Virginia Diocese to Choose New Head Amid Gay Row
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia selected five nominees to head a diocese that may lose two significant parishes over the homosexual controversy.
The nominees to succeed the Rt. Rev. Peter Lee as bishop of the diocese include three men and two women, all of whom Lee said are "well qualified" to lead especially as the Episcopal body faces difficult issues.
"This field of nominees is exceptionally strong, and I congratulate the Nominating Committee on providing the Council delegates with a difficult choice," he said, according to the Episcopal News Service. "It is clear that whoever is chosen will be exceptionally well qualified to lead this diocese in a time of transition, when a number of difficult issues face the Episcopal Church, not only here in Virginia but nationally, and within the worldwide Anglican Communion."
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Reflecting the homosexual division in the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Virginia diocese is currently facing the potential loss of two parishes - Truro Church in Fairfax and The Falls Church in Falls Church.
The board of directors of both churches recently voted to recommend a split from the Episcopal Church – the U.S. Anglican representative body – because of differences over the Bible and sexuality. The vote is set for Dec. 10 and 16.
Virginia is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church with more than 90,000 Episcopalians and 193 congregations.
Truro Church and The Falls Church are two of the most historically significant parishes in the diocese.
As the parishes near a vote that could lead to a split from the Episcopal Church, the diocese will choose its next head in January 2007 at the 212th Annual Council meeting in Richmond.
Nominees for the bishop of the Diocese of Virginia are: the Rev. Dr. Robert S. Dannals of Christ Church in Greenville, S.C.; the Rev. Canon Gay Clark Jennings of CREDO Institute Inc. of Memphis, Tenn.; the Very Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Tupelo, Miss.; the Rev. Canon Erwin Morgan Lewis, Jr. of the Diocese of Southern Virginia; and the Very Rev. Caroline Smith Parkinson of Grace Church in The Plains, Va.
