Floris UMC family fair marks World Malaria Day
May 1, 2013 – Floris UMC in Herndon hosted its first World Malaria Day celebration on April 26. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness around malaria and to raise money to support efforts to combat the disease. More...
Bishop Cho urges Elizabeth River laity to pray
April 29, 2013 - Bishop Young Jin Cho used a recent Elizabeth River District laity dinner to repeat his message of the power of prayer for renewal of the Virginia Conference. Bishop Cho met with district clergy during the day and then spoke to laity gathered for a meal at the Wesley Foundation at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. Students put the meal together despite being in mid-preparation for final exams. More...
Campus ministers gather to share ideas, encouragement
April 24, 2013 - United Methodist campus ministers from across the Virginia Conference met at the University of Virginia’s Wesley Foundation building in Charlottesville on April 22 to talk strategy and voice encouragement for each other’s ministries. More ...
Elders focus on spiritual renewal at retreat
April 24, 2013 - Dr. Graham Standish was the leader of the 2013 Order of Elders retreat, held at the Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center. Standish, pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pa., since 1996, is the author of several books, including most recently, “In God’s Presence: Encountering, Experiencing, and Embracing the Holy in Worship.” More...
Young adults gather at conference office to discuss ideas
April 6, 2013 - Young adults from across the conference gathered recently to toss around ideas as to how to fill in the gaps in ministry with their age group. Young adults are defined by The United Methodist Church as those people age 18-35, a group that has seen church participation drop steadily over the past decade.The Virginia Conference Director of Young Adult Ministries, the Rev. Derrick Parson, convened the gathering at the United Methodist Center to look at several key questions. More...
Westview on the James selects new director
April 6, 2013 - Peter Albert will become executive director at Westview on the James effective May 1. More...
Pre-conference vacation packages available
April 2, 2013 - A limited number of pre-conference vacation packages are available for members of Annual Conference and their families. If you would like to stay at the Embassy Suites for two days prior to Annual Conference, you may select the Two-Night Package. If you would like to stay at the Embassy Suites throughout the conference session, you may select the Four Nights Package. More ...
Snow cancels bishops' event to highlight child hunger
March 25, 2013 - A surprise spring snowstorm that blanketed Richmond on Sunday, March 24, caused cancellation of a gathering of Christian bishops from across Virginia that was designed to call attention to child hunger in the state. Bishop Young Jin Cho, who had planned to participate, asked for the statement that the bishops were to read at the news conference, to be shared with Virginia Conference pastors and lay people. More ...
Bishop Cho visits with extension ministers
March 22, 2013 - Bishop Young Jin Cho was the tip-off speaker Friday, March 22, as Virginia Conference clergy appointed to extension ministries – beyond the local church – held their annual meeting at the Richmond Hill retreat center on Church Hill in Richmond. About 30 pastors, campus ministers and college administrators participated in the day-long retreat. More...
Hundley to serve in California-Pacific Conference
March 18, 2013 - Current Roanoke District Superintendent the Rev. Dr. Stephen C. Hundley will become executive director of Connectional Ministries of the California-Pacific Conference effective July 1. More...
Stokes says it's not easy being United Methodist
March 18, 2013 - Do you know why you're a United Methodist? Martha Stokes, director of Inclusivity and Lay Leadership Excellence, says she's a United Methodist even though sometimes it hasn’t been easy to stay United Methodist or connected to the church at all. Her comments are posted on a new "Making Connections" blog that features personal insights, stories of ministry and other musings from Connectional Ministries staff. More ...
Conference diaconate gathers for 'day apart'
March 13, 2013 - The Virginia Conference diaconate gathered March 12 for a spring “day apart” retreat at the United Methodist Center in Glen Allen. The diaconate includes deacons, diaconal ministers, home missioners and deaconesses. The Rev. David Canada, a retired elder who lives in Chesterfield, and the Rev. Kiok Cho, Bishop Cho’s wife, led the retreat. More ...
5 Talent speaker urges audience to seek renewal in God
March 11, 2013 - The gospels show many examples of when Jesus Christ sought to rest and be replenished by God, according to Mindy Caliguire, speaker at the 5 Talent Academy teaching event on Feb. 23. She encouraged clergy and laity to follow Christ’s example and frequently seek renewal in God. More...
Conference staff introduces 'Making Connections' blog
March 5, 2013 - Do you know why you are a United Methodist? The Rev. Marc Brown, conference director of Connectional Ministries, says he's a United Methodist because of infant baptism and Holy Communion. Click here to read his comments, the first entry in a new "Making Connections" blog that will feature personal insights, stories of ministry and other musings from Virginia Conference Connectional Ministries staff.
