Commission on Ministry

Staff Liaison:  The Rev. Canon Susan E. Goff, 800-DIOCESE x11

The Commission on Ministry assists the Bishop in determining present and future needs for ministry in the Diocese and in overseeing the work of all diocesan ministry- related committees.  It consists of the chairpersons of all the Committees that fall under its purview plus a few at large members.  Members are appointed by the Bishop and affirmed by the Annual Council of the Diocese. The Commission meets for three or four half day meetings a year, plus an overnight each year.  Between meetings, members of the Commission oversee the committee work assigned to them.

Sec. 5. The Bishop and Commission shall ensure that the members of the Commission and its committees receive ongoing education and training for their work.

In the Diocese of Virginia, the Commission is composed of seven sub-committees, described below.

Committee on Discernment
Mission:  Develop and oversee the discernment process for those experiencing a call to ministry; recruit, train and support Diocesan Spiritual Discernment Facilitators; design and lead Diocesan Discernment Retreats; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to discernment; serve as a resource on discernment for the Diocese.

Diocesan Spiritual Discernment Facilitators work with congregations in forming and supporting Parish Discernment Committees which, in turn, work with members of the congregation who are discerning a call to ministry.

The Committee meets three to four times each year.  In addition, each member of the Committee trains and works with two or three Parish Discernment Committees each year.

Chair:  The Rev. Stephen H. Wade, Retired

Committee On Leadership Formation
Mission: Develop and oversee the Episcopal Leadership Institute, including development and regular review of curriculum, and recruitment and oversight of ELI staff and adjunct faculty; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to leadership formation; serve as a resource on leadership formation for the Diocese.

Chair:  The Rev. Margaret Ann Faeth, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria

Committee on the Diaconate
Mission: Oversee the formation of vocational deacons,  including assisting individuals and parishes with the nomination and application process, providing continuing support to those in the diaconal formation process and developing and overseeing the education and formation programs for deacons; interview those who are prepared and make recommendations regarding postulancy, candidacy and ordination; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to the diaconate; serve as a resource on the diaconate for the Diocese.

The Committee on the Diaconate gathers for six to eight full day meetings year.  In addition, each member serves as a contact person for one or more persons in formation for diaconal ministry. 

Chair:  The Rev. Jane D. Piver, Grace, Standarsville

Mission: Oversee the formation of priests, including assisting individuals and parishes with the nomination and application process, provide continuing support to persons in the priestly formation process; interview those who are prepared and make recommendations regarding postulancy, candidacy and ordination; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to priesthood; serve as a resource on priesthood for the Diocese.

The Committee gathers for seven to nine full day meetings a year. In addition, each member of the committee serves as a contact person for one or more persons in formation for priesthood.

Chair:  The Rev. John Baker, St. Aidan’s, Alexandria

Mission:  Oversee a program of identifying persons under the age of 25 who are exploring a possible call to priesthood; provide a structured process of discernment and a parish internship program to assist young persons in exploring their call; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to young clergy; serve as a resource on priesthood for younger persons for the Diocese.

The YPI committee gathers to do its work in four to eight half day meetings each year.  Committee members serve as contact and support persons for those in the program.

Chair: The Rev. Laura Lockey, Missioner, James Madison University, Harrisonburg

Diocesan Board of Examining Chaplains
Mission: Read, review and evaluate General Ordination Examinations for persons seeking priesthood; develop, administer, review and evaluate written and oral exams for persons seeking the diaconate and for clergy ordained by bishops of churches in the historic succession but not in communion with this church; recommend and oversee any remedial work required for candidates to demonstrate proficiency in the areas required by the canons of the Church; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to GOEs and related examinations; serve as a resource on theological education for the Diocese.

The Board does most of its work electronically and meets in person once or twice a year. 

Chair: The Rev. Dr. Craig A. Phillips, St. Peter’s, Arlington

Mission:  Develop and administer the Fresh Start program for newly ordained clergy and clergy new to the Diocese; provide advice and counsel to the Bishop on matters related to continuing clergy formation; serve as a resource on continuing clergy formation for the Diocese.

The Committee meets monthly to administer and oversee the Fresh Start program.