The Book of Discipline characterizes the work of the Office of Connectional Ministries as serving as the “steward of the vision” of the annual conference, charged with aligning the total resources of the conference with its vision, and with enabling the “connections among the local, district, annual conference, and general church ministries.”
The Office of Connectional Ministries serves as the centering point for the program ministry boards and agencies of the Virginia Conference to fulfill this mission. Through this office, supervision is provided for the ministry areas of Influence, Serving, Learning, Communications, and Information Technology. The Directors of Connectional Ministries are members of all Conference Program Boards and Agencies as well members of the Extended Cabinet and ex-officio members of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration.
The Common Table for Church Vitality serves to coordinate and prioritize the ministries and resources of the Virginia Conference. It nurtures, interprets, and promotes the vision of the Conference, as well as the mandates of The Book of Discipline which relate to Conference work. The Common Table lives out the values of the Conference as defined by the following and advocates for the presence and observance of those values in the work and ministry of the Conference.
Conference ministries that are aligned and coordinated through the Connectional Ministries Office are provided by the Boards of Church and Society, Church Development Team, Communications, Discipleship, Missional Ministries, Higher Education and Campus Ministries, Laity, and Commissions on Ethnic Minority Concerns and Advocacy, Disabilities, and Status and Role of Women.
Among the ministry areas that equip local churches for ministry through these Connectional Ministries’ offices and Boards/Agencies are:
- Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer
- Annual Conference sessions
- 5 Talent Academy
- Small Church Leadership Initiative
- Local church conference ministry grants
- All Things New-Equipping Vital Congregations Bishop’s Task Force
- New Church Leadership Institute
- Commission on Disabilities Program and Accessibility grants
- Conference Journal
- Database management for conference ministries
- Coaching and support for conference in crisis communications
Among the ministry areas that provide a ministry connection through these Connectional Ministries’ offices are:
- Partnerships of Hope Initiatives with Brazil, Cambodia, Mozambique, Native American Ministries, Haiti, and VMI.
- Caretakers of God’s Creation
- (seven) conference campus ministries and (fifteen) ecumenical campus ministries
- United Methodist Day at General Assembly
- Lay Servant Academy
- new faith communities
- district training events
- Voices of Youth
- conference youth retreats
- Mission trips
- Mission Encounter
- All God’s Children Camp
- Camp Rainbow
- e-Advocate newsletter
- Mission Opportunities booklet
- conference benevolence grants
- conference Advance Specials
- Volunteer in Mission training
Boards and Agencies primarily resourced by the Directors of Connectional Ministries:
- Common Table for Church Vitality
- Common Table Personnel Committee
- Common Table Grants Committee
- Conference Leadership Discovery and Development Team
- Annual Conference Planning Committee
- Site Selection Committee
- Conference Rules Committee
- Bishop’s Convocation on Prayer
- All Things New-Equipping Vital Congregations Bishop’s Work Team
Office of Connectional Ministries
Dwayne Stinson
[email protected]
(804) 521-1135
DIRECTOR OF CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES
FOR DISCIPLESHIP AND CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY
Dwayne Stinson serves as the Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship and Congregational Vitality for the Virginia Annual Conference. Dwayne grew up in rural Buckingham County at a small rural UMC on a three point charge. He began his professional ministry in 1996 as Farmville District Youth Coordinator. Subsequently, he has served as Director of Youth Ministries at Mount Olivet UMC in Arlington, VA and Reveille UMC in Richmond, VA; as Director of Student Religious Involvement at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC; and as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Shady Grove UMC in Mechanicsville, VA. He holds a B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College in Economics, French, and Religion, an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and an Th.M. in Bible from Union Presbyterian Seminary.
Jonathan Page
[email protected]
(804) 521-1133
DIRECTOR OF CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES
FOR INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page is originally from Virginia Beach, VA, having grown up in Haygood United Methodist Church. He attended Christopher Newport University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages and Literatures. During his last year of college, Jonathan began working as a Youth Pastor at Francis Asbury UMC in Virginia Beach, a position he held until moving to Durham, NC to attend Duke Divinity School. Following the completion of his Master’s of Divinity Degree, Jonathan moved back to Virginia to serve as an Associate Pastor at St. Andrew’s UMC (Virginia Beach) and as a Lead Pastor at Fieldstone UMC and Herndon UMC. Jonathan was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in 2014 and earned a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California in 2023. He and his wife Kelly, a special education teacher, live in Chesterfield County with their son Alfred (age 2), Jonathan’s mom Ruth, and their two dogs Winnie and Emmet.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page is originally from Virginia Beach, VA, having grown up in Haygood United Methodist Church. He attended Christopher Newport University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages and Literatures. During his last year of college, Jonathan began working as a Youth Pastor at Francis Asbury UMC in Virginia Beach, a position he held until moving to Durham, NC to attend Duke Divinity School. Following the completion of his Master’s of Divinity Degree, Jonathan moved back to Virginia to serve as an Associate Pastor at St. Andrew’s UMC (Virginia Beach) and as a Lead Pastor at Fieldstone UMC and Herndon UMC. Jonathan was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in 2014 and earned a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California in 2023. He and his wife Kelly, a special education teacher, live in Chesterfield County with their son Alfred (age 2), Jonathan’s mom Ruth, and their two dogs Winnie and Emmet.
Executive Administrative staff is Katie Mueller who may be reached at (804) 521-1134, [email protected].
See the full staff of the Connectional Ministries Office and find contact information at the link.