Convention Booklet 2025

Saturday @ Diocesan Convention January 25, 2025 Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia

Afternoon Workshops – Following Lunch on Saturday at 1:15 PM

Becoming Beloved Community: A Call to Action - Mill Mountain Room (Ballroom level) I took Sacred Ground, now what? I feel like I need to do something, but what?

This workshop is designed to help churches lean into Becoming Beloved Community and take action towards racial reconciliation and supporting those who are being marginalized. The Diocesan Guiding team will help you look at appropriate and helpful ways to take action. Well, that might take money, yes and we now have Beloved Community Grants to assist churches in planning programs, events, pilgrimages and whatever else you can imagine to bring about beloved community. The Guiding team will introduce the grants and tell you how you can apply and answer the call to Becoming Beloved Community. The Dream of God - Buck Mountain Room (Ballroom level) This workshop is based on the book of the same name by Verna Dozier, a lifelong Episcopalian who served God and the church as a lay leader. She calls us to follow Jesus, be leaders in the church, live out our Baptismal Covenant and include all God’s people as we work and serve God in the church and the world. Pattie Ames will lead a panel discussion on lay leadership, living out your baptismal covenant and the inclusion of all. Panelist include the Rt Rev Elizabeth Gardner, Martha Bourlakas and residents from the Norwich Community, a young adult community sponsored by Grace, Radford. As a follow up to the evangelism video that was shown during the earlier session of Convention, the following four workshops will be offered to highlight the practices of our growing churches. Each workshop will be 45 minutes long with two workshops happening simultaneously. Participants can switch rooms/workshops at the end of Session One. 1:15pm to 2pm Practicing Welcome - Monroe Room (downstairs) Hear from members of Grace, Radford and Grace, Lexington about how they have been able to engage in intentional practices of welcome to connect with visitors and grow as a congregation. Beginning a Children's Ministry in a Small Church Context - Wilson Room (downstairs) Hear from members of Trinity, Lynchburg and St. Mark's, Fincastle about how they have experienced congregational vitality by connecting in ministry with children. 2pm to 2:45 Employing an Experimental Mindset in Ministry - Monroe Room (downstairs) Hear from members of Trinity, Staunton and St. Elizabeth's, Roanoke about how trying different ideas - with success or not - has helped them grow. Utilizing Media to Expand Your Ministry Footprint - Wilson Room (downstairs) Hear from members of St. Stephen's, Forest and the Appalachian Alliance about how they have used media and digital resources to grow their ministries. 29 Session #1 Session #2