ASSOCIATE RECTOR'S CORNER

The Rev. David M. Crosby

If you are not already aware, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill is one of eight Episcopal churches in the City of Alexandria that is recognized by the Diocese of Virginia as Region IV. The other seven churches are:

• Christ Church, Old Town
• Emmanuel (on High Street)
• Grace Church, Russell Road
• Meade Memorial
• St. Paul’s, Old Town
• Church of the Resurrection
• St. Clement, Quaker Lane

A Region within the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is “a community of congregations formed to collaborate in shared ministry within a geographic area and to enhance communication between the Diocese and a congregation.” There are fifteen regions currently defined with our diocese. Each region has a clerical (ordained) Dean (appointed by the Bishop from rectors among the region’s parishes) and a lay or clerical representative to the diocesan Executive Board. I am presently the Region IV representative to Executive Board, serving my second year of a three-year appointment.
 
Meetings of the Regional Council occur 3-5 times a year. Per the diocesan Canons, “Regional Councils shall be responsible for seeing that the ministrations of The Episcopal Church are made available to every person living within the boundaries of such Region and shall exercise authority for the Region as a whole in safeguarding the interests and extending the ministrations of the Church throughout its borders, so that the Region may function as a unit in matters of common concern and responsibility. A Regional Council may, for these and other purposes, and subject to the approval of the Executive Board, adopt and administer a budget.”
 
Region IV parishes have worked together to give financial support to outreach ministries such as the West End Lazarus Ministry, Hunger Free Alexandria, the Meade Memorial Bag Lunch Program, an annual hypothermia shelter at St. Clement, the Child & Family Network , and VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement); Christian Formation & Discipleship opportunities include the Alexandria churches’ Lenten Series and a well- received Region IV Youth Event hosted by Immanuel in October 2015.
 
If you have questions or are interested in learning more about the work of Region IV, please see me.

Thank you and God Bless!

David+