|
|
May 16, 2023
|
|
To submit news items, stories, or corrections, email the conference Communications Office at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent episodes on the VAUMC Connection:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To view job opportunities around the Virginia Conference, visit the Virginia Conference website at https://vaumc.org/jobs/.
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia News
|
|
May 'Hatchathon' sees beginning of new ministries
|
The rumors are true. Something is hatching at the Conference Office. Actually, something has hatched. May 11-13, 2023, 13 teams representing seven districts gathered at the conference center to develop new ministries to reach more people, more diverse people, and more young people for Christ. This Hatchathon creates space for teams to dream and helps them focus their ideas into a focused pitch by the end. Read more...
|
|
|
Bishop Sue speaks as keynote speaker at Virginia Wesleyan University
|
Virginia Wesleyan University was delighted to feature Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson as its keynote speaker for its Baccalaureate Service on May 12. Baccalaureate serves a prelude to the Commencement Ceremony and is a service of worship in celebration of and thanksgiving for lives dedicated to learning and wisdom. The Bishop's sermon, “Trusted with Little, Trusted with Much,” (based on Luke 16:10-13) was delivered to a crowd of graduates and their families in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. VWU was honored to be the first UMC-affiliated institution in Virginia to host the new bishop for such an occasion.
|
The following day, Bishop Haupert-Johnson was presented a Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) during the VWU 2023 Commencement Ceremony for her service to the Church. The bishop provided the benediction for the event, leaving graduates with words of faith, wisdom, and optimism.
|
|
Picture attached, from left: VWU Board of Trustees Chair Jonathan E. Pruden, Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, VWU President Scott D. Miller
|
|
|
Become a mentor
|
Do you have a passion for walking with Certified Candidates and Licensed Local Pastors in their call? Have you been previously trained but need a refresher in the process for candidates? Mentor Matters is a training event for first time and returning mentors. Participants will explore a theological vision for VAUMC mentoring, receive practical training, and spend time reviewing the roles for mentors and dCOM Coordinators. Mentor Matters will take place in person at the Conference Center in Glen Allen on Thursday, August 10 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For questions, email [email protected] A link to register can be found here.
|
|
|
UMM calling all VAUMC men to support ministries
The United Methodist Men are asking each man in the VAUMC to donate $10 per year to provide sufficient funds and a generous donation to each of the following ministries:
|
- Heart Havens
- Scouts
- GraceInside
- All God's Children Camp
- Camp Rainbow
- Black Methodists for Church Renewal
- Asian American Ministries Association
- Native American Caucus
- Latino/Hispanic Caucus
- Society of St. Andrew
|
To support them and these ministries, donate by mailing a check to UMM Treasurer Gary Lupton (1661 Hawks Bill Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23464 and make check payable to "Virginia Conference United Methodist Men". You can also give by visiting www.vaumc.org/umm-support or text UMM2023 to 44-321.
|
|
|
Peace with Justice Sunday is June 4
|
United Methodists relate to this special Sunday by seeking peaceful solutions, creating and supporting peace-related ministries in their conference and learning about peaceful, just efforts around the world. Our Social Principles call us to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers of conflict. We insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to work together to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them.
|
|
The United Methodist Church, with its historic commitment to peace and justice, can and should provide leadership to this social transformation. The General Board of Church and Society Church holds a non-governmental, consultative status with the United Nations. This status allows us to participate in UN meetings, consultations and conferences. We recognize and renew our call for social transformation, for the quest to open the doors of opportunity for all, to distribute resources more equitably, and to provide better care for persons in need.
|
|
Donations for this special Sunday support programs and ministries to educate, equip and mobilize actions in support of identified Economic, Health, and Gender Justice Priorities. Learn more and find resources...
|
|
|
Bishop Sue meets with clergy in Extension Ministries
|
Clergy in Extension Ministry appointments met with Bishop Sue on 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.
|
|
|
'Next Steps' campaign seeks to address needs of members seeking to stay UMC during local church disaffiliations
For those whose congregations have voted to disaffiliate, but who wish to remain United Methodist, the Virginia Annual Conference and the Cabinet offer Next Steps, a website with resources to remain connected as they discern where God is calling them. At Next Steps, individuals and churches may
access resources for small group gathering and other means of discipleship.
As part of this Bridge Churches offer one possible next step for persons who choose to remain United Methodist after their church disaffiliates, providing pastoral care, assistance in gathering, and invitations to share in ministry opportunities with their congregations. These churches are not recruiting members; they offer a safe space of support, nurture, and opportunities for connection during this time of transition. Individuals may choose to join Bridge churches, on their terms and at their own pace of discernment; or they may choose to join elsewhere. Learn more...
|
|
|
Learn about AC missions during 2023 June AC
All members are asked to #joinhands for the following mission opportunities at the June Annual Conference session. #JoiningHandsTogther will provide hands-on mission opportunities for all who are gathered during the Annual Conference. The various mission opportunities will be a reminder that we can do more when we come together! Learn more...
