Diocesan Structure

Local, regional, diocesan- and national structures help us to do ministry together so that we may serve God and the world.

The following section outlines basic regional and diocesan structure in the Diocese of Virginia.

The Diocese of Virginia, the second largest in the Episcopal Church in the United States, is composed of 185 congregations. The Annual Council (called a convention in some dioceses) meets in early February of each year.

The Diocese comprises 15 geographic regions, each of which has a dean, a president and a regional council composed of parish representatives. The dean is the Bishop's representative in the region, providing pastoral care and oversight.

The president is a lay person elected by the regional council to coordinate regional activity and program. The Executive Board is the body which carries out the program of the Annual Council between annual sessions. One member is elected from each of the 15 regions of the Diocese.

The board is composed of both lay and clerical members (roughly half and half). The board oversees the budget adopted by the Annual Council, prepares a new budget for council approval the following year, and carries out the actions voted upon by the council. The Bishop is the president of the Executive Board. The vice-president is a lay person elected from the membership of the Board.

The deans and presidents meet regularly with the members of the Executive Board to strengthen diocesan communication and to broaden the involvement of diocesan leadership in planning. Like all dioceses, the Diocese of Virginia has a Standing Committee which acts as a council of advice to the Bishop and participates in the consent process for the consecration of new bishops throughout the Church.

Our Standing Committee also is deeply involved in the ordination process and works closely with congregations at critical transitions in parish life: new missions during planning and formation; aided congregations ready to begin life as self-sustaining parishes; or established churches ready to expand their facilities to accommodate growth.

Regions of the Diocese

• The diocese is divided into geographic regions, each of which has a Dean (a clergy person), a President (a layperson) and a Regional Council (the clergy and lay representatives from each parish in the Region).
• When restructuring the Diocese in 1971, the Council's vision was that the Region bring local congregations and churches into coordinated planning and action. Regions were asked to develop programs, especially in the areas of Christian education, Christian social relations, missions and stewardship, but not restricted to these programs. The idea was that the regional program would be a composite of the specific programs from the parishes.

Regional Councils

• Each Region has a Regional Council, subject to the following provision: Each church of the Region is represented by its active clergy and as many laypersons, elected by its Vestry or Vestry Committee, as it has lay delegates to the Council of the Diocese. Qualifications for election to Regional Councils are the same as for election to a Vestry. • Any proposal to begin missionary work or to found a church must have the approval of the Council of the Region in which such work or church is to be established.

Regional Presidents' Responsibilities

• The primary responsibility of the Regional President is to convene and preside over regular meetings of the Regional Council. In this context the President serves as a liaison, communicating diocesan news to the Region and regional news to the Diocese; this responsibility entails several specific duties. The President must ensure: that the Region elects a representative to the Executive Board; that the Region makes nominations, as appropriate, for the Standing Committee, for Deputy to General Convention, and for other related organizations; that the Council, as it desires, elects officers, and that the names of these Regional officers be reported to the Coordinator of the Executive Board, Patrick Getlein; and that, when appropriate, a Youth Delegate to Council is elected. Additionally, the President serves as a liaison between the Region and diocesan committees, ensuring that Regional contacts are recommended or appointed when requested by committees.

• More generally, the President should keep in touch regularly with the Dean and Executive Board member of the Region (these three function in some ways like an Executive Committee of the Regional Council). The Bishop may on occasion ask the President to carry out specific duties.

• Beyond these specified responsibilities, Presidents necessarily will serve various regions differently, according to each region’s needs. For example, a region with many churches desiring program or other help may require more action on the regional level, while a Region with many very active parishes with healthy programs may require less action on the Regional level. The President is to assist the Region in its various needs.

