A Message from the Bishop - October 2022B
Dear Friends,
What a joy to experience our Electing Synod on Saturday, as we voted, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, to elect the Rev. Chris Warner to be our next bishop. The media release announcing the election is here.
You’ll see, below, the link to wonderful photos of the Friday evening Prayer Gathering, the opening Eucharist and the Electing Synod.
Subject to consent by the College of Bishops in early January, Bishop-Elect Chris will be consecrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at The Falls Church Anglican. Archbishop Foley Beach and bishops from throughout the Anglican Church in North America will be with us for that very special service open to everyone in our diocese.
After Chris+ is consecrated by the laying on of hands, I will, during the service, give up my spiritual authority as Bishop and begin my retirement, and Bishop Warner will then be the Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.
I am delighted to be handing over the leadership of the Diocese to Bishop-Elect Chris; he is a godly, faithful and wise pastor. Please continue to pray for him and his wife, Catherine, as they go through all the challenges of the upcoming months of transition.
We praise God for the Rev. David and Laurel Hanke and the Rev. Patrick and Jordan Ware for their gracious and humble participation in our lengthy process, and we continue to pray for the Lord’s richest blessings on them and their congregations.
We express again our great thanks to Allan Sharrett, chair, and the members of the Committee on Nominations; Ed Speare, chair, and the members of the Walkabout Committee; Lynn Milograno and the Diocesan staff; Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax, and Redeemer Anglican Church, Richmond, for hosting the Walkabout sessions and All Saints’ Church, Woodbridge, for hosting the events of this past weekend; Rob Thomsen, transition manager, and the Standing Committee who oversaw the process; and the Rev. Tim Howe and all those who prayed so faithfully throughout the past year.
I am so profoundly thankful to God!
Faithfully yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey
Photo Albums from this past weekend
