The Standing Committee is a 12-member elected council of advice to the Bishop. In certain circumstances (see the diocesan Canons) the Standing Committee is the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of Virginia in the absence of the Bishop. The Standing Committee is involved in a number of matters including church indebtedness and the ordination process. Four members (two clergy and two lay) are elected to three-year terms each year by the Annual Council.

Ms. Sarah Reiners Bartenstein	St. Mary’s, Goochland	2009	President
Mr. John Keith	St. Mary’s, Arlington	2009
The Rev. David H. May	Grace, Kilmarnock	2009
The Rev. Melana Nelson-Amaker		2009
The Rev. Susan Goff	St. Christopher's, Springfield	2010
Ms. Martha High	St. John's, McLean	2010
The Rev. Daniel Robayo	Christ Church, Luray	2010	Secretary
Mr. Alexander H. Slaughter	St. James's, Richmond	2010
The Rev. Benjamin Campbell	Richmond Hill	2011
The Rev. Susan Daughtry Fawcett	Holy Comforter, Vienna	2011
Ms. Miffy Hall	St. Paul's, Richmond	2011
Mr. Don Metheny	Trinity, Fredericksburg	2011

Standing Committee and the Approval of Church Debt

Canons (.pdf)
There are two Virginia Canons that speak directly to the obligations of a church when considering the question of debt and the encumbering of church property: Canon 14 (Creation of Church Debt) and Canon 15 (Church Property). Please read these Canons and if you have any questions, please call the diocesan office at 1-800-DIOCESE and ask for the Treasurer of the Diocese. You may also email questions to mkerr@thediocese.net.

Procedural Documents
The Standing Committee takes its canonical duties very seriously with regard to the approval of church debt. Please see the links below for all relevant information: