|
|
To submit news items, stories, or corrections for inclusion in the newsletter, email the conference Communications Office at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
Mark your 2025 calendars
|
The VAUMC should note some important dates coming up for local churches in the midst of appointment season.
|
Announcement Sunday (for appointments): April 27, 2025
|
Move date for clergy: June 25, 2025
|
“Laity of the Congregation” Sunday: June 29, 2025 *
|
First Sunday for New Clergy: July 6, 2025
|
*This Sunday, Bishop Sue and the Cabinet would like the laity of the congregation to lead worship.
|
|
|
Top Stories
|
|
Change announced to Active Clergy Health Benefit
|
Beginning January 1, 2026, the Virginia Conference will change how the Conference-sponsored health benefits for active clergy are funded. Currently, the majority of the funding for the active clergy health benefits comes from an apportionment. In 2026, the apportionment will be replaced by a flat amount that will be directly billed to churches for each health-plan eligible clergyperson. Local church leadership who have questions should first use the calculation tool below to assess what this change will mean for their own church. Any further questions may be directed to your District Superintendent. View video and calculation tool...
|
|
|
|
New DSes announced
|
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson is pleased to announce the appointment of two new District Superintendents to serve the Virginia Annual Conference beginning July 1, 2025: Rev. Lindsey Baynham Freeman will serve the Mission Rivers District and Rev. Kyungsuk Cho will serve the Shenandoah River District.
|
“Clergy and laity throughout the Annual Conference know the Revs. Baynham Freeman and Cho for their deep commitment to Christ and His Church, their reflection of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in all that they do, and the many ways they lead in our UMC connection and their local churches,” Bishop Sue said. “Our conference will be very blessed as they assume these new roles.”
|
Bishop Sue is grateful to Rev. Dr. Charles Ledlum-Bates, outgoing Mission Rivers District Superintendent, and Rev. Dr. Victor Gomez, outgoing Shenandoah River District Superintendent and Dean of the Cabinet, for their service to The United Methodist Church in their roles.
|
Revs. Baynham Freeman and Cho will join Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert (Mountain View), Rev. Jay Carey (Living Waters), Rev. Doug Forrester (Valley Ridge), Rev. Beth Givens (Coastal Virginia), Rev. Dr. Hyo Lee (Three Notch’d), Rev. Kirk Nave (Northern Virginia), and Rev. Dr. Steve Summers (Assistant to the Bishop), on the appointive cabinet. They serve as extensions of the episcopal office in their respective districts, and they are charged with ensuring that vibrant communities of faith are available throughout the entire annual conference to transform lives and communities through the power of the Holy Spirit.
|
Bishop Sue invites the Virginia Conference to pray for these newly-appointed superintendents. They will attend Cabinet meetings starting in January 2025 to prepare them for their July 1 start date.
|
The VAUMC should also note some important dates coming up for local churches in the midst of appointment season.
|
Announcement Sunday (for appointments): April 27, 2025
|
Move date for clergy: June 25, 2025
|
“Laity of the Congregation” Sunday: June 29, 2025 *
|
First Sunday for New Clergy: July 6, 2025
|
*This Sunday, Bishop Sue and the Cabinet would like the laity of the congregation to lead worship.
|
|
|
Featured Events
|
|
Lay Servant Academy 2025
|
Registration for Lay Servant Academy is open! Training weekend will be virtual only and will take place February 21st and 22nd. Courses will include standard courses such as The Basic Course and Preaching, in addition to Mission Encounter and CLM Orientation.
|
New this year! The Academy will also include a weekly Lenten course on the Sacraments during the season of Lent, as well as Ministry to the Forgotten; Dementia Through a Spiritual Lens to be offered on 5 consecutive Thursday evenings in February and March! Registration: https://vaumc.org/layservantacademy/
|
|
|
Clergy Day Apart to be held March 12
|
The Spiritual Formation team of the Board of Ordained Ministry are planning for a Clergy Day Apart for Wednesday, March 12 at Shady Grove UMC, Mechanicsville. The theme will be "Hope is Here: A Day of Spiritual Renewal." More information to be shared as it becomes available.
|
|
|
|
|
Send in nominations for Harry Denman, One Matters awards
The Virginia Annual Conference is now accepting nominations for The Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Laity and Youth. The Harry Denman Evangelism Award recognizes a person whose life and ministry exemplifies the teaching of Christ and the Great Commission. Recipients of these awards, nominated by their local church and selected by the Annual Conference, live their call to “Offer Them Christ” daily as modeled by Dr. Harry Denman, founder of The Foundation for Evangelism that sponsors these awards.
|
The Virginia Annual Conference Board of Discipleship is accepting applications for the “One Matters Discipleship Award.” This award will be given to a church with significant improvement of baptisms and professions of faith.
|
|
Learn more about Clergy Group Spiritual Direction
As United Methodist clergy, we often ask others this question easily. But when was the last time someone asked you that question and you felt safe answering?
|
- Do you long for a community where you can explore this question for yourself?
- Do you long to walk with others who are seeking a deeper awareness of God’s presence?
