocese of Western North Carolina. He served St. Barnabas Church in Richmond in this diocese as well as churches in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia during his 43-year ministry to Christ and his church.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Nanette, a daughter and three grandchildren.

Six Ordained to the Priesthood

Ed Tracy Named Canon (cont)

June 2011 | Page 17

Maria Kane Ordained Priest at Hickory Neck Church

On the evening of May 4th, a large throng of the faithful gathered at Hickory Neck in Toano to witness the Rt. Rev. Herman Hollerith IV ordain the Rev. Maria Alexandra Kane to the priesthood. The sacred rite of ordination was performed with the support of several visiting clergy. Also present were many of the can-didate’s family members and friends, some of whom had come from a great distance. Special music was provided for the occasion and brightly colored flowers adorned the chapel.

The Rev. Kane, a native of Bedford, Texas, gradu-ated from Howard University in 2003. She received her master’s degree from Duke University in 2006 and on June 19, 2010, was ordained to the deaconate at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh, North Caro-lina. The Rev. Kane, Hickory Neck’s curate, currently is a doctoral candidate at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.

Southern Virginia to Host Deacons’ 2013 National Conference

The Deacons of the Diocese of Southern Virginia have been awarded the honor of hosting the 2013 Conference of the Association of Episcopal Deacons (formerly the North American Association for the Dia-conate) in Williamsburg.

Deacons Margery Howell and Becki Dean worked to gather information about the historic area facilities and offerings.

The conference will include an opening ceremony at Jamestown and worship with Bishop Holly Hollerith at historic Bruton Parish. About 200 deacons from across North America are expected to attend.

The Association for Episcopal Deacons (AED) is the new name of the organization for Epis-copal deacons formerly known as the North American Association for the Diaconate, or NAAD. The new name was officially adopted in March. The Association for Episcopal Deacons is the professional association serving the approximately 2,900 deacons throughout the Episcopal Church.

According to Deacon Pamela Nesbit, newly-elected president of AED from the Diocese of Pennsylvania, the name was changed in order to better reflect the organization’s mission within The Episcopal Church, which is active in 16 nations around the world. The association’s mission is to provide a broad range of informational and educational resources to deacons and those interested in or studying for the diaconate. In addition, AED has expanded its vision to engage the diakonia of all believers, recognizing that all Episcopa-lians are called by our Baptismal Covenant to serve the marginalized in Christ’s name.

Among the recent initiatives of the Association for Episcopal Deacons are:

The Seven: A part-time, 10-month, hands-on spiritual and educational exploration program for young adults (18-30 years old) who want to engage in meaningful work and reflection in their communities while discern-ing their own vocational calls in mentored relationships with Episcopal deacons.

A Latin Experience: A program for deacons, or those in formation for the diaconate, to spend time sharing in the lives and ministries of deacons in the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic.

A Statement on Engaging the Diakonia of All Believ-ers, based on work done by the Lutheran World Federa-tion in a statement titled Prophetic Diakonia: For the Healing of the World. As the Association expands in the way it encourages the diakonia of all believers, the Board has endorsed this statement as one for the whole church to engage. The statement urges all members of the Body of Christ to recognize the ways in which they are called to Christ-like service. A Domestic Poverty Initiative is mobilizing interested deacons and others to create and expand local programs to combat poverty through the sharing of information and resources. This is the Association’s response to Resolution A155 from the 2009 General Convention.

The Association maintains a website at www.diako-nai.org and also publishes a journal, Diakoneo, and an online newsletter, Deacon Update, which are available through the website.

Deacons’ Group Announces New Name

The Jamestown Cross

2010 – 2011 EYC President Kortney Bodge Reflects

Dear Friends, It’s hard to imagine that my term as EYC president is com-ing to a close. This job was stressing but more importantly rewarding. I had been coming to youth retreats since my freshman year and always had a blast. Being on the Board allowed me the opportunity to see how much work really goes into putting these retreats on, from making nametags to planning prayers and talks. Being on the Board was such a positive influence in my life. I was given an ambassador role and tried to embrace it as much as possible. I got the op-portunity to make an address at Council, attend the vocations exploration retreat, and even to attend EYE, the Episcopal Youth Event, this June.

