A News Release from the Communications Office of The Diocese of Virginia
For release: Friday, January 26, 2007 Diocese Elects Bishop Coadjutor, Conducts Annual Business In his pastoral address to the delegates and attendees at The Diocese of Virginia’s Annual Council, Bishop Peter James Lee noted that Council “is an opportunity to reaffirm mission and unity.” Delegates and visitors gathered at the Richmond Marriott and Richmond Convention Center Friday, Jan. 26 to work towards reaffirming that sense of mission and unity at the diocesan 212th Annual Council. The principal order of business at Council was the election of a bishop coadjutor to succeed Bishop Lee upon his retirement. The Very Rev. Shannon S. Johnston was elected from a pool of five candidates on the third ballot. An election on that ballot required 135 lay votes and 128 clergy votes. Mr. Johnston, 48, currently serves as rector of All Saints’, Tupelo, Miss. He will be consecrated on Saturday, May 26 at Washington National Cathedral. In reference to the churches that recently voted to leave the Diocese and The Episcopal Church, Bishop Lee said that our differences “are not about property but about legacy.” He added, “The church buildings of the Diocese of Virginia were given by generations past to be Episcopal Churches for generations to come and we are committed to protecting that legacy.” Council chaplain the Rt. Rev. John Paterson, Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand and chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council, was joined by almost 1,000 delegates and visitors. Delegates also elected new members of the diocesan standing committee. Council delegates will vote on a $4.3 million annual budget, as well as a series of resolutions, when Council continues on Saturday, Jan. 27. These include a resolution supporting the establishment of a site for day laborers; a resolution confirming the Diocese’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals; a resolution calling for a “local option” on the parish level concerning the blessing of same sex unions; a resolution supporting faithful Episcopalians in congregations within which a majority have voted to leave The Episcopal Church; and a resolution supporting negotiations with departing congregations. More Council information can be found online at www.thediocese.net. ### |