[Magdalen] Fwd: A Letter to the Diocesan Family

[Marion Thompson]

I do not know the man, but he sounds tuckered out.  Sad, and  reluctant, to step back, but feeling it’s for the best for all, to make room for one who has fresh energy to bring to it all.  Sometimes  it’s hard to step back from something one loves yet know that it is time to do so.

Marion, a pilgrim   

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: W. Michael Mahoney
Sent: August 3, 2018 4:45 PM
To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Fwd: A Letter to the Diocesan Family

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