To submit news items, stories, or corrections for inclusion in the newsletter, email the conference Communications Office at Communications@vaumc.org.
Table of Contents
Top Stories:
- *Notice Date Change* Training Webinar: Being a Non-Anxious Presence: Responding Faithfully to ICE Activity in our Communities
- AC 2026 Agenda available, Housing opens Feb. 17
- Learn more about Displays, Banquets at AC 2026
News Posts:
- Connect with God in nature during Lent
- Foundation awards grant to Shineforth
- Join public witness in D.C. on Feb. 25
- Submit resolutions for 2026 Virginia Annual Conference
- Register now for Bishop’s Wesley Heritage Tour
Resources & Opportunities:
- Safer Sanctuaries resource available
- Registration closing soon for Lay Servant Academy courses
- Multi-Annual Conference-wide Lenten Study
- 2026 Annual Conference MEM Grant and RELC Grant Application Cycle is now open
- Know your rights when they’re under threat
- Scholarships for United Methodist students
- The GBHEM Scholarship Portal Is Now Open
- Summer staff needed at VAUMC camps
Upcoming Events
One Last Word
Top Stories
Training Webinar: Being a Non-Anxious Presence: Responding Faithfully to ICE Activity in Our Communities
Please Notice date change from earlier communications* Clergy across our connection are asking an important and urgent question: How do we respond faithfully and responsibly if there is ICE activity in our communities or at our churches?
On February 20, 2026 from noon to 1:30 p.m., there will be a 90-minute Zoom webinar is designed to resource clergy with practical information, pastoral wisdom, and spiritual grounding for these moments. Together, we’ll share clear facts about what clergy and congregations should know, explore strategies for responding with calm and care, and reflect on our calling to be a non-anxious presence in anxious times.
Facilitated by Rev. Lan Davis Wilson, the Director for Belonging and Advocacy, and Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley, the Director for Call and Candidacy, with guest Rev. Dr. Barry Penn Hollar. Barry is a retired UMC elder, and professor emeritus of religion and philosophy at Shenandoah University. He is a Duke Divinity School graduate and also holds a PhD in Religious Ethics from the University in Virginia.
AC 2026 Agenda available, Housing opens Feb. 17
The agenda for the Annual Conference is now available to assist you in preparation for the event. Access the agenda…
We have partnered with great hotels located close to the JMU campus. Housing registration will open on Tuesday, February 17 at 9 a.m. A link will be sent out to all conference members registered in our Unity database that morning, so please use that link and follow the registration instructions to complete your housing arrangements.
Learn more about Displays, Banquets at VAUMC 2026
The application form for the 2026 Virginia Annual Conference Displays is open now. Applications are due by April 1, 2026. Due to limited space, we will try to accommodate as many as we can, but we will not be able to approve every request.
The Banquets application form for the 2026 Virginia Annual Conference session is also now open. Applications are due by April 17, 2026.
Posts for the week
Connect with God in nature during Lent
The Revs. Teresa Angle-Young and Jessie Squires Colwell invite readers to engage in simple spiritual exercises to reconnect with God through nature. The two United Methodist pastors co-authored a Lenten devotional called “Creation’s Call: A Lenten Guide to Spiritual Renewal.” UM News reporter Lilla Marigza speaks with the authors about some of their favorite creation care and self-care practices from the book. Read more…
Foundation awards grant to Shineforth
The Virginia United Methodist Foundation (VAUMF) has awarded a $50,000 program grant to fund an independent-living learning space for youth who receive services at Shineforth Child & Family Services. The independent-living “laboratory” will benefit K-12 students who attend specialized day school, youth who receive residential treatment, teens in foster care, and young adults who are aging out of foster care.
The $50,000 gift to Shineforth is by far the Virginia United Methodist Foundation’s largest investment in a single organization. Since the Foundation began awarding grants annually in 2013, it’s routinely dispersed $50,000-$80,000 divided among 20-25 organizations per grant cycle. Previously, the largest individual grant had been $5,000. Learn more…
Join VAUMC for public witness in D.C. at Faithful Resistance on February 25
The Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice is happening in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Bishop Sue and the Cabinet invite you to join us for an upcoming ecumenical gathering and peaceful march calling for the humane treatment of immigrants. The event will take place in Washington, DC on Wednesday, February 25 and opens at 10 a.m. with worship at Capitol Hill UMC (421 Seward Square SE
Washington, DC, 20003).
A prayerful march to the U.S. Capitol will follow, accompanied by congressional visits in the afternoon for those interested in attending. This is a powerful opportunity to show solidarity for immigrants and call upon Christians everywhere to live out Christ’s call on all of us to resist evil, oppression and injustice in whatever forms they present. Learn more about the event and register.