We each desire to see and be seen, know and be known, and love and be loved. But how do we do this, especially in a divided world?
|
Group Spiritual Direction can be that space. It offers a safe space to explore, notice, question, share, and listen in company with people who desire similar things. This opportunity is for clergy who would like to grow, engage, and listen deeply in a small group hosted by a Spiritual Director or Companion. Together, we will meet each person in their journey without attempting to fix, judge, or rescue one another. If you desire to deepen your Spiritual life in community, Group Spiritual Direction might be for you. During the next five to six months, Group Spiritual Direction will be offered to VAUMC clergy. Participating in a group requires a deep commitment to one’s spiritual journey and to the other participants. Participants agree to participate wholeheartedly in the group process through consistent attendance, prayerful listening, and holy response to others. To learn more about Group Spiritual Direction contact:
|
|
|
|
VWU Awarded NOAA Grant
Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) has been awarded nearly $200,000 as part of the Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program, a grant funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This funding will enable VWU to modify curriculum designed for third- through fifth-grade students with learning differences and those who are neurodivergent. The initiative aims to make environmental education more inclusive and impactful across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans over 64,000 square miles and is home to diverse ecosystems and communities. Protecting this critical resource is a shared responsibility, and the B-WET program fosters collective action by supporting Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences. These experiences combine outdoor and classroom learning to help students investigate local environmental challenges and take informed action. Learn More...
|
|
Send in applications for YSF grants
The VAUMC Youth Council is now accepting applications for grants from The Youth Service Fund (YSF).
|
YSF is the national United Methodist mission fund supported by youth. Through YSF, United Methodist teens raise money for other teens doing ministry in their churches and communities impacting poverty, illiteracy, absenteeism and social justice.
|
A portion of the funds raised by the youth council each year remains with the conference to support ministry within churches of the annual conference.
|
Grants of up to $1500 are available.
|
The deadline to apply is March 3, and churches will hear by April 7. Ministries have one year to use the funds. Additional leadership development and training for the youth leading projects that receive grants will be available throughout the year. Learn more...
|
|
|
|
Support California in disaster relief
UMCOR is communicating with the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church and preparing to support relief and recovery efforts once the fires have been contained. Right now, we encourage you to continue to pray, give, and stay connected as the conference assesses their immediate needs.
|
|
Save the Date: Discernment Day
Is God nudging you to do more? Do you think God is calling you, but you’re not sure how to answer?
|
By virtue of our baptisms, we are all called by God in a myriad of ways – as laity serving in local churches, missionaries serving abroad, meeting the needs of the local community, to the set-apart ministry of the licensed and ordained and so much more.
|
March 15, 2025 : Ebenezer UMC, Stafford
|
Discernment Day is an opportunity for you to explore your sense of call with others who are discerning. Through prayer practices, age appropriate small groups, and topical discussion groups, you will be provided space to learn more, connect with others, and discern your next steps. Learn more...
|
|
|
|
Save the Date for VAUMC Climate Summit -Mar. 8
Stakeholders in VA Conference UMC, including conference boards & related agencies, districts & churches, to connect & learn why they are key to the VAUMC response to God’s call for Climate & Racial Justice, Sustainability in Climate Change, & The Net Zero by 2050 Resolution.
|
Youth are encouraged to join (individually or as a youth group) and will have workshop sessions designed specifically for teens on the theme of faith + science and Creation Care.
|
Theme: Thinking & Action: How we as the Virginia United Methodist Church rethinking our understanding & action around Climate change/justice & its intersection with racial justice.
|
|
Register for mentor training
There will be a mentor training for all current and new candidacy mentors and local pastor mentors on February 11, 2025 at 10 a.m. on Zoom. Register...
|
If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley, the Director for Call & Candidacy, at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
GBHEM scholarships available
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) scholarship application portal is open for United Methodist students seeking scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study at colleges, universities and seminaries in the United States. Potential scholarships awarded range from $500 to $1,200, on average. The deadline to complete the application is Monday, March 31, 2025. Email [email protected] for more information. Learn more...
|
|
Join UMVIM Team Leader Training -Feb. 2025
Join the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader Training on
|
Saturday, February 8, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wellspring UMC,
|
4871 Longhill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188.
|
This training is for individuals who have attended at least one UMVIM trip and who are ready to take a deeper dive into servant leadership and leading UMVIM teams. This training will be led by Kip Robinson, senior UMVIM trainer.
|
Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. with light refreshments available, and the class will begin promptly at 9 a.m. with breaks in between. Registration for the class is $20, and lunch will be provided. The deadline to register is Friday, January 31, 2025. Sign up...
|
Once you have registered, an online training manual is available . If you desire a printed copy, we ask that you print and bring it with you in whatever format you prefer. Additionally, we ask for you to bring a little team spirit and a servant’s heart!
|
For further questions, please contact Kip Robinson ([email protected], 804.539.2494). We look forward to having you and serving alongside you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other VAUMC Communications Channels
|
|
|
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.
|
Please send in questions you have that you would like to find answers to: [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|