Virginia Anglicans Accepted as Member Diocese within Anglican Church in North America
College of Bishops Affirms the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey as First Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic

June 24, 2011

FAIRFAX, Va. (June 24, 2011) – The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic was accepted as a member diocese within the Anglican Church in North America, and the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey was confirmed as the elected bishop to serve the new diocese. At the Anglican Church in North America’s annual Provincial Council meeting, June 21-22 in Long Beach, Ca., the Council recognized the formerly named Anglican District of Virginia as a new member diocese across the Mid-Atlantic states. The Rt. Rev. John Guernsey was confirmed as diocesan bishop by the College of Bishops on Wednesday, June 23. The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic consists of 31 member congregations and nine mission fellowships.

Bishop John Guernsey, the first bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, has served in various clergy roles during his years of ordained ministry in Virginia. He served as rector of All Saints’ Church in Dale City, Va., for 29 years before serving as the head of the Diocese of the Holy Spirit in the Anglican Church in North America.

"“We are blessed to be accepted as a diocese within the Anglican Church in North America’s orthodox family, and to grow spiritually under the blessed leadership of Bishop John Guernsey as we follow the path Christ is setting for us. With Christ’s guidance, and under the spiritual counsel of the Anglican Church in North America, the new Anglican Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic will continue to grow and spread the Good News across the region,”" said Anglican District of Virginia Chairman Jim Oakes.

"“I am humbled to serve as bishop for the new Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic and look forward to finding new ways to share Jesus Christ in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Our prayer is that as a new diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, we will reach many who don’t yet know the transforming love of Jesus,”" said the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey.

The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is now operational and fully a part of the Anglican Church in North America. Many of its congregations will continue to be in partnership with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA). CANA is a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and a founding member of the Anglican Church in North America.

The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is a regional diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. Many of its congregations continue to be in partnership with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and other Anglican Archbishops. The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is dedicated to reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ. The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic consists of 31 member congregations and nine mission fellowships.

This article comes from the Anglican District of Virginia website
http://www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org/

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