Region I is comprised of 20 churches in the center of the Diocese. A wide range of churches is represented including small country churches, rural churches, suburban churches, city churches, historic churches, new churches, traditional churches, and conventional churches. The Region extends across Caroline, King George, Louisa, Madison, Culpeper, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties; into the northwestern corners of Westmoreland and Essex Counties; and includes the City of Fredericksburg. This diversity challenges our efforts to coordinate, cooperate, collaborate, and communicate. But this diversity also strengthens our ability to offer help and advice to one another.
Region I is blessed with leaders who serve our Diocese. Our Executive Board member, The Rev. Jeffrey Packard of Christ Church, Spotsylvania, is chair of this year’s Diocesan Budget Committee. Two people from the Region serve on the Standing Committee: Mr. Robert L. Thomas, St. James’, Louisa and Mrs. Judy Lovegren, Piedmont Parish, Madison. Our Dean is the Very Rev. Ron Okrasinski, St. Mary's Church, Colonial Beach. Ms. Donna Blackstone, Messiah, Chancellor, serves as the chair of the Commission on Ministry.
The Region I Mission Committee, led by the Rev. James Reed, Church of the Messiah, Chancellor, presented a mission budget totaling $5,250 which included grants of $2,000 to Madison Emergency Services Association and its transitional housing unit: $1,000 to Medical Outreach Service; $2,000 to Mary Washington College Campus Christian Community; and $250 for an evangelism mission trip following the steps of St. Columba. The Mission Committee also adopted a new program to encourage the youth of Region I to give of themselves in mission. The committee developed an application for youth mission grants that led to applications and grants of $900 to Aquia Episcopal EYC Missions and $250 to Double Harvest Haiti Mission Trip.
The Region gave an additional $4,600 to support the new mission church in north Stafford, St. Augustine-in-the-Fields. The Region also established a sabbatical fund to help our clergy take much needed breaks and two sabbatical grants were awarded this year. This fund is especially valuable to aid and assist parishes who do not have the resources to fully fund a sabbatical. We strongly encourage other Regions and the Diocese to establish such funds.
Region I has a long-standing tradition of holding an annual formal dinner as one of its meetings. This year we broke with tradition to provide a refreshing change. On Saturday, May 17th, we had “A Day at the Beach” hosted by St. Mary’s at Colonial Beach. This outing was an informal family centered day for all featuring a seafood “picnic” with crab cakes, fun food for kids, games for youth, activities, a band, and tons of fun. Dining was relaxed and discussions were delightful.
Early this year, we began a search for new meaning and purpose for our
Region I council. We had a great meeting in January. Much of
the meeting was spent listening. We asked each delegate to state
why they came to the meeting and what they expected of Region I.
I heard several recurring themes in the responses:
- We need a revitalized Region I youth program especially for the smaller
churches
- We want to make the diocesan goals of planting new churches, revitalizing
existing churches, and expanding youth programs a reality in our region
- We want to support the 20/20 National Church Vision of doubling the
number of baptized communicants in our churches by the year 2020
- We need to come together and talk with other Episcopalians outside
of our own parish to share ideas, goals, successes, and our faith
We wanted the Region I Council to be more active; to be an agent of change; to lead our churches in accomplishing mutual goals; and to improve our ministry to all who seek God in our Region. I believe that God is calling us to move ahead boldly to bring others to Christ and to feed His sheep. It is my sincere prayer that the precious time our delegates donate to the Region I Council of Churches will result in our finding and following the way that God intends for us. I bid your prayers for our discernment and our willingness to act to follow the way.
At our March meeting, we validated these ideas and adopted them as goals for the Region and all its churches. The next step was to prepare a plan or a roadmap detailing how we could accomplish these goals. To this end the executive board of the council spent two Saturdays in all day planning sessions. We discussed concrete steps we could take to make these goals a reality. We also agreed to focus our resources (time, talent, and treasure) on supporting these goals. The proposed budget for 2004 reflects these values.
The Region I council approved a budget of $13,100 for 2004. The budget includes $6,000 for missions including youth mission trips; $2,000 for youth programs such as the planned Night Watch program for senior high youth; $3,000 for parish revitalization, church planting, and other programs; and $500 for the region sabbatical fund. These allocations support our adopted goals for the region and represent our purpose. We pray that the funds will be available next year to do God’s work in the Region.
At our November meeting we elected the following officers for 2004-2005:
President: Don Metheny, Trinity, Fredericksburg
Vice President: Bill Wick, St. Peter’s, Port Royal
Secretary: Rev. Brad Jackson, Piedmont Church, Madison
Treasurer: Anna Lou Flynn, St. James’, Louisa
Submitted by
Don Metheny, President