By “Telling our Stories—Sharing our Gifts,” deeper connections were made across the Diocese of Virginia at the 231st Annual Convention held November 6-8, 2025.
Participants at the Convention Center in Fredericksburg cast votes for resolutions and elected leaders. With local and global roots, clergy and lay people received honors for significant work.
Thursday, Nov. 6
The 231st Annual Convention opened with a service of Evensong. During his Pastoral Address at the service, the Rt. Rev’d E. Mark Stevenson set the tone for Convention attendees to lean into discipleship – “that process whereby we live more fully into the teaching of Jesus, patterning our life after his for the betterment of all” — and emphasized light and justice.
A famous example of reflected light shines in downtown Chicago, in the form of the massive Cloud Gate sculpture, aka the Chicago Bean. Because of the Bean’s unique curvature, he said, visitors can see more of the plaza in the sculpture’s reflections than by actually looking around. However, “There are also some curious distortions in what you see – sort of like standing in front of a giant curved mirror at a carnival.”
His favorite view, Stevenson shared, “is at the very center of the underbelly – called the omphalos – a place where, looking up, the distortions become so overwhelming that you really cannot see reality – except for the very center.”
Stevenson used the Bean as a metaphor for discipleship in this time: “The reflections of tremendous beauty, the new angles that challenge us to rethink long-entrenched ideas, the distortions that can lead us astray, and the call to a center where everything unimportant fades away and we know that there is but one point of clarity for us all – as St. John remind us, ‘The true light, which enlightens everyone.’”
Stevenson invited attendees to “gaze upon the myriad reflections of grace and beauty that can be seen in the tremendous work” in the Diocese of Virginia. When he announced the identification of diocesan assets to be liquidated to fund the $10 million diocesan reparations fund, the audience applauded.
“I see a $10 million initial number not as a goal, but as a beginning,” he added. “This work is far too important to limit… and is a reflection of God’s love and grace.”
Other reflections can be seen in ongoing racial healing and justice projects and pilgrimages; in new leaders; in sanctuary and support for vulnerable people, including LGBTQ, immigrant, incarcerated, and those laid off from government positions. Across borders, the diocese connects to uplifting projects in Haiti, Sudan, Honduras, Cuba, and Tanzania.
Youth programs reflect a promising future. Shrine Mont Camps reported a 12 percent increase in campers, and Pathways to Prayer and Practice is ramping up to increase and improve worship for and with children from birth through age 10.
Expressing gratitude for the reflection of God’s grace at the convention, Stevenson highlighted the Diocesan staff and volunteers’ vital contributions: “They’re all just simply saints of God; the long hours and the stress-filled moments are nonstop for weeks leading up to this day, and they handle it all with grace and good humor.” And he mentioned a personal milestone: his upcoming February wedding to Kendall Martin.
Returning to the Bean metaphor, Stevenson said, “It is also important to step back and pay attention to the distortions that we find surrounding us in our society, our culture, and our country in these days—especially when they reflect an abuse of our values, or a corruption of our faith.”
Stevenson called out distortions that use the words of the Christian faith without “the true love and grace of God in Christ Jesus.”
“When politicians call us to dream of a time before ‘they’ (whoever ‘they’ may be) started changing things, and work to take us back to such a time, it is then that the dream of God so eloquently described by Verna Dozer is being at best distorted, and at worse being outright ignored or lied about.”
Stevenson shared examples of the dream of God being distorted:
- “When love of God and family is equated with the love of guns or racial purity…
- “When the totalism of a movement often referred to as Christian Nationalism proclaims that one country is favored by God over all others…
- “When Old Testament theology around the nature of a chosen people is co-opted for a modern and racist philosophy of Discovery and white-centric Manifest Destiny…
- “When people who have followed the laws for seeking asylum in this country are rounded up by masked officials and held captive without due process or basic human dignity…
- “When women, men, and children who have fled hunger or tyranny and come to this country without proper documentation, but who desperately want it and would willingly accept it, are subjected to that same cruel and authoritarian arrest policy while also being dehumanized and labeled as an ‘illegal’ instead of recognized as persons who desperately need our care and compassion…
- “When children are separated from their parents and put in cages by the government…
- “When for-profit detention centers are the order of the day, when companies make a living off of locking up immigrants…
- “When a religious leader stands before an elected representative and calmly begs for mercy for those living in fear and is labeled as ‘nasty’…
- “When supplemental food benefits for the unemployed and working poor are cut off while elected leaders throw lavish parties and play golf three days a week…
“And when whole groups of people believe that these things – and more – are okay, then the dream of God has been replaced by a human nightmare.”
Our duty as disciples of Jesus, Stevenson said, is to “stand firm and create not only safe spaces for people in need, but brave spaces for people to proclaim right in the face of wrong, and love in the face of hate…. to recenter ourselves and stand firm in the truth proclaimed at the beginning of the Gospel according to St. John:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. [Not just those who look, pray, love, or speak like the privileged class, but all people.] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
He ended with a call to action. “Distortions of the gospel are evil. Do not give in to that fallacy,” he said. “Instead, stay centered, stay focused, and speak the truth. Instead: Love Jesus. Embody Justice. Be Disciples.”
Friday, Nov. 7
Making Disciples, Forming Christians, Developing Faith
Keynote sessions were delivered by Lisa Kimball, Ph.D., Vice President for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary.
