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August 16, 2022
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To submit news items, events, or corrections, email the conference Communications Office at [email protected].
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- September 5 - Virginia UM Center closed for Labor Day Observance
- September 13 - Interfaith Climate Revival in four Virginia locations (Hampton, Richmond, Roanoke, Bristol)
- September 16 - Discovery UMC, Richmond, hosting Youth Night of Worship and Prayer
- October 22 - Fall Faire at Community UMC, Virginia Beach
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How can you take part in learning, influencing, and serving this week?
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How can you be a lifelong learner?
LEWIS CENTER FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP--Bishop Kenneth Carder considers how churches can be in ministry with those with dementia and their families. His practical advice to congregations is informed by his poignant personal journey and his profound reflection on the spiritual aspects of coping with dementia. Learn more...
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- How can you be an influencer?
God invites everyone to pause for contemplative rest. Laura Buchanan, a writer for UMC.org, reflects on where she finds refuge: “Our place, our sanctuary, might not have stained-glass windows, or even walls, but it always has God’s presence. … We can wrestle with the unexplainable, unanswerable and infuriating. And undoubtedly, if we open our hearts, we will discover endless grace.” Read more...
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Pray for new missionaries. Fifty-four missionaries were commissioned for service in nine different worship services taking place around the world from April to July. Some begin service in new placements while others continue with work they began during the pandemic. Learn more...
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Virginia News
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Update for October 29 Called Annual Conference
As previously shared conference-wide in May, a Special Annual Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, October 29. At 9 a.m. The purpose of this Special Annual Conference Session is to close the remaining four churches utilizing Discipline paragraph 2549.3 (Disposition of property of a closed local church) and approve the severing of their relationship with the United Methodist denomination.
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At 9:30 a.m., a second Special Annual Conference will convene for the sole purpose of ratifying the disaffiliation of local churches seeking to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church over matters of human sexuality. Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline governs this process. All approvals and agreements under this process must be completed by September 30, 2022.
Questions concerning the two Special Annual Conferences may be directed to the Rev. Dr. Steve Summers at [email protected].
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Job opening in Center for Clergy Excellence
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The Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church (VAUMC) announced a search for a Program and Administrative Coordinator in the Center for Clergy Excellence. The selected candidate will be responsible for providing support to the Center for Clergy Excellence and the Board of Ordained Ministry, which is including, but not limited to correspondence, data management, and assisting with meeting registration and logistics. The Program and Administrative Coordinator will be responsible for the local hospitality and local host committees during Conference-related meetings. The ideal candidate must have spiritual maturity (with a preference for those with familiarity with the structure and congruence with the ethos of The United Methodist Church), good communication skills, and outstanding relational skills. For details, visit the Virginia Conference website at www.vaumc.org/jobs.
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Certified Lay Ministers Courses to be held in Fall 2022
The first offering of Certified Lay Minister (CLM) training in the Virginia Annual Conference will be held this fall (September 11, October 2 and November 6 from 6 to 8 p.m.).
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To become a CLM, the lay person must complete the BASIC and Spiritual Gifts courses through Lay Servant Academy (LSA). The individual then takes four modules of training, meets before District Committee of Ministry (DCOM) for recommendation to the Board of Laity, and is approved by the Board of Laity. They require the support of their local church and the district as they work through the modules.
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Module One will be offered September-November with three Zoom meetings and the rest of the work asynchronous. All coursework is online. Cost is $75 and covers the cost of the CLM Module One training book. There are four modules in all, which will be offered this fall through spring 2024 to complete the entire training. The course will be taught by the Rev. Dr. Joanna Dietz and Mrs. Jenn Robinson O’Brien. For more information contact Joanna Dietz at [email protected]. Register at this link.
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Learn more about Renfro grant, other grant opportunities
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Every year, the Conference Secretary of Global Missions (the Rev. Seungsoo ‘RJ’ Jun, VAUMC CSGM) of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church gathers with others to award the Renfro Trust Grant to local churches and Siedschlag award to members of the conference. The application is now open for your church, located in a less than 10,000 population, to apply for a ‘brick and mortar’ grant of up to $5,000. Also, each conference can nominate up to two members of the conference who might be the recipient of the Siedschlag award. Grants from around the connection can be found at the conference website. Learn more...
