Find weekly video resources and additional resources for Reigniting the Call further down the webpage. As the videos are made available, they will be sent out to clergy emails weekly and uploaded to this page.
“The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.”
Mark 6:30-33 (NRSV)
What is Reigniting the Call?
In a March 2021 letter, Bishop Lewis, the Virginia Cabinet, and the Center for Clergy Excellence called for clergy to reignite the call. These entities recognized that clergy have been experiencing a relentless pace to their ministries in the midst of the pandemic, political upheaval, and a renewed focus on racial justice.
As part of this plan to support clergy in their call, these groups are offering the following three things to Virginia Conference clergy:
- Clergy are being asked, in consultation with their Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees (or its equivalent in your ministry setting), to set aside a time for each clergyperson of up to a week between now and September 2021, if possible. This is a specific time of renewal, refreshment, and, ultimately, the reigniting of our calling. Resources are available for pulpit supply, please contact [email protected].
2. There is a concern by these groups that resources that already exist through the conference, including parts of the health plan, assistance programs, Ministry Education Funds, and the like are not as well-known as we would hope. To help with that, over the next several weeks, the groups will release some short videos covering the ways in which the conference may be able to help you with resources for mental health, understanding programs like renewal leave and sabbaticals, finding employee assistance for you and for family members, and other wonderful benefits of connectional life together.
3. There will be a specific Day Apart for Renewal, on May 24, Aldersgate Day, and the day after Pentecost. As we celebrate that moment in John Wesley’s life when he came to know that Christ died for him, not just a generic ‘us all,’ but for John Wesley himself, we hope to help you find the same connection or re-connection in your own life and calling.
A Day Apart for Renewal
Below is the May 24, 2021, live content via Zoom.
Here is the Order of Worship
As a part of the Reigniting the Call initiative, a specific Day Apart for Renewal, on May 24, Aldersgate Day, was observed as we enter the season of Pentecost.
As we celebrate that moment in John Wesley’s life when he came to know that Christ died for him, not just a generic ‘us all,’ but for John Wesley himself, we hope to help you find the same connection or re-connection in your own life and calling.
We will learn, listen to each other’s hearts, and find new ways to connect and reignite our callings. After a morning teaching session, we will have an afternoon of experiences we hope will take you deeper into your own calling and life with Christ, such as lectio divina, music, prayer, playful engagement with scripture, and many more.
Weekly Video Resources for Reigniting the Call
Week 1: April 14
Nurturing our Call
Week 1: April 14
How to access funding for Reigniting the Call
Week 2: April 19
Clergy Self-care & Spiritual Formation
Week 2: April 21
Clergy Peer Groups
Week 3: April 26
Coaching
Week 4: May 3
Clergy Health
Week 5: May 10
Raising up a culture of call in laity
Week 5: May 12
Working with your DS & SPRC effectively