[Magdalen] Fwd: A Letter to the Diocesan Family

Ginga Wilder gingawilder at gmail.com
Fri Aug 3 20:35:19 UTC 2018


I thought the same thing, Renee.  Something weird...too much explanation.

Cynical,
Ginga

On Fri, Aug 3, 2018 at 4:19 PM flyingfish224--- via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

> There is something weird here.  I know not what it is.
>
> Renee
> Virginian
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Aug 3, 2018, at 10:27 AM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Just received this from the Bishop. His resignation had already been
> announced nationally, so I feel all right about sharing this. In some ways
> it doesn’t really answer the questions that we in the Diocese have, but
> it’s what we’re going to be told.
> > I don’t know if it’s up to the Standing Committee to call for the
> election of s Coadjutor, but that surely can’t wait until November. We were
> originally going to be selecting a second Bishop Suffragan then.
> > I’m not sure the graphics of letterhead, etc. will convey here, so I’ll
> try to remove them.
> >
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> >> From: "The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston" <news at thediocese.net>
> >> Date: August 3, 2018 at 10:16:00 AM EDT
> >> To: gracecan at gmail.com
> >> Subject: A Letter to the Diocesan Family
> >> Reply-To: news at thediocese.net
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> August 3, 2018
> >>
> >> Dear Diocesan Family,
> >>
> >> After many months of intense prayer and reflection, and in close
> consultation with the Presiding Bishop and our Standing Committee, I am
> formally announcing that I have decided to resign my office and ministry as
> Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia effective November 3, 2018, prior to the
> adjournment of our annual convention. I will then serve the diocese in a
> consulting capacity to facilitate the transition to new leadership. I will
> fully retire effective July 1, 2019, having served over twelve years as a
> bishop in this diocese.
> >>
> >> First of all, I want to say in all honesty that being the XIII Bishop
> of Virginia has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life. I love
> this diocese with all my heart. I have also had extraordinary opportunities
> in places across the globe. I have learned much about the "big things" as
> well as about how deeply meaningful the so-called small things can be.
> After all these years of ministry serving as your bishop, there is
> something surreal about letting go. I have no idea what will come next,
> except that I shall take an extended period of rest, which will include
> times for spiritual retreat and discernment.  I know that I shall miss my
> week-to-week ministry, especially spending time with our clergy and
> interacting with parishioners, but, actually, I am quite excited to have
> things so open-ended! Ellen and I shall remain in Richmond, where we very
> happily bought a home two years ago.   We look forward to having more time
> to spend with friends as well as taking opportunities to travel.  I also
> want to make up for a lot of lost time with my family in Alabama and
> Georgia.
> >>
> >> I am proud of the work and accomplishments that we have achieved
> together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Several of these
> accomplishments include:
> >> the successful resolution of the unprecedented lawsuit returning
> schismatically-claimed property for the mission of the Episcopal Church;
> >> the historic success of the capital campaign for our camps program at
> Shrine Mont;
> >> embracing and fully including LGBT Christians in our ordination process
> and in the rite of Christian marriage;
> >> our recovery of the Church's voice for faith and advocacy in the
> "public square," raised  in our internationally-noted presence at the
> Charlottesville rally opposing the White supremacy demonstrations, as we
> had already opened a critical dialogue on the sin and experience of racism;
> >> the newly re-drawn diocesan Regions that better reflect-and thus will
> better serve-the demographics and growth of today's Commonwealth of
> Virginia;
> >> and (lastly but surely not least) our diocese is growing again and our
> unity, confidence, and morale are high.
> >> There is so much more that could be noted. I certainly do not claim or
> imply that "I" did all this, but we did, and I am rightly proud of this era
> I have shared with you in the life of the Diocese of Virginia.
> >>
> >> My reasons for reaching this decision that a change of leadership is
> now good and wise begin with the fact that I feel that I have given my all.
> Quite simply, "the time" has come.  I truly believe that I have done all
> that I can to accomplish what I feel I was called here to do.  And so, I am
> convinced that it is now time for new vision and new energy for the Church
> in our diocese.
> >>
> >> Equally important as a factor in my decision is that my wife Ellen and
> I are looking toward sharing an active and full life in retirement years.
> As I reach the age of sixty (after serving the Church for over thirty
> years), and being in strong health, I have confidently chosen to claim this
> season of life for the fuller nurture of our personal life.  Someone else
> can assume my responsibilities as Bishop of Virginia, but no one else can
> love Ellen as I do.
> >>
> >> As I write this letter I realize with certainty that my decision is for
> the best. While I am aware that there is some speculation about my
> retirement, please know that this letter conveys what is in fact my own
> personal truth about my decision to resign. You should also know that it is
> in consultation with my closest friends, colleagues, and advisors that
> Ellen and I agree that it is time for me to move on, in God's grace for us
> and for the Diocese of Virginia.  Be assured that the Presiding Bishop's
> office will be in communication with our diocesan leadership regarding the
> next steps and the particulars for episcopal leadership in Virginia going
> forward.
> >>
> >> I look upon my ministry as bishop among you in terms of having shared
> milestone moments of God moving decisively in the lives of Virginia
> Episcopalians. We have grown together as disciples of Jesus Christ. That is
> what the Church is all about. In the end, I am profoundly gratified by what
> I believe to have been a consequential episcopate.
> >>
> >> Faithfully yours,
> >>
> >> The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston
> >> XIII Bishop of Virginia
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>


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