“How fortunate we are to have this deeply knowledgeable, committed Christian apologist at the table with us,” Bishop Stevenson said. “Dr. Kimball lives and breathes discipleship, Christian formation, and faith development.”
Her session, Baptized for Life!, focused on the meaning and importance of baptism in the Episcopal tradition. Baptism is a lifelong calling to live out the good news of Jesus Christ in a world that is often broken, lonely, and divided. This was followed by a second keynote, From There to Here: Becoming Disciples, offered engaging conversation with practical tools to feed your spiritual journey. Her final session was Our Call to Action: Being Faithful Today.
Keynote 1: Baptized for Life!
- Baptism is an entry into the body of Christ, where individuals are nurtured, supported, and called to discern their gifts and purpose. The church’s role is to walk alongside baptized individuals, helping them grow in faith and service.
- Christians are called to counter societal trends by living out their baptismal promises—loving, forgiving, and respecting the dignity of every person. All baptized people are ministers, not just the ordained clergy.
- Baptism involves renouncing evil and sinful desires, turning to Christ, and committing to trust and obey God. Witnessing baptism means recommitting to one’s own discipleship and supporting others in their faith journey.
- Clergy and laypeople need deeper formation so that all can confidently live and share their faith. The catechumenate (an ancient process of Christian formation) is recommended.
- Let go of practices and habits to make room for new beginnings and the movement of the Spirit. The church isn’t just a building or Sunday event, but a community growing in faith and love, wherever they are.
- The purpose of the church is to form people who can receive the gifts God wants to give. Baptism is a serious commitment, and the church must take it seriously in how it prepares and supports its members.
Session: Our Call to Action: Being Faithful Today
- Story and testimony are vital for church vitality and connects us to the “communion of saints.”
- The power of intentional “microformation” (camp, retreats, and Vacation Bible School) depends on faith communities welcoming and nurturing returning participants.
- The church thrives when members recognize their equality and interdependence. Greed and self-centeredness undermine community.
- Prayer is foundational. Find rhythms and practices of prayer that work for you and seek support from others.
- Stay aware of signs of burnout, mission drift, or over-functioning. Discern by slowing down, listening, and clarifying your “why.”
- Listening is a spiritual discipline that builds wholeness. Listen to understand, not just to respond; be curious, not furious; challenge ideas, not people.
- Strengthen relationships across generations and groups within the congregation. Christian formation is for all ages. Elders need formation and can be role models.
- Celebrate, play, and find reasons for gratitude together.
- Consider the catechumenate model: an ancient rhythm of welcoming seekers, assigning sponsors, and nurturing faith through storytelling and relationship.
- Encourage others to discern and affirm vocations in church, family, or the world.
- Theological reflection centers our eternal bond with God and each other.
- The journey of discipleship is communal—leaders and members support and learn from each other.
Province III Deputies Elected
Convention delegates elected deputies to Province III, one of nine regional bodies within The Episcopal Church that facilitate collaboration, communication, and advocacy among dioceses. One clergy and two lay deputies were elected:
Clergy Deputy: Rev. Deacon David Curtis
Lay Deputies: Dr. Christine Cameron and Helen Penrod
More About Province III Deputies Elected
Rev. Deacon David Curtis
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Richmond
Greetings! I’m a deacon in the Diocese of Virginia. I was ordained in April 2016 and joined one of the best Disturbances of Deacons the Episcopal Church has ever seen!
Beginning in 2107, I entered full-time ministry as a chaplain at Westminster Canterbury Richmond, where I serve, alongside other chaplains, a community of over 900 residents and roughly 500 employees. Before that, I had a 25-year career in higher education and non-profits.
Prior to ordination, I served as a vestry member, Senior Warden, and lay delegate to Annual Convention at Christ Ascension Episcopal Church. Post ordination, I served at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, and I currently serve at All Saints Episcopal Church, Richmond.
Within in the Diocese, I served as Archdeacon (2019-2023) and on the Transition Committee for the 14th Bishop of Virginia (2022). I currently serve on the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing, and I remain an active member of the Community of Deacons.
I am a graduate of Education for Ministry, and I mentored EfM groups for 5 years. I am a Master of Arts in Public Theology student at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond.
I am interested in learning how other dioceses are engaging in the work of racial justice and reconciliation and creation care, and how that work can inform our own work (and vice versa). I ask for your support so that I may serve the wider Church as a delegate to Province III.
Dr. Christine Cameron
St. Anne’s, Reston
I have been a parishioner at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Reston for 15 years, where I’ve served two terms on the Vestry, including as both Junior and Senior Warden. I remain active in parish life through the Adult Formation Team and the Flower Guild, and I currently serve as President of the North Fairfax Region.
At the diocesan level, I have been part of the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing for over five years and am honored to serve as its Chair since June of this year. Since 2020, I have facilitated more than a dozen Sacred Ground circles and am participating in the Episcopal Church’s Sacred Ground triennial curriculum review for the second time.
I hold a doctorate in health psychology from the University of Kansas and work as a restorative justice facilitator for the Fairfax County Juvenile Court and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. I have extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and community engagement.
I would be honored to serve as a deputy to Province III-to share the Diocese of Virginia’s call to follow Jesus, embody justice, and be disciples, and to learn from the rich ministries of other dioceses in our province. My experience at the parish, regional, and diocesan levels has prepared me to expand my service within the wider church. Thank you for your consideration.
