Electing the 11th Bishop of Southern Virginia: Your Role

The election of the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia will be held Saturday, September 21, 2019, and the Consecration of our new bishop will be held February 1, 2020. 

As we prepare for the election, the six bishop candidates will participate in four Walkabouts  held  Sept. 5-8 (Sept. 5 at Hungars Parish on the Eastern Shore; Sept. 6 at Galilee Church in Virginia Beach; Sept. 7 at Chanco on the James; and Sept. 8 at Johns Memorial Church in Farmville)

The walkabout on Sept. 6 will be live-streamed on the diocesan website (www.diosova.org) and a video recording will be available to watch at a later time. If you would like for St. Andrew’s to offer a screening of the recorded walkabout, please let Rachel Roby (saec0371@gmail.com) know by September 6.  If we have at least five parishioners interested, we will arrange to show the video.

Click here to learn about the six candidates for bishop. 

Electing our Next Bishop:  Your Role

As a congregation, we have been praying for months for our bishop search process.  A few weeks after the walkabouts, our next bishop will be elected at a special Diocesan Council on September 21.  Those from our parish who will be voting are Anne Kirchmier, Lorna Williams, Al Roby, Bob Lord, Bill Wilds and Rachel Roby. 

Will the St. Andrew’s delegation all vote the same way?

There is no expectation that the voters from St. Andrew’s must all vote for the same person.  Each person will be voting according to his/her prayerful discernment and individual conscience, informed by reading about the candidates, meeting them at the Walkabouts, and listening thoughtfully to the views of others, including fellow parishioners. 

Can I share my thoughts about the candidates with the St. Andrew’s delegation?

Absolutely!  All of us welcome your input.  Please call, email, or speak to us in person and let us know your reflections about the candidates.  To elect a bishop is a big responsibility, and we welcome your prayerful input.