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We apologize for the errors yesterday, please view the corrected copy below.
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To submit news items, stories, or corrections for inclusion in the newsletter, email the conference Communications Office at [email protected].
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Top Story
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The Virginia Delegation needs your feedback
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As the denomination moves into a new season of mission and ministry, Annual Conferences across the connection are spending this fall reading and offering feedback about the Book of Discipline. The aim is to subdivide Part VI of the Book of Discipline into two separate parts and to establish a shorter, more clearly structured, more easily understandable and translatable General Book of Discipline. Part VI would contain what is connectionally essential (and therefore is not adaptable across central/regional conferences) and Part VII would be adaptable by central/regional conferences.
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The VAUMC delegation invites your feedback! To participate, click here. For additional questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].
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Posts for this week
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Camp Highroad organizes Volunteer Day
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Take part as an individual or group in Camp Highroad's Volunteer Day on November 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The camp will organize materials, tools and a list of projects, align them to your skill level and provide technical direction as needed. Your help is greatly appreciated and will allow Camp Highroad to remain well maintained and ready for campers. Lunch will be served.
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Please complete the skill survey so that teams can be established teams and work assigned to align with skills and experience.
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VAUMC to focus on spiritual disciplines
Bishop Sue and Martha Stokes, conference lay leader, invite the Virginia Conference to explore spiritual disciplines from September 2024 to June 2025. The book, Soul Feast, by Marjorie J. Thompson will help guide this initiative with a different spiritual practice focus each month.
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VAUMC to visit Candler
Representatives from the Virginia Annual Conference will be visiting Candler School of Theology on October 31. If you are a Candler student from Virginia or interested in learning about Virginia, click here to schedule a time to meet and learn more!
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VUMPI shares Health Plan reminders
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For eligible clergy and lay employee participants in the Conference Health Benefit plan, a reminder from the Pensions and Benefits office - now is the time to ensure your Wellness Activities are complete to earn incentives for the 2025 benefits year. Open enrollment is right around the corner, so make sure you remember to visit your physician for a wellness check and complete the Personal Health Profile with our partner Health Advocate before the September 30 deadline. Health Plan eligible members who complete both activities receive financial credit towards their 2025 health plan contributions. Act before the end of September to make sure you qualify!
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To learn more, details are available here: Wellness Rewards Program. For additional questions, contact the Pensions and Benefits office at (804) 521-1131.
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African bishops commit to church unity
UNITED METHODIST NEWS-- African bishops have affirmed their support for worldwide regionalization and pledged to continue the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church.
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The bishops, meeting during the Africa Colleges of Bishops annual retreat Sept. 2-5 at Africa University under the theme “Behold I am doing a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19), said it was important to remain in the wider connection and focus on church growth.
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Bishop addresses upcoming presidential election
Bishop Sue encourages United Methodists to take advantage of the gift of voting, to recognize their own echo chambers while striving for a balanced view, and to fact check resources before sharing on social media during this political season. Watch video and find other resources at link below.
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Updated challenge for UnDue Medical Debt
Following an update of the 2024 Annual Conference offering, Bishop Sue challenged the VAUMC to take the next step toward forgiving medical debt in Virginia. If the VAUMC could raise an additional $180,000 over the remainder of 2024, for a total amount raised of $250,000, our collective efforts would forgive at least $25 million in medical debt in Virginia. According to our friends at Undue Medical Debt this could lead to the forgiveness of as much as $45 million.
Can you imagine that level of impact? The level of transformation in the Commonwealth of Virginia?
Bishop Sue recognizes raising this much money is a big goal.
If you would like to give to this effort, please visit www.vaumcdonations.org and select the Undue Medical Debt tab.
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Church is alive and growing in Zimbabwe
UNITED METHODIST NEWS--Thousands of United Methodists gathered at two jubilee conventions, showing the church is “active and full of life” in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area, church leaders say, even as some regions in Africa face turmoil post-General Conference.
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Bishops plan for different kind of gathering
UNITED METHODIST NEWS--United Methodist bishops have called for a leadership gathering unlike the typical church meeting — one without parliamentary procedure or political wrangling.
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Instead of deciding the denomination’s future, bishops expect the gathering’s participants to be dreaming and praying about what comes next for The United Methodist Church.