Helen Penrod
Emmanuel, Harrisonburg
I would like to serve our Diocese as Province III Deputy because of a positive experience previously at Province III Synod (as an observer). This sparked my desire to serve as Deputy. Dioceses and committees were reporting on their projects. The exchange of ideas was invigorating! I offer the habits of a good team member, collaborative attitude, project planning and implementation skills, as well as my imagination, to serve as Deputy from our Diocese.
My Family: Husband, two daughters, four stepchildren, eight step-grandchildren, two step-great grandchildren.
Books reading now: Having Nothing, Possessing Everything, by Michael Mather;
How We Learn to Be Brave, by The Rt. Rev. Marian Edgar Budde
Courses taking now: Make Me an Instrument of Peace: A Guide to Civil Discourse, by
The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations
Hobbies: Hiking and camping in National Parks
Parish ministries: Choir, Altar Guild, Acolyte, Sunday School Teacher, Senior Warden, Stewardship, Finance, Shrine Mont parish retreat planner, JMU campus ministry meals, Saturday Community Lunch
Regional ministry: Southern Shenandoah Valley Region – President and Secretary roles
Diocesan ministry: Standing Committee 2022-2025, outgoing President; Shrine Mont Living Stones Campaign – co-chair
Community Outreach: President of Board of Directors Boys & Girls Clubs Harrisonburg and Rockingham County; chair of Boys & Girls Clubs Resource Development Committee
Education: M.S. and Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, Princeton University; B.S. Chemistry, Mary Washington College, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Career: Merck & Co., Inc. Manufacturing Division – Senior Scientist, Factory Manager, Elkton VA, Rahway NJ; 36 years, retired in 2022.
Congregational Vitality Video
“Here’s the gold: We can’t as church people figure out our great purpose that God is calling us into if we just stay in the church and listen to ourselves,” The Rev. Shirley Smith Graham, the diocesan Minister for Congregational Vitality, says in the video.
“It’s in relationship with the people outside of the church that we get to know what are the needs in this community? What do you expect of a church? What do you hope for in a church? And in those conversations between those relationships, the Holy Spirit speaks, and things become evident of what we need to be doing.”
Tools for churches include demographic analysis (FaithX), congregational vitality assessments, and resources from the College for Congregational Development.
Convention Workshops
On Friday, delegates also visited exhibitors representing the Diocese and from across The Episcopal Church. After lunch, delegates participated in workshops.
Convention workshops were interactive, practical, and supportive of congregational vitality and growth. These focused on strengthening church communities, leadership, and discipleship.
Topics included hiring and retaining quality staff, personal storytelling as a tool for discipleship, creative uses for underutilized church property, engaging children in worship, and rediscovering church identity through storytelling.
Other workshops addressed global mission, racial justice and healing, the role of godparents, vocational discernment for all baptized members, stewardship of church funds, and youth/college delegate engagement.
Sessions were led by clergy, lay leaders, and subject matter experts.
About Afternoon Workshops
Hiring and Retaining Quality Staff: A Panel Discussion explored best practices for recruiting and keeping church staff, with a focus on Christian ethics.
Telling Your Story: A Personal Approach to Discipleship encouraged participants to discover and share their personal faith stories to inspire and build community.
Re-Imagining the Gift of Underutilized Church Property shared strategies and resources for congregations to repurpose church property for mission and financial sustainability.
Pathways to Prayer & Practice: Engaging Children in Worship gathered parish perspectives and ideas for effectively involving children in worship.
Rediscovering Our Church’s Identity and Vocation Through Storytelling used this method to help churches clarify their identity and calling in a changing cultural landscape.
Telling Stories of Global Mission, Action that Strengthens Churches demonstrated how sharing global mission narratives can energize and strengthen congregations.
I Will, With God’s Help: Equipping God’s People for the Work of Racial Justice previewed foundational training and practical tools for dismantling racism and building a just, loving community.
Godparents: Presence and Presents highlighted the role of godparents as mentors and equipped leaders to nurture intergenerational relationships for healthy discipleship.
We are all the Ministers of the Church. Embracing Vocational Discernment for all the Baptized invited exploration of how God calls them to use their gifts in service to church and world.
Good Stewardship of Episcopal Funds covered principles and practices for investing church funds in alignment with Episcopal values.
Youth and College Delegate Convention 101 drew youth and college-aged delegates to informal discussion, Q&A, and fellowship opportunities.
Friday Holy Eucharist
The Rt. Rev’d Mark A. Bourlakas preached, and The Rt. Rev’d Gayle E. Harris celebrated. Zaccheaus “Zacc” Katta was received as a priest in the diocese from the Anglican Church of South India.
Bishop Stevenson called Katta’s induction “a truly special part of our worship,” adding that “this is a liturgy that, well, I’ve only seen a couple of times myself, and I believe it is a true gift to all of us, a gift to receive a fine priest and a gift to celebrate our connections all across the globe.”
Saturday, Nov. 8
Elections to the Standing Committee
This year, Convention Members elected two clergy and two laypeople to serve on the Standing Committee.
The slate featured four clergy nominees: the Rev. Rod Gordon, the Rev. Laura Minnick Lockey, the Rev. Justin McIntosh, and the Rev. Colleen Schiefelbein. Lockey was elected on the first ballot. Gordon was elected on the third ballot.
