HJ 253 — Celebrating the life of the Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22105771D I HOUSE JOfferedJOINT FebruaryRESOLUTION 21,NO. 2022 N Celebrating the life of the Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr.

––––––––––253 TE Patrons––Carr,N Convirs-Fowler,Celebrating Hope,the Jenkins,life Maldonado,of Plum,the Rasoul,Reverend Reid,Canon Simonds,John WattsFletcher andRLowe, Willett;Jr.

Senators:Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 28, 2022 R Agreed to by the Senate, March 3, 2022 O L social justice advocate, and beloved member of the Richmond community, died on August 25, 2021;

Boysko, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Hashmi, Howell and McPike O –––––––––– WHEREAS, the Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr., esteemed spiritual leader, accomplishedD socWHEREAS, born in Greenville, South Carolina, Fletcher Lowe graduated from the Gilman School inndin L Baltimore before earning degrees from Washington and Lee University and the General Theological Seminary;E SemWHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe was ordained to the priesthood in 1960 and served parishes in the D Episcopal Dioceses of South Carolina and Southwestern Virginia before assuming the role of Executive Secretary of the Department of Christian Social Relations with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in 1967;

and C WHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe was ordained to the priesthood in 1960 and served parishes in the E Episcopal Dioceses of South Carolina and Southwestern Virginia before assuming the role of Executive Secretary of the Department of Christian Social Relations with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in 196WHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe subsequently led the parish of Church of the Holy Comforter in Richmond as rector from 1970 to 1985 while holding positions on various leadership bodies with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, including its Liturgical Commission, Executive Board, and Standing Committee, which he served as president;

and H WHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe devoted his last decade of full-time ministry to parishes under the Diocese5 offirst Delawareat beforeSt. retiring in 1994;

heJohn's thenEpiscopal heldChurch severalin interimRichmond positionsand aroundlater thewith world,churches in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and France;

andhn's Episcopal Church in Richmond and laterR with churches in Germany, Italy, SwiJzerland, WHEREAS, in recognition of his efforts in 1971 to protect Christian clergy who had faced 5 persecution under the administration of Ugandan president Idi Amin, Fletcher Lowe was made a canon of St.WHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe was a tireless advocate for economic, racial, and social justice throughout his life and was integral to the founding of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the largest statewide advocacy organization for the faith community, which he served as Executive Director in 1997 through 2004;

Paul'sand Cathedralindividuals, Namirembeserving many years as a visiting chaplain at state penitentiaries, and spoke often and ardently in Kampala,favor Uganda;of criminal justice reform;

and WHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe waswill abe tirelessfondly advocateremembered for economic, racial, and socialdearly justicemissed throughoutby his lifeloving andwife was integral to the founding of the62 Virginiafamily Interfaithmembers Centerand forfriends; Public Policy, the largest through 2004;

andynow, organizationtherefore, forbe theith, faith community, which he served as Executive Director in 1997 WHEREAS, Fletcher Lowe was particularly concerned for the religious rights of incarcerated individuals, serving many years as a visiting chaplain at state penitentiaries, and spokeSuzanne, often and ardentlytheir infamilies; favor of criminal justice reform;

and WHEREAS,numerous other RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of the Reverend Canon John Fletcher LoweLowe, willJr., bewhose fondlysagacious rememberedspiritual counsel and dearlyunwavering missedcommitment byto histhe lovingless wifefortunate members of 62society :were an insRESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.

34 years, Mary Frances;

his children, John, Elizabeth, and Suzanne, and their families;

and numerous other 36 famRESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby 37 note with great sadness the loss of the Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr., whose sagacious 38 spiritual counsel and unwavering commitment to the less fortunate members of society were an inspiration to all who knew him;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of the Reverend Canon John Fletcher Lowe, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.