Self-care in the midst of pandemic
Op-ed by the Rev. Andrew Ware Clergy self-care is preached into us from the very beginning of the journey toward ordination. I learned early on that my greatest outlet of caring for my body has always been running. However, in being a runner I have always been driven...
2020 AC vendor shares apology letter with Bishop Lewis, conference
Below as text and as a PDF, please find a letter from Option Technologies apologizing for the technical problems on Saturday, September 19. Option Technologies is also providing the Conference with a full refund. View letter as a PDF. Dear Bishop Lewis, This letter is...
Addressing the Technical Issues at the 238th Session of the Virginia Annual Conference on September 19, 2020
September 21, 2020 Read as a PDF Dear Virginia Annual Conference: I again apologize for the serious technical issues on Saturday, September 19, 2020, that forced postponement of the 238th Session of the Virginia Annual Conference. Also, I thank you again for your...
2020 Annual Conference Session Invalidated and Postponed
Because of the technical issues encountered with the Sept. 19 virtual annual conference session, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis announced at 12 noon the decision to invalidate this annual conference session and postpone it to a later date. “Because of the technical...
Wood chopping, delivery offer a different kind of ministry in Bedford
Roger and Susan Layne work to split wood for wood ministry with Main Street United Methodist Church in Bedford on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. Ministry at Main Street UMC, Bedford, featured in Roanoke Times BEDFORD — A ministry in Bedford providing free firewood to...
Old Church UMC suffers major fire damage
Old Church UMC, part of the Middlesex Charge on the York River District, suffered major fire damage to its education and fellowship hall building, and breezeway early Thursday, Sept. 3. The Historic Old Church Sanctuary was heavily damaged by smoke. A...
True friends stay friends
On September 3, 1963, I started Ahrens Trade High School in Louisville KY. The was only one black person in the whole school. It was Richard Richardson. Segregation was standard practice then. No on in school would be friends with him. I...
Pastor’s granddaughter’s video spotlighting black students goes viral with powerful messages
Kate Gharib is the granddaughter of the Rev. William Richard “Bill” Fisher. Bill passed away April 16, 2020. Bill's wife, Barbara, shared this story with the conference office for us to share with you. Please take a moment to watch this inspiring piece produced by...
Five positions available at Virginia United Methodist Center
The Virginia Conference United Methodist Church, Glen Allen, VA, has the following employment vacancies. Resumes will be received until the vacancies are filled. Resumes and inquiries for additional information may be emailed to the Virginia Conference Personnel...
Bishop Lewis leads prayer at General Assembly, Sept. 3
Bishop Lewis led the prayer yesterday starting at 12 p.m., Sept. 3, for The Virginia House of Delegates/ The General Assembly Special Session. She prayed "Almighty and merciful God, I ask that you would clearly show the delegates how to conduct their work with a...
Updated Statement on Online Holy Communion During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A message from Bishop Lewis and the Virginia Conference Cabinet View as a pdf September 2, 2020 In this extraordinary season of pandemic and the safety precautions necessary to prevent infection, clergy are challenged to examine how to live out our calling to...
Letter to the church laity from the Association of Annual Conference Lay Leaders
View as pdf To the Laity of the United Methodist Church, This is an extraordinary time in the history of our church and world. As Conference Lay Leaders we gathered in February optimistically anticipating a future guided by vision and filled with action. We returned...
Annual Conference members must register for virtual session from Sept. 2-9
View Annual Conference Registration Tutorial by Bryan Compton, IT ManagerEmail questions to [email protected] https://vimeo.com/455285390 All Annual Conference clergy and lay members need to register from September 2- September 9, 2020, in order to participate...
Failure to Thrive
By Suzanne Spencer During my graduate studies in gerontology, I did some research and wrote a few papers on “failure to thrive in the elderly.” Senior adults sometimes appear to waste away for no obvious medical reason. It’s been noted that an absence of human...