The slate of lay candidates included Harry Dickinson, James Dinan, and Deborah Gandy. Dickinson and Gandy were elected.
More About Standing Committee Members Elected
Harry Dickinson
Trinity, Fredericksburg
At Trinity, it has been my privilege to serve multiple terms as Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Register, and Assistant Treasurer. I have served as chair of our Pastoral Care Committee for 15 years, taught the High School Sunday School class for 10 years, and served on numerous other committees. For many years I have been Trinity’s representative to the Fredericksburg Regional Council where I served three years as President. I am currently finishing my third year on the Executive Board.
In my professional life, I am a CPA with more than 30 years of experience after an earlier career teaching accounting.
In addition, I have followed our son’s journey through discernment, seminary, and into priesthood. That has given me a perspective that would be useful on Standing Committee.
It would be an honor to combine all my experiences in service on the Standing Committee.
Deborah Gandy
St. Mary’s, Arlington
As a lifelong Episcopalian, I have been actively engaged in lay ministry and leadership in the parishes where I have served. I am currently the Treasurer of St. Mary’s Arlington and head of the Finance Committee. In this capacity, I have ensured that the parish has strong financial policies and guidelines that will continue to lay the foundation for a fiscally sound church.
I have previously served as a member of the Standing Committee from 2019 to 2022, and as its President in 2022. I have also served on the Executive Board for the last 3 years and as its liaison to the board of the Virginia Episcopal Investment Funds. In my professional life, I have enjoyed a 30-year career in the financial services industry. I am currently a Senior Managing Director at Chevy Chase Trust Company, where I develop business and manage relationships for individuals of significant wealth.
I have held numerous leadership roles in the community including chair of the board for several not-for profit organizations, and currently serve on the boards of Signature Theatre, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and the Arlington Community Foundation. With my leadership experience in the church and in the community, as well as my prior experience on the Standing Committee, it would be an honor to use my gifts to serve as a Lay Member of the Committee again.
The Rev. Rod Gordon
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Oak Grove
Father Rod Gordon has served St. Peter’s since 2015, first as supply priest, then as Priest-in-Charge, and elected Rector in September 2021. He was appointed Dean of the Northern Neck Region at the 227th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia in November 2021. Ordained to the priesthood on December 12, 1992, Father Gordon has served parishes in both the Diocese of Southern Virginia and the Diocese of Virginia. Prior to ordination, he served parishes in the Diocese of Chicago and as a chaplain at Children’s Hospital and Grant Hospital in Chicago and Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Illinois.
After serving as the Director of Social Services for Essex County, Virginia since 2013, Father Gordon retired from secular work in 2021. His secular experience includes 22 years in the County of Henrico, Virginia Departments of Finance and Social Services.
While at Henrico County Social Services, Father Gordon also served as the Executive Director of Interfaith Services of Henrico (now HEARTH), a non-profit organization benefiting citizens of Henrico County.
Born and grew up on the Northern Neck of Virginia, Father Gordon is a graduate of Rappahannock High School of Warsaw, Virginia Commonwealth University of Richmond, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary of Chicago, and the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
For most of my ordained life, I have served as a bi-vocational priest, serving as a supply priest, part-time priest-in-charge, or part- time rector. I have been called to smaller parishes, who could no longer financially support a full-time clergy person, or the parish could not find clergy willing to serve them, especially a small rural congregation. It is time for systemic change in how we raise up and transition clergy into smaller rural parishes.
As a member of the Standing Committee, I believe that I can offer my voice and experience in supporting the development and implementation of solutions for rural congregations in developing and sustaining team ministry concepts in their communities and encouraging seminarians and clergy to adapt and embrace this vital ministry opportunity.
The Rev. Laura Minnich Lockey
Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry, Harrisonburg
The Rev. Laura Minnich Lockey is a life-long Episcopalian, raised in a military family, with church experiences in many dioceses and locations. She loves The Episcopal Church; it is where she learned that she was a beloved child of God, and where she learned to love Jesus. As her family moved from one station to another in the US and Germany, and her living environment shifted every 18 months to two years, the Episcopal Church and the language of the liturgy stayed the same. The liturgy speaks deeply to her soul.
She holds BSEd and MSEd degrees in special education from Southwest Texas State University, and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary. In 1992 she married Russell Lockey (USCG Retired); they have three adult children.
