Press releases
The Rev. Canon Jay Magness of Southern Virginia Elected Sixth Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries
(March 24, 2010) The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia announced today the election of the Rev. Canon James “Jay” Magness as Sixth Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries. Magness was elected by the Episcopal Church House of Bishops on the second ballot at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas. Pending successful completion of the consent process, his consecration will be Saturday, June 19, 2010 at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori presiding.
Magness was among eight candidates nominated for the post.
Magness, Cannon for Mission and Diocesan Administration in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia in Norfolk Virginia, served Southern Virginia overseeing committee and commissions for congregational development, providing oversight of support staff, coordinating diocesan events and other duties.
“It is with very mixed emotion that I share this news with Southern Virginia,” said the Rt. Reverend Herman Hollerith IV, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. “In his short tenure on the diocesan staff, Jay has made a significant impact on the life and ministry of the diocese of Southern Virginia. As deeply sorry as we all will be to see him go, the larger Episcopal Church and House of Bishops will be blessed by his ministry,” he said .
Prior to joining the bishop’s staff, Jay served as Rector Interim of Galilee Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. While at Galilee he provided pastoral and transitional leadership to a parish of more than1200 members, rebuilt ordained and lay staff, sought out and trained new lay leadership and reestablished relationships with the diocesan leaders. Jay completed his work at Galilee in the fall of 2009.
Before his arrival in Southern Virginia, Jay was the chief administrator for the Diocese of Kentucky with the title of Canon to the Ordinary. His work had wide reaching influence in the diocese positively affecting its organization and functioning.
Jay retired from the Navy on Dec. 31, 2003 at the rank of captain, serving as fleet chaplain for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command and command chaplain of the U.S. Joint Forces Command. During his 24 years of active duty as a Navy chaplain he also participated in an exchange program with the British Royal Navy, working as a priest for the Church of England. Earlier in his ministry he served parishes in Edneyville and Flat Rock, N.C., while he was also a Naval Reserve chaplain.
Originally from Hendersonville, N.C., Jay is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and sociology. He attended seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas and received a Master of Divinity in 1977. He earned a Doctor of Ministry with a concentration in Christian leadership from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in 1997.
Jay and his wife Carolyn have two daughters, Laurel and Rebekah and live in Virginia Beach.
The election for bishop suffragan was held at the Episcopal Church House of Bishops, meeting in retreat at Camp Allen near Houston, TX. A simple majority of the votes cast by the bishops was necessary for the election. Magness received 64 votes; 54 were required.
The position of bishop suffragan for Federal Ministries, formally known in the Constitution of The Episcopal Church as the bishop suffragan for the Armed Forces, includes not only the pastoral care and oversight for armed forces chaplains, military personnel and families, and but also oversight of federal hospitals, prisons, and correctional facilities, as well as the Eucharist communities related to military installations.
###
Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia offers a way to help the victims in Haiti
(January 13, 2010 Norfolk, VA) Following the shocking news of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia announced it was collecting donations to help the victims of the disaster.
The quake was centered only miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. More than 28 aftershocks shook the country.
“The devastating news of the quake in Haiti has affected all of us in Southern Virginia,” said Right Reverend Herman Hollerith, IV, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. “I encourage everyone to rally to help those in need. Not only is there great loss of life, but the damage and destruction will even further stress a nation that is already in the grip of tremendous poverty.”
Funds collected through the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia will go directly to Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD), the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States.
The ERD reports that it has already disbursed emergency funding to the Diocese of Haiti to help them meet immediate needs such as providing shelter, food and water, and stands ready to support their ongoing recovery as they rebuild their ministries.
ERD is an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Donations can be sent directly to ERD through their website at https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php or mailed to The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, 600 Talbot Hall Road, Norfolk, Virginia 23505.
###
The Rt. Rev. Claude Charles Vache’, retired bishop of Southern Virginia, died on November 1
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia sadly announced the passing of the Right Reverend Claude Charles Vache’ who died at 2:30 a.m. on the Feast of All Saints in Hospice care at Westminster Canterbury, Virginia Beach. The funeral will be held on Friday, November 6, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Church in Portsmouth (click here for directions).
The church suggests parking in one of the two public parking garages nearby: County Street Garage (between Court Street & Crawford Street) or the Middle Street Garage (behind the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, off of High Street).
Bishop Vache’s family requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be sent to: Mission of the Holy Spirit (P.O. Box 1427, Norfolk, VA 23501) or Portsmouth Humane Society (2704 Frederick Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23704).
Bishop Vache’ was Bruton’s Interim Rector from 1996 to 1999. His ministry is gratefully remembered by many.
###
UTO Board awards Holy Cross Anglican School, Southern Virginia’s ECW Mission project.
(Norfolk, VA July 30, 2009) It all started when Marilyn Meek, an ECW member at Ascension Episcopal Church in Norfolk received word that, for the first time, the United Thank Offering Committee would accept grant applications for programs in companion dioceses.
A past Province III representative on the United Thank Offering board from 1979 to 1985, Marilyn also served as chairman of the UTO board the last 18 months of that six-year period. She stood with Presiding Bishop, The Rt. Rev. John Allen to receive the UTO ingathering in 1985 at Triennial. Click here to read the whole story.