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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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Virginia Interfaith Executive Director set to retire
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After nine years as Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, Kim Bobo is set to retire. Her impact during her tenure includes the increase of the organization’s budget has increased six-fold since her arrival, the tripling of engaged volunteers, and an activist board of directors has expanded to include a core of highly accomplished, theologically and racially diverse members.
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"Kim Bobo has been truly amazing to work with! She is so inspiring, engaging, and empowering. Her work with the Conference Legislative Network has been invaluable, helping us prepare background materials, set up legislative visits, and effectively advocate for the least, the lost and the last. Serving as a board member for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has been a real honor. Thank you, Kim for all you do!"
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-Karen McElfish, United Women in Faith Virginia Conference President and former Co-Chair of the Virginia United Methodist Legislative Network
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"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."
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-Rev. Katie B. Gooch, Director of The Pace Center, Co-Chair of the Virginia United Methodist Conference Legislative Network
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Join SEJ effort in supporting California wildfire recovery
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This Lenten Season, you are invited to join a Southeastern Jurisdiction-wide (SEJ) initiative to support the Western Jurisdiction during the ongoing and future disaster recovery efforts from the California wildfires.
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Historically, the Western Jurisdiction has greatly supported the SEJ in our disaster recovery work.
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This is an opportunity for conferences in the SEJ to join together and show financial and missional care for our friends in the Western Jurisdiction who will be recovering from the wildfires for years to come.
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Giving is available online and through check donations.
To mail in a check, please make out the check to "SEJ Giving Campaign" and mail to:
10330 Staples Mill Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060
VA Annual Conference of the UMC – Suite 100
ATTN: Treasurer's Office
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Please email the Missional & Community Engagement Office for any questions at [email protected].
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Discipleship Ministries offers certificate in coaching
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Discipleship Ministries, the denomination's office to support discipleship, is offering a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching. The certificate is normally $150, but is available at $75 for the first 500 people to register. The course involves 12 hours of online learning, 6 hours focused on discipleship and 6 hours focused on coaching skills. Discipleship Ministries has set a goal that every UMC congregation will have a discipleship coach to work alongside their leadership to impact the culture of discipleship in their context.
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Watch March Soul Feast recording
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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 is guiding this initiative with a different spiritual practice focus each month. On the first Monday of each month, there will be a live webinar to discuss the next spiritual discipline and suggested resources will also be shared. The webinars will be available with Korean and Spanish subtitles for later viewing.
Start this initiative as a solo journey or join a companion for the journey at any time.
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The March recording on the topic of "Self-examination & Confession" is available.
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The next Soul Feast webinar can be watched live on Monday, April 7. Learn more...
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What is the Servant Sister Scholarship Fund?
Join in supporting women in ministry across our conference! The Servant Sister Scholarship has grown to 28, 822.44 in just five years. Our first scholarship was awarded in 2022; a total of three have now been awarded.
The fund has enjoyed support from across the conference. At this. time, there are fifty identified giving units. Fourteen donors have given for multiple years. Our donations are received at the annual Clergywomen's Luncheon at Conference, a gift was given for a district's farewell to a retiring DS, and several local church United Women in Faith groups amplify the gifts. The gifts for the SSSF have ranged from $20-$1,000.
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The recipients of this scholarship are the future leaders of our congregations. This month, the Servant Sister Scholarship Board invites you to become part of supporting women enrolled in seminary through donating to the Servant Sister Scholarship Fund. Would you please consider honoring or remembering someone who has inspired your faith with a donation? You can go to the United Methodist Foundation page to designate your electronic donation, or scan the QR code below. Checks can be made payable to the United Methodist Foundation with a notation for the Servant Sister Scholarship Fund.
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For further information, the Servant Sister Scholarship is on the VAUMC website. Please feel free to share the application information with women you know who would benefit from scholarship support. The link for the application process is found here. The next application deadline is July 1.
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AC members should register AC absence with conference secretary
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This is a reminder that in accordance with ¶602.8 of The 2020/2024 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, any clergy or lay member of the Annual Conference who will not be attending the Annual Conference on June 11-14, 2025, will need to report your absence to the Conference Secretary (not to the Bishop). This year we are using a google form to report these absences. This form can be found here.
