The annual council of the Diocese of Virginia, meeting in Richmond Jan. 26-27, concentrated on breaking down barriers and reflected on the many different expressions of its heritage, from the African American hymnal, Lift Every Voice and Sing II, to its relationship to the Church of England and its membership in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The diocese conducts its business in two sessions. The first provides an opportunity for delegates to become familiar with the business being brought before the council. That session was held Jan. 6 in Fredericksburg.

The second, two-day session in many ways looked different from past council meetings. Clergy, lay members and visitors sat in small groups throughout the meeting. The table groups were assigned so that participants spent time with people they might not have met previously, and to exchange ideas with representatives from different kinds of churches.

The agenda called for the room to be set up in traditional rows of seats once the legislative session began on Saturday, but participants remained at the round tables after telling diocesan Bishop Peter J. Lee that they liked the arrangement. The small groups participated in Bible study and reflected on the bishop's pastoral address.

Although Bishop Lee usually invites a priest or bishop to act as chaplain of council, this year he asked Horace Boyer, editor of Lift Every Voice and Sing II, to be the chaplain. He taught songs from the African American hymnal and explained their origins.

Another workshop leader presented a different dimension of the heritage of the Episcopal Church. The Rt. Rev. Stephen Sykes, Bishop of Ely in the Church of England, spoke on "What it Means to be an Anglican."

The Rev. Canon John Peterson, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, preached at the council Eucharist about the interdependence with other churches in the communion.

One of the highlights of council was a presentation by two young persons, Meg Sullivan and Will Scott, high school students who reported the often-asked question they receive from adults: "How can we get young people involved in the church?" The two students turned the question around and challenged the audience, "How can the church be more involved with young people?"