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April 5, 2023

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Events (1)
To view conference and local church events, visit the Virginia Conference website at https://vaumc.org/events/.

To submit an local church event for inclusion, submit this form.

Virginia News

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Reorganization announced in Connectional Ministries Office

April 5-- Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the Virginia Annual Conference Common Table are pleased to announce plans for a reorganization in the conference Connectional Ministries Office.
After faithfully serving for several years as both Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop the Rev. Dr. Steven Summers will move fully into the role of Assistant to the Bishop effective July 1, 2023.
The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page will serve in the role of Director of Connectional Ministries for Innovation and Creativity and Mr. Dwayne Stinson will serve as Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship and Congregational Vitality. The two will share the responsibilities of Director of Connectional Ministries while they continue to lead in their respective areas of focus. This is all in an effort to ensure the annual conference can grow in its ability to equip, resource, and connect the local church. These positions will be voted on at the 2023 June Annual Conference session with an expectation they will begin their work effective July 1, 2023. Read more...
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Candidates sought for open positions in Connectional Ministries Office

April 5-- Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the Virginia Annual Conference Common Table announced plans for a reorganization in the conference Connectional Ministries Office (see story above).
It was also announced that the Rev. Seungsoo “RJ” Jun, Associate Director of Serving Ministries, will be appointed to the local church effective July 1, 2023.
“The journey to serve Connectional Ministries started with a tug from God to support the effort of strengthening the connection,” Jun said. “After the past two years and a half, I experienced another tug from God, preparing my heart for a new journey. Bishop Sue and the Cabinet graciously accepted my request to be on the appointment list, and I am excited to see how God will work in this new chapter of ministry."
In the reorganization, the current offices of Learning, Influencing, and Serving will become the offices of Missional Engagement, under the leadership of the Director of Missional Engagement (to be hired), and the Office of Discipleship and Congregational Vitality under the leadership of Mr. Dwayne Stinson, Director of Connectional Ministries for Discipleship and Congregational Vitality. Mr. Stinson and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page, Director of Connectional Ministries for Innovation and Creativity, will share the role of Director of Connectional Ministries. Read more...

The new, open positions in the Connectional Ministries Office will better meet the needs of the Virginia Conference in mission and ministry and have intended start dates of May 2023. The positions are:
-Director of Missional Engagement (View job posting) (Apply for job)
-Assistant Director of Missional Engagement (View job posting) (Apply for job)
-Assistant Director of Discipleship and Congregational Vitality (View job posting) (Apply for job)

Another open position in the conference, reporting to the Bishop and Assistant to the Bishop, is:
-Director of Advocacy (title TBD) (View job posting) (Apply for job)

Please visit this website to apply. Questions about the jobs may be sent to [email protected]. Read more...
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Find Easter sunrise services across the conference

Find local churches offering sunrise services across the Virginia Conference. See interactive map...
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Reserve Display Area space now for 2023 Annual Conference session

Display Area space is now available to reserve for the 2023 Annual Conference session.

Guidelines for the Display Area space are available.

Reserve an area at this link by April 21: https://na.eventscloud.com/746103.
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Videos share resources for 2023 AC members

The Conference Lay Leader Martha Stokes and the conference Communications Office created video resources for Annual Conference members prior to the 2023 Annual Conference session. Four videos have now been released:
Video 1: Welcome from Bishop Sue
Video 2: Welcome and music from AC Conference co-directors and a chance to meet the band
Video 3: Martha shares responsibilities for lay members and reporting back to local churches.
Video 4: Conference Secretary Rev. Joshua King shares information about motions and more.
Watch videos...
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Opt-in for physical copy of 2023 Book of Reports; learn more about AC 2023

The 241st Session of the Virginia Annual Conference will be held in-person from Thursday, June 15 – Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Va. Hotel registration opened on Monday, March 6, 2023.

The Book of Reports will be available online in early May. You can request a physical copy until April 28 to be delivered by mid-May. Fill out this form to get a physical copy. Limited printed copies will be available at the June AC in Roanoke for purchase.