Clergy spouses gather for annual retreat
March 4, 2013 - About 50 clergy spouses and clergy gathered at the Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center, March 1-3, for the 51st annual Virginia Conference Clergy Spouses’ Retreat. The Rev. David and Judy Canada were the retreat leaders, on the theme “Finding Your Hidden Treasure.” More...
More than 170 lay servants receive training
Feb. 25, 2013 - The Lay Servant Academy offered 10 full weekend classes and 22 “mini” courses – from prayer to social media – at Blackstone the weekend of Feb. 22-24. It was the 35th year of Lay Speaker training, renamed Lay Servant training three years ago to expand the focus into other areas of ministry, not just speaking to groups and preaching from the pulpit. More...
2013 Annual Conference offering to help children
Feb. 21, 2013 - This year the Annual Conference special offering goal is $200,000. Bishop Young Jin Cho is requesting funds to support four projects to help childlren: $50,000 for the Shade and Fresh Water Project in Brazil; $50,000 for classroom construction and building repairs for the Janene Pennel Secondary School in Mozambique; $50,000 for Christian education materials, scholarships and other projects with children focused on growing the young church in Cambodia; and $50,000 to be shared among three ministries for children in Virginia: The Henry Fork Center in rural Franklin County, All God’s Children Camp for children of incarcerated parents, and Una Familia “One Family” Eastern Shore District tutoring ministry for Hispanic children. For more information and a bulletin insert, go to www.vaumc.org/ac2013.
Bring ‘4 Cans 4 Conference’ to Annual Conference
Feb. 21, 2013 - For the fifth year, each clergy and lay member of Annual Conference is encouraged to bring at least four cans of food or boxes of dry food to the Annual Conference session June 21-23 at the Hampton Convention Center in Hampton. This year, the "4 Cans 4 Conference," collection of food will go to the Peninsula Food Bank. Requested are: one can of vegetables or fruit, one can of meat or fish, one can of soup or stew and one can with a pop-top. More ...
Virginia Conference sends flood relief funds to Mozambique
Feb. 21 - 2013 - In Mozambique, heavy rainfall in January led to flooding that washed away homes, crops and livestock in Gaza Province. The United Methodist Church in Mozambique, one of the Virginia Conference Initiatives of Hope (IOH) mission focus partners, is responding to the crisis with an emergency plan to assist more than 140,000 affected families. The Rev. Joao Sambo was appointed head of a task force on relief by United Methodist Bishop Joaquina Nhanala on Jan. 28. In early February, the Virginia Conference sent $10,000 of IOH reserve funds to help with the immediate crisis to provide food and bottled water. Click here to read Rev. Sambo’s letter of thanks. An appeal has been launched through the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR) International Disaster Response Advance #982450. Donations can be given through the conference Treasurer’s office, P.O. Box 5605, Glen Allen, VA 23058; or sent to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087; or placed in the offering plate at any United Methodist church. Checks should be made payable to UMCOR with "Advance #982450" or “Mozambique flood relief” in the memo line. More ...
Apply now for Youth Service Fund grant
Feb. 21, 2013 - The conference is now accepting applications for Youth Service Fund (YSF) Grants. Grant money is available for work/initiatives to be done by young people for young people. Deadline for all applications to be received is 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25. Click here for application and more information. Or contact the office of Ministries with Young People at (804) 521-1139.
Rocky Hill UMC, Blackstone, destroyed by fire
Feb. 21, 2013 - Prayers are requested for the Rev. Linda Lowe and members of Rocky Hill UMC in Blackstone, Farmville District. The 140-year-old building burned to the ground last Sunday morning just hours before worship was scheduled to begin. Click here for TV news report. Click here for newspaper article.
United Methodist home in Williamsburg to file Chapter 11
Feb. 21, 2013 - Virginia United Methodist Homes of Williamsburg, Inc., known as WindsorMeade of Williamsburg, a continuing care retirement community, said it will file for Chapter 11 reorganization to implement a consensual restructuring plan that has been agreed to by WindsorMeade’s debt holders. More...
Bishop Cho names five new District Superintendents
Feb. 19, 2013 - Almost a third of the Virginia Conference 16-member Cabinet will be changing this year, as Bishop Young Jin Cho announced that he is appointing five new District Superintendents. More ...
