Letter from the Rector

Dear Friends,

I want to share with you all that today the Diocese of Virginia will announce publicly that I am a candidate in their search for the 14th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.

The slate of nominees includes 3 other very gifted and qualified priests and may expand to include candidates who are added to the slate by petition. The election for the 14th Bishop of Virginia will occur on June 4, 2022, following a series of opportunities to meet and greet the Diocese as a candidate in May. For a fuller sense of the electing process for Bishops in the Episcopal Church, there are more details to be found here.

The Diocese of Virginia is a diocese of 70,000 Episcopalians worshiping in 179 congregations, learning in 6 Diocesan Schools, living in 6 Diocesan homes, and is home to 2 conference centers (Shrine Mont and Roslyn.) The Episcopal Church arrived in Virginia on the three ships that landed in Jamestown in 1607. It is the diocese where I met my wife, the diocese that sponsored me for ordination, and the diocese that I served for 14 years of my professional ministry. That I have been included in this slate is an honor. I am humbled.

I know that my inclusion in this process will bring some anxiety and distraction into our life as a congregation. I thank God that we are ably served by gifted colleagues on the staff and steady governance from the Vestry. Over the coming weeks the Vestry and I will be meeting to prepare St. John’s for a possible transition. I know that we will weather this moment together and with God’s grace.

I ask you for your prayers for me, for my family, and for the church in this moment:

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Faithfully yours,

The Very Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach
Rector