The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Webinar: ‘From Slavery to Freedom’ Book Launch
2025-12-02 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Join this special event—on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery—highlighting the launch of a new theological learning resource published by Forward Movement. “From Slavery to Freedom” tells stories of slavery and freedom from the Caribbean, Kenya, Pakistan, and the U.S.; addresses the past complicity of the Anglican Church and other faith communities; and challenges the church to fight against all forms of modern-day slavery. Speakers include:

The Rt. Rev. Howard Gregory, retired archbishop of the West Indies and former bishop of Jamaica
The Rt. Rev. John Holder, retired archbishop of the West Indies and former bishop of Barbados
The Rev. Katherine Grieb, director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies, Virginia Theological Seminary
The Rev. Daniel Karanja, Africa and Asia partnership officer, The Episcopal Church
The Rev. Stephen Spencer, director of theology and implementation, Anglican Communion Office
The Rev. Pervaiz Sultan, Church of Pakistan

Register Online

2026 Winter Book Study Reading Plan
2026-01-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Zoom
Critical Race Theology: White Supremacy, American Christianity, and the Ongoing Culture Wars
Juan Floyd-Thomas, Associate Professor, Vanderbilt Divinity School
We are called in our Baptismal Covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Critical Race Theology examines how theological ideas have been used historically and systematically to justify racial hierarchy and uphold white supremacy. This four-week study draws on Black Liberation Theology and Womanist thought to offer a pathway toward genuine systemic repair and a more just vision of the Beloved Community.
Reading Schedule
Week 1: Preface, Introduction, and Chapter 1 — January 14, 2026
Week 2: Chapters 2 and 3 — January 21, 2026
Week 3: Chapter 4 — January 28, 2026
Week 4: Chapter 5 and Closing Discussion — February 4, 2026
Come prepared to be challenged, transformed, and equipped for the sacred, intersectional work of justice, healing, and repair.
If you are interested in joining this Zoom-based winter book study with Canon J. Lee Hill, Jr., please contact Tammy Lewis or 804-622-3194.

Celebration of the Holy Eucharist Commemorating the Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris and the Rev. Absalom Jones
2026-02-12 18:30 - 21:30 | St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, 2609 N. Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA, 22207, United States
The Diocese of Virginia invites you to a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist commemorating the consecration of the Rt. Rev’d Barbara Clementine Harris, the first woman Bishop in the Anglican Communion, and celebrating the life and witness of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first African American priest in The Episcopal Church. The Rt. Rev’d Gayle E. Harris, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, will preside and preach. Bishop Harris, Canon Ricardo Sheppard, and the Very Rev. Janettarose Greene will serve as co-celebrants.

Sacred Ground New Facilitators Support Webinar
2026-02-24 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
New Sacred Ground facilitators are invited and encouraged to join a small-group webinar to learn techniques and practices to help make your first group as successful as possible. Choose from two time slots, or indicate your interest in a future session.
Register Online

Visio Divina
2026-02-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
The Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing invites you to a unique encounter with art, faith, and justice at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) in celebration of Black History Month. Giants is a landmark exhibition featuring monumental works by Black artists from the collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. To help us engage deeply with these works, we will use the practice of Visio Divina (literally “divine seeing”).
Visio Divina invites us to sit quietly with a single piece of art, noticing how the colors, subjects, and stories stir our hearts. It is a way of praying with our eyes open, asking: Where is God moving in this image?
By centering the brilliance, struggle, and joy found in the work of “Giants” like Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, we practice honoring the divine image in our neighbors. This is an opportunity to move beyond words and let art speak to our spirits.
Pre-Gathering: Thursday, February 26 at 7pm Zoom
Join us for a brief overview of Visio Divina to help prepare ourselves for Giants.
Meeting Point: Main Entrance, VMFA, by 10:45am; following our viewing we will gather at Best Cafe for small group conversation, coffee and pastries.
Cost: $12 Adults; $10 Seniors (65 +); $8 (Youth 7-17 and College students); Child 6 and under – Free
More information about the exhibit: Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at VMFA
Registration is limited to 20 participants
To register please contact Tammy Lewis

Racial Justice Training Workshop: "I Will with God’s Help"
2026-03-14 09:30 - 15:00 | Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna, 543 Beulah Rd, Vienna, 22180, United States
The Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing will host an “I Will, With God’s Help,” a racial justice training workshop for lay and ordained leaders in the Diocese of Virginia, in the North Fairfax Region on March 14 at Holy Comforter, 543 Beulah Road, NE Vienna, VA 22180 from 9:30am – 3:00pm. Lunch is provided. To register, contact Tammy Lewis.
Also see the training on April 25, 2026 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Charlottesville.

Racial Justice Training Workshop: “I Will, With God’s Help”
2026-04-25 09:00 - 15:00 | Trinity Episcopal Church, Charlottesville, 1118 Preston Ave, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, United States
This workshop is for clergy, lay leaders, congregations, regions, and all who want to activate their racial justice heart. This workshop complements Healing from Internalized Oppression and Sacred Ground.
What’s Included:

Lunch
Spirit-centered conversations about justice
Practical tools for ministry
Liturgically centered racial justice training with a closing Eucharist

For more information, contact Tammy Lewis.

Juneteenth Joint Service and Community Celebration
2026-06-19 08:30 - 14:15 | St. John’s, Richmond, 2401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, 23223, United States
All are invited to the sixth annual Community Juneteenth Celebration, hosted jointly by St. John’s, St. Philip’s, St. Peter’s, and Calvary Hanover Episcopal Churches, with financial support also from St. Paul’s.
In addition to celebrating Juneteenth as the day of African American freedom, the event celebrates the history of the historic Black Episcopal churches of the Richmond area and the collaboration with St. John’s, which was instrumental in the founding of St. Peter’s.
Schedule

8:30 a.m. – Gather outside St. John’s Church
9:15 a.m. – Outdoor land acknowledgement, pouring of libations, and singing
9:30 a.m. – Celebratory parade from St. John’s to Peter Paul Development Center
10:30 a.m. – Worship service inside Peter Paul, with guest speaker Michael Paul Williams
11:45 a.m. – Dance performance by the Audacious Diamonds inside Peter Paul
12:15 p.m. – Picnic lunch, fellowship, and children’s activities, including a bounce house, outside St. Peter’s

Bus transportation is available from Peter Paul Development Center to St. John’s from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m.; then for people who choose to ride instead of walk during the parade; and again from Peter Paul Development Center to St. John’s from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m.
This community event is open to all without charge. For more information, contact the Rev. Bill Queen at 804-643-2686.
