Raymond M. Hugo was recently named as the bishop of the Powhatan Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bishops are the ecclesiastical leaders of their ward (congregation), and typically serve for about five years. Thomas M. Clayton, a local telecommunications and computer business owner, and D. Edwin Stafford, a salesman for a window and door company, will assist Bishop Hugo as his first and second counselors, respectively, to form the Powhatan Ward Bishopric, which is the presiding council of the congregation

Because leaders of the Church are not paid for their ministry, Bishop Hugo will continue working as a Senior Safety Specialist for Dominion Power, where he has been employed for nearly 30 years. In spite of his responsible career and church positions, Ray places his family at the top of his priorities. He and his wife Diane have five children, the oldest and youngest living with them. Another son is currently serving a two-year mission for the Church in California, and two other children are married and living in Utah and Las Vegas.

When asked how he manages to balance family, career and church service, Ray responded, “I’m still trying to figure that out, but have found that prioritizing the important things always works. The Lord prompts us — if we listen, we can’t go wrong.”

The Powhatan chapel was built four and a half years ago. Prior to that, members from Powhatan and the surrounding Amelia County traveled to the Bon Air/Midlothian chapel off Huguenot Road, a round-trip of over 100 miles for some members.

Bishop Hugo replaces Ned Halpin, who was the congregational leader when the chapel opened in Powhatan. The church is located on Capeway Road off Lower Hill Road in Powhatan, and services are held each Sunday beginning at 9 a.m.

Bishop Hugo left his native Virginia to attend BYU in Provo, Utah, and served a two-year church mission in Uruguay and Paraguay between his sophomore and junior years. After graduation, he returned to Richmond and earned an MBA from the University of Richmond. He has lived in various parts of Virginia ever since.

The Hugo family moved to Powhatan about a year ago. The new bishop says, “I’ve always been impressed with Powhatan as a place to live. Its citizens are good people who care about their community, and I’m looking forward to getting to know them and working with them.”

Wherever he has lived, Ray has enjoyed serving in his community. While living in Orange County, Va. he served on the Orange County Chamber of Commerce board for eight years, as president for two years, and was twice presented their “Volunteer of the Year” award. He is currently in his second term on the Hospital Hospitality House board, a voluntary organization that provides a home away from home for families of critically ill patients in Richmond.

A former Scoutmaster, Bishop Hugo has had extensive leadership experience working with the youth of the Church. In 2007, he helped organize an area youth Pioneer Handcart Trek at the Marriott Ranch in Hume, Va. in which youth and adults designed their own trail, dressed as pioneers, and pulled handcarts for three very hot days.

As far as his feelings about being called as bishop, he said, “It’s kind of humbling. There are over 300 members to watch over. But it’s exciting to get to work closely with the youth, and I plan to ha