Open Enrollment, Oct. 10-31, 2022
Open Enrollment begins Oct. 10 and will end Oct. 31 The open enrollment period for 2023 elections in the Conference-sponsored benefit plans begins on Monday, October 10 and ends on Monday, October 31. During this period, a new Unity Web online benefits...
Celebrating 24 Years of Ministry:
A Series Celebrating the Ongoing Connections Between Virginia Conference Congregations and Congregations in Ukraine and Russia Editor’s Note: In August, an article was published about recent disbursements of funds to United Methodist communities in Ukraine and Russia,...
Celebrating 24 Years of Ministry:
A Series Celebrating the Ongoing Connections Between Virginia Conference Congregations and Congregations in Ukraine and Russia Editor’s Note: In August, an article was published about recent disbursements of funds to United Methodist communities in Ukraine and Russia,...
Missionary Visit to VAUMC
Jennifer will be in the US and available to be speak in your congregation from November 5th through December 20th. (She will also be available for online Zoom visits and presentations from January 14th through February 28th).
Read more on how you can be involved.
There’s a Lobster in my Office
Dwayne Stinson and his lobster. By Dwayne Stinson, Associate Director of Influencing Ministries There’s a lobster in my office. He’s red, about two feet long, with large pinched claws and oh, by the way, he’s inflatable. I got him last week at the Hatchathon which the...
Hope is in Vienna, VA: A new church plant story
Main Points: Hope UMC was one of two new church plants that was announced at the 2022 Virginia Annual Conference. The vision for Hope UMC is to be a multicultural and multigenerational church in Vienna, VA. By the Rev. Sammy Addo-Donkoh Hope United Methodist Church in...
Reminder: October 2022 Annual Conference Sessions
As a reminder to the Virginia Annual Conference members, on Saturday, October 29, 2022, two Special Annual Conferences will be held: At 9 a.m, an Annual Conference will convene for the sole purpose of closing church property using Paragraph 2549.3. At 9:30 a.m., an...
Reminder: October 2022 Annual Conference Sessions
As a reminder to the Virginia Annual Conference members, on Saturday, October 29, 2022, two Special Annual Conferences will be held: At 9 a.m, an Annual Conference will convene for the sole purpose of closing church property using Paragraph 2549.3. At 9:30 a.m., an...
Virginia Conference Response to Hurricane Ian
A Message from Bishop Lewis (Download image- right click and save image. Or click here to edit on Canva.) As we hear and see the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Ian, I am asking the Virginia...
Donations for 2022 Cleaning Kit
Clarification of Any Misinformation Related to Any New Agreement for Use by the Local Church and the Boy Scouts of America or any Local Council of the BSA
September 26, 2022 Recently there was the unfortunate release of incorrect information by the General Commission on United Methodist Men about future agreements between the Boy Scouts and local United Methodist churches. While this information has been removed from a...
November 2022 UMVIM Team Leader Training
November 5 UMVIM Leader Training Updated: Oct 31, 2021: This training event has been canceled due to extremely low registration. Please stay tuned for several planned UMVIM Team Leader training events for the first quarter of 2023. There will be a United Methodist...
Basics of copyright and CCLI
By Hunter Bryn, Conference Digital Media Specialist Copyright, copyright, copyright…the super fun, confusing, set of laws that may make your head spin. Copyright protects original works of authorship. In simple terms, if you create it; you own it and no one else may...
Judge approves BSA settlement
Bishop John Schol, who leads the United Methodist Church's BSA Leadership Team, shared with U.S. Bishops a September 8 Reuters article sharing that Judge Silverstein approved the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) settlement. Schol and the UMC BSA Leadership Team will keep...
Cleaning Kit Image Resource
PPT Image (click the image and right-click to download) Canva edit link - click hereBulletin Insert (click the image and right-click to download) Canva edit link - click hereSocial Media Post (click the image and right-click to download) Canva edit link - click...
