As per any road trip for St. John’s delegates attending a council diocesan meeting, it began with traveling in a downpour to the Williamsburg Lodge. Upon arrival, the rain stopped and check-in went smoothly as well as Registration. Whit and Terrey McKinney, Greg Brauer, Bettyrene Pope and Skip Hutton met and had dinner Friday night. At the evening session, we were greeted by one of our own young people working with the Youth. She kept tabs on our delegation throughout the meetings.
The evening Council session began at 7:15 p.m. Opening worship and all the preliminaries followed. Bishop Sean Rowe of the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, the youngest bishop in the House of Bishops at 32 years old, gave the keynote address. His sermon was very inspirational and throughout the remainder of Council speakers continued to quote from or refer to his sermon.
Saturday was a long day with lots of business to attend to with Canonical changes and Resolutions. Bishop Buchanan ran an efficient business meeting. The most significant change passed was a recommended apportionment to be given by the parishes to the diocese for funding. After lunch, Bob Harper joined our delegation. Voting for Standing Committee, Ecclesiastical Court and election for Lay and Clerical nominees to General Convention took most of the afternoon. Bishop Buchanan hurried business along but the entire process was time consuming. The meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.
The Banquet Saturday night was outstanding. We enjoyed sitting with the delegation from Hickory Neck, Toano. The food was delicious and the entertainment by singers from St. Martin’s in Williamsburg was great.
Sunday morning, business was completed quickly with reports from committees and staff dispensed with by filing their reports by title. The Worship service began at 11 a.m. with one of our own young people reading the first lesson. She did an outstanding job! The sermon was given by the Scottish Bishop Cameron, who is in residence at Bruton Parish. His message was inspirational and it was delightful to listen to it with his lilting Scottish brogue. The offering was given to Zion Baptist Church in Portsmouth (whose minister we had met on Saturday – he said it was dangerous to give the microphone to a Baptist minister with such a large congregation in front of him). Total given was $4,800.
Thank you for giving us – Whit, Terrey, Greg, Bob and myself – the opportunity to serve as delegates from St. John’s.
Originally published in St. John’s Epistle, March 2008.