Nominations open for Conference Lay Leader
Warren R. Harper will conclude service as Virginia Conference Lay Leader in June 2020. The search process for the next Conference Lay Leader is underway. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church states that the Conference Lay Leader is “the elected...
Journal 2019
2019 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 January 2021 - This file contains the...
Journal 2018
2018 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 Proceedings VI. Business of...
Journal 2017
2017 Journal (pdf) 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 Proceedings VI. Business of the Annual Conference...
Journal 2016
2016 Journal (pdf) 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 Proceedings VI. Business of the Annual Conference...
Journal 2015
2015 Journal (pdf) 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 Proceedings VI. Business of the Annual Conference...
Journal 2014
2014 Journal (pdf) Pages by Section (pdf files): I. and II. Conference Officials and The Common Table for Church Vitality III. Boards, Commissions, Committees IV. Rolls of Conference Members V. Daily Proceedings VI. Business of the Annual Conference ...
Journal 2013
2013 Journal (pdf) Pages by Section (pdf files): I. and II. Conference Official and The Common Table for Church Vitality III. Boards, Commissions, Committees IV. Rolls of Conference Members V. Daily Proceedings VI. Business of the Annual...
Journal 2012
All files are pdfs unless otherwise noted 2012 Journal of the Virginia Conference (complete Journal) Journal cover I. and II. Conference Official and The Common Table for Church Vitality III. Boards, Commissions, Committees...
Update on the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation
January 17, 2020 Dear Virginia Annual Conference, On January 3, 2020, the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation (the “Protocol”) was released. You can find the document on the conference website. It is important to emphasize that the Protocol does...
Bishop Lewis shares video upon her return from medical leave
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis is on track to return to the episcopal office on Sept. 9. In this video, she shares her thanks for Bishop Weaver's interim leadership for the Virginia Conference and more about her return. She encourages all churches to show this video this...
Bishop Lewis’ episcopal return is planned for September
After a six-month medical leave, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis’ return to the Virginia Conference is planned for September 2019. Lewis started her medical leave at the beginning of March as she underwent several hip surgeries. In her absence, Bishop Peter D. Weaver, retired...
Couple fighting for surrogacy rights finds support at church
By Forrest White Looking back across the darkest times, Jay Timmons remembers waking up panicked in the wee hours of countless mornings, unable to escape what haunted him. Because it wasn’t a dream. It was reality, a hellish fight fought alongside Rick Olson, his...
Virginia Conference delegation takes a progressive turn
By Forrest White The Rev. Tom Berin addresses the newly elected General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates. In the house divided that is The United Methodist Church, denomination members agree on at least one thing – at some point, in the days following the 2019...
‘State of the Church’ livestream
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis will hold an address entitled “State of the Church: Where do we go from here?” on Monday, Mar. 4, following the Special Session of General Conference. The event will be livestreamed at www.livestream.com/vaumc/stateofthechurch from 10...
Church assists furloughed workers in local community
By Forrest WhiteThe Rev. Michelle Matthews and members of The Kingstowne Communion in Alexandria weren’t able to worship together because of the wintry weather on Sunday morning, Jan. 13, but it didn’t stop them from doing what they always do – looking for ways to...
Preparing for 2019 Special Session
Dear Virginia Conference— The topic of human sexuality has long been a source of disagreement within The United Methodist Church. Right now the topic is the focus of many conversations as we prepare for the Special Session of General Conference 2019 in February. With...
My fondest Christmas memory
My fondest memory every Christmas happened on Christmas Eve in the Lewis household. This special night was the time we gathered around the kitchen table to help my mother finish cooking her famous fruitcake in order to leave a slice for Santa. I must admit I was never...
Reflection on the Bishop’s Convocation on Race and Reconciliation
Dear Virginia Annual Conference,On April 14, 2018, more than 225 people from the north, south, east and west areas of Virginia and beyond came to dialogue about the most crucial conversation of our lives — the conversation on race and reconciliation.As we gathered at...
Chat and Chew 2.0
Dear Virginia Annual Conference, By the end of January, I will have completed two sessions of the Bishop’s Chat and Chew 2.0 hosted by the districts of Danville, Farmville, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Staunton and Winchester. I want to thank...
Prayer as a means of grace
Dear Virginia Annual Conference, John Wesley, founder of Methodism, stated that prayer is “the grand means of drawing near to God.” I believe that prayer is one of the most underutilized disciplines that we practice individually and in our churches. Prayer is a...
Reflections on my first mission trip to Lucea, Jamaica
The extent of my mission experience at Brannen Chapel United Methodist Church in Statesboro, Ga., was visiting the elderly at Brown’s Nursing Home during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. I had no idea of the joy and excitement I would receive by becoming an...
Annual Conference Reflections
As I reflected on my first Annual Conference, the only words I could utter were “Look at God!” The Spirit of the Lord was moving and electrifying all over the convention center as I witnessed people engaged in conversations, smiles, hugs and anticipation as we began...
Chat and Chew
By the time this Advocate is distributed, I will have completed my 16th (32 sessions total) Bishop’s Chat and Chew listening session in the annual conference. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the host churches for providing excellent meals and...
Crisis Situations
Communications is at the very heart of what we do; it is how we carry out ministry. Communication is also integral in maintaining the connectional aspect of our denomination that links local churches to our global church. To this end, I am writing to convey the...
The Lenten season
March 1, 2017 began the season of “Lent.” Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “lencten” which means “spring.” This season is a 40-day period — not counting Sundays — which began on (Mar. 1) and ends on Holy Saturday (Apr. 15). Lent is a period of repentance and...
Reflection on the Convocation for Pastors of Black Churches
On January 10-12, 2017, a delegation of 78 clergy and laity traveled to Atlanta for the 10th Anniversary of the Convocation for Pastors of Black Churches. Interestingly, as the idea to attend unfolded, the number of attendees began to grow before my eyes....