Be a Warrior
By Larry JentFriday Scripture: Isaiah 1 Learn to do good;Seek justice,Rebuke the oppressor;Defend the fatherless,Plead for the widow.“Come now, and let us reason together,”Says the Lord,“Though your sins are like scarlet,They shall be as white as snow;Though they are...
Sydenstricker UMC creates ‘Food Corner’ in response to community needs
In January of 2019, when many in the Washington, D.C. area were facing scarcity due to being furloughed, Sydenstricker United Methodist Church in Springfield reached out to families and individuals, providing home-cooked meals as well as non-perishable food and...
Governor Northam Signs Virginia Fairness in Lending Act at Wesley Memorial UMC
Virginia law will protect consumers and expand access to affordable credit, a long-term racial justice priority From left, Senator Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Jay Speer, Director of Virginia Poverty Law Center, Delegate Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico). Seated, Governor Ralph...
Walkin’ a Mile
By Larry Jent Scripture: Romans 14 Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do.And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the...
Updates to Staffing — Office of Connectional Ministries
View as pdf Effective August 28, 2020, Nick Ruxton, videographer/digital media specialist, will be resigning from his conference position. The Rev. Dr. Ted Smith, conference director of Connectional Ministries, shared that the annual conference and the conference...
Systematic Racism — Our Ongoing Challenge
Bishop Sharma Lewis has asked us to tell our stories about racism. Here's mine. --By Joseph L. Bass, EdD, Laity, Ebenezer UMC, Suffolk, Virginia; email [email protected] Systematic racism is one of our major challenges in the United States. Having lived in South...
Perseverance
Bridging the racial divide By Andrew Kissell Bishop Sharma Lewis has asked us to tell our stories about racism. Here’s mine.--Andrew Kissell, member of Community United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach, and president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist...
Webinar talks police reform with Virginia law enforcement
By Madeline White “Virginians Speak: A Dialogue on Policing Reform, Community, & Law Enforcement in Virginia” was a jointly sponsored webinar featuring a panel of prominent Virginians in the fields of law enforcement, community engagement, and faith communities...
‘Virginians Speak’ livestream available for viewing
“Virginians Speak: A Dialogue on Policing Reform, Community, & Law Enforcement in Virginia” was a jointly sponsored event that featured a panel of prominent Virginians in the fields of law enforcement, community engagement, and faith communities for dialogue and a...
Video: Bishop Lewis and Dr. Moxley discuss wearing masks
Video: Bishop Lewis interviews Dr. Moxley, a member of the bishop's workgroup on COVID-19, about the importance of wearing a mask. More…
Response and recovery efforts begin in wake of Tropical Storm Isaias
Tropical Storm Isaias passed through Virginia on Monday night and Tuesday (Aug. 3-4) and brought with it rain and tornados. There has been confirmed an ESF2 Tornado that did significant damage to the James River District area of Carrolton and Suffolk. Emergency...
Bishop to take part in Richmond dialogue on policing reform
“Virginians Speak: A Dialogue on Policing Reform, Community, & Law Enforcement in Virginia” is a jointly sponsored event that will feature a panel of prominent Virginians in the fields of law enforcement, community engagement, and faith communities for 60...
From the Bishop: Modest Changes to In-Person Worship Protocols
View as pdf Dear Virginia Annual Conference: Below are several modest changes for in-person worship that will go into effect on Sunday, August 9. These have been developed by the Conference work group, which is continuing its diligent service while carefully...
How to see God
Daily Scripture and Prayer: 1 John 4 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But...
Lifting Up a Friend
Daily Scripture and Prayer: Jeremiah 38 ------------------ Ebed-melek the Ethiopian heard that they had thrown Jeremiah into the cistern. He went to the king and said, “These men are committing a great crime in what they’re doing, throwing Jeremiah the prophet...
The Voice of the Waters
Daily Scripture and Prayer: Psalm 93 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yes, than the mighty waves of the sea....