Youth ministry has been going through a transition this year and many changes have been made for the better. I hope for the future that the Youth ministry programs only get stronger. Youth ministry has been such an important part of my life especially over the last year and I hope that other youth can gain the same friendships, experiences, and lessons that I have learned through it. This year I was also able to serve on the Youth Ministry Team, which is a group of truly amazing individuals that try and promote convocational unity and convocation events. I believe whole-heartedly in this and I hope that it continues and flourishes in the next year or so. Although I was president I received crucial help from the whole board team which consisted of Bailey Basden, Em-manuel, Virginia Beach; Sam Belka, Old Donation, Virginia Beach; Laura Field, St. David’s, Richmond; Julie Worley, St. Paul’s, Norfolk; Evan McLaughlin, St. Christopher’s, Portsmouth. We were also greatly helped by adult advisor Barbara McLaughlin from St. Christopher’s, Portsmouth; and last most surely not least, Diocesan Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs.

Together we made up the EYC Board family and I believe had a very successful year. Yes, I used the word family; we had our rough patches but we pushed through and pulled off great events. We leaned on and supported each other and I am proud to say that I have gotten the opportunity to work beside each and every one of them!

A little bit of advice I would give to the new board com-ing in next year – or even to all the youth – is to take full advantage of the opportunities that the diocese presents, go to as many retreats as you can, be involved, be active, because believe me if you let them these retreats and opportunities will change your life.

Next year, I will be attending Old Dominion University’s Honors College hoping to major in Marketing. My hope is to still be involved with youth ministry and help out with in whatever ways I can. I just want to take this moment to

THANK all of you. This last year has been amazing.

I have gained so much insight, life skills, and friendships through being President this year. I have also met so many key adult mentors who have helped me along this journey and I know I will be able to come to them for advice with whatever life throws at me in the future. So thank you, you all have provided me with everything I could’ve asked for this last year. I hope that youth ministry only gets better and that it is given the opportunities to truly impact people’s lives, like it did mine.

With love and thanks, Kortney Bodge St. Thomas, Chesapeake

EYE 2011 This SummerThe Diocese will be sending 12 young people and two

adult supporters to this year’s Episcopal Youth Event (EYE). The event begins on June 22 and concludes on June 26 and will be held at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2008, the event was in San Antonio and included a visit to the Alamo (archive photo below).

This year’s Youth delegates include Bailey Basden, Emmanuel Virginia Beach; Kortney Bodge, St. Thomas Chesapeake; Erica Cooke, Emmanuel Virginia Beach; Conor Davidson, St. Andrew’s Newport News; Adrienne Davis, St. David’s Chesterfield; Claudia Hazelwood, Grace Norfolk; Audrey Jerauld, Emmanuel Virginia Beach; Eric Marcolini, St. Andrew’s Newport News; Anna Marks, St. Aidan’s Virginia Beach; Evan McLaughlin, St. Christopher’s Portsmouth; Elizabeth Palmer, Emmanuel Hampton; and Nick Sarandria, St. John’s Portsmouth. Adults attending are Harper Lewis, St. Andrew’s Newport News and Ashley Scruggs, Diocesan Youth Missioner.

Please keep these representatives of our Diocese in your prayers as they attend the triennial gathering of youth from all over the Episcopal Church.

June 2011 | Page 19

The six regional listening sessions that marked the beginning of the New Wine Strategic Planning process were completed during Lent. Working with our consultant Sandi Scannelli we have begun to distill the many comments that were gleaned from those meetings. The meetings produced a tremendous amount of data.

