Tentative General Conference dates publicized
Special Session of General Conference 2019, St. Louis, MO After the pandemic-caused postponement, the new prospective dates for The United Methodist Church’s General Conference are Aug. 31-Sept. 10, 2021. The Council of Bishops disclosed the proposed dates, including...
UM Global Ministries Launches New Effort to Raise Funds for Equitable Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine Around the World
‘Love Beyond Borders: The Interfaith Movement to End the Pandemic’ Spearheaded by First United Methodist Church of Boise, Idaho ATLANTA (October 18, 2021) – United Methodist Global Ministries is launching a new initiative and joining interfaith partners in an effort...
A Message of Appreciation from Conference Lay Leader Martha Stokes
I received my first pastoral visit when I was 5 or 6 years old. My father, along with my grandparents, had been counting the offering downstairs in the fellowship hall of Fieldale Methodist Church. I usually stayed with them because I loved getting to pull the noisy...
Discernment Academy members gather to learn about church planting, new expressions
The first academy class. The first class of the Virginia United Methodist Discernment Academy met October 6-7 at the conference center in Glen Allen. Three elders, five licensed local pastors, a provisional member, two certified candidates and a lay person gathered...
Invitation to a Celebration of All Saints Day
October 24, 2021, 6 p.m., via Zoom In preparation for All Saints Day, all clergy and laity of the Virginia Conference are invited to this service of healing. We will sing together, hear the Scripture, grieve together as we light candles for the saints we have loved...
VAUMC Refugee Response: A resource to help Afghanistan allies
(View as pdf) After the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the subsequent evacuation of a number of Afghan allies from Kabul, the Virginia Conference started a Refugee Response Team (RRT) to lead the conference’s effort to assist in the resettlement of our...
Updated FAQs About The UMC and Boy Scouts
October 7, 2021 An updated document with Frequently Asked Questions about The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts has been developed and can be found here (pdf). For additional information, please contact the Rev. Dr. Steve Summers, Assistant to the...
Grant helps save ‘historic gem’ in Brunswick County, VA
Located in Brunswick County, Virginia, Canaan was the plantation home of the Rev. Edward Dromgoole Sr., a traveling minister of the Revolutionary War and early national periods. This “historic gem” is situated in Valentines, Virginia, just off the Christanna Highway...
From the Bishop: Developments Regarding The UMC and the Boy Scouts
October 6, 2021 Dear Virginia Annual Conference: Since writing to you on September 8, 2021, about the profoundly difficult issues between the Boy Scouts and The United Methodist Church, there have been some important developments. To be sure, the Boy Scouts of America...
Bishop Lewis presents check from Annual Conference Offering to Feed More
From left, Kate Mandes, Doug Pick, Bishop Lewis and the Rev. Dr. Steve Summers. From left, the Rev. RJ Jun and Doug Pick. From left, Doug Pick, Dr. Steve Summers, Bishop Lewis, Kate Mandes. Thanks are extended to all the churches that participated in the 2021 Annual...
Dying congregation finds ‘New Life’ with merger
By Dwayne Stinson What happens when two pastors with a passion for sharing the Gospel sit next to each other at the district Christmas party? God presents the vision for a new congregation! The fruits of that vision took shape, as the congregation at New Life at...
Holy Disruption
Contributed by Heather Gomez (Lay member of Post-COVID Re-Entry Group [PRG] team) Then Jesus said to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 First a humble confession - I have an unfortunate bad habit of...
District Initiative Plan Announced by Bishop and Appointive Cabinet
Beginning October 1, each of the eight District Superintendents will convene a workgroup from their districts to integrate the two districts into one. This planning will be a collaborative effort of the Cabinet and District Leadership. It will be anchored in the...
FAQs About The UMC and Boy Scouts
September 20, 2021 A document with Frequently Asked Questions about The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts has been developed and can be found here. For additional information, please contact the Rev. Dr. Steve Summers, Assistant to the Bishop and Director of...
Discipleship Ministries releases ‘Courageous Conversation about Christian nationalism’
Click here to visit Discipleship Ministries website and download the curriculum Why have a Courageous Conversation about Christian nationalism? Let’s start by defining what we meanby the phrase, “Christian nationalism.” Nationalism can and should be distinguished from...
