News Room
News Releases
New Assistant Bishop and Canon for Discipleship Start June 1
New Assistant Bishop Mark A. Bourlakas and Canon for Discipleship Ricardo Sheppard begin June 2, exponentially increasing the Diocese of Virginia’s capacity to love Jesus, embody justice, and be disciples.
Register for Shrine Mont Camps Summer Programs
The summer season at Shrine Mont Camps (SMCs) is fast approaching. Register now to experience a welcoming and inclusive summer camp where faith, friendship, and fun come together.
Assisting Congregations With Stewardship – We Walk By Faith
The new diocesan annual giving curriculum is ready for you! This year’s theme is based on 2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight” and continues our intentional focus on missional storytelling.
Diocesan Discernment Retreat at Roslyn Retreat Center, July 25-27, 2025
If you are sensing the nudge of the Holy Spirit in your life inviting you to consider how your gifts and skills might serve the church and the world in new and deeper ways, you may be interested in participating in one of our Diocese of Virginia Discernment Retreats which are held three times each year.
A Statement on the Decision to Withdraw from the US Refugee Resettlement Program
I am proud of the work that EMM and the Episcopal Church have done with the ministry of refugee resettlement, and I pray that a time will come when we can reenter this work. I also call on everyone to pray for those who are truly persecuted—for their very lives are on the line.
Formation Database in the Works
Canon Heidi Kim is creating a database with contact information of lay and clergy leaders of formation ministries in the diocese. Please complete the Google Form and forward it to others in your parish who are leading formation ministries.
The Rev. Canon Ricardo Sheppard Called as Canon for Discipleship
The Rev. Ricardo Sheppard has been called to serve the Diocese of Virginia as Canon for Discipleship. He will begin his new call on June 1, 2025.
Love One Another: 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Fellowship Day
For the first time, the Diocese of Virginia will host two fellowship days for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to come together for a fun-filled day of formation and fellowship centered on the theme of Communion! The idea for the fellowship days came from Lauren Breeden, Director of Children and Family Ministries at The Falls Church Episcopal.
Architectural Resources Team Announced
Bishop E. Mark Stevenson has announced the formation of an Architectural Resources Team (ART) to support parishes and other diocesan-related entities in the Diocese of Virginia.
Welcoming Children to Worship: Tyler Henderson Leads Diocesan Initiative
No matter how young, children are expected to become more involved in worship services across the Diocese of Virginia. Could this make a difference to a kindergartner, or the congregation? Tyler Henderson, the point person for this new initiative, will give you a...
In the News
An Albemarle Politician, a Fredericksburg Priest and a Barrier-Breaking Marriage
Albemarle County Supervisor Mike Pruitt and his husband, the Rev. Will Dickinson, are defying the separation of church and state. Read the Full Story
Reynolds Hutchins: Rector Will Peyton’s Easter Sermon Challenges the Power of Empire
The rector could have no idea on Easter Sunday that two days after delivering his sermon that list of examples would grow longer, nor that the most recent addition would hit so close to home. Last Tuesday, three plainclothes federal agents... detained two men and...
Two New Programs Expand Faith-Science Engagement
Virginia Seminary’s project is a curriculum called Being With Science, which will help congregations explore scientific issues behind contemporary ethical questions. The Rev. Dr. Sarah Colvin, a priest and pathologist, is designing the program, which is supported by a...
Christchurch School in Middlesex County Added to Register of Historic Places
Occupying roughly 79 acres of rural landscape on the south bank of the Rappahannock River in central Middlesex County, Christchurch School includes the collection of buildings, structures, and designed landscapes that have comprised the school campus from...
Episcopal Church Awards 2025 Young Adult and Campus Ministry Grants
The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church has awarded 19 grants, totaling $135,000, to young adult and campus ministries.... one grant recipient, The Pace Center at VCU, is a ministry partner of the diocese.
IRS-Certified Students Offer Tax Assistance at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The University of Richmond is offering free tax preparation services for the 14th consecutive year, as part of the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg’s Tax Assistance Program. Located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Downtown Richmond, the university’s tax...
Old-Growth Forest Network Welcomes Virginia Parish
Stacey Remick knew there was something special about the five-acre forest surrounding St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia. She never dreamed that the church property would one day be inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network, the...
Parishes Say ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’
America’s churches have what it takes to put a dent in the nation’s housing crisis. They have land and underutilized space, often located in high-density areas where affordable homes are desperately needed. Now congregations are receiving a groundswell of support to...
Boar’s Head Festival Celebrates 62 Years at St. John’s in Youngstown
Sixty-two years ago, James Hummer of Boardman was in the first local performance of the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival and on Sunday, he and others were able to see the latest presentation of the popular holiday event. For the 62nd year, the Boar’s Head Festival...
Remembering Herndon’s History: The Closet Thrift Shop Turns 50
The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of The Closet of the Greater Herndon Area. The Closet has occupied many spaces in Herndon over the course of decades. For these many years they have served our community in a devoted manner. Read the Full Story