One dominating theme was the need for greater interconnection between the diocese and the parishes as well as between parishes. There was a strong interest in building stronger bridges within the laity of the diocese and calls for the diocese to help with this. Many wonderful ideas were shared, although some of the information was more prob-lem solving rather than looking at the diocese from the 30,000 foot level. These ideas will all be kept for use when the mission and vision are written.

An important aspect of this planning process is that this is not a top down process, but one that works from the concept of a network that the bishop described at the meetings. The Executive Board made a conscious decision to begin with the people in the pews as we assessed where we are as a diocese in order to begin to look at where we want to go and what we want to be.

As a second step, the Rev. Mark Wilkinson, Rector at St. Aidan’s and chair of the committee, the Rev. Jeunée Cunningham, diocesan Canon for Congrega- tional Development and Sandi Scanneli, our diocesan consultant, presented a summary of these results to the clergy gathered for the Spring Bishop’s Day on May 3 at Chanco. The clergy were asked for their reactions to the material gathered. That nformation has been gathered and will be given to the Exec- utive Board during a retreat day planned for late June.

One of the challenges that our consultant brought to our attention is that we are looking at planning in a new context and for a very differ-ent world. Sandi spoke to us about discontinuous change rather than continuous change. Continu-ous change is change that we can anticipate. For example a rector leaves a parish, we have a search process and a new rector is called. In entering into a planning process in today’s world, the end is not nearly as clear because the world we operate in is very turbulent. Discontinuous change is change where there may not be one clear trusted solution, because the issues and challenges are constantly evolving. What this means is that a traditional strategic planning process may not generate the result we want. The result we desire is one that equips our parishes and the diocese to function in this world where the old answers may no longer be the best answers.

This process may take a little longer than we anticipated. We had hoped to have a mission and

vision crafted by Pentecost, but that would be forcing the process and may not result in a mission and vision that will address our needs. Instead, the

Executive Board will work on our diocesan mission and vision

at its June 23 meeting, and as necessary, continue the

work over the summer, gathering any other infor- mation we need to move forward. By early fall,

we should have the mission and vision in place, and

will be able to deploy our congregational and diocesan

resources to build toward our

common vision.

New Wine Process Moves Forward

The Jamestown Cross

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FORANNUAL COUNCIL 2012

Schedules and Registration

Information will be posted on the Diocesan

web site www.diosova.org as it becomes available.

Visit our web site for more details and register on line www.diasova.org

Bring your family and join us for a weekend of music – singing it, playing it, talking about it and listening to it.

Chanco - A Weekend

of Arts in the Woods

at Chanco on the James

July 15 – 17, 2011

for more information, go to

the Chanco on the James website at

www.chanco.org

We are the Diocesan book store of Southern Virginia. We are non-profit and self-supporting. All proceeds go to the Christian Education programs, seminarians and clergy of the diocese. In addition to a full selection of books, prayer books, bibles and hymnals, the Parish Book Store has a won-derful selection of gifts and cards for all occasions, including Baptism and Confirmation. The Parish Book Store is the only place you’ll find the Jamestown cross, available in silver and gold in a variety of sizes. We also have a unique selection of Episcopal items – in-cluding t-shirts, hats and tote bags.

Summer Hours (June-August)Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Friday, Saturday 9:00 a.m. to noon

Regular HoursMonday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday 9:00 a.m. - NoonLocated inside Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church

2020 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23454Contact us by e-mail: books@easternshorechapel.org

Contact us by telephone: 757-425-0114Visit us online at easternshorechapel.org/parbooks

Find us on Facebook

The Parish Book Store

June 2011 | Page 21

Stay informed about the events and activities in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia!

To receive the e-newsletter, Sovia Media, go to the website at www.diosova.org

Look for this box on the home page and add your email address to begin receiving our weekly newsletter:

Sign up for E-Mail News Today

The Union of Black Episcopalians will celebrate their 43rd annual meeting and conference in Norfolk June 27-30. The first three days of the conference will close with celebra-tions of the Holy Eucharist at different churches in the area. Each service will be a unique celebration.