Regional Dean’s Responsibilities

• Each year, the Bishop, with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee, appoints a Dean for each of the Regions of the Diocese. The Dean may be reappointed for a maximum of four years. In addition to the Dean’s continuing parochial or non-parochial ministry, the Dean is the Bishop’s official representative in the Region.
• The Dean acts for the Bishop and represents him in Regional Councils, in the pastoral care of the clergy and congregations, contact with vacant cures, and serves as a pastoral liaison for the Bishop in other matters of the Region.
• Deans are expected to convene the clergy of the Region for matters of mutual concern, prayer, and study, and for consultation about matters of importance to the Bishop. The Dean is advisor and consultant to the Regional President.
• When a vacancy occurs in a parish in the Region, the Dean may be asked to assist the Senior Warden and Chair of the Search Committee during the search process. The Dean will assist in providing pastoral and ministerial services in consultation with the Bishop or his designee during the period of vacancy.
• The Bishop and Dean meet quarterly with the Executive Board and Presidents of Regions to discuss the life of the Diocese, regions and churches. The Deans have become a main channel of communication between the Bishop and the clergy. Clergy are asked to use their Deans as colleagues and pastors; to keep them informed on matters in their lives and ministries; and to keep in touch with the other clergy in the Region through the Deans.

Region I :

President: Mr. Jerry Vawter - Christ Church, Spotsylvania

Dean: The Very Rev. Karen Woodruff - St. Peter’s Church, Port Royal/Vauter’s Parish, Loretto

Executive Board Representative: Mr. Jack Gaines, Jr. - St. Mary’s Church, Colonial Beach

Churches of Region I :

• Aquia Church, Stafford
  
• Christ Church, Brandy Station
  
• Christ Church, Spotsylvania
  
• Church of the Incarnation, Mineral
  
• Church of the Messiah, Fredericksburg
  
• Emmanuel Church, Port Conway
  
• Emmanuel Church, Rapidan
  
• Little Fork Church, Rixeyville
  
• Piedmont Church, Madison
  
• St. Asaph’s Church, Bowling Green
  
• St. George’s Church, Fredericksburg
  
• St. James’ Church, Louisa
  
• St. John’s Church, Colonial Beach
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Owens
  
• St. Peter’s Church, Culpeper
  
• Trinity Church, Fredericksburg
  
• Vauter’s Church, Loretto
  

Region II :

President: Mr. Frank Herrin - Immanuel Church, King & Queen

Dean: The Very Rev. Peter Worthington - Ware Church, Gloucester

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. Scott West - Trinity, Lancaster/St. Mary’s Whitechapel, Lively

Churches of Region II :

• Abingdon Church, White Marsh
  
• Christ Church, Middlesex
  
• Cople Parish, Hague
  
• Grace Parish, Kilmarnock
  
• Grace Church, Miller’s Tavern
  
• Immanuel Church, King and Queen
  
• Kingston Parish, Mathews
  
• North Farnham Church, Farnham
  
• St. James’ Church, Montross
  
• St. John’s Church, Tappahannock
  
• St. John’s Church, Warsaw
  
• St. John’s Church, West Point
  
• St. Mary’s Church, Fleeton
  
• St. Mary’s Whitechapel, Lively
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Miller’s Tavern
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Nomini Grove
  
• St. Peter’s Church, West Point
  
• St. Stephen’s Church, Heathsville
  
• Trinity Church, Lancaster
  
• Ware Church, Gloucester
  
• Wicomico Church, Wicomico Church
  

Region III :

President: Mr. George Sibert - St. George’s Church, Arlington

Dean: The Very Rev. Ronald Crocker - St. George’s Church, Arlington

Executive Board Representative: Dr. Jack Schick, Vice President - St. Peter’s Church, Arlington

Churches of Region III :

• La Iglesia de Cristo Rey, Arlington
  
• La Iglesia de San Jose, Arlington
  
• St. Andrew’s Church, Arlington
  
• St. George’s Church, Arlington
  
• St. John’s Church, Arlington
  
• St. Mary’s Church, Arlington
  
• St. Michael’s Church, Arlington
  
• St. Peter’s Church, Arlington
  
• Trinity Church, Arlington
  

Region IV :

President: Ms. Lucy Lee Reed - Grace Church, Alexandria

Dean: The Very Rev. Stephen Wade - Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill

Executive Board Representative: Ms. Karen Grane - St. Paul’s, Alexandria

Churches of Region IV :

• Christ Church, Alexandria
  
• Church of St. Clement, Alexandria
  
• Church of the Resurrection, Alexandria
  
• Emmanuel Church, Alexandria
  
• Grace Church, Alexandria
  
• Immanuel-on-the-Hill, Alexandria
  
• Meade Memorial Church, Alexandria
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Alexandria
  

