134th Annual Convention (2026)
Annual Convention is a pivotal forum where clergy and lay delegates convene to worship, learn, and vote on impactful matters shaping our diocese. This event, beyond its formalities, cultivates a friendly atmosphere for meaningful connections.
With a distinguished keynote speaker contributing insights, and various diocesan groups presenting reports and offering valuable updates on their activities, Annual Convention blends meaningful discussion, camaraderie, and shared vision, making it a cherished event for our diocese.
134th Annual Convention
PRAYER, SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY – A VISION FOR LOVE
February 7, 2026
DoubleTree Hotel – Williamsburg, Virginia
Bishop Haynes’ Address to Annual Convention
Thank you for joining us in Williamsburg! Click here for the text of Bishop Haynes’ Address to Annual Convention
PRAYER, SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY – A VISION FOR LOVE
Bishop Susan B. Haynes issues a passionate challenge to the Diocese: stop hiding our light and start truly seeing one another. Anchored in the Prophet Isaiah’s call to “not hide from your kin,” she urges us to break down the silos of isolated ministry and embrace a unified vision of Prayer, Service, and Community.
It is a reminder that we are one body, and that no church should walk alone.
J. Davey Gerhard III — Keynote Speaker
The Journey to Generosity
Davey Gerhard has served as the Executive Director for TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship since 2020 bringing decades of fundraising leadership and the theology of generosity to this work. A lifetime student of theology and policy, Davey believes that the best conversations happen at the intersection of money and meaning, and that our gratitude for God’s abundance leads us to generosity.
In his keynote address, Davey challenges congregations to rethink stewardship not as paying bills, but as fueling mission. He offers practical tools to shift the focus from financial scarcity to the abundance of community impact.
THRIVE! DCDI - Building Vitality Together
There is a misconception that congregational development is just for churches in trouble. But Thrive (DCDI) isn’t about fixing broken churches. It’s about equipping your parish with a whole new way of working together.
In this video, we explore how this program is changing the DNA of the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Think of it less like a workshop and more like a spiritual MBA. You’ll see clergy finding the strategic frameworks that seminary didn’t cover, and see lay leaders building real confidence as they master professional-grade models for ministry.
Whether your parish is already booming or just finding its footing, this is where you go to stop maintaining and start flourishing. It’s not remedial. It’s transformational. Come see what’s possible!
Elections at Convention
Standing Committee: The Rev. Liam Muller (Clergy); Mr. Justin Criner (Lay)
Disciplinary Board: The Rev. Stephen Batten and The Rev. Shawn Malarkey (Clergy); Ms. Bettie Swain (Lay)
Provincial Synod: Mr. Zach Tabor (Lay)
Deputies to the 82nd General Convention of The Episcopal Church (2027): The Very Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly, The Rev. Charlie Bauer, The Rev. Canon Willis Foster, and The Rev. Canon Carla McCook (Clergy); Ms. Abigayle Cheney, Mr. Herb Josey, Ms. Diana Moreland, and Mr. Chris Stephenson (head of deputation) (Lay)
Note: Alternate deputies will be elected at Diocesan Annual Convention in 2027
Resolution of Solidarity with the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota – approved
Proposed 2026 Diocesan Budget – approved
The offering from our Annual Convention Eucharist provided $2009 to go to the Chesapeake Bay Eco-Region Network.
This recently formed group is comprised of mid-Atlantic Episcopal dioceses, as well as parishes, individuals, and their neighbors who share ecosystems and watersheds. The Chesapeake Bay Eco-Region Network is one of five Eco-Region Networks (Grasslands, Province I, Appalachia, Province IX, Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Bay) formed as a result of 2024 General Convention resolution B002 and it is hoped that additional networks will be formed. The goal of the Eco-Region networks is to provide “a collaborative space to link people of faith, projects, and properties and to implement nature-based solutions that meet local and regional needs.”
Delegate Materials
- Schedule of Events
- Rules of Order
- Bishop’s Appointments
- Order of Business
- Minutes of the 133rd Annual Council
- Bishop’s Nominations
- Persons to be granted Seat & Voice
- Executive Board & Deans
- Nominees for Elections
- Holy Eucharist Order of Service
- Memorial Resolutions
- Proposed 2026 Diocesan Budget (approved by the Executive Board)
- Video overview of the 2026 budget
- Resolution of Solidarity with the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota (resolution of late occasion)