Nominees for Election

128th Annual Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia Nominees for Election Standing Committee The Standing Committee is composed of three members of the clergy and three members of the laity. It acts as a Council of Advice to the Bishop and assumes many Episcopal duties for the diocese if there is a vacancy in the Bishop’s Office, as outlined in the Diocesan Constitution Article XV, Diocesan Canon V and in the Canons of the National Church. Lay Nominees, one to be elected. Rusty Bishop, St. Timothy’s, Clarksville I have been a member of the Episcopal Church since 1994, initially in the Diocese of Washington (EDOW) and then the Diocese of Southern Virginia when I transferred membership to St. Timothy's, Clarksville, in 2015. I had attended St. Timothy's part time (twice monthly) since 2004 until my retirement and move to Clarksville in 2015. While a member of the EDOW, I served 12 years on parish Vestry, numerous years as delegate to Convention, 6 years on Standing Committee (2005-2011), and 3 years on the Disciplinary Board (2011-2014). I attended the 2009 General Convention as an Alternate Lay Deputy. Since transferring membership to St. Timothy's I have served as the delegate to Council and on the Vestry. I have also served a term on the Executive Board as the lay representative for Convocation 9, and on the Disciplinary Committee. I have served with the Credentials Committee for the past several Councils, including the special Council for the election of the Bishop. Recently I was appointed to the Commission on Ministry. I believe my experience speaks to my qualifications. Clergy Nominees, one to be elected. The Very Rev. Dale Custer, St. John’s, Chester A priest for nineteen years, it has been my joy to be with the people of St. John’s Chester since August 2004. I participated on the Repairers of the Breach Committee, served as Chair of the Commission on Ministry, and President of the Disciplinary Board. I was privileged to attend the 2015 General Convention as a Deputy from Southern Virginia. It was an honor to be on the recent Bishop’s Search Committee. I would serve Southern Virginia as a member of the Standing Committee to the best of my ability. 1 The Rev. Les Ferguson, St. John’s, Suffolk I am entering my tenth year as Rector in St. John’s Suffolk. I served as Chaplain to the Transition Committee for the election of our 11th Bishop Diocesan and as a member of the liturgical committee responsible for Bishop Haynes’ Consecration. I have been called to serve as a spiritual director on the Secretariat of Cursillo in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. I am committed to social and racial reconciliation in Suffolk as founding chairman of the ecumenical Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk and as part of the Suffolk Clergy United for Racial and Interdenominational Reconciliation. I am a member of the Addictions & Recovery Commission and social justice organizations in Suffolk and Virginia. I serve alongside a group of colleagues in the greater Chuckatuck and Oakland community, promoting community worship and fellowship through joint worship services. I retired from the Navy after more than 22 years as a line officer serving onboard surface ships and support staffs. My education experience includes earning a B.S. in Business Administration from Oregon State University, an M.S. in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary. I am a graduate of Education for Ministry. The Rev. Andie Rohrs, St. Andrew’s, Norfolk Andie joined the staff of St. Andrew’s, Norfolk in 2013. Her responsibilities include sharing in the liturgical and pastoral leadership of the Church, coordinating parish life activities and small groups, and supporting the children and youth ministry programs. Andie is passionate about building community (both within and beyond her congregation), caring for people through joyful and difficult transitions, and social justice. At the Diocesan level, Andie served for six years (2011-2017) on the Commission on Ministry. She also was a part of the task force appointed to support the chaplaincy program at Old Dominion University. She would like to support our new Bishop’s ministry and this new chapter in the life of our Diocese by being a part of the Standing Committee. She hopes to bring her gifts of communication, organization, and an open heart and mind. Prior to working at St. Andrew’s, Andie was at home with young children and enjoyed serving as a supply priest in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Her previous positions include working as the Chaplain at Saint Mary’s School, an Episcopal boarding and day school in Raleigh, NC and as the Chaplain-in-Charge at Duke University. Beyond the church walls, Andie enjoys spending time with her family (most of the time), entertaining friends, exercising, being outdoors, and curling up with a good novel. 