Arthur Heath Light

Light was ordained deacon on June 11, 1954, and priest on June 24, 1955, in Christ and St. Luke's Church by Bishop George P. Gunn of Southern Virginia.^[2] From 1954 to 1958, he served as priest-in-charge of St James Church and Christ Church in Boydton, Virginia, St John's Church in Chase City, Virginia and St Timothy's Church in Clarksville, Virginia. In 1958 he became rector of Christ Church in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, while in 1964 he became rector of St Mary's Church in Kinston, North Carolina. Between 1967 and 1979, he served as rector of Christ and St. Luke's Church in Norfolk, Virginia. He also served as deputy to the General Conventions of 1969, 1970, and 1973 from the Diocese of Virginia.

Light was elected Bishop of Southwestern Virginia in 1979 and was consecrated on June 2, 1979, in the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia. He was consecrated by Presiding Bishop John Allin.^[3] Throughout his tenure, Light was a prominent supporter of the ordination of women and appointed numerous women to different positions in the diocese. He retired in 1996.