Message from Martha Stokes – January 8, 2022
Voice With an early January birthday, in my adult years I’ve alternated between setting intentions at the start of the calendar year or waiting until my birthday, the start of my new year. I don’t use the word “resolution,” just like I don’t say I “preach” but offer a...
United Methodists reach settlement in Boy Scouts’ Bankruptcy Case
United Methodist leaders have reached a settlement in the matter of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) pending bankruptcy proceedings. Upon final court approval, the settlement would absolve any claims of sexual abuse that may have occurred in congregation-sponsored...
Servant Sister Scholarship Endowment honors and celebrates ministries of women
Advent 2021 Sisters and Brothers of the Virginia Conference, Never underestimate your ability to influence! As followers of the Son of Mary, you bear witness to the power of women to embody and carry the Gospel to the world. Work began to establish The Servant Sister...
Support partners in ministry through #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Many of the partners in ministry of the Virginia United Methodist Conference are joining in this day of giving. Please prayerfully consider supporting these...
Council of Bishops offers project to ‘Dismantle Racism’ this Advent season
(View as pdf) The Council of Bishops has chosen "Dismantling Racism" as it theme this Advent season. They ask conferences and congregations to prayerfully consider incorporating this theme into preaching and teaching and adapting any of the following elements for use...
Share ‘hope in one voice’ with Advent virtual choir
Churches and choirs across the Virginia Conference are invited to join in a Virtual Choir for Advent 2021 by recording "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less." Advent is a season for disciples to prepare their heart for the 'arrival' of hope. The Virginia Conference wants...
PRG issues amendments to observing best practices for churches
(Clicking on type in red will take you to referenced documents) See September 16 release for reference As winter and the holiday season approach, lower temperatures with rising cases, and opportunities for community and family gatherings, the Post-COVID Re-entry Group...
Important Boy Scouts Bankruptcy Update – Disclosure Statement Package
Oct. 11, 2021 The message below is being sent at the request of the Ad Hoc Committee of The United Methodist Church addressing the Boy Scouts bankruptcy and Bishop Sharma Lewis. Please read it carefully. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Important...
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...
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, Cabinet, PRG Team give update during omicron surge
January 6, 2022 New Year’s greeting in the name of our Lord and Savior! As we enter into 2022, we remember the faithfulness of our Lord, who continues to walk with us during this pandemic. We also remember the faithfulness of our local PRG team leaders, with their...
Bi-District Training Day open to Virginia Conference
The Alexandria and Arlington Districts will host its annual Bi-District Training Day (BDTD) on January 15, 2022. This year’s event will take place virtually, and registration is open to all of the Virginia Conference. At BDTD speakers offer training sessions and...
Congregations Encouraged to Vote No on BSA Bankruptcy Plan
A United Methodist Ad Hoc Committee is encouraging congregations to vote against a proposed Boy Scouts of America (BSA) reorganization plan, following months of negotiations that have failed to yield a settlement thus far. United Methodist local churches that have...
Local churches may be reimbursed up to $1,000 to help resettle Afghan refugees
The Afghan Refugee Resettlement Reimbursement program will reimburse up to $1,000 per local United Methodist church in the United States that is in a sponsorship relationship with Church World Service. Expenses eligible for reimbursement must fit the following...
Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday has special meaning for Vienna Church
This year's observance is Nov. 14Organ and tissue donations save — and change — lives VIENNA, VIRGINIA, Oct. 29, 2021 – This year The Church of the Good Shepherd (United Methodist) in Vienna, VA, will celebrate its denomination’s special Organ and Tissue Donor Sunday...
Roanoke church gives gift cards to teachers that also pay it forward to help local business
Beth Woodrum and Chris Woodrum at Chris’s Coffee & Custard. Members of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, Roanoke, presented over 60 gift cards to all teachers and staff at Mount Pleasant Elementary School earlier this year. Each year the church dedicates 100...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Bishop Lewis, Dr. Hyo Lee, hosting trip to Greece and Turkey
Bishop Sharma Lewis and the Rev. Dr. Hyo Lee are hosting a Greece and Turkey trip, Nov. 7-18, 2022. 4 CEUs will be awarded to the first 32 participants. For more information, contact Dr. Lee at (540) 336-9297 or email hyolee@vaumc.org. Access the Travel Bulletin at...
December tornado leaves devastation behind; United Methodists respond
Information from Serving Ministries and the Virginia Conference Disaster Response Team Our hearts break as we see the images of the aftermath of the tornado that impacted Kentucky and other states. A deadly record-breaking EF-4 tornado caused a swath of damage,...
From the Bishop: The UMC and the Boy Scouts: Important Developments
November 30, 2021 Dear Virginia Annual Conference: After months of exhaustive negotiations with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in its bankruptcy case pending in Delaware, The United Methodist Church’s attempts to obtain a proper settlement pertaining to the child sex...
Korean Bishops visit Virginia Conference; form partnerships
The Virginia Conference had the honor to host a group of bishops from the Korean Methodist Church on Nov. 9. President Bishop Chul Lee (president bishop of the Korean Methodist Church) Bishop Chungsuk Kim (bishop of South Seoul Annual Conference and senior pastor of...
Boy Scouts Bankruptcy Update – October 28
Dear Pastor: I hope you are well and enjoying the beautiful fall season. The purpose of this letter is to reiterate key information about the Boy Scouts bankruptcy that you received in an October 11 letter. Some of you may be receiving settlement information from the...
Shopping lists created to assist Afghan allies, honor veterans
Share how you are helping our Afghan allies by using #theyservedwegive on social media platforms. The greatest need is at Fort Pickett CLICK HERE TO SHOP November is right around the corner, and for most of us, that means Thanksgiving and a time to express gratitude...
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...
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...
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...
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...