Virginia Diocese Elects Bishop Coadjutor, Conducts Annual Business
Friday, January 26, 2007

News Release from the Communications Office of The Diocese of Virginia

In his pastoral address to the delegates and attendees at The Diocese of Virginia’s Annual Council, Bishop Peter James Lee noted that Council “is an opportunity to reaffirm mission and unity.” Delegates and visitors gathered at the Richmond Marriott and Richmond Convention Center Friday, Jan. 26 to work towards reaffirming that sense of mission and unity at the diocesan 212th Annual Council.

The principal order of business at Council was the election of a bishop coadjutor to succeed Bishop Lee upon his retirement. The Very Rev. Shannon S. Johnston was elected from a pool of five candidates on the third ballot. An election on that ballot required 135 lay votes and 128 clergy votes. Mr. Johnston, 48, currently serves as rector of All Saints’, Tupelo, Miss. He will be consecrated on Saturday, May 26 at Washington National Cathedral.

In reference to the churches that recently voted to leave the Diocese and The Episcopal Church, Bishop Lee said that our differences “are not about property but about legacy.” He added, “The church buildings of the Diocese of Virginia were given by generations past to be Episcopal Churches for generations to come and we are committed to protecting that legacy.” the rest