Virginia Conference Responds to Firm Claiming to Represent 26 Churches Seeking Disaffiliation
In recent weeks, the Virginia Conference has received more than two dozen letters from an organization called the National Center for Life and Liberty (NCLL) demanding that 26 churches be able to promptly disaffiliate under Paragraph 2548.2 of the Book of Discipline...
Present Status Concerning Boy Scouts of America Settlement
August 30, 2022 Though a final ruling in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) settlement has yet to be made, Judge Silverstein said in a 284-page opinion that the United Methodist piece of the settlement meets the tests of bankruptcy law. The Virginia Conference will...
Virginia Conference Continues to Witness to Christ Even as War Engages Ukraine and Russia
As the world watches with horror and concern the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, United Methodists in Virginia are actively engaged in ministry and mission with fellow Jesus followers in both countries, and new energy for such connections is being felt. Following...
Thrasher Roanoke Korean Church celebrates fifth anniversary
Pictured above: The Thrasher Roanoke Korean Church which meets on Sunday afternoons at Thrasher Memorial UMC in Vinton celebrated their 5th anniversary on August 13 and 14. Saturday night was Praise Night with music and a message. Shown left to right are the speaker,...
Judicial Council Issues Important Disaffiliation Ruling
On August 23, 2022, the Judicial Council, The United Methodist Church’s top court, issued a strong and clear ruling that churches seeking to disaffiliate over matters of human sexuality must do so under Paragraph ¶ 2553 of the Book of Discipline. The 2019 General...
A.I. and how you could use it in your churches
By Hunter Bryn We have all been down that rabbit hole of searching for a stand out graphic or image to illustrate a sermon of theme during a church service. There are SO many websites, from Church Media Squad to Church Motion Graphics to Sharefaith. These are great...
Ready to Serve?
Were you certified as an ERT (Early Respond Team) member or UMVIM leader? Did you know that both certificates require a renewal every 2-3 years? Due to the pandemic, there was a limitation to offering training for both certifications. Both pieces of training required...
Journal 2022
2022 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 the Annual Conference...
ERT Certificate Training – September 10 2022
Central Virginia Training Culpeper UMC (Three Notch'd District) Training is open to Conference members! Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022 Time: 8 a,m. to 4 p.m. Location: Culpeper UMC, 1233 Oaklawn Dr, Culpeper, VA 227-1 Questions contact - Kim Hood...
How Can Our Church Respond to a Disaster
Download as PDFHow Can Our Church Respond in the Time of DisasterPrayer Prayer is the first step in responding to all situations in our lives. Praying for the victims of such disasters helps us to cultivate and learn God's heart toward God's people. Prayer also...
UMC portion of Boy Scouts’ bankruptcy ruling approved
A 281-page ruling last Friday in the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings indicates that most of the reorganization plan meets the criteria of bankruptcy law and is constitutional. The ruling approves the United Methodist portion of the settlement, but...
Refugee Response- August 2022
Download as PDF With all that is happening in the world, it is easy to be overwhelmed by all the perceived needs and choose instead to walk away. It is almost one year since the fall of Kabul, which led to the frantic escape of many Afghan allies fleeing from the...
Cemetery Dedication and Memorial Service at Hillsboro UMC
On Sunday, June 26, Bishop Sharma Lewis led a group of United Methodists and community leaders from Loudoun County in dedicating a cemetery memorial at Hillsboro UMC. The cemetery was originally part of the Arnold Grove Methodist Church, established and constructed by...
Gun Violence Prayer Challenge
Introduction We have become familiar with murder. Do you remember how you felt the first time you heard reports of a mass shooting? Do you remember the shock you felt? The fear? The anger? That was a natural and perhaps even a God-sent reaction. When something...
2022 AC Mission Opportunities Report
Value of $303,569Shared with the community among the districtsStill counting and updatingWe would like to thank all churches of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church for participating in the 2022 Annual Conference Mission Opportunities. As of...