Region V :

President: Mr. Michael Cook- St. Timothy’s, Herndon

Dean: The Very Rev. Richard Lord - Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna

Executive Board Representative: Ms. Mary Wilson - Holy Cross, Dunn Loring

Churches of Region V :

• Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna
  
• Church of the Holy Cross, Dunn Loring
  
• St. Anne’s Church, Reston
  
• St. Dunstan’s Church, McLean
  
• St. Francis Church, Great Falls
  
• St. John’s Church, McLean
  
• St. Thomas Church, McLean
  
• St. Timothy’s Church, Herndon
  

Region VI :

President: Mr. Andrew Oravetz - Christ Our Lord, Woodbridge

Dean: The Very Rev. Sara J. Chandler - St. Margaret’s Church, Woodbridge

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. John Weatherly - St. Mark’s Church, Alexandria

Churches of Region VI :

• All Saints’ Sharon Chapel, Alexandria
  
• All Saints’, Dale City, Woodbridge
  
• Church of Christ Our Lord, Woodbridge
  
• La Iglesia de San Marcos, Alexandria
  
• Olivet Church, Franconia
  
• Pohick Church, Lorton
  
• St. Aidan’s Church, Alexandria
  
• St. James’ Church, Mount Vernon
  
• St. Luke’s Church, Wellington, Alexandria
  
• St. Margaret’s Church, Woodbridge
  
• St. Mark’s Church, Alexandria
  

Region VII :

President: Ms. Sue Davis - St. John’s, Centerville

Dean: The Very Rev. Randall L. Prior - St. Andrew’s Church

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. Howard Kempsell, Jr. - St. John's Church, Centreville

Churches of Region VII :

• Church of the Apostles, Fairfax
  
• Church of the Epiphany, Fairfax
  
• Church of the Good Shepherd, Burke
  
• Church of the Word, Gainesville
  
• St. Andrew’s Church, Burke
  
• St. Christopher’s Church, Springfield
  
• St. John’s Church, Centerville
  
• St. Peter’s-in-the-Woods, Fairfax Station
  
• Trinity Church, Manassas
  
• Truro Church, Fairfax
  

Region VIII :

President: Mr. William Forester - The Falls Church, Falls Church

Dean: The Very Rev. Steven Miller - St. Alban’s Church, Annandale

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld (acting Representative)- The Falls Church, Falls Church

Churches in Region VIII :

• Korean Congregation, Arlington
  
• Falls Church, Falls Church
  
• St. Alban’s Church, Annandale
  
• St. Barnabas’ Church, Annandale
  
• St. Patrick’s Church, Falls Church
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Baileys Crossroads
  

Region IX :

President: Dr. Stephen von Hitritz - St. Peter's Church, New Kent

Dean: The Very Rev. Bruce Gray- St. John's Church, Richmond

Executive Board Representative: Rev. Brian McGurk - St. Peter's Church, New Kent

Churches of Region IX :

• St. John’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Peter’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent
  
• Trinity Church, Highland Springs
  
• Varina Church, Richmond
  
• Westover Church, Charles City
  

Region X :

President: Ms. Nancy Warman - Grace & Holy Trinity Church, Richmond

Dean: The Rev. Sandra Levy (acting Dean) - St. Mark’s Church, Richmond

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. David May - St. Andrew’s Church, Richmond

Churches of Region X :

• Church of the Holy Comforter, Richmond
  
• Grace & Holy Trinity Church, Richmond
  
• St. Andrew’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. James’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Mark’s Church, Richmond
  

Region XI :

President: Ms. Deborah Waters - Emmanuel, Brook Hill

Dean: The Very Rev. Keith Emerson - Church of the Epiphany

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. William Burk - Church of the Creator, Mechanicsville

Churches of Region XI :

• Calvary Church, Hanover
  
• Christ Ascension Church, Richmond
  
• Church of Our Saviour, Montpelier
  
• Church of the Creator, Mechanicsville
  
• Church of the Epiphany, Richmond
  
• Emmanuel Church, Brook Hill, Richmond
  
• Fork Church, Beaverdam
  
• Immanuel Church, Mechanicsville
  
• St. David’s Church, Aylett
  
• St. James-the-Less Church, Ashland
  
• St. Martin’s Church, Doswell
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Hanover
  