PRG reminds congregations to remain vigilant on COVID-19 front
To Local PRG teams, The Post-Covid Re-entry Group (PRG) is here to assist and resource churches to navigate the many and fast-changing shifts as COVID-19 continues to affect all of our lives. We understand that we have yet to enter into the Post-COVID era, ...
New Online Leader Training Helps Churches Begin or Expand Stephen Ministry
St. Louis, MO—Stephen Ministries St. Louis is now training caring ministry leaders through a live, interactive online training experience called the Bridge Leader’s Training Course (BLTC). This event fully trains Stephen Leaders—the pastors, church staff, and lay...
Journal 2021
Sections will be added as they become available. 2021 Journal in one file Pages by Section (pdf files): I. II. and III. Conference Officials, The Common Table for Church Vitality, and Board, Commissions and Committees IV. Rolls of Conference Members V. Daily...
Legal Expenses Oversight Workgroup shares report
On June 18, 2021, the Virginia Annual Conference approved a motion by the Rev. Janine Howard to create a Legal Expenses Oversight Workgroup. The motion calls for the workgroup to review the current agreement for services with the Conference Chancellor, to recommend...
Facilities Use Agreement for Boy Scouts
As mentioned in Bishop Lewis’s September 8, 2021 letter, The United Methodist Church must re-evaluate its relationship with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) given their pending settlement of 84,000 child sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy court. The BSA’s...
Bishop Lewis Names Scott Davis as Director of District and Cabinet Support
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis is pleased to announce effective today, Wednesday, September 8, 2021, the Rev. Scott Davis, as the new Director of District and Cabinet Support. Davis’ primary tasks: to assist district superintendents with their individual and collective...
From the Bishop: An update on the UMC and the Boy Scouts
September 8, 2021 Dear Virginia Annual Conference: As you may have heard, on August 19, 2021, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein approved an $850 million settlement involving the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and its local councils regarding approximately...
From the Bishop: Helping Afghan refugees
(View as pdf) Virginia Conference members, Our admiration and gratitude go out to our military, diplomats, and civil servants who have been working on the front line of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. This work is soul-rending and heartbreaking as well as...
Midlothian Webelos Cub Scout Wins The USA President’s Environmental Youth Award
Sanuthi Henkanaththegedara (age 9), a Webelos Cub Scout in Pack 2831 sponsored by Woodlake United Methodist Church of Midlothian, VA , was awarded the USA President’s Environmental Youth Award (PEYA) to recognize her “Lake Barga Biodiversity Project.” The U.S....
Responding to Hurricane Ida, flooding in Tennessee
A Message from Serving Ministries Dear friends, Our hearts are broken with the devastation being experienced in Tennessee and Louisiana. Continue to keep all who are impacted by the the storms and efforts to properly respond to this disaster. Please remember...
Justin Allen receives Francis Asbury Award
The Rev. Ryan LaRock, chair of the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, shares the following announcement: On behalf of the Virginia Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry, it is my honor to announce that we have chosen the Rev....
Race and Race Relations Team shares update on curriculum status
The Race and Race Relations Team introduced the Virginia Roots, Race, and Discipleship curriculum and videos in 2020. The team extends its thanks to laity and clergy who have engaged in dialogue with small groups, and gave feedback on the format, information that has...
We have the heart to help, but we might feel lost…
By the Rev. RJ Jun, Associate Director of Serving In the span of a week, my Twitter feed was lighting up with the news with Haiti, Afghanistan, wildfire in California, and then the flood in Tennessee. Sometimes it feels like an unending cycle of ‘tragic news’ when we...
Resources to help Haiti in its effort to recover
Scene in Les Cayes in Southwest Haiti after an earthquake struck on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Courtesy of Hope for Haiti As the world witnesses the humanitarian crisis occurring in Haiti, after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that crippled an already vulnerable nation,...
Virginia United Methodists urged to pray, give, and serve during humanitarian crises
Pray The Virginia Conference asks United Methodists to continue in prayer as the tragedies caused by the humanitarian crises in this world are witnessed. All are called to pray for those who are mourning (Romans 12:15). Use the prayer resources during worship that...
Resources to help Afghan refugees
Resources As the world witnesses the humanitarian crisis occurring in Afghanistan, the Virginia Conference is providing the following resources to help aid your understanding and ability to care for refugees. Kenn Speicher is the point of contact for the Virginia...