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Today we welcome our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee. The Diocese of Virginia represents the longest worshiping presence in the United States with links to the original Anglican Church with the colonists of Jamestown 400 years ago.

Bishop Lee became the 12th Bishop of Virginia on May 27, 1985. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, he studied law at Duke University before entering Virginia Theological Seminary, where he received his M.Div. cum laude in 1967.

Before he entered seminary, Bishop Lee was a U.S. Army intelligence officer and was decorated for service with the U.S. Eighth Army in Seoul, Korea.

Bishop Lee and his wife Kristina live in Richmond.

The annual visitation of the Bishop provides him the opportunity to provide pastoral oversight of his church; it provides the Rector an opportunity to raise issues of concern to his bishop; and it provides parishioners the opportunity to experience in a symbolic yet personal way, our connection with the other 90,000 other Episcopalians of our diocese.

The primary work of the Bishop during his visit is the confirmation of faith. When someone is ready to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, the bishop comes to lay hands on them in continuity with faithful people throughout the world and throughout all times. In receiving the laying on of hands from the bishop, a person joyfully embraces the responsibility of the baptismal covenant. They commit to live in faithful partnership with God, being good stewards of the abundant blessing God pours into their lives every day.

Confirmed faith expresses readiness for leadership in the Kingdom of God. Jesus calls all faithful people to leadership grounded in servanthood. Jesus modeled this style of leadership on the night he was betrayed when he washed his disciples’ feet as a common household servant. He himself fulfills this style of leadership in his death on the cross.

The leadership of faithful people leads not to privilege but to a greater capacity for service in the name of Jesus. It leads to a stewardship practice that renders a greater measure of God’s blessing – time, talent and treasure – to advancing God’s purposes. It leads to a discipline of prayer that is world transforming.

Receiving the laying on of hands by our bishop is not the end of a faith journey, but a beginning. We commend those who are confi rmed this day to a world in desperate need of their witness.

And we welcome our Bishop, our chief pastor and servant leader who models for us the quality of leaders to which Jesus calls each us every day.