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To submit news items, stories, or corrections for inclusion in the newsletter, email the conference Communications Office at Communications@vaumc.org.
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Table of Contents
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- Walk with your immigrant neighbors: a virtual session on Nov. 13
- Ideas for the future church start to take shape
- Thank you from VA UM Foundation
- VAUMC clergyperson to speak at Batten University Baccalaureate
- Court revives suit to block ICE from churches
- Pinnacle Living plans new site
- Apply to Youth Service Fund missional grant
- Support Wesley Housing this November
- 2026 Conference Grants cycle now open
- Open enrollment for Benefit Plans open
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Resources & Opportunities
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- How to choose an online giving platform for your needs
- Ministry Toolbox Article: Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Churches Need to Know
- Ministry Toolbox Article: Email Scams on the Rise: Slow down, Pay Attention and think before you click!
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News posts
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Walk with your immigrant neighbors: a virtual session on Nov. 13
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The Center for Belonging & Advocacy invites pastors, lay leaders, and anyone in a Virginia Conference congregation to a one-hour virtual session with the Northern Virginia Immigrant Rights Collective on Friday, November 13, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. The link is sent after sign-up.
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The Collective runs ICE Watch and post-detention community care across Northern Virginia. Their team will walk through the work and the many ways people help: frontline rapid response, scheduled patrols, remote roles supported from home, technology and security, and the care that follows a detention — getting cars back to families, connecting them to resources, and helping raise funds for legal aid or rent when the breadwinner is the one taken.
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There is something here for everyone. Come hear it, ask your questions, and decide what your congregation wants to do next. The session is free.
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Hosted by the Immigration Response Team and the Center for Belonging & Advocacy with Revs. James Page & Minoo Kim. Questions: belonging@vaumc.org or 804-521-1137.
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Ideas for the future church start to take shape
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UNITED METHODIST NEWS-- United Methodists at the Leadership Gathering began to imagine a church that, in the best Wesleyan tradition, connects passionate evangelism with prophetic witness that disrupts the global rise of tyranny. Read more...
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Three Notch'd District Superintendent Rev. Grace Han said during the event, "Our task is to imagine a United Methodist church yet to be. In addition to worship and learning, we are spending much time in Covenant groups, which are focused on deep imagination and discernment. Our conversations have been honest, intense, and innovative."
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Virginia United Methodist Foundation: Thank You for Supporting the 6th Annual Golf Classic!
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You Helped Make the 6th Annual Golf Classic Our Biggest Success Yet!
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Dear Sponsors, Players, Volunteers and Friends,
What an incredible day on the course — and what an extraordinary impact we are making together!
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Thanks to your generosity, enthusiasm and support, the 6th Annual Golf Classic was our biggest and most successful tournament yet! With a record-breaking 88 players, 18 generous sponsors and more than $30,000 raised, this year's event surpassed expectations. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it such a tremendous success!
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We are especially excited to share the Foundation will cover the overall costs of the tournament. That means the entire gross amount raised — more than $30,000 — will be awarded directly to Heart Havens as a special grant from the Foundation! Your participation and generosity will translate into an even greater impact, helping Heart Havens continue their important work of creating opportunities, fostering independence and enriching lives for adults with developmental disabilities.
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To our 18 sponsors: Thank you for investing in this mission and helping make the event possible. Your partnership provides the framework for this success, and we could not do it without you!
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To our 88 players: Thank you for showing up, bringing your competitive spirit and making the day so memorable at beautiful Stonehenge Golf Club in Midlothian!
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We are incredibly proud of how far this event has come in just six years, and we are energized by what lies ahead. With your continued support, we look forward to welcoming even more players and sponsors at next year’s tournament.
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Thank you for being part of this growing tradition and for helping us turn a great day of golf into an extraordinary gift for Heart Havens. Your generosity is changing lives, and we couldn't be more grateful to have you on this journey with us.
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With heartfelt appreciation,
The Rev. Dr. Steven J. SummersFoundation President & CEO
PS -- Watch our overall wrap-up video here. More photos & videos to follow...
Save the Date for Next Year's Golf Classic:
Monday, October 11, 2027
Stonehenge Golf Club
Richmond, VA
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VAUMC clergyperson to speak at Batten University Baccalaureate
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Batten University President Scott D. Miller has announced that alumna Rev. Stephanie Kimec Parker ’08 will serve as the speaker for the University’s 2027 Baccalaureate service scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2027, as part of Spring Commencement exercises. Parker, who serves as Coordinator for Church Revitalization in the Coastal Virginia District of the United Methodist Church, brings a wealth of experience in ministry, community engagement and congregational leadership to the occasion. Her return to campus will offer an opportunity to celebrate her professional journey and the continued impact of Batten alumni in their communities. Read more...
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Court revives suit to block ICE from churches
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A coalition of faith groups has grounds to sue to curb immigration enforcement activities at houses of worship, a federal appeals court ruled. The coalition of Jewish and Christian bodies includes three United Methodist conferences and a general agency. United Methodist churches already have experienced ICE agents targeting their ministries. Read more...
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Pinnacle Living plans new site
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A local senior living facilities operator has a $150 million redevelopment project planned for the hotel and conference complex next to The Crossings Golf Club in Henrico. Pinnacle Living wants to build a 350-unit complex at 1000 Virginia Center Parkway. The 20-acre project site is currently occupied by the Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center, which would be demolished. The project is a couple years in the making and is intended to fill a gap in residential options for older people in the area, Pinnacle CEO Chris Henderson said. “We’re always looking for market opportunities, and about two years ago we targeted this northern Henrico market as a market that was strongly underserved from a senior living perspective,” Henderson said. “This campus is going to be a rental community with a continuum of services provided.” Read more...