• Monday, June 27 – 7:30 p.m. at Christ & St. Luke’s, Nor-folk. The Rev. Harold Cobb, Jr., preacher and the Rt. Rev. Holly Hollerith, Bishop of Southern Virginia, celebrant.

• Tuesday, June 28 – 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s, Norfolk for the James Solomon Russell Memorial Eucharist. The Rt. Rev. Nathan Baxter, Bishop of Central Pennsylvania and former priest in this diocese, preacher, and the Rt. Rev. Gayle Harris, Bishop Suffragan of Massachusetts, celebrant.

• Wednesday, June 29 – 7:30 p.m. at Grace Church, Nor-folk. This eucharist will feature a Youth Explosion. The Rev. Kim Lucas, preacher, and the Rev. Edwin Johnson, celebrant.

The music minister for all services is Terry Butler of Grace, Norfolk, and Norfolk State University.

The conference will end of Thursday, June 30 with a Gala Banquet at the Norfolk Marriott. Tickets for this elaborate evening honoring the Rev. Joseph N. Green and Dr. Carl Haywood are $100 each. Anyone who would like to attend should call Grace Church, 757-625-2868, or David Flores, 757-466-1991, to purchase tickets.

Union of Black Episcopalians Annual Meeting

We hope you have enjoyed

this issue of the Jamestown Cross and it has brought

you into closer contact with some part of the Episcopal Church’s life in Southern

Virginia. The Department of Communication is working hard to improve commun-

ication “up and down” as well as “around” and “across” the reach of our Diocese.

We maintain print commun- ication like the Jamestown

Cross, we are also increasing our use of information tech- nology as our main source

of immediate communication. On June 9, Communications Office Ann Turner led the first

Social Media for Congregations workshop at St. Mark’s in Hampton.

The thirty participants included lay and clergy, staff and volunteers from several churches in the diocese. The workshop provided an overview of how social media has changed the communications

landscape and how churches can begin to think differ-ently about communication in order to make use of these new media. The overview included Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogging and email. The workshop will be

offered again at Redeemer, Midlothian on July 29 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Note that this brief workshop is not hands-on training on the technicalities of setting up and utilizing these

sites. That training is available one-on-one or for very small groups. To schedule training or if your parish is interested in hosting a Social Media for Congregations workshop or to discuss other communication issues,

contact Ann. Her e-mail address is aturner@diosova.org. You can also reach her by telephone at 757-213-3388 or 800-582-8292 toll free if you are outside the

southeastern Virginia local calling area.

Camp Chanco a residential camp and a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.

online registration www.chanco.org

PeriodicalPostagePAID

Norfolk, VAUSPS (600-890)

The Jamestown Cross600 Talbot Hall RoadNorfolk, VA 23505-4393

June 27 – July 1 Annual Meeting of the Union of Black Episcopalians – NorfolkJuly 15 – 17 A Weekend of Arts in the Woods – Chanco on the JamesJuly 23 Youth Leader Strategy and Planning Workshop – St. Martin’s, WilliamsburgSeptember 1 Diocesan Executive Board – Hickory Neck, ToanoOctober 7 – 9 October Weekend – Chanco on the JamesOctober 7 – 8 ECW “Time for Reflection” – Chanco on the JamesOctober 8 Bishop’s Day EAST – Good Shepherd, Nor-folkOctober 15 Bishop’s Day WEST – Redeemer MidlothianOctober 20 – 23 Men’s and Women’s Concurrent Cur-sillo Weekend – Chanco on the James

October 28 – 30 Pre-Happening – Chanco on the JamesNovember 11 – 13 Happening – Chanco on the JamesNovember 17 Diocesan Executive Board – Christ & Grace, PetersburgNovember 18 – 20 November Weekend – Chanco on the James

2012Mid January Pre-Council Convocation Meetings – Dates and Places To Be DeterminedFebruary 10 – 11 120th Annual Council of the Diocese – Williamsburg

For more information on these and other events, visit the website at www.diosova.org. Click on Calendar of Events.