The link for registration and the Annual Conference agenda are now available. Information about displays is forthcoming.
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2023 Mission Opportunities on conference website

Mission Opportunities provided throughout the Annual Conference allow the churches to maximize the impact in transforming the world through the connectional system. Each year, Virginia Conference offers Mission Opportunities for the over 1,000 churches to ‘Unite in Mission’ as we serve our Lord together. Below you will find information on how we, serving together, can become a ‘blessing to this world’ (Gen 12:3). Learn more...
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Randolph-Macon College recognized in article

Randolph-Macon College was recognized by Baptist News in a recent article titled "On the Separation of Church and University." Read more...
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Submit nominations for Francis Asbury Award

Nominations for the Francis Asbury Award, presented annually during the June session of the annual conference, are due April 10. This award recognizes a lay or clergy person who has supported and encouraged United Methodist collegiate ministry. Nominations go to the General Board of Higher Education, and the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry reviews nominations and determines the recipient. For more information, or to submit a nomination, use this link. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ryan LaRock, chair of the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry at [email protected].
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Submit nominations for Green Church Award

The Virginia Board of Church and Society are accepting nominations for the 2023 Virginia Annual Conference Green Church Award and Sustaining Green Church Award. Applications should be completed by May 14.

In 2009, the Virginia Annual Conference established the Green Church Initiative and called churches to "green" their ministries. To recognize the continuing work of creation care in the Virginia Annual Conference, the board is asking for nominations to receive the Green Church and Sustaining Green Church Award during the Virginia Annual Conference during June 15-17, 2023 session.

Recipients of these awards strive to affirm the importance of healing and defending God's creation in their mission as local congregations. They are engaged in this ministry in worship, learning and teaching, individual and congregational lifestyle and community, national, and global advocacy/involvement.

Send any questions to Brian Christoffersen at [email protected].

VAUMC Board of Church and Society Green Church Award Application

VAUMC Board of Church and Society Sustaining Green Church Award Application
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Extension Clergy gathering to be held with Bishop Sue

Clergy in Extension Ministry appointments are invited May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St Mark's UMC (Midlothian) for a time of worship, Q&A with Bishop Sue, ministry spotlights, conversation and connection with extension clergy colleagues, plenty of coffee, and a catered lunch. Contact Rev. Deborah Lewis with questions: [email protected] RSVP by April 17: https://forms.gle/eCy1rXQ38y9J5mQ79
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New webpage highlights VAUMC clergy books

A new webpage on the conference website shares books written by VAUMC clergy (books focusing on faith, UM mission, ministry, and polity) as a way to share with conference clergy and laity potential resources for individual and group study. Clergy can share their information by emailing [email protected]. Books listed on the webpage are not endorsed by the conference. New books are being added every week. Take a look at the following link! Learn more...

General Church News

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Donate to UMCOR U.S. disaster aid

UM NEWS— Recent storms and tornadoes throughout the Mississippi Delta region caused massive destruction. More than 25 people died with dozens more injured. Amid this devastation, The United Methodist Church is responding with love and compassion to help rebuild lives. Your gift to UMCOR ensures that communities have the resources they need to rebuild and restore. Learn more...
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Meeting the sacred in Holy Week Art Walk

UM NEWS— When John and Gayle Rose were asked to create a piece of art that reflects their Christian faith, they found themselves at the foot of the cross. They were among the artists who contributed to West Market Street United Methodist Church’s Art Walk — a new way of interpreting the Stations of the Cross. Learn more...
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Young people drive church growth in Kyrgyzstan

UM NEWS— The United Methodist Church in Kyrgyzstan is emphasizing ministries with young people through congregations and programs such as sports clubs and a residence home. Engaging people is difficult due to government regulations, so camps and other social activities provide opportunities for building relationships. Pastors and lay members say they are responding to a call to share the gospel with young people. Learn more...
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Hollering for Change: Conversation with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling

UM NEWS— The Rev. Tori Butler speaks with Bishop LaTrelle Easterling of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware conferences. Easterling talks about the influence of strong women leaders in her life like her mother and grandmother. “I didn’t need to find my voice so much because the women in my life have been so outspoken, never cowered,” she said. This is the fifth in a series on women leaders and “firsts” in the denomination. Read more...

One Last Word: Holy Week

I’m praying for every United Methodist church in the Virginia Annual Conference, and praying for all those preparing for Holy Week. I know it’s exhausting, fulfilling, challenging and sacred work. I’m grateful for all who are working to show the full extent of God’s love in Jesus Christ through song, dance, light, video, preaching, teaching, sewing, painting, praying, music, baking, etc. Thank you from a world hungry to hear a good word, and to experience the love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, generosity, and self-control the Spirit of Christ gives us. Have a blessed journey from death to resurrection.

- Bishop Sue
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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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