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Apply to Youth Service Fund missional grant
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The Youth Service Fund is a denominational missional grant fund that supports youth in mission in five areas: Faith Sharing and Outreach, Leadership Development, Scholarships for education/training, service, mission, or other ministries, ministry with at-risk youth, or agricultural or vocational development. These grants support local church youth from the Virginia conference in ministries that they lead, which also benefit youth, with funds raised by youth. The application for grants for 2027 is open now through February 1, 2027. Award decisions will come by March 1. To apply use this form. For more information, see the website: https://vaumc.org/youth-service-fund/.
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Support Wesley Housing this November
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The holiday season is a time for community, generosity, and caring for our neighbors. Through Wesley Housing's Holiday Help program, you can help make the season brighter for families, teens, and adults living in our affordable housing communities across Virginia. Your gift can help provide warm winter essentials, meaningful holiday gifts, grocery support, and community celebrations that bring neighbors together during a season when connection matters most. Consider giving today and helping Wesley Housing “build up” our community and the lives of our neighbors with low incomes. For more information...
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2026 Conference Grants cycle now open
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The Virginia Annual Conference Grantmaking Cooperative is accepting applications from October 1 through November 16, 2026. This year, the Cooperative is looking to fund initiatives across the Virginia Annual Conference that live out our connectional and missional calling, with the goal of large-scale community transformation.
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The Cooperative is looking for strong applications will show that the initiative to be:
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- coordinated among multiple United Methodist congregations and ministry expressions
- has defined, measurable impact in one or more communities
- promotes Wesleyan theology, ecclesiology, and praxis
- has buy-in from partner congregations and ministries
- is a new or renewed opportunity for partnership and community impact
Please note: grant funds may not be used for brick-and-mortar or overhead costs.
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What you'll need:
Plan to prepare the following:
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- a cover letter,
- executive summary,
- statement of need,
- detailed objective and strategy,
- plan of evaluation,
- and proposed budget.
If this project has operated in previous years, please include financial reports.
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2. New users: create an account for your organization. Returning users: log in with your existing credentials.
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3. Complete the application. Your progress saves, so you can come back and finish later.
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4. Submit by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, November 16, 2026. This is a firm deadline; the portal will not accept late submissions.
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Open enrollment for Benefit Plans open
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Open Enrollment for 2027 Benefit Plan Elections will begin on Monday, October 5 and end on Friday, October 30. Open Enrollment is the annual period when all benefits eligible Virginia Conference clergy and lay employees can enroll in or make changes to their benefit plan elections for 2027. As a reminder, health plan eligibility is available to full-time active clergy serving at churches and certain approved extension ministries and full-time lay employees of churches serving as plan sponsors. The Health Plan Administrator can be reached directly at 804-521-1131 or staceyanthony@vaumc.org.
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During the open enrollment period, the system will be accessible at unity.vaumc.org. Details including 2027 contribution rates and instructions on using Unity Web to log in and enroll/change your benefits or dependents are posted on the Virginia Conference website at vaumc.org.
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Resources & Opportunities
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Webinar: How to Choose an Online Giving Platform for Your Needs
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Choosing an online giving platform can feel overwhelming. With dozens of options available, church leaders often struggle to evaluate processing fees, user experience, reporting capabilities, and the features that matter most for their ministry.
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Join the Foundation for this practical webinar featuring Erica Allen and Weston Williams of Horizons Stewardship. Together, we’ll explore what leaders should consider when evaluating online giving platforms, how to ask the right questions, and ways to align your technology choices with a culture of generosity. This session is ideal for church leaders seeking greater clarity and confidence in selecting a platform that serves both their congregation and their mission.
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The webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to noon. It’s free, and space is limited, so register now to secure your spot! Register now...
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The Annual Conference staff is committed to partnering with local churches as they make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Beginning in March, a new resourcing article will be included in each weekly Advocate e-newsletter. Ministry Toolbox: Resources for Churches is designed to provide practical tools, ideas, and encouragement to support the shared work of ministry. Each edition will offer concise, actionable insights that can be put to use in congregational life right away. Articles will be written by the Conference Directors of Communications and Resourcing, along with guest contributors from across the conference. At times, we will also highlight trusted tools and resources from the wider church and beyond.
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Article: Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Churches Need to Know
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If you manage your church’s Facebook page, you may have seen a notice that your account will soon be limited to two link posts per month. A link post is a post that includes a link to something outside of Facebook, like your church website or an online giving page. You can still post as often as you like; the limit applies only to posts that send people off Facebook. This is a change to be aware of, not a reason to walk away from Facebook. With a little planning, your church can keep communicating well. Read more...
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Article: Email Scams on the Rise: Slow down, Pay Attention and think before you click!
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More and more, individuals’ emails are the targets of spoofing, scams, attempted takeovers, and more.
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Clergy and laity emails in the Virginia Conference are no strangers to these dangers, as such attempts are becoming much more commonplace and frequent.
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The attempts in the past have been somewhat easier to spot, though more recent attempts can be more sophisticated and confusing. Read more...
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Upcoming Events
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Save the Date: 2027 SEJ Disaster Academy
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- February 17-21, 2027
- Fairhope, Alabama
- Hosted by North Alabama Conference and Alabama-West Florida Conference in partnership with UMCOR
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Other VAUMC Communications Channels
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Public Notice Board
Clergy and laity can crowdsource for ideas and resources within the connection through the Public Notice Board. Find the newest notices and share your question or find past queries at the conference website.
Also find free items for giveaway at the conference website.
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