POTOMAC REGION (R6) 2017 REPORT
Region VI is comprised of 10 parishes in a compact area along the Potomac River between Alexandria and Woodbridge. It includes a contemporary congregation (Church of the Spirit Kingstown), and a Latino Ministry (San Marcos). Three parishes (Al Saint’s Sharon Chapel, St. Luke’s and St. Mark’s) started out as missions of Virginia Theological Seminary, and one (San Marcos) is a mission of the diocese. The region seeks to facilitate communication between the diocese and the parishes and to focus our synergies for mission and ministry within our geographic area and the diocese. The Regional Realignment process resulted only in a small adjustment to our boundaries and a decision to rename the region “Potomac”, effective the end of the year.
The region was deeply affected by the upheavals of 2007, with four congregations either leaving the diocese or suffering wrenching divisions. Several property disputes ensued, all in Woodbridge. Even before 2007, the region recognized that the demographics of the Woodbridge area pointed to success in the establishment of a Latino congregation, and the possibility of expanding the San Marcos congregation into the recently-recovered Church Hill site seemed very promising. The diocese ultimately decided to sell the Church Hill property, but extended the possibility of utilizing the Omisol Rd site, also recovered under Dayspring, for Latino ministry. Discussions on pursuing this opportunity are ongoing. Rev. Juan Valderrama is currently serving as Temporary Vicar for San Marcos.
The region also committed itself to fulfilling the goal of implementing General Convention resolutions requiring all clergy and lay leaders to receive formal anti-racism training using the Seeing the Face of God in Each Other curriculum authorized by General Convention. Planning is now underway to prepare trainers for the workshop.
In October St. Mark’s and the region hosted Mary Parma and the Invite * Welcome * Connect Workshop, designed to help parishes move from maintenance to mission. Twenty-three parishes from 2 dioceses were represented.
At the January 12, 2017 Region VI meeting at St. James’:
Budgets and Treasurer’s reports for 2017 were presented and accepted, and $400 of region funds were approved to reimburse San Marcos for costs related to the Epiphany celebration at St. Mark’s on January 6, 2017, all by unanimous vote.
Dean Charles Brock’s report primarily recapped the Regional Deans Meeting at Mayo House in December 2016. Discussion of the Omisol Rd property was brief owing to the departure of Father Adolpho Moronte, who resigned from San Marcos to answer a call from a church in White Plains, NY. Several members of the Regional Council agreed to explore and clarify various aspects of the Omisol Rd question.
At the May 11, 2017 Region VI meeting at St. Mark’s:
In addition to conducting normal regional business, Ms. Aisha Huertas, Intercultural Officer of the Diocese, informed us of the work of her office and brought us up to date on progress. Ms. Diane Miller was also visiting and discussed the work of the Region Re-visioning Task Force.
At the October 12, 2017 Region VI meeting at St. Mark’s:
The region approved support for San Marcos at the same level as last year, and reviewed and approved the budget request to be submitted to CCM for next year.
Dean Charles Brock was detained in transit by inclement weather, so Rev. Kathy Guin presented his report, mainly on the success of the IWC Workshop. Rev. Brock’s term as dean ends in November and Rev. Guin will be named to the post.
Executive Committee Rep Jim Bailes will also be stepping down in November and Rev. Cayce Ramey was nominated for the position and elected unanimously.
President Doug Varner reported on the Region President’s retreat at Shrine Mont. Stories from regions were shared, helping to identify opportunities to enhance synergies within the diocese, and two presenters were heard. Ed Keithly, Deputy Director of Transition, discussed the changing landscape of formation and transition, and Diane Miller delved further into the work of the Region Re-visioning Task Force.
The new Rector of Olivet, Rev. Michael Cadaret, attended his first meeting with the region and shared a bit about himself.