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September is national month for action against hunger
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Each year, September is dedicated as a national month for action against hunger. Partnering with the Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) is a simple way for you to invite your faith family and community to grow further in the mission to end hunger. This is an opportunity to come together as a family of faith by devoting time to giving, serving, learning, and leading with the Society of St. Andrew. Find resources...
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How can your church help during disasters?
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With disasters like the recent flooding in Kentucky, Virginia Conference clergy and laity want to help. Learn more in a recent blog post on what is needed following these disasters. Learn more...
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Register now for Early Response Team (ERT) training
Are you certified as an ERT (Early Respond Team) member or UMVIM leader? Did you know that both certificates require a renewal every 2-3 years? Due to the pandemic, there was a limitation to offering training for both certifications. Both pieces of training required an in-person gathering due to their hands-on approach.
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As churches are getting ready to assemble a mission trip and respond to disasters such as hurricanes or floods, we see that this is an excellent time to refreshen your certification. Early Response Teams (ERT) training is being offered September 10 at Culpeper UMC, Three Notch'd District, and at Aldersgate UMC, Coastal Virginia District. This 8-hour training session will begin at 8 am. ERTs respond during the first phase of disaster relief, providing a caring Christian presence. Your church and community could truly benefit if faced with a disaster. You are also trained to respond, when requested, to other conferences during a disaster. Registration fee is $35, which includes the training manual, UMCOR ERT badge, T-shirt and lunch. Checks should be made payable to the Virginia Annual Conference and brought the day of training. Learn more and register...
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General Church News
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A mission to help crime victims
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UM NEWS--The Rev. Myra Maxwell has a tough job, and it’s not her only one. The co-pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in south Philadelphia also heads up victim support services for the district attorney’s office. She’s already walked in the steps of many of the people she counsels, as a crime victim herself. Read more...
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Commentary: It's time to remove the grave clothes
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UM NEWS--The slayings of two Black clergywomen show the need for the church to loosen its bonds in order to respond, just as Jesus ordered Lazarus unbound after raising him from the dead. "We are being called to minister differently and connect with young brothers and sisters to help remove what's holding them back from a life of productivity and promise," writes the Rev. Dr. Michael L. Bowie Jr., executive director of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Read more...
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The spirituality of sandcastles
UM NEWS--Most weekends, Dylan Mulligan can be found surrounded by skies and sea, relishing in all that God’s Hand has wrought, whistling his favorite hymn, “This is My Father’s World.”
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Mulligan builds sandcastles, a hobby the lifelong United Methodist has pursued for more than three decades. Through the years, Mulligan has come to realize that what some might call child’s play is his God-given gift. “The Lord gives everyone talents,” Mulligan said. “When I realized how much people enjoyed my creations, building sandcastles became about something more than an activity I enjoyed. It became about taking that talent to glorify Him.” Read more...
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Is The United Methodist Church really...?
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UM NEWS--Ask The UMC, a ministry of United Methodist Communications, has received many questions from congregations wondering about the future of the denomination and whether they should consider disaffiliating from it. These have included recurrent questions that reflect misperceptions or misinformation that congregations are receiving as they discern their next steps. This is the first of a series of articles offering accurate responses to such misperceptions or misinformation. Learn more...
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Join the denomination in sharing why you are #BeUMC
#BeUMC honors the core values that connect the people of The United Methodist Church (The UMC). This grassroots campaign, built upon powerful stories of congregations and people living their faith, celebrates what draws us to The UMC and what we aspire to be.
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The UMC is founded on a Wesleyan theology of grace, anchored in Scripture, and based in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the continuing movement of the Holy Spirit.
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The full story of The UMC reflects all of our interwoven experiences. Consider our common roots and your answer to the question, “Why am I United Methodist?” Then, post a video, photo or written testimony on your preferred social media platform – don’t forget to use the hashtag #BeUMC. Download the campaign guide...
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One Last Word
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A new school year can be exciting or scary – or both. We can try to make that transition easier by praying to God and giving thanks for the people in our schools. Share this back-to-school prayer from United Methodist Discipleship Ministries with your friends, family, church, and classmates to help prepare your hearts and minds for the upcoming year.
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Please send any issues or concerns to [email protected]. If you have issues with the formatting trying to forward (especially in Outlook), you can use the following link. More...
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