2022-23 Advance Special Application is available
2022-23 Advance Special Application
Several Updates on the Boy Scouts Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
There have been several notable recent developments on the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) child sexual abuse bankruptcy case. The BSA has reached an agreement with the Torts Claim Committee, an organization which represents 16,000 survivors. Related...
From Bishop Lewis: Thanks for Saturday’s Special Annual Conference
February 4, 2022 Dear Virginia Annual Conference: Thank you to our clergy and lay members for your presence, time, and attention during the Special Annual Conference on January 29, 2022. With the funding mechanism for the Boy Scouts of America settlement voted on by...
Special Annual Conference votes for Option 1 in Scout Settlement
A special annual conference session was held Saturday, January 29, through Zoom webinar. The sole purpose of this conference was to vote on the funding mechanism for the Virginia Annual Conference’s commitment to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) settlement. Details...
January 29 Special Annual Conference re: Settlement with the Boy Scouts of America
Frequently Asked Questions and Related Resources In conjunction with this Saturday’s Special Annual Conference, below are frequently asked questions and responses as well as links to numerous related documents. As announced on January 10, 2022, the Virginia Annual...
UMC Bishops call for equal voting rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is calling upon United Methodists to use their influence in their states, legislative districts, and local precincts to enable voter registration and to encourage...
Virginia Conference helps mark Refugee Advocacy Day at General Assembly
The Rev. Seungsoo “RJ” Jun, representing Bishop Sharma Lewis and the Virginia Conference, was a guest at the Virginia General Assembly on Jan. 19 to mark Refugee Advocacy Day. Jun is the conference associate director of Serving Ministries. The purpose of the day was...
Omicron: A Reminder and Resources
These are challenging times for many churches as the omicron variant continues to spread. Churches throughout the Virginia Conference are prayerfully and diligently evaluating best practices. For ready reference, here is a link to information sent on January 6...
Phishing attempts continue to plague Virginia Conference
Phishing emails continue to be sent out purporting to be from Bishop Sharma Lewis and clergy from around the Virginia Conference (see sample below). Phishing is when an email is sent using words in the email or pretends to be from an account they are not. Usually,...
Save the Date/Notification of Special Annual Conference
On Saturday, January 29, 9:30 a.m., a Special Annual Conference will be held virtually. The only purpose for this Special Session Called Annual Conference is to vote on the funding mechanism for Virginia Annual Conference’s commitment to the Boy Scouts of America...
Journey Faith Community is a blessing to the community
By the Rev. RJ Jun My definition of being ‘missional’ is measured by how the faith community is being a blessing to the community, and further to the world. My impression of visiting Journey Community (Farmville District) https://www.jccenter.org/ left me with a heart...
Annual conferences asked to raise funds for Survivor Trust Fund
Below is a news release being distributed at the request of the BSA United Methodist Leadership Team addressing the status of the Boy Scouts bankruptcy proceeding. Additional information will be provided by the Virginia Annual Conference soon. Thank you for your...
Bishop Lewis Announces New Extended Cabinet Member
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis is pleased to announce that Mrs. Madeline Pillow White will be a new member to the Virginia Annual Conference Extended Cabinet effective January 18, 2022. “I believe that Madeline (Maddie) will add her gifts and skills as an effective...
Bishop Lewis Announces New District Superintendent
The Rev. Dr. Cecelia Brooks Bishop Sharma D. Lewis is pleased to announce one new District Superintendent (DS) appointment effective July 1, 2022. The Rev. Dr. Cecelia Brooks, Ph.D., currently serving as the lead pastor at Franktown UMC on the...
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...
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...
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 [email protected]. Access the Travel Bulletin at...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...