FAIRFAX, Va. (May 16, 2008) – The Anglican District of Virginia (ADV) is celebrating the ordinations of several new clergy members who will be ministering to its member parishes.  The candidates for ordination will be ordained by the Rt. Rev’d David Bena, Suffragan Bishop of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 17.  Seven of the candidates to be ordained at The Falls Church in Falls Church, Va., are from ADV member parishes.
 
“We are pleased to welcome these highly qualified clergy members into the ranks of our collective parish leadership and to celebrate this achievement with them.  This new growth is a testament to the boldness and faith of our local clergy and parishioners who will continue to hold fast to the authority of Scripture,” said Jim Oakes, vice-chairman of ADV.
 
CANA Suffragan Bishop David Bena added, “It will be an honor to ordain these faithful servants to the priesthood and to the diaconate.  We are grateful these strong, Bible-centered Anglicans have chosen to minister to the faithful flock of believers here in Virginia.  There is no question that CANA and ADV are at the forefront of the orthodox movement and this ceremony is further evidence of the growth of Anglicanism here in the U.S.  Within the last year alone, CANA has ordained 27 people.”

After being ordained to the diaconate in October of 2007, five candidates will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday.  The Rev’d Robert Fickley and the Rev’d Larry Shrum of The Falls Church in Falls Church, Va., along with the Rev’d James Brown of Church of the Messiah in Chesapeake, Va., will be ordained to the priesthood with a wealth of experience in ministry from other denominations.  They will be serving as advisors to their parishes and to the Anglican District of Virginia.
 
The Rev’d James Guthrie, Jr., of The Falls Church, currently works for the Anglican District of Virginia.  After being ordained to the priesthood, he will continue his work with the organization while ministering to several mission fellowship groups in the area.  These fellowships consist of small groups of people who are currently meeting in homes or schools after departing from The Episcopal Church to remain faithful to their Anglican heritage.
 
In addition, the Rev’d William Wilson of Church of Our Saviour, Oatlands in Leesburg, Va., will be ordained to the priesthood after attending Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry and will continue serving as a chaplain at a Veterans Affairs Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa.

John Kurcina, who will be ordained to the diaconate, has been assisting in lay ministry while he completes his PhD in New Testament from Trinity College in Bristol, England. He will serve as a church planting assistant at Christ the King in Alexandria, Va. Vanessa Bickle is an experienced engineer and project manager at Boeing Aircraft Corporation. She will continue her work in the public sector while serving her parish, Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, Va., as a deacon.

The Anglican District of Virginia (www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org) is an association of Anglican congregations in Virginia.  Its members are in full communion with constituent members of the Anglican Communion through its affiliation with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA), a missionary branch of the Church of Nigeria and other Anglican Archbishops.  ADV members are a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a community of 77 million people.  ADV is dedicated to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission to make disciples while actively serving in three main capacities: International Ministries, Evangelism, and Strengthening Families and Community.  ADV is currently comprised of 21 member congregations.
 
For media who would like to attend this service, or to schedule an interview with an ADV representative, please contact Megan Franko (ext. 148) or Kelly Oliver (ext. 140) at (703) 683-5004.