She served churches in Texas, Alaska, Mississippi, and Virginia:
- James, Del Rio, Texas-Seminarian Intern-1991-1992
- Trinity, Juneau, Alaska-Deacon, Curate, Interim Rector-1993-1995
- Mediator, Meridian, Mississippi-Assistant-1996-1997
- Francis of Assisi, Philadelphia, Mississippi-Vicar-1996-2001
- Harrisonburg, Virginia-Campus Missioner-2001-present
- Long Term Supply-Christ Church, Luray, VA-2012-2013
- Long Term Supply-St. Stephen and the Good Shepherd, Rocky Bar, VA-2016-present
Committees and Other Service:
- Higher Education-Diocese of West Texas
- Vocare Director-Diocese of West Texas
- Southeast Deanery-Diocese of Alaska
- Camp Director for the Southeast Deanery-Diocese of Alaska
- Chaplain to the ECW-Diocese of Mississippi
- Executive Board-Diocese of Mississippi and Diocese of Virginia
- Young Priest Initiative Co-Chair-Diocese of Virginia
- Chaplain to Shrine Mont Camps-Diocese of Virginia
- Director of St. Elizabeth’s Camp, Shrine Mont-Diocese of Virginia
- Fresh Start Facilitator-Diocese of Virginia
- Chair of the Interfaith Chaplains, JMU
- Basic Needs Advisory Board, JMU
- Standing Committee, 2021-2023-Diocese of Virginia
In the midst of these challenging times in our church, and in our society, Laura listens well, and practices collaborative leadership; seeking common vision and understanding is essential. With experience in educational, parish, and diocesan systems, she has a strong understanding of how systems can work well together. The majority of her career has been spent in chaplaincy and small churches; this gives her a unique perspective on committee work. She served on the Standing Committee in the past and enjoys that kind of collaborative work.
Meet Me in Galilee Award: Carolyn Lanier
Following the elections, the Convention recognized and thanked the members of the Truth and Reparations Task Force, both outgoing and incoming, for their dedicated service. The atmosphere was one of appreciation for the hard work and ministry of those involved in these important roles. Carolyn Lanier was this year’s recipient of the Meet Me in Galilee Award, which recognizes outstanding ministry in the field of racial justice and healing.
She dedicated the award to her parents who raised her at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, where she is an active member, and taught her about Jesus and the power of prayer.
“This work requires a lot of prayer,” said Lanier, who has chaired the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing for the Diocese of Virginia. “I’m grateful to all of you and for the work that you’re doing in your churches and parishes. It can be hard. It can be frustrating. But when we work together, even though our pacing and our desire for things to move more quickly may be differently, when we work together and when we persevere, we know that the Holy Spirit’s going to prevail.”
More About Carolyn Lanier
Carolyn Lanier has over two decades of experience in human resources and diversity leadership. Before moving to Richmond, she served as Chief of Staff and Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Northeast Ohio Medical University, and prior to that, as Chief Diversity Officer at Western Connecticut State University for 12 years. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s in public administration from Seattle University.
Since relocating to Richmond in 2019, Carolyn has been an active member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, where her parents were long-time members. After the recent loss of her parents, she expressed deep gratitude for the support from her church community. Carolyn currently serves as the register for St. Philip’s, is an ex officio member of the vestry, a member of the Episcopal Church Women, and serves as an usher and greeter.
She is deeply committed to civil rights, believing in the importance of standing together across lines of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status. Her service includes work with the National Park Service on the 1619 Project at Fort Monroe, and she chaired the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing for the Diocese of Virginia.
Shrine Mont Camps Leadership Honored
The leadership of Shrine Mont Camps, past and present, was honored with a standing ovation.
“Shrine Mont camps has been blessed by an extraordinary lineage of directors, each one bringing unique gifts, deep faith and steadfast commitment to the formation of children, youth, and young adults across the Diocese of Virginia,” Bishop Stevenson said.
“These directors have done far more than manage counselors or plan programs. They have shaped lives. They have nurtured faith. They have built communities of grace, joy and belonging to continue to ripple outward across our church today.
“Thank you for your leadership and for your profound, profound ministry. Thank you for helping thousands of campers discover that God’s love is both playful and profound. “
The Shrine Mont Camps Directors are honored on a new plaque that will hang in the Virginia House at Shrine Mont.
The three former camp directors who were present placed hands on Greg Randall, the new camps director, as he was installed.
Pictured, left to right, are Mary Beth Abplanalp, Paris Ball, Greg Randall, and Ken Malcom.
Full list of Shrine Mont Camps Directors
Happy Pullman 1988-2000
Ken Malcolm 2001-2004
Joe Wingenbach, 2005
Paris Ball, 2006-2022
James Williams, 2023-2024
Mary Beth Abplanalp, 2025
Greg Randall, 2026
General Convention Deputies Elected
Delegates used electronic voting to determine deputies to the triannual General Convention, which is the governing body of the Episcopal Church and meets every three years. Each diocese elects deputies (four clergy and four lay) and alternates at least 12 months before the next General Convention (July 3-8, 2027, in Phoenix).
General Convention sets mission priorities, budget, policies, and approves changes to the church’s constitution and canons. The House of Deputies and the House of Bishops are bicameral like the US Congress.
Clergy deputies elected: The Rev. Will Dickinson, The Rev. Amanda Kotval, The Rev. Santiago Rodriguez, and The Rev. Deacon Nancy Searby.
Lay deputies elected: Mary Beth Abplanalp, Karen Franklin, Russ Randle, and Cindi Bartol.
Clergy deputy alternates: The Rev. Sven vanBaars (1), The Rev. Kathleen Murray (2), The Rev. Brian Vélez Garcia (3), and The Rev. David Rose (4).
Lay deputy alternates: Russell Lockey (1), Margaret “Mickey” Jones (2), and Max Sims (3).
More About Those Elected
The Rev. Will Dickinson
Diocesan Staff, Diocese of Virginia
After three decades of service to the Diocese of Virginia (well, perhaps being a baby doesn’t count), I was grateful to serve as first Alternate to General Convention 2024, helping to bring the witness of Queer/LGBTQ folks and younger clergy, but especially those of us who want to work together for structural change in the Episcopal Church, that we might continue to witness to the Gospel, preserve our tradition, and be agile in planting new communities.
