Diocese of Southwestern Virginia

[Neff Powell <npowell@dioswva.org>]

Dear Louie,

    Thank you for the question.  It made me think through what I have and
have not been doing.

    I tried to get a pair of workshops for our Annual Council this past
February, but the effort fell though.  We should be having workshops at the
upcoming council.  One of our priests has agreed to head up that effort.
This should help get things going in the diocese.

    After the Back Street Cafe shooting a year ago, I contacted the local
gay and lesbian community through one of our clergy.  You remember this was
the episode where a drifter went into a local cafe frequented by gays and
lesbians and killed several people.  I was invited to speak at a candle
light vigil.  I notified the clergy that I was going to do this and I am
proud that seven of them showed up.  Plus two others told me later that they
were either out of town or did not read their  email.
    I called a mentor of mine and asked for his advice before I wrote my
remarks.  He is a priest who has been living in a committed relationship for
about fifteen years now.  He told me some of his story and gave me some
advice.  
    At the vigil, I said:  This shooting is not what God wants.  God loves
you exactly as you are.
    At the Fall Clergy Day, I spoke to the clergy about what I had done and
to the wardens at the annual Wardens' Day.
    
    At the same time, the same week as the vigil, our Office of Governmental
Relations in Washington asked me to fly to Washington to speak at a rally in
Layfayette Park and lobby Senator Warner in support of Federal Hate Crimes
legislation.  Tom Hart heads up this office.  He is doing outstanding work.
I hesitated, then went.
    I have never gotten so publicly involved in any issue.
    This was all covered in our diocesan newspaper.

    We had another episode a couple of weeks ago where two local rednecks
beat up some members of the Metropolitan Community Church as they came out
of Bible study.  I called the pastor to offer my concern and followed that
up with coffee in my office.  My telephone call was noted in a positive way
by our local religious editor in his weekly column.

    Through my discretionary fund, the diocese is cosponsoring a
presentation of The Laramie Project at our local little theatre, Mill
Mountain Theater.  This is a play about the Matthew Shepherd murder. After
the presentation, there will be a panel discussion.  I will be at the House
of Bishops, but I am helping the organizers find someone from the Episcopal
Church to serve on the panel.

    That's about it.  Not a lot and not real brave.  But, I am convinced
that we are heading in the right direction.  I am proud of the Episcopal
Church for continuing to engage this matter.  I know that not everyone
agrees.

Peace and Shalom,

Neff Powell
Fifth Bishop of Southwestern Virginia