The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia: Reach Out to Neighbors in Need

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A Story
It’s just dirt and seeds right now. But in a few weeks, this crop will bring hope to hundreds. This land belongs to the Church of the Sudan. The bishop and his priests will use the earnings from the crop to fund the work of the church – schools, clinics, construction of a cathedral and more. The land, the tractor and the seeds that will become the work of the Church were provided by the people of the Diocese of Virginia. Your gifts have transformed the lives of entire villages. Virginia Episcopalians have visited this very land in the Sudan, held hands with the Sudanese in their time of suffering, prayed together and shared in the Eucharist.

Back home in Virginia, congregations and individuals have helped to resettle more than 100 of Sudan’s Lost Boys in Richmond, Alexandria and elsewhere. Parishioners have helped these young men to learn English, find housing and jobs and enroll in school and college. The Episcopal Church has been a leader in urging Congress and the UN to intervene to stop the genocide in the Sudan.

Virginia Episcopalians have been active by protesting at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. Our work to help persecuted Christians in the Sudan stands as one shining example of literally hundreds of global and local outreach ministries supported by the Diocese. Diocesan world mission extends to the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Tanzania, South Africa and many other countries. Here at home, the Diocese provides human resources and financial support to parish food banks, mentoring partnerships at public schools, housing initiatives and so much more.

Stucture and Staff
We support local outreach through three diocesan entities: the Diocesan Fund for Human Need, which makes grants to congregations in support of outreach programs; the Diocesan Fund for World Mission, which makes grants to congregations in support of world mission programs; and the Mustard Seed Fund of the 5th Century Fund, which makes grants in support of local mission and outreach activities. In addition to the huge variety of programs carried out through our local parishes, program committees of the Executive Board support specific ministries which enable us to offer and communicate the love of God in Christ through practical caring. These committees come under the oversight of the Executive Board and Annual Council. Our work in this ministry priority is carried out and supported by all diocesean staff and led by the Assistant Bishop, Assistant to the Bishop for Outreach and Witness, the Missioner for Global Mission, Assistant to the Bishop for Youth, the Assistant to the Bishop for Outreach and Witness, the Treasurer, the Secretary of the Diocese, the Program Assistant and a shared administrative assistant.