Born, raised, and ordained in the Diocese, I’ve witnessed at youth weekends at Shrine Mont, helped raise up the next generation of leaders through the Young Priest Initiative, and tried my best to make Communion run smoothly at diocesan events on the Worship & Music Committee. After serving for four years as Associate at St. George’s, Fredericksburg, I was called as Transition Minister on diocesan staff, where I help churches seeking new clergy and clergy seeking new calls.
It’s both of those experiences – the real work on the church level paired with the witness of every church with whom I work – that informs my desire to serve as a deputy to General Convention.
Coming to know as many of y’all as I have, as well as working with churches of all sizes, cultures, and characters, I hope that I could serve as a voice for many.
I strive to bring a heart for the Gospel, a listening ear, and an abundance of good humor to all my work, particularly General Convention, and hope to continue to serve the Diocese of Virginia in this way.
The Rev. Amanda Kotval
St. Paul’s, Ivy
Amanda currently serves as Vice Rector at St. Paul’s, Ivy, where her ministry focuses on evangelism, forming disciples, and nurturing Christian community. She has witnessed the power of relationship to deepen the faith of the faithful and create life-giving connections with seekers.
In the diocese, she serves on the Committee on Priesthood and the Committee on Constitution and Canons. She has also served on the Commission on Ministry and the Executive Board. Nationally, she was appointed Vice-Chair of the General Convention Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic (2018-2021), which embodied for her an integral part of the Church’s vocation: to bear witness by standing with those who suffer and bringing the hope of Christ into a deeply wounded world.
Amanda represented the Diocese of Virginia as a Clergy Deputy to the 2024 General Convention, where she was appointed to the Legislative Committee on Constitution and Canons. In that role, she discovered a passion for the work of reconciliation over divisions in the Church by prioritizing the formation of relationships among people who disagree about important issues.
She was able to draw on her own relationships with a wide network of clergy friends, colleagues, and seminary classmates to organize support for resolutions that fostered a stronger sense of unity within the Episcopal Church. At the next General Convention, she hopes to bring these two strands together: nurturing a church that models authentic relationships across divisions, while speaking the hope of Christ into a world that desperately needs it.
As someone who came into the Episcopal church as an adult, from a mostly unchurched background, she is passionate about welcoming others into Christian community and nurturing discipleship within the Church. She believes that the future of the Church requires us to form relationships across divisions now, so that together, we can move into the future with a shared focus on the mission Jesus has given us all: to go out into the world to preach the healing love of God in Christ and invite others into that love so that they can do the same.
The Rev. Santiago Rodriguez
Grace, Alexandria
Santiago currently serves as Associate Rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Alexandria, where his ministry focuses on coordinating worship and pastoral care, supporting outreach and justice initiatives, and serving as the main liaison for La Gracia, the parish’s Spanish-speaking community. Before joining Grace, he served as Curate and Community Engagement Director at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas.
Born in Colombia, Santiago completed his undergraduate studies in Miami before moving to Canada, where he was a member of the Jesuit order for seven years and was received into the Anglican Church in 2015. He later earned his Master of Divinity from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, graduating in 2021.
In the wider Church, Santiago served a two-year term on the board of Forma (Christian Formation and Advocacy) and a three-year term on the Council of Advice for Latino/Hispanic Ministries for The Episcopal Church, under Canon Anthony Guillén. He recently completed a three-year term on the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Virginia. He has participated in two General Conventions – Austin (2018) and Louisville (2024) – advocating for formation and Latino/Hispanic ministries.
Passionate about cultivating the basic practices of Christian discipleship and bringing Ignatian spirituality to parish life, Santiago hopes to bring his experience and passion for inclusion, hospitality, and thoughtful theological reflection to the next General Convention. He envisions a Church that continues to grow as a community of faithful welcome, engaging the world with both courage and grace.
The Rev. Deacon Nancy Searby
St. Francis Episcopal Church, Great Falls
I am currently serving as a deacon at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, and if elected, would be the first deacon serving as deputy from Diocese of Virginia. I serve as a bridge between the church and the world, deepening our ways of living into our Baptismal Covenant in the local community as well as in global mission. I came to the Diocese of Virginia from California in 2007, and as a lay person, I mentored Education for Ministry and served as senior and junior warden in both California and Virginia.
At the Diocesan level, I was selected to serve the Creation Care Task Force and authored related resolutions. I serve on the Global Mission Advocate team, was appointed as the ministry partner with Episcopal Relief & Development, and have participated in churchwide formation, including Sacred Ground and Love God, Love God’s World. I serve as the Vice President of the Global Episcopal Mission Network board.
I want to serve as a deputy because I want to bring our perspectives in creation care, global mission, and our priorities of following Jesus, being disciples, and practicing justice to The Episcopal Church – all 22 countries. I want to bring what I learn at General Convention back to our diocese, my region, and my church. By my diaconal vows, and as a Jesus follower, I want to advocate that all we do consider all people, especially those experiencing poverty, sickness, loneliness, and lack of voice and
agency.