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Immigration ministry undaunted by political climate
UNITED METHODIST NEWS--Immigration Law & Justice Network, formerly Justice for Our Neighbors, is a United Methodist ministry that provides free or low-cost expert legal counsel to immigrants as they seek legal status in the United States. Co-executive directors Alba Jaramillo and Melissa Bowe discussed with UM News how their work has changed and the challenges they face as immigration becomes more politicized.
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Events Highlight
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Sept 23 is extended deadline for Growing Young Retreat
The Growing Young Retreat (Oct. 18-19) will share 6 strategies with participants to help young people discover and love their church. All are welcome. Clergy are eligible for 1.0 CEU. Learn more and register now: https://vaumc.org/event/growing-young-retreat-2024/.
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"The truth is, every church needs young people. Their passion enriches the soil around them. The curiosity they bring to Scripture and the authenticity they bring to relationships keep your church's teaching fresh and fellowship fruitful.
Young people also need a thriving church. A thriving church both grounds them in community and sends them out to serve.
Your church needs young people, and they need your church. One with out the other is incomplete" (Growing Young).
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Resource Highlight
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Resources to mark World Communion Sunday
World Communion Sunday is an opportunity for United Methodists to call attention to the unity of all Christians at the table of the Lord, and to raise funds through a special offering to support United Methodist students in the United States and worldwide. United Methodist Communications has resources for this Special Sunday, which is Oct. 6.
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Join webinar on 'Standing Courageous: Church Leadership in Partisan Times'
Rev. Dr. Scott Hughes, Rev. Ribbons Harris, Ryan Greer, and Cody Zoschak present 'Standing Courageous: Church Leadership in Partisan Times' webinar on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 11 a.m. CDT. In today’s divided political climate, church leaders have a unique opportunity to foster peace and unity in their communities. As misinformation, disinformation, partisanship, and conspiracy theories take hold, the call to stand courageously for biblical values of mercy, justice, truth, and compassion is essential.
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Apply now for Mustard Seed grants
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Global Ministries and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provide support for refugees and migrants around the world, seeking to fulfill the biblical mandate to “love thy neighbor” and “welcome the stranger.”
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Tiny mustard seeds, as Jesus described in his parable, have a potential to grow into something big or pervasive that spreads throughout a field. Our hope is that by learning more about migrants in local communities and addressing their needs through these grants, the “seed” of welcoming strangers might be planted in new ways in congregations around the country.
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What is the Mustard Seed Migration program?
The Mustard Seed Migration Grant program is designed to encourage local United Methodist churches to engage in ministry to migrants in their midst. UMCOR will award grants of $2,000 USD to up to 100 United Methodist local churches in the U.S. to engage in new, one-time community-based service projects and ministries focused on migrants and refugees.
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Voter Toolkit: "Sacred Votes: A Guide to Election Participation, Justice, and Social Transformation"
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As we approach this critical election season, the importance of civic and voter engagement cannot be overstated. The choices we make at the polls have the power to shape our communities, influence justice, and transform society.
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As people of faith, our responsibility to participate in the democratic process is deeply intertwined with our call to love our neighbors and seek the common good. Given the seriousness of this election, a comprehensive toolkit has been thoughtfully compiled by The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, The Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, and Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century.
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Dillard Forum to explore ways a faith community can make a difference
Join for worship, learning, fellowship and exciting dialogue with Kim Bobo and her staff! from Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy for the Dillard Forum Day of Learning on September 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Explore the various ways that a faith community can make a difference!
"Kim Bobo and her organization have been instrumental in equipping and empowering Methodists to advocate for society's most vulnerable at our annual United Methodist General Assembly Day. With her deep understanding of Virginia's legislative process and up-to-date knowledge of the rapidly changing legislative landscape, she brings together individuals from all walks of life, guiding people of faith to actively contribute to the loving and caring communities they seek to build," Rev. Katie B. Gooch, Director of The Pace Center, Co-Chair of the Virginia United Methodist Conference Legislative Network said. Free lunch (registration required) after the worship service followed by breakout sessions.
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Other VAUMC Communication Channels
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Public Notice Board
Clergy and laity can crowdsource for ideas and resources within the connection through the Public Notice Board. Find the newest notices and share your question or find past queries at the conference website.
Also find free items for giveaway at the conference website.
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Please send in questions you have that you would like to find answers to: [email protected].
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