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January 2024 * Volume 25, Issue 1
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President's Message by Albert Weal, Jr.
Time for Reflection and Looking Forward
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VA Conference UMM 2023 Goals: Prepare (disciple) men for service and leadership; align succession management with church demographics; reach new men and their families and mentor new Christians; connect with other Conference agencies and boards; prevent domestic violence jointly with United Women in Faith; and offer Holy Spirit-led Christian fellowships through Wesleyan transformational small groups (class meetings).
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As a key initiative over the past several years, the Virginia Conference United Methodist Men have continued to encourage the formation of Younger Men’s Ministry in coordination with the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ). We have established this ministry to explore ways to integrate and grow participation by late Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials. Additionally, by focusing on projects not presentations, interactions not programs, and showing not telling, we are demonstrating our dedication to building relationships, not walls. We are starting our Younger Men’s Ministry from the Campus Ministry approach. We have invited the various UMM Campus Ministers across the conference to partner with our team.
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To this end we have deployed a mentoring program and encouraged participation in small transformational groups. Wesley Building Brothers Advocate David Bean and his team have deployed a mentor/mentee training program. Using Wesley’s 21 questions and corresponding scripture, the initiative will help us address generational gaps in our churches, provide new disciples with experienced mentors, and focus our discipleship on service (faith in action). For more information, please visit vaumc.org/webinars-resources-from-united-methodist-men
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The Cabinet seeks to widen our outreach. We have included the Black Methodist Church Renewal (BMCR), the Asian American Ministry Association (A.A.M.A), the Latino/Hispanic Caucus, and the Native American Caucus as ministries that the VACUMM now supports.
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It is our desire is to set new objectives for 2024 to
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- Expand outreach and improve race relations and understanding in cooperative settings to achieve mutually beneficial objectives;
- Establish Wesleyan Groups with African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian congregations and campus ministries for younger groups;
- Encourage individual spiritual development;
- Welcome Scouting;
- Support clergy persons, especially female clergy; and
- Advocate for environmental issues and creation care.
I am suggesting these objectives whereby we establish goals that will be mission oriented and give each district and fellowship a blueprint and a new view into making disciples for Jesus Christ.
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We are working to establish and work with leadership teams for every district. Why is this important? This is required if we, the United Methodist Men, will have a say or become a part of district leadership teams. In most cases, the UMM Team Leader (President) is automatically a member of the district leadership team. If the District UMM are not organized, then we have no participation in that district’s leadership.
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I would like to give special thanks for the support given by current and former Conference officers, specifically the Bishop, Rev. Dr. Steve Summers, Seungsoo “RJ” Jun, Dwayne Stinson, and Martha Stokes, and to VA UMM Cabinet officers Vice President of Spiritual Life David Collins, Vice President of Membership Bob Longworth, and Treasurer Gary Lupton.
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I would like to thank you for your support over the past three years. Your support is vital to ministering to men in the Virginia Conference. The Virginia Conference UMM Annual Breakfast is Friday, June 21 in Hampton. More details to come. Please plan to join us.
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Please continue to pray for us throughout 2024!
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Albert Weal, Jr., President
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Flourishing
February is Heart Havens Month
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Heart Havens is excited to continue flourishing in 2024 as we spread our message of empowerment for adults with disabilities during Heart Havens month in February 2024.
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Heart Havens is a Virginia Conference Advance Special mission with the goal to empower adults with a developmental disability to live and thrive in their community. Heart Haves does not receive apportionments. The Virginia Conference UMM has supported Heart Havens since its founding. To continue that support, please volunteer or make a donation today at https://www.hearthavens.org.
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Heart Havens looks forward to celebrating Heart Havens month with you in February. Heart Havens will provide speakers to share the message of Heart Havens either virtually or in-person. If you're interested in scheduling a program, please contact Heart Havens using this form.
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7501 Boulders View Dr, Suite 205
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Racial Healing Circles
Start a Dialog
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The leadership of the Southeastern Jurisdiction UMM and the Virginia Conference UMM embrace Racial Healing Circles (RHC) as a vital element in our commitment to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples of all people for the transformation of the world.
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Healing Circles are a tool for working towards inclusion and equity. Healing Circles offers the opportunity for communities to build relationships and engage in authentic, honest conversations about racism, the cruelties of slavery, and ways to recognize and remedy present injustices. The Healing Circles process is designed to go deeper into the heart space so that we can tell our stories and also listen intently to the stories of others in a safe and trusted circle. This building of trust can lead to transformed hearts and communities.
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We exhort all of our men to speak out and start a dialog necessary to address the inhumanity of racism. The Virginia Conference UMM will train local fellowship coordinators to successfully establish Healing Circles in your churches.
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For more information, please watch the Healing Circles Love, Learn, and Lead webinar and contact:
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Albert Weal, Jr., President
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Be a Buddy
Volunteer for Camp Rainbow Connection
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Camp Rainbow Connection (CRC) is a week-long respite camp for adults with intellectual disabilities. The camp provides a wonderful and enriching summer program for each camper, along with a week of respite for families and caregivers. Campers spend the week with others of various ability levels. Each camper is paired with a “buddy”, staff members who give of their time as volunteers. The theme for CRC 2024 will celebrate the Olympic Games.
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Camp Rainbow Connection is looking for men to support this important ministry. CRC 2024 session is scheduled for July 13 – 19 at Richard Bland College in Petersburg. Camp Rainbow Connection is holding a planning session for CRC 2024 at the United Methodist Conference Center in Glen Allen on Saturday, February, 24 starting at 10:00 AM with lunch provided. Please contact me or Stacy Roberts if you would like to come to the planning session. Training for all volunteers will also be provided on July 13 before setup for the campers’ arrival.
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If you know of a potential camper, please click here to submit a camper application. The camper registration deadline is February 1.
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Please pray and consider being a CRC staff volunteer. Click here to complete a staff application. Additional information is available at the CRC website.
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If you are unsure that you a good fit for camp or want to know more, contact me. I am happy to talk to you or your UMM fellowship.
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Thank you for your support of Camp Rainbow Connection.
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Words to Live By
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Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.
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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.
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