REGION
IX
We had another extremely successful and productive year in
Region IX. Region IX is comprised of 7
churches and covers east Richmond
city, eastern Henrico County,
Charles City
County and New
Kent County.
Stephen von Hitritz, PhD of St. Peter’s, New Kent remained
as the Region President, the Very Rev. Bruce Gray of St.
John’s, Richmond
remains as Region Dean. In March, Rev
Brian McGurk accepted a call to St. Christopher’s Church, Chatham,
Massachusetts. In addition to being rector of St. Peter’s,
New Kent, Brian had been the Region’s Executive Board Representative. Immediately, Rev. Michael Hadaway,
rector of Varina
Church was asked and accepted the
Region’s call to be our representative to the Executive Board. He remains in that post at the years
end. Ms. Carol Johnson of St. Peter’s
New Kent remained Secretary and Ms. Laura Harris of Westover
Church remained the Treasurer.
The Regional Council met 4 times during the year.
Rev. Geoffrey Price of Williamsburg,
was named Interim Rector of St. Peter’s, New Kent upon the departure of Rev. McGurk. Also mid
year, Rev. Holly Antolini was named Associate Rector
of St. Paul’s Richmond. Holly came to us from the Diocese of Maine.
In May, we held a Regional Evensong service at St. Peter’s
New Kent, and was very well attended and part of St. Peter’s New Kent 300th
anniversary celebration. Rev. Gray was
the celebrant, Rev. Virginia Heistand-Jones
of Westover Church
was the guest preacher. The combined
choirs of our 7 churches provided the music.
The Diocesan church planting effort in the Region continues
focusing in the Providence Forge area of New
Kent County. The region is very excited about this
effort. The Regional council elected a 3
person mission planning committee and received periodic updates from the
Diocese. At year’s end, the Regional
council voted to establish a savings fund to assist the mission when it becomes
a reality.
The Region voted to financially assist several entities this
year, among them, the Peter Paul
Development Center
at St. Peter’s Richmond, Richmond
Hill and several ECW focused initiatives. Our budget is solely supported by pledges
from our 7 churches.
All seven churches in the Region are strong, active and
growing.
In
His Peace
Stephen
von Hitritz, PhD