Canon Jay Magness resigns for Virginia call

The Rev. Dr. James B. “Jay” Magness, the diocese’s canon to the ordinary for more than three and a half years, publicly announced today (Friday, Oct. 28) that he has accepted a call to serve as the interim rector of Galilee Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.

Magness joined the diocese on Jan. 15, 2004 following his retirement as a captain in the U.S. Navy, where he served as fleet chaplain for the U.S. Atlantic fleet and command chaplain for the U.S. Joint Forces Command.

As canon to the ordinary, he is chief of the diocesan staff, the diocese’s clergy deployment officer and its chief operating officer. In the latter role, he has been central in restructuring and overseeing the newly revamped diocesan departments of Christian Formation, Mission and Evangelism, Justice and Jubilee, and Finance and Stewardship. He also spearheaded the development of the recently published Diocesan Policy Manual.

Magness’s position with the diocese ends Nov. 8, and he and his wife, Carolyn, will leave for Virginia a few days later.  His ministry at Galilee Church will begin Nov. 19. With more than 2,000 members, Galilee Church is located in the heart of Virginia Beach one block from the ocean.