[Magdalen] Fwd: A Letter to the Diocesan Family

[W. Michael Mahoney]

Yes, perhaps a tension between what the man would like to say and what he
thinks (or has been told) he should say.

Also cynical,

Mike M.

On Fri, Aug 3, 2018 at 4:35 PM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> >
>