I believe I am qualified to serve as deputy. I’ve been an Episcopalian my entire adult life in two different dioceses, I work with and believe in the power of Episcopalians across The Episcopal Church, and, through engaging with partners in Tanzania, England, and South Sudan, I have witnessed the global body of Christ and our place in it. My secular career as an engineer and a scientist in private sector and federal government has given me a firm foundation in leadership, governance, innovation, and setting strategy and direction. At the last General Convention, 7% of the clergy there were deacons, even though we are 17% of the clergy. I will bring a needed diaconal perspective, passionate about God’s call to us to place the most vulnerable and marginalized at the center of our common life.
Mary Beth Abplanalp
St. James’s Episcopal Church, Richmond
- Children, Youth, and Young Adult Minister, 2011-2021; Christ Church Alexandria & St. James’s Richmond
- Ministry Architects Consultant, 2014-Current
- Ministry Architects Director of Connections, 2021-2025
- Episcopal Youth Event Assessment and Visioning 2020-2021
- Shrine Mont Board of Directors member, 2014-2019
- Lilly grants – project designer, proposal author, and implementation consultant: DFMS Christian Parenting 2023; Diocese of Louisiana Christian Parenting 2023; Diocese of Virginia, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis Nurturing Children 2024; Diocese of West Virginia Storytelling Initiative 2025
- Interim Director of Shrine Mont Camps 2025
- Acolyte Coordinator, St. James’s 2023-Current
Cradle Episcopalian and church nerd, through and through :-). I’m not sure if these things make me qualified, but I’m an eager learner and would be honored to represent the Diocese of Virginia at General Convention 2027.
Karen Franklin
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Richmond
I served as an alternate for the past General Convention. It was a wonderful learning experience on how the church functions. I have been a long-standing member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for over 12 years. I have served three terms on the vestry and the registrar for the vestry. I currently am chair of Pastoral Care and a member of the healing prayer ministry.
I have recently been invited to be an at-large member of the Executive Board of the Diocese of Virginia. I will be on the Committee of Related Organizations for the upcoming Annual Convention.
I have engaged in two Sacred Ground groups and am currently beginning my second year of Education for Ministry.
Russ Randle
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Arlington
Friends in Christ, I have been privileged to serve with you in this Diocese since the 1984 Diocesan Convention. During the Sudanese Civil War and its aftermath, you sent me repeatedly to represent us to the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. You sent me eight times to serve at General Convention as a lay deputy and that service has been fruitful for the Church.
The upcoming General Convention will work to adapt The Episcopal Church (TEC) to face a very different and more hostile world than we faced a decade ago. I would be honored to help us do so. I want to continue the good work you have sent me to do for the Gospel, to help make our church work better to proclaim Jesus, protect the poor and vulnerable, and to speak truth to power.
My past service for the Diocese and TEC includes:
- Lay General Convention Deputy (2003-2024)
- President of House of Deputies Medal for Exemplary Service (2011, 2024)
- Chaired House of Deputies Committees on Environment (2018), International Affairs (2015), National and International Affairs (2012), Vice-Chaired Environment (2024), Agencies & Boards Committees (2022); Secretary, National and International Affairs Committee (2009)
- Province 3 Lay Representative to TEC Executive Council (2015-2022)
- Member, TEC Standing Commission on Structure Governance, Constitution & Canons (2022-27) Member, TEC Archives Advisory Committee (2022-2027), Lay Member, TEC Court of Review (2024-2027)
- Short term missionary – Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya (1998, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008); successful asylum petitions for persecuted Sudanese (1998, 2002). Fundraising for Wycliffe’s Dinka Bible Translation from 2001-23. The Dinka Bible was completed and printed this year.
- Diocesan Standing Committee 1999-2001; President 2001
- Diocesan Convention Committee on Resolutions (multiple years), multiple task forces, search committee for Bishop Suffragan (2011-12)
- Delegate to Diocesan Convention 1984-89, 1992-2025
- Board Member, American Friends of Episcopal Church of the Sudan (AFRECS), 2008-17, lobbying Congress and various Administrations for protection against religious persecution and for human rights, peace building, and development aid.
- Education: Yale Law School JD, 1980; Princeton University BA, 1977; EFM Completion 1984
- Professional: Attorney at Miles & Stockbridge PC
Cindi Bartol
Christ Church, Alexandria
It has been a blessing to be uplifted as a representative of the Diocese of Virginia in the wider church polity for many years as well as within our diocese and I have had the experience of participating in and contributing to the various needs of each gathering. Our faith and the ways we serve others are continually moving forward as we faithfully uplift and affirm the dignity of all human beings. 2027 will bring its own unique times of deliberation because of the changes in the needs and focus of the communities where we serve, both here and throughout the world. Prayer and listening will continue to guide me in ministry. I would be honored to represent you at General Convention in any capacity that this Diocesan Convention chooses.
