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June 2021 * Volume 22, Issue 6

Annual Election of Officers for 2021-2022 | Please Vote

Election Edition

VoteHere
Greetings,

Welcome to a special election edition of The BEACON.

Today is your opportunity to take part in the governance of the Virginia Conference United Methodist Men by casting your vote for Cabinet officers nominated to serve for the 2021-2022 term of office. The slate of nominees follows this greeting.
United Methodist Men at all levels of the Virginia Conference, including all clergy, are eligible to vote. Please encourage the members of your local fellowships and districts to vote.

The voting period starts now and ends at midnight on Friday, June 11, 2021.

You have one vote!

Vote Now

Cabinet officers will be installed at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 26. Gil Hanke of GCUMM is our featured speaker. This is an event you won’t want to miss. Mark your calendars now. More details are below.

I want to thank those who have agreed to be nominated to serve you as Cabinet officers. I also want to thank Andrew Kissell and the Nominations Committee for their time and effort in completing the slate of nominees.

Please join me in extending appreciation for the dedication and many years of service to Dann Ladd, who served as Vice President for Membership & Development from 2019-2021, and Todd Hoar, who served as Secretary from 2017-2021. Todd, who also served as Prayer Advocate, and Dann were both advocates for AMEND Together.

Thank you for showing your support of men’s ministry in the Virginia Conference by voting.

Albert Weal, Jr., President
757-677-6096
[email protected]

Nominee Slate for 2021-2022 Term of Office

Virginia Conference UMM Cabinet Officers

The Virginia Conference UMM is pleased to introduce nominees for Cabinet officers for the 2021-2022 term of office. Voting for Cabinet officers is open and will continue through Friday, June 11. Please vote now.

Please reach out and contact these nominees with questions or comments about men’s ministry.
UMMAlbertWeal
Nominated for President
Albert Weal, Jr.
Year of service if elected: Second
Church: St. Paul’s UMC
District: Elizabeth River
Previously served as: Vice President, Spiritual Life
Email: [email protected]
DavidCollins
Nominated for Vice President, Spiritual Life
David Collins
Year of service if elected: Second
Church: Community UMC
District: Elizabeth River
Previously served as: President, Elizabeth River District
Email: [email protected]
Bob Longworth
Nominated for Vice President, Membership & Development
Bob Longworth
Year of service if elected: First
Church: Nimmo UMC
District: Elizabeth River
Currently also serving as: Events Coordinator Director, Elizabeth River District
Email: [email protected]
Mark McKinney
Nominated for Secretary
Mark McKinney
Year of service if elected: First
Church: Thalia UMC
District: Elizabeth River
Previously served as: President, Thalia UMM
Email: [email protected]


Gary Lupton
Nominated for Treasurer
Gary Lupton, Sr.
Year of service if elected: Third
Church: Community UMC
District: Elizabeth River
Retired from: TowneBank
Email: [email protected]
Paul Smith
Nominated for Chaplain
Paul Smith
Year of service if elected: Second
Church: Hopewell-Chesterfield UMC
District: James River
Currently also serving as: President, James River District
Email: [email protected]

VA Conference UMM Annual Meeting | Saturday, June 26 at 9 AM EDT

Gil Hanke of GCUMM to Speak

GilHanke
Mark your calendars now for the online 2021 Annual Meeting on Saturday morning, June 26 at 9:00 am EDT.

We strongly encourage you to invite all men in your church to the 2021 Annual Meeting. Please gather with your local UMM fellowships or districts, if possible, to join the Annual Meeting online, following all guidelines from the Technical Assistance Manual and your church’s Post-COVID Re-entry Group.

Gil Hanke, general secretary of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, is our featured speaker. A native of Arlington, VA and graduate of Lynchburg College, Gil has served as the top staff executive of GCUMM since 2010 and recently announced his upcoming retirement.

Bishop James Swanson Sr., president of GCUMM, stated, “Gil’s strong personal Christian witness and his deep devotion to men developing an on-growing relationship with Jesus Christ has fueled our ministry with and for men across the globe.”

Gil is currently guiding GCUMM to implement a vision of men’s ministry where men are involved in leadership development, church renewal, ministry with the poor, and global health.

The Virginia Conference UMM will provide Gil Hanke with a gift to thank him for his years of service to GCUMM. If you would like to contribute to this gift or to VA Conference UMM supported ministries, please mail a check payable to the Virginia Conference UMM to:

Virginia Conference UMM
c/o Gary Lupton, Sr.
1661 Hawks Bill Dr.
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

The 2021 Annual Meeting will also include an update on men’s ministry in the Virginia Conference and plans for the upcoming year. We will also install Cabinet officers for the 2021-2022 term of office.

Topic: VA Conference UMM Annual Meeting
Time: June 26, 2021 9:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89824607164

Meeting ID: 898 2460 7164

Men’s Health Week | June 14-20, 2021

Wear Blue on Friday, June 18

MensHealth
More men than women are uninsured. Women make twice as many doctor’s visits than men for prevention.

Plan to wear blue on Friday, June 18 to show support, raise awareness, and promote education for men’s health including regular checkups and screenings for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and health issues that affect men.

June 14-20, the week ending on Father’s Day is International Men’s Health Week. During Men’s National Health Month in June, men and boys are encouraged to seek medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury.

Men's Health Network (MHN) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men, boys, and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health awareness and disease prevention resources and tools.

http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/

VA UMM 2021 Calendar

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

Event
Annual Conference
Date
June 18-19
Notes
VA UMM Virtual Display
VA UMM Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 26 at 9 AM EDT
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89824607164
Meeting ID: 898 2460 7164
Methodist Scouter’s Conference & 100th Anniversary Celebration in Philmont NM
July 17-21
Register at
methodistscouter.org
VAC UMM Cabinet Meeting
July 2021
More details to come.

Words to Live By …

BenFranklin

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”


Attributed to Benjamin Franklin, 1783

Recommended Reading: John 8:31-32
SmallVaConf
In continued efforts to fulfill the Virginia Conference goal of having Connectional Ministries become a greater resource to districts, laity and clergy, United Methodist Men are now partnered with Virginia UM clergy. Clergy, you are receiving the Beacon newsletter as part of your Virginia Conference connection.