Bishop Sharma D. Lewis, together with the Annual Conference Planning Team, announced the 2021 Virginia Annual Conference will be a virtual event held June 18-19.
Business of the Annual Conference will be limited, due to economic constraints, only to Friday, June 18. The conference will again be using Lumi Global as the platform vendor.
Worship services and time for district-based service opportunities will be conducted on Saturday, June 19.
Annual Conference theme
The theme for 2021 is “United as One” with the guiding Scripture of John 17:20-23 (NRSV).
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Bishop Lewis shared that this Scripture shows Jesus praying for himself, his disciples, and for all believers.
“This Scripture shares the importance of us being One,” she said.
Preparing for the Annual Conference session
Annual Conference members should begin to let their districts know if they have concerns about their ability to connect and interact in a virtual Annual Conference session. With this advance notice, districts, together with the conference office, can best assist members in the coming months.
Members can expect practice sessions closer to the June session to test their devices and learn about the Lumi platform.
Information will be forthcoming in February concerning Kit Collection and a district collection plan for this year’s conference.
For any questions, please email Conference Director of Connectional Ministries the Rev. Dr. Steve Summers at [email protected].