
January 30, 2025
A Pastoral Letter to the Virginia Conference to See Each Other, Lean on Community
On my recent trip to Rome as the ordinands and I followed the travels of the Apostle Paul, I stood in the catacombs and imagined what it must have felt like for those Christians of the early Church, persecuted and fearful, to house themselves for worship and community amongst their dead where it was safe. And so, they knew the value of community.
Christians believe in a cloud of witnesses around us, and we lean into the mission and ministry of our “saints” who came before us as we hope we are also leaving well for the disciples to come after us. This is our community that formed us and continues to form us in our lives as disciples.
I imagine many of us today in the U.S. feel or know that members of our communities are experiencing great uncertainty, fear, anger, anxiety, and the sense of being overwhelmed in light of the many executive orders from President Trump and suggested next steps from the Trump Administration.
As United Methodists in the commonwealth of Virginia, we represent the political spectrum from Independent, to Republican, to Democrat.
What we are first, however, is Christians. Disciples of Jesus Christ. People changed by the Gospel. People seeking to reflect the light of Christ in all we say and do.
In this transition time in the U.S. let us be sure that we see each other.
The Zulu word, sawubona means “I see you.” This act of seeing one is not a glance, but a deep seeing to the point of co-existence. The common Zulu response of shiboka means “I exist for you.”
For United Methodists and Christians, this “seeing” and recognizing the power of community is so very necessary right now.
I see you, clergy of the Virginia Annual Conference. Our shepherds in the fields tending their flocks. I see your work. I see you ministering with our vulnerable populations and communities. How necessary you are right now as light-bringers.
I see you, laity of the Virginia Annual Conference. You who go to your places of work, safety, and respite. You who work in our communities and allow your gifts to be used on a daily basis. You who see the effect of policies and practices from local to federal government on your communities for good or ill.
Our conference office and all of our district offices see you and exist for you. We are here to be a resource. You are our community. None of us, not me, not you, have all the answers. The policies and posture of this administration are unfolding at a rapid speed, affecting not only clergy in our conference but also laity and vulnerable communities in our care. But we will offer guidance as we can. We will pray without ceasing. We will see you, and we will exist with you in this and all that is to come.
My encouragement to you is to practice sawubona and shiboka in your contexts. How can you show your deep sight of your community? How is God calling you to co-exist with your neighbors at this time?
As you listen to God’s voice, lean into The United Methodist Church connection and lean into your local communities.
Show up for each other, support each other, and see one another.
Thank you for all that you are and all that you do, especially in this season. I am grateful to serve with you in the Virginia Conference.
