Standing Committee

The Standing Committee is a 12-member elected council of advice to the bishop.  The Standing Committee is involved in a number of matters including church indebtedness and the ordination process. Four members (two clergy and two lay) are elected to three-year terms each year by the Annual Convention. In certain circumstances (see the diocesan Canons), the Standing Committee is the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese of Virginia in the absence of the Bishop.

View details about Standing Committee responsibilities and commitment.

Contact the Standing Committee by emailing standingcommittee@episcopalvirginia.org.

Standing Committee for 2024

Standing Committee and the Approval of Church Debt

There are two Virginia Canons that speak directly to the obligations of a church when considering the question of debt and the encumbering of church property: Canon 14 (Creation of Church Debt) and Canon 15 (Church Property). Please read these Canons and if you have any questions, please call the diocesan office at 1-800-DIOCESE and ask for the treasurer of the Diocese. You may also email questions to Ted Smith.

Procedural Documents

The Standing Committee takes its canonical duties very seriously with regard to the approval of church debt. Please see the links below for all relevant information.

• Requirements for Standing Committee Approval of Indebtedness
• Indebtedness Approval Worksheet
• Annual Indebtedness reporting form
• Annual indebtedness reporting form instructions
• Canon 14.1.a debt requests (capital debt) and expected timeline on such requests