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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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Volunteers needs for AC 2025
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Passionate, dependable volunteers are needed to help make Annual Conference (June 11–14 at the Berglund Center in Roanoke) a meaningful experience for all. Whether you can serve before, during, or after the event, your presence matters more than you know.
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Will you prayerfully consider stepping in to serve? Your time and energy could be the spark that helps everything run smoothly—and makes someone feel truly welcome. Sign up at the button links below as the Valley Ridge District and conference team prepare for Annual Conference 2025: Movement of the Heart. Learn more...
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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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Help rising college students connect to their faith
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Help the graduating high school seniors from your churches who will be entering a college or university in the fall to stay connected to their faith. Please take a moment to update the conference with those students' college plans, so that VAUMC-supported campus ministries can reach out to help them bridge their transition. To submit the information use this form. If you have questions contact Dwayne Stinson ([email protected]).
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Resources
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Following up on Easter Sunday visitors
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Easter is one of the most well-attended Sundays of the year—and a vital moment for evangelism. Now’s the time to follow up with first-time guests and help them feel truly welcomed into the life of your church. A thoughtful connection can turn a single visit into lasting involvement. Learn more...
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The VAUMC Soul Feast journey continues
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Bishop Sue and Martha Stokes, conference lay leader, have invited the Virginia Conference to explore spiritual disciplines from September 2024 to June 2025.
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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 is a live webinar to discuss the next spiritual discipline and suggested resources will also be shared.
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Get ready for Heritage Sunday
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Observed the third Sunday in May, Heritage Sunday celebrates the legacy of The United Methodist Church. This year, the General Commission on Archives and History invites congregations to honor the voices of LGBTQ+ United Methodists whose stories have too often gone untold. Learn more...
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Posts for the week
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Agencies called to respond to suffering in shifting political landscape
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In his report to the GBGM, GBHEM and UMCOR boards, General Secretary Roland Fernandes urged the agencies to strengthen their work in response to suffering intensified by shifting global political landscapes. Read a summary of Fernandes’s report...
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Learn about Mission Volunteers program
GLOBAL MINISTRIES--Since their first trip to Costa Rica in 2015, Mission Volunteers Nancy Potter and George Gull have returned nine times to serve with Agua Viva Serves, a non-profit ministry that provides sustainable and clean water to remote communities in the country. 💧
Like George and Nancy, you can build a partnership with a community in need and be the hands and feet of Christ. Learn more about our Mission Volunteers program and apply now in time to attend the next training session of 2025—August 4-7 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Learn more...
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Black churches preserve history, shape future
UM NEWS--Across the U.S., legacy Black churches look for new ways to remain vital and reach communities, while United Methodist annual conferences work to provide the resources they need. Read more...
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Knut Refsdal elected as bishop
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UM NEWS--The Rev. Knut Refsdal, a pastor in Norway, was elected a United Methodist bishop on the 26th ballot. Read more...
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Submit your nominations by April 15 for the Francis Asbury Award
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Named for early American Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury, this award honors his call to establish a school in the vicinity of every church. “We must,” he said, “ … give the key of knowledge to your children, and those of the poor in the vicinity of your small towns and villages.”
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Today, the award recognizes United Methodist individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering United Methodist ministries in higher education at the local, district or annual conference level. It is awarded annually to one honoree per annual conference.
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The honoree must:
• Be United Methodist
• Actively support, strengthen and promote the United Methodist church’s work in higher education ministries (schools, colleges, campus ministries, scholarships, Black College Fund, Africa University) at the annual conference, district or local church level.
• Offer outstanding leadership, above and beyond basic responsibilities, to help bring heightened awareness to the significance of the church’s higher education ministries.
• Participate in efforts to expand and advocate for collegiate ministry in the annual conference.
Please submit your nominations, along with a detailed explanation of the candidate's qualifications for the award, by emailing Ahnnalise Stevens-Jennings, chair of the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry ([email protected]), by April 15.
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Servant Sister Scholarship Fund supports women in ministry
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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Featured Event: Annual Conference
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Find AC 2025 Kit information, information on Constitutional Amendments, Agenda and more
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- Kits for Conference
- Education on Constitutional Amendments
- The 2024 General Conference passed several proposed amendments to United Methodist Constitution. These unique pieces of legislation only become official once they are ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the aggregate of members to the annual conferences. Learn more…
- 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
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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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