Learn more about event, parking, chartered bus opportunity and more…
*Bus opportunity has 17 more seats left available*
Submit resolutions for 2026 Virginia Annual Conference
To ensure that the annual conference has a full opportunity to submit resolutions for consideration at the 2026 session of the Virginia Annual Conference the deadline for submission of resolutions is being extended to February 28, 2026.
Submissions may come from:
- an annual conference board or agency,
- a group of at least 10 clergy or elected lay members of the annual conference, or
- a lay person who is a member of a local church within the conference, with the endorsement of the local church’s church council or administrative board or equivalent governing body at a duly-called meeting.
Submit award nominations for AC 2026
- Do you know someone who is helping others learn about Jesus and making a big difference?
- Maybe you know a group or church that is bringing new people to Christ or helping people get baptized for the first time.
- Has someone helped make our community feel alive and full of hope again?
Now is the time to tell those amazing stories! Let’s celebrate the people and churches who are showing love and helping others grow in their faith. That person could be any age. They could be a church leader or not a pastor at all. They could be a kid, teen, adult, or elder. If they are making a difference, they count. There are two special awards:
- The Wesley Flame Award is for people who try new, brave ideas to help others grow closer to God.
- The One Matters Award is for churches that went from nothing happening to new life, new people, and new beginnings.
Sometimes the best work happens quietly. This is your chance to shine a light on it. Do not assume someone else will do it. You might be the one who helps that person feel encouraged to keep going.
The deadline to nominate someone is March 1.
Nominate someone here…
Thank you for helping us celebrate people who choose love, courage, and kindness – one person at a time.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rev. Nilse Furtado-Gilliam at nilsefurtadogilliam@vaumc.org or (901) 674-2577.
Register now for Bishop’s Wesley Heritage Tour
Join Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson on a Wesley Heritage Tour from May 13-22, 2026 with Educational Opportunities Tours. All are welcome! For any questions, contact Rev. Justin White at justinwhite@vaumc.org. Learn more…
Learn more in this video…
Resources & Opportunities
Safer Sanctuaries resource available
A Safer Sanctuaries one-pager resource is now available. The goal with this document is for churches to have an easily digestible policy overview to be used and shared amongst church members. Churches should review their specific policy and ensure the information is the same before using this resource. An editable Canva template is available upon request, please email conference Director of Resourcing Kim Johnson at KimJohnson@vaumc.org.
Registration closes soon for Lay Servant Academy courses
Join in February for Training Weekend featuring the Basic Course, Class Leaders, Leading Worship, and more. PLUS! Lent offers a deeper journey through Soul Reset, Daily Disciplines, and the Talking Bible. Laity and clergy are invited to sign up for courses. Click here to see all the courses and to register…
Please direct questions to Tianna Durbin and Richard Speirs.
Multi-Annual Conference-wide Lenten Study
This Lent, join members of the North and South Georgia Conferences and the Virginia Conference in a shared journey shaped by Creation’s Call, a Lenten study by United Methodist elders Teresa Angle-Young (North Georgia) and Jessie Squires Colwell (Virginia). Grounded in Scripture, theology, and lived faith, this study invites individuals and communities to listen more deeply—to God, to one another, and to the groaning and glory of creation itself. This will be an online study. 1 C.E.U. is available for this course. The orientation will be on February 12, 2026, at 10 a.m., and classes will take place weekly, either on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. or on Thursdays at 10 a.m., throughout the season of Lent. Register here…
2026 Annual Conference MEM Grant and RELC Grant Application Cycle is now open | |||||||
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Know your rights when they’re under threat
United Methodist legal experts offer an update on the impact of President Trump’s immigration policies and a guide of rights when interacting with federal immigration enforcement agents. But after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, United Methodist legal experts acknowledge that asserting U.S. constitutional rights can come at great risk. Nevertheless, they also say that peacefully documenting immigration enforcement actions in public spaces is key to accountability long-term. Learn more…
Scholarships for United Methodist students
Did you know that there are colleges and universities that provide scholarships just for United Methodist students? The Virginia Annual Conference includes four United Methodist-affiliated colleges/universities, and other schools provide such funding as well. Learn more…
The GBHEM Scholarship Portal is now open
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 2025, GBHEM awarded more than 2,500 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students at over 600 schools worldwide. This financial aid helped students pursue their dreams to serve as the next generation of leaders. You may submit one application each year.
The deadline to complete your application is Friday, March 6, 2026. Click here for more information about how to apply.
