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Statement of Inclusion
As the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, we recognize and celebrate the rich diversity within the geographic ecclesiastic bounds of this diocese, and we strive to reflect this rich diversity in our leadership, both lay and ordained, at every level. As we acknowledge that our churches reside on lands where Indigenous peoples have lived for millennia, we are guided by our baptismal covenant to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and to “strive for justice and peace among all people,” and believe that all are created in God’s image with inherent dignity.
We acknowledge that our Church has a history of silencing and marginalizing voices within our communities. To become the Church God calls us to be, we actively commit to intentionally seeking and nurturing leaders from historically underrepresented groups, including indigenous peoples, women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons who identify as Queer/LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, those who are economically disadvantaged, and immigrant communities. We also commit to educating ourselves on the history of injustice and oppression by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, and within the ecclesiastic bounds of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, and taking concrete steps to realize the vision of Beloved Community through reconciliation and repair.