Bishop Willimon to speak at Dillard Forum in Richmond
Feb. 20, 2013 - Retired United Methodist Bishop Will Willimon will be the guest speaker April 28-29 at the Dillard Forum, sponsored by Trinity UMC in Richmond. The titles of Willimon’s four lectures will be “Surprised by Jesus,” (9:30 a.m. April 28) “Troubled by Jesus,” (7 p.m. April 28) “Eating with Jesus” (noon on April 29, with a $7 lunch) and “Surprised by God in Jesus Christ” (7 p.m. April 29). More...
Bateman named 10th president of Randolph College
Feb. 15, 2013 - The Randolph College Board of Trustees has named Bradley W. Bateman as the institution’s 10th president. The announcement was made in Randolph’s newly renovated Student Center. The Lynchburg school is one of five United Methodist-related colleges in the Virginia Conference. More...
Nominees sought for two awards in higher education
Feb. 15, 2013 - The Virginia Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministries is accepting nominations for two awards, one given by the conference and one by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. Honorees will be accounced during 2013 Annual Conference. More...
2013 Annual Conference to be June 21-23 in Hampton
Feb. 14, 2013 - The 2013 session of the Virginia Annual Conference will be June 21-23 at the Hampton Convention Center in Hampton, Va. A letter with information about the conference, including a list of area hotels and motels with special rates for annual conference attendees, was mailed to clergy and lay members of annual conference on Feb. 13 and posted on the conference website. Click here for a copy of the letter. For housing questions, contact the Rev. Ed Merry at (757) 871-4696 or EdHMerry@verizon.net. For more information about this year's Annual Conference session, go to www.vaumc.org/ac2013.
Older, Young Adult Councils develop Lenten devotional book
Feb. 14, 2013 - Members of the Young Adult Council and the Older Adult Council joined together to prepare and distribute a Lenten Devotional on the theme of “Anticipation.” The devotion is posted on the conference website, as a downloadable pdf file. More ...
Bishop Cho gets first taste of UM Day at General Assembly
Feb. 8, 2013 - More than 300 United Methodists from across the Virginia Conference gathered in Richmond on Feb. 7 for United Methodist Day at the General Assembly. This day of advocacy with state senators, delegates and their staffs has been a 25-year tradition in the Virginia Conference, and unique in the denomination, organizers said. This was the first United Methodist Day experience for Bishop Young Jin Cho. More ...
Watch for free digital sample of February online Advocate
Feb. 1, 2013 - Today, the conference Communications Office sent out free digital copies of some of the articles in the February issue of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate which looks at "All Things New - Equipping Vital Congregations," a conference initiative to re-design the denomination’s “Vital Congregations” measurement system in a way that promotes collaboration, support and continued improvement among all conference churches. More ...
Booklet featuring 31 days of prayers available online
Jan. 16, 2013 - The "All Things New - Equipping Vital Congregations" prayer team has developed a booklet featuring 31 days of prayers and devotionals that can be downloaded from the conference website, www.vaumc.org. You are invited to use this booklet to engage in a month-long discipline of daily prayers, beginning on whatever day you choose, to pray for the congregations in the Virginia Conference and, specifically, for the All Things New - Equipping Vital Congregations teams that are working to put new opportunities in place that will help leaders throughout our conference support each other spiritually, collaborate with each other for increased fruitfulness and hold each other accountable for constant improvement. Click here to download booklet.
Read Neill Caldwell’s daily blog from Cambodia
Jan. 14, 2013 - As part of the Virginia Conference Initiatives of Hope mission ministry, an eight-member team from the conference is in Cambodia Jan. 11-25 visiting leaders of the Methodist Church of Cambodia and viewing ministry sites to plan for future partnerships between the Cambodia church and the Virginia Conference, both in terms of financial and prayer support and future work teams from VAUMC churches. Read about the trip by following the daily blog posted by Neill Caldwell, editor of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate. More ...
Clean drinking water is purpose of partnered ministry
Jan. 10, 2013 - Caretakers of God's Creation, in partnership with the Global Environment and Technology Foundation, is beginning to involve itself in a ministry of providing clean drinking water for people for whom water is scarce and/or contaminated. More...
Spiritual formation expert to speak at next 5 Talent Academy
Jan. 8, 2013 -Mindy Caliguire started “SoulCare” more than a dozen years ago, so the idea of taking care of your spiritual health is anything but a new idea. What is new is the practice of incorporating personal spiritual formation into small group studies. Caliguire, a leading author and expert in spiritual formation, will be the speaker at the next training session of the 5 Talent Academy, to be held Saturday, Feb. 23. More...
Click here for 2012 Virginia Conference News
Click here for 2011 Virginia Conference News
Click here for 2010 Virginia Conference News
|