Summer staff needed at camps around VAUMC
Are you a college-age or young adult interested in a summer opportunity? Are you interested in bringing your gifts to the intersection of camp ministry and God’s call on individuals’ lives? Summer staff are needed at the camps around the Virginia Conference this year. Submit your application now…
Camp Occohannock
Camp Highroad
Westview on the James
Camp Overlook
Camp Alta Mons
Upcoming Events
Resisting Racial Injustice in the Way of Jesus: February 28
Many of us are unsure of what to make of these chaotic times. We don’t know what lies ahead or how we are to faithfully walk into the future. The Racial Justice Network conference scheduled for Saturday, February 28, will speak directly to our current situation. You are invited to register today for the “Resisting Racial Injustice in the Way of Jesus” Conference to be held 9:30-4 p.m. at Belmont UMC, 3510 Broad Rock Blvd, Richmond.
The Rev. Ben Campbell, civil rights activist, author, and founder of Richmond Hill, will be the keynote speaker. Worship will be led by the Rev. Tom Baynham, Richmond Hill Director of Outreach and Spiritual Formation.
Participants will attend three workshops:
- Spiritual Formation as Resistance led by Rev. Tom Baynham
- Conversations as Resistance led by Rev. Lan Wilson, Director of Belonging and Advocacy, VAUMC
- Non-Violent Direct Action as Resistance led by Rev. Dr. Jim Melson, Executive Director of Cornelius Corps
The cost is $20/person. Lunch and light refreshments are included. A .5 CEU is available. To register, use this link… For questions, call 804-521-1124.
Richmond church hosts gun violence forum on March 11
Reveille UMC (4200 Cary Street Road, Richmond, VA 23221) is hosting a Gun Violence Prevention Forum on Wednesday, March 11. Join the conversation about the impact of gun violence in Richmond and how residents and churches can help build a safer, better community. This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a reception in Reveille’s welcome center, followed by the forum at 6 p.m. in the church sanctuary. RSVP to attend…
Panelists:
Greg Hopkins, Director, City of Richmond’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Rev. Marvin Gilliam, RISC Co-President, and Pastor at The Mt. Carmel Baptist Church
T. Jasen Cooper, Associate Director of Climate and Culture, Richmond Public Schools
Sgt. Tish Cushenberry, City of Richmond Police Department
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, United Methodist Church Virginia Conference
Moderator: Eric Philips WRIC-TV ABC 8
Training: Cultivating Generous Congregations
Pastors, members and chairs of finance/stewardship committees, lay leaders, church council chairs are invited to the Cultivating Generous Congregations: A Comprehensive Stewardship Training Workshop for Congregational Teams training opportunity in the Mountain View District. Learn more and register…
WHAT: Cultivating Generous Congregations:
A Comprehensive Stewardship Training Workshop for Congregational Teams (pastor + 1 – 4 laity)
WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Main Street UMC, 212 E Main St, Bedford VA
Cost: $25.00/person
Deadline to register: Feb 27, 2026
Cultivating Generous Congregations (CGC) maps the new landscape of religious giving and stewardship and provides you and your team with tools to help you build a culture of generosity unique to your congregation’s needs and challenges.
Questions about the event? Contact Rev. Nancy Johnson, nancyjohnson@vaumc.org; 434-401-5776.
Questions about registration? Contact Rev. Leigh Anne Taylor, leighannetaylor@vaumc.org; 434-439-0443.
Save the Date for Wild Church event
April 25, 2026
10 a.m. -3 p.m.
$25 (contact Hannah Bryn for scholarship opportunities)
Lunch Included
This event will provide a space to explore the history, practices, vision and movement of Wild Church and the Wild Church Network. Wild Church is rooted in an understanding that the whole of creation is holy. It is rooted in moving from a human-centric worldview that sees creation as resources or even as enjoyment or recreation, into an eco-centric worldview that encourages relationship with the more-than-human world as sacred.
Wild Churches meet outside. The spiritual practice of moving from buildings and four walls into natural spaces with no walls invites people into a more expansive sense of interconnection and belonging. And into direct encounter with deep mystery expressed within and between trees, creatures, plants, water, fire, and us. Wild Church gently moves from doctrine and belief systems into experiential and emergent ways of knowing self, other, and God. Register…
One Last Word
Gen X and Millennial generations will especially remember the tagline from “The Real World” reality show, “When people stop being polite and start getting real. “Well, it’s time to get real folks. If Christians don’t love and help our neighbors– then what are we doing? The world doesn’t need more hypocrites; it needs people who live out the Gospel of Christ unapologetically.
Other VAUMC Communications Channels
Featured
Find churches and individuals giving away free items by subscribing to the Top 5 newsletter or visiting the conference website.
Email subscriptions
You can find jobs available around the connection at the conference website or by subscribing to the jobs newsletter (released twice a week).
See all VAUMC subscriptions at the link.
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: Communications@vaumc.org.