|
Three Opportunities
1. Red Cross Blood Donation – starting Thursday, June 15 to Friday, June 16 by appointment
|
|
2. UMCOR Menstrual Hygiene Kit – Thursday, June 15
|
|
3. Rise Against Hunger – Friday, June 16 10 a.m.
|
|
Location: Special Events Center
|
|
|
Electronic Book of Reports now available, view conference AC events
Find out what events and banquets are taking place during the June Annual Conference event. One such banquet is the Missional Ministries Banquet on Thursday, June 15 at 6 p.m. which will feature a GBGM representative and two GBGM missionaries. Learn more...
|
|
|
Become a volunteer at AC 2023
Volunteers are needed before, during and after (from June 13-17) the in-person Annual Conference at the Berglund Center in Roanoke in June. Please prayerfully consider volunteering. Volunteers will be contacted by their area coordinator and receive any necessary training or instructions. Click below for the links to the Sign Up Genius pages:
|
|
If you need assistance signing up, please contact Donna Desper, Valley Ridge District, at [email protected].
|
|
|
2023 Annual Conference Offering #NurturingTogether
The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church is one of the largest annual conferences of The United Methodist Church. We can significantly impact the world when we all come together around a purpose. The groups and ministries supported by the offering change each year, but the goal remains the same: to assist people and ministries, both domestic and international.
|
|
The goal of the offering for 2023 is $150,000. This year, you are invited to the initiative to #nurture leadership worldwide! The Virginia Conference will support Refugee Resettlement, Food Insecurity in the Commonwealth, and Partnerships of Hope’s leadership programs in Brazil, Mozambique, Cambodia, Native Americans, Haiti, and Vietnam through this offering. The offering will be collected on June 15, 2023, during the Opening Worship at 10 a.m. Thank you for being part of the effort to #nurturingtogether! Learn more...
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Video 5: Learn about Mission Opportunities at 2023 AC
|
|
Video 6: Explore Berglund Center with Martha
|
|
Video 7: Preparation Tips from Rules Committee Chair Scott Diamond
|
|
|
Give love offering to Pinnacle Living Samaritan Program
|
The 2022 Virginia Annual Conference agreed to encourage each church in the conference to support a special offering appeal for the Pinnacle Living Samaritan Program through a love offering or mission gift sometime between Mother’s Day (May 14) to Father’s Day (June 18).
|
|
There are four United Methodist-affiliated retirement communities in the conference – Hermitage Richmond, Hermitage Roanoke, Cedarfield, and WindsorMeade.
|
|
As people are living longer, there are times residents outlive their financial resources. The Samaritan Program supports those who find themselves in this situation. In the last fiscal year, the Samaritan Program provided support to 12 persons totaling $338,137. The average age of a recipient was 96.5 years old.
|
|
|
Connect students with campus ministries
The Virginia Conference supports 13 campus ministries at colleges and universities across the Commonwealth, and additionally, four United Methodist colleges and universities. Our campus ministers provide opportunities for students to worship, to study, to serve, and to grow as leaders. You can find information for each campus here: https://vaumc.org/newstudents/.
|
To help our campus ministers connect with your students, please complete this form as soon as you know where students will attend: If you prefer to email a spreadsheet that includes an entire list of students, their contact information, and the college or university they will attend, please email it to [email protected].
|
|
For clergy, completing this form fulfills the requirement of ¶232 of the Book of Discipline that you must notify the chair of the conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry (that paragraph also requires notifying the district superintendent and the charge conference, which this form does not accomplish). This form also fulfills ¶256.3d, which requires local church youth coordinators to provide student information to the chaplains and campus ministers.
|
|
|
Deadline for The Servant Sister Scholarship is July 1
|
The Virginia Conference has deployed clergywomen in a variety of ministries since 1961. The Servant Sister Scholarship capitalizes on this legacy by supporting the theological training of future clergywomen. If you are a woman enrolled in an accredited United Methodist Seminary, the Servant Sister Scholarship is accepting applications from now until July 1. Contact Co-Chairs Rev. Joanna Paysour and Rev. Lindsey B. Freeman for more details.
|
|
|
|
|
General Church News
|
|
Historian urges bishops: Reclaim ‘vile’ heritage
|
UM NEWS— Ashley Boggan, a United Methodist historian and agency top executive, challenged bishops to learn from history to work toward a brighter future. She noted that the challenges John Wesley faced are not all that dissimilar from what The United Methodist Church faces today. She pointed to how Wesley took risks to reach people in his day, submitting to be “more vile” by preaching outdoors. That Wesleyan example of “vile-tality” could be what church leaders need today, Boggan said. Read more...
|
|
|
Bishops call for General Conference in 2026
UM NEWS— As they deal with rising church disaffiliations, United Methodist bishops see a need for the denomination’s top lawmaking body to meet three times between 2024 and 2028.
Their recommendation supports a ruling by the denomination’s top court saying an additional General Conference needs to be scheduled. In the meantime, the denomination’s finance agency is asking the church court to reconsider its ruling. Read more...
|
|
|
One Last Word
|
|
Could a neighbor use some help today? #DoSomethingGoodForYourNeighborDay #BeUMC #ReclaimReviveRenew
|
|
|
|
|
|
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...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