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If you have questions, please send an email to Conference Secretary Claire Miller at [email protected].
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Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Grace and Peace,
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Rev. Claire B. Miller
Virginia Conference Secretary
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United Methodist hospital staff attacked in Congo
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Armed men invaded two United Methodist health centers in eastern Congo, leading to violence and looting. The armed men attacked staff and stole medicine, personal belongings and hospital funds at Irambo and Majengo health centers. It was the second invasion at Irambo in a month. Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda and other church leaders are urging peace and the protection of humanitarian structures.
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Youth ministries help historic churches stay vital
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St. Mark United Methodist in Chicago and Holman United Methodist in Los Angeles serve their growing communities by empowering young people and providing effective outreach ministries. Learn more...
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GBHEM addresses dismantlement of Dept. of Education
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In response to President Trump's executive order on March 20, The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) reinforced their belief that the Department of Education serves an essential role in the quality of and access to education in the U.S.
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Register for seminar on capital funds campaign
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Join an upcoming seminar on Capital Funds Campaign on Tuesday, April 8 from 10 – 12 noon via Zoom, led by the Rev. Burt Brooks, Director of Stewardship at the United Methodist Credit Union. Seminar will look at the timing, planning, organization, and implementation of a n. Important concepts such as the case statement, fact sheet, gift chart and calendar planning will be covered.
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To register and learn more at the link.
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Featured Event: Annual Conference
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New 2025 AC Updates available now
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- Agenda
- Weekly Digest
- Starting Monday, April 21, there will be a weekly digest of videos to help AC members prepare for AC 2025. These will be sent directly to AC member emails and available on the conference website. Other weekly digest dates will be April 28, May 4, and May 11.
- Digital Book of Reports and Official Packet
- FYI for boards and agencies, May 1 is the deadline for the Book of Reports. This information should be emailed to [email protected]. Any content shared after this date will not be accepted.
- On May 15, the digital Book of Reports and Official Packet will be released conference-wide.
- Annual Conference Orientation video
- The conference office will release an Annual Conference Orientation video to help AC members prepare for the session on May 15.
- Voting at Annual Conference
- We will be electronically voting at Annual Conference 2025 on constitutional amendments. Please be sure to bring a cell or tablet device on which to vote. If you do not have one, there will be devices available onsite to borrow. To ensure you are able to vote, make sure you also bring the device charger or a battery device.
- Kits for Annual Conference
- We will be organizing for Cleaning Kit (Flood Buckets), Hygiene Kits, and Feminine Hygiene Kits. Similar to last year, kits will be collected at local sites in each district. More information will be forthcoming.
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Save your Display Area space now
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Please complete the Display application in its entirety if you wish to have a display space at the Annual Conference in Roanoke, Virginia. If approved, after the registration deadline of May 1, you will receive additional information regarding set up times, take down times, and location of your station. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please email [email protected]. Learn more...
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Banquets, Housing, Childcare registrations now open
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Banquets, Housing, and childcare registration is now available for Annual Conference 2025 to be held at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA from June 11-14. Highlights from the video include: important dates, conference teachers and preachers, and more. Learn more...
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Resources
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Learn key principles of intercultural competence
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The journey toward intercultural competence involves learning from each other, acknowledging missteps, and working together with humility. Every immigrant’s voice matters in our community. Learn more from this resource from the Commission on Religion and Race.
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Join Lent Photo-a-Day
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Do you generally give something up during Lent? Would you consider adding in a practice?
Lent, the season of the Christian Year that is typically observed as a time of simple living, prayer and fasting leading up to Easter, begins on tomorrow on Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025).
Will you join this photo-a-day challenge and share with the community how you perceive each word of the day? No explanation needed. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
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In years past, The UMC has posted the day's word each day on social media. As you're posting each day, you may want to mention that your participating in this daily challenge and invite others to join in! Tag us teh UMC your Instagram, Facebook or TikTok with #LentPhotoADay
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Other VAUMC Communications 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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