2 The Rev. Frederick Walker, St. James, Portsmouth I serve as the priest-in-charge of Saint James Church, Portsmouth. Prior to my call at Saint James Church, I served as rector at Saint Mark’s Church Suffolk. I have served nine years in the Diocese of Southern. I was elected at the 2015 Annual Council to Province Three Synod as Clergy Deputy for three years. Prior to my call in the Diocese of Southern Virginia in 2010, I served two churches in the Diocese of Washington DC. Priest-In-Residence at Church of The Ascension, Gaithersburg Md for three years and Good shepherd Church, University Blvd, Md for one year. M.A. Degree, Wesley Theological Seminary, NW Washington DC, DMin Program Wesley Theological Seminary NW Washington DC 2018-2020 and Anglican Study Virginia Theological Seminary. I am delighted to serve on the Standing Committee and will share my worth of experience. I anticipate your vote with thanks. Disciplinary Board The Disciplinary Board is composed of nine members elected for three year terms, five members of the clergy and four lay persons. The Board, defined in Canon XXII of Diocesan Canons, serves as the trial body for any member of the clergy charged under Title IV of the Canons of the Episcopal Church. Lay Nominees, one to be elected. Carolyn Kelly, St. James, Portsmouth As a former licensing inspector with thirty years of experience, my leadership ability is broadly based and my accomplishments reflect a proven ability to perform in diverse and varied functions. In this regulatory position, I worked directly with federal, state, and local offices in ensuring compliance with Virginia State regulations. In addition, I conducted investigative and financial background checks of applicants and made recommendations for licensure. I recently served on the Nominating Committee for the new bishop elect. I am currently a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, VA, where I served two terms on the vestry. With my commitment to serve on this board, I am very willing to commit my time and effort for the good of the Episcopal Church. I welcome the opportunity to serve. Clergy Nominees, two to be elected. The Rev. Jacqueline Soltys, Grace, Yorktown I was ordained in the Diocese of Chicago and served at St James Cathedral, Chicago, first as transitional Deacon and then as Curate. My family relocated to Southern VA in 2017. For the past year and a half I have served as Assistant Rector at Grace Church, Yorktown. Originally trained as an academic, I have always been interested in understanding the ways in which we choose (or fail to choose) to become our best selves. I have worked as a college teacher; as an academic advisor and mentor; a group leader for study abroad; as a coach and consultant for prestigious scholarship applicants (Rhodes, Marshall, Luce); a Christian 3 Education Director; a chaplain, and now a priest. And, of course, my experience as a mother of two young adults, though it is not on my professional cv, provided significant training in the nature of human growth and failure, too. The institutional church is responsible for developing and encouraging good leaders; it is also responsible for constraining and, if need be, ejecting those who abuse or misuse their authority and privilege. As a priest, I encourage and call my people to lives of integrity, where we not only forgive one another, but we also hold one another accountable. On the Disciplinary Board I would hope to work with other elected members of the Board and with the Bishop to ask no less of my fellow clergy. The Rev. Grant Stokes, Trinity, Portsmouth After graduating seminary, I was called to be the Assistant Rector at Christ and St Luke’s where I was also ordained to the priesthood on Holy Cross Day, 2013. During my five-year tenure at CSL I began to fall in love with this area and the people of this diocese. I am now the Rector at Trinity, Portsmouth. I served on the Nominating Committee I am excited by the hopefulness and energy with which the people of this diocese undertook the election and consecration of The Right Reverend Susan B. Haynes. I look forward to working more closely with her on the disciplinary board. Provincial Synod Our Diocese has three deputies to Provincial Synod (two lay persons and one cleric) who serve three-year terms. They are responsible to the Bishop and the Executive Board and report to the Board following Synod meetings. One of these deputies is also appointed by the bishop to serve a three year term on the Provincial Council.

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