Places of Service:
General Convention: Lay Deputy (6) or Alternate (2) 2003 – 2024
# Member of GC committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Music
Committee of 5 conventions: 2006 – 2018
• Interim Bodies of General Convention membership:
# 2000 – 2006 Executive Council’s Committee on the Status of Women
# 2006 – 2009 House of Deputies State of the Church Committee
# 2009 – 2012, 2015-2018 Joint Standing Committee on
Nominations
• Diocesan:
# Short term missioner to Diocese of Christ the King, Johannesburg, South Africa 1992
# Committee on Liturgy and Church Music 1994 – 2015
# Convener, and member of Committee on Women in Mission and Ministry 1997-2009
# Standing Committee:
^ 2002-2004, Secretary 2003 and President 2004
^ 2011-2013, Secretary 2012 and President 2013
# Member, Task Force on Giving 2004
# Member, Implementation Task Force on Ministry 2004-2007
# Co-chair, Millennium Development Goals 2008-2010
# Chair, Transition Committee for Bishop Coadjutor 2006-2007
# Member, Transition Committee for Diocesan Bishop 2021-2022
• Region Alexandria:
# representative from Christ Church 1996 – Present, President 1998-2001
• Parish:
# Delegate to Convention 1994-present
^member Credentials Committee 2009-2011;
^member Constitution and Canons Committee, 1999-2005
^member Committee on Church Status 2006
# Vestry, altar guild, usher, LEM, lay reader, outreach committee, and ‘other duties as assigned’ …
• Other: Episcopal Church Women# Diocesan Board – 1986-2000
# delegate to the national Triennial Meeting of Episcopal Church
Women – 1991-2000
^Province III representative to the National ECW board
1997-2000, chair of Social Justice Committee
Education: AA, Stephens College, Columbia, MO and BS, Tufts University, MA
Retired Teacher and Director of after-school program, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, Alexandria, VA
Former Director of Children’s Ministries at Christ Church, Alexandria, VA
Pathways to Prayer and Practice Video
Convention Members watched a video about children, worship, and the Pathways to Prayer and Practice initiative. This five-year ministry project funded by the Lilly Endowment aims to innovate, increase and improve worship for and with children up to age 10.
“We’re dealing with a generation that if we don’t start while they’re small, by the time they get older, half the time we’ve already lost them, and this is an opportunity to begin to speak to them,” said Canon for Discipleship, The Rev. Ricardo Sheppard.
The video features conversation with him and Pathways to Prayer and Practice Grant Director Tyler Henderson.
Amendments to the Constitution and Canons
J. P. Causey Jr., Chair of the Committee on Constitutions and Canons, shared the committee report including recommendations and adoptions of C-1 through C-6.
Amendments to the Constitution and Canons
Constitution and Canons Committee Report
Spanish Version
C-1 Amendments to the Constitution
Second Reading with Attachment
Spanish Version
C-2 Amendments to the Constitution
First Reading
C-3 Amendments to Canons
Read
C-4 Amendment to Article III.1(e)
First Reading
Spanish Version
C-5 Amend Canon 2 to add Section 7
Read
Spanish Version
C-5a Amend Canon 2 to add Section 7
Read
C-6 A Resolution Supporting Youth Delegates to Diocesan Convention
Read
Resolutions
Resolutions
Resolution to Stand with Immigrants Passes
The legislative session continued as the Resolutions Committee presented two substantial resolutions, including R3, “Commending Study of the Episcopal Church’s Policy on Immigration and Refugee Issues and Consideration of New Ministries to Support Immigrants and Our Latine Members, Congregations, and Neighbors.”
An amendment to R3, brought forward by collegiate delegates, proposed that the Diocese formally adopt a policy of non-compliance with ICE and related enforcement agencies, except when legally required.
Multiple speakers shared personal stories and emphasizing the church’s responsibility to protect and stand with marginalized communities. University of Virginia student Jack Martinez, who is Mexican American, said the resolution would signal diocesan support to churches with policy of non-compliance:
“It is the responsibility as an institution, this church, to stand up for we who are being persecuted right now… in the face of people that want to scare you into being silent and to scare you into thinking that you’re isolated, to be able to say as a community and as a group all together that no, we are not afraid of you and we are going to support each other and show that we can take care of our communities and that we are going to stand up for our congregants who are Latino and who are people of color.”
The amendment passed as R3a, and the Bishop commended the young adults who led the effort. The session highlighted the church’s commitment to justice, inclusion, and active support for vulnerable populations.
The convention considered and adopted Resolution R4, which calls for prayer and action in response to ongoing massacres and civil war in Sudan. The Diocese of Virginia has a long-standing partnership with the church in Sudan, including support for clinics, schools, and congregations. The resolution urges congregations, individuals, and the Bishop should reach out to the Sudanese church and diaspora during this crisis.
Courtesy Resolutions
Courtesy Resolutions
2026 Budget Presented and Approved
The 2026 diocesan budget was presented and approved ($6,967,921, an increase of $438,921 or 6.3% over 2025). It is a balanced budget that was reviewed in an open hearing in October and no changes were made.
Budget growth is driven by increased support for youth programs (camping and campus ministries), racial reconciliation, and mission congregations. Staffing costs are up due to a full staff, including three bishops, all at full-year rates. Cat Turner from Church of the Resurrection, Alexandria, chaired the Committee on Budget, which noted positive trends in congregational health and engagement, with more parishes meeting the 10% covenantal giving mark.
Diocesan Treasurer Ted Smith reported on financial health, investment performance, and ongoing challenges with health insurance administration for clergy and lay employees. The diocese’s net assets increased, with most gains from restricted grants and unrealized investment returns.
The treasurer commended staff and volunteers for their work, especially in managing camp finances and supporting diocesan operations.
Sine Die
Bishop Stevenson delivered a final blessing invoking peace and God’s presence and officially adjourned the 231st Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia.
Next up: The 232nd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia will be held at the Fredericksburg Convention Center on Nov. 5-7, 2026.