• St. Philip’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Thomas Church, Richmond
  

Region XII :

President: Dr. Lissa Power-deFur - St. Matthew’s Church, Richmond

Dean: The Very. Rev. Charles Alley - St. Matthew’s Church, Richmond

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. Thomas Simmons - All Saints’ Church, Richmond

Churches of Region XII :

• All Saint’s Church, Richmond
  
• Christ Church, Richmond
  
• Grace Church, Goochland
  
• St. Bartholomew’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. John’s Church, Columbia
  
• St. Martin’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Mary’s Church, Goochland
  
• St. Matthew’s Church, Richmond
  
• St. Stephen’s Church, Richmond
  

Region XIII :

President: Ms. Ursula Baxley - Leeds Church, Markham

Dean: The Very Rev. James Hammond - St. Luke’s Church, Remington

Executive Board Representative: Ms. Elizabeth Power - St. Stephen’s Church, Catlett

Churches of Region XIII :

• Christ Church, Lucketts
  
• Church of Our Redeemer, Aldie
  
• Church of Our Saviour, Oatlands
  
• Emmanuel Church, Middleburg
  
• Grace Church, Casanova
  
• Grace Church, The Plains
  
• Leeds Church, Markham
  
• Piedmont Parish, Delaplane
  
• St. Andrew’s Church, Ada
  
• St. David’s Church, Ashburn
  
• St. James’ Church, Leesburg
  
• St. James’ Church, Warrenton
  
• St. Luke’s Church, Remington
  
• St. Matthew’s Church, Sterling
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Haymarket
  
• St. Peter’s Church, Purcellville
  
• St. Stephen’s Church, Catlett
  
• Trinity Church, Upperville
  
• Trinity Church, Washington
  

Region XIV :

President: Mr. Frank Baxter - Calvary Church, Front Royal

Dean: The Very Rev. John F. Glover - Emmanuel Church, Harrisonburg

Executive Board Representative: The Rev. Stuart Wood - St. Stephen & the Good Shepherd, Rocky Bar/Grace Church, Port Republic

Churches of Region XIV :

• Calvary Church, Front Royal
  
• Christ Church, Luray
  
• Christ Church, Winchester
  
• Church of the Good Shepherd, Bluemont
  
• Cunningham Chapel Parish, Millwood
  
• Emmanuel Church, Harrisonburg
  
• Emmanuel Church, Woodstock
  
• Grace Church, Berryville
  
• Grace Memorial, Port Republic
  
• St. Andrew’s Church, Mt. Jackson
  
• St. George’s Church, Stanley
  
• St. Mary’s Church, Berryville
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Ingham, Shenandoah
  
• St. Paul’s Church-on-the-Hill, Winchester
  
• St. Stephen and the Good Shepherd, Port Republic
  
• Transfiguration Chapel, Orkney Springs
  

Region XV :

President: Mr. David Bagby - Church of the Cross, Charlottesville

Dean: The Very Rev. Miller Hunter - St. Paul’s Church, Ivy

Executive Board Representative: Ms. Holly Semple - St. Paul’s Memorial Church, Charlottesville

Churches of Region XV :

• Buck Mountain Church, Earlysville
  
• Christ Church, Charlottesville
  
• Christ Church, Gordonsville
  
• Church of Our Saviour, Charlottesville
  
• Emmanuel Church, Greenwood
  
• Good Shepherd-of-the-Hills, Boonesville
  
• Grace Church, Bremo Bluff
  
• Grace Church, Keswick
  
• Grace Church, Stanardsville
  
• Graves Chapel, Graves Mill
  
• Holy Cross Church, Batesville
  
• McIlhany Parish, Albemarle
  
• St. Anne’s Parish, Scottsville
  
• St. John-the-Baptist Church, Ivy
  
• St. Luke’s Church, Simeon
  
• St. Paul’s Church, Ivy
  
• St. Paul’s Memorial Church, Charlottesville
  
• St. Thomas Church, Orange
  
• Trinity Church, Charlottesville