James River District
Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
Your monthly news & updates
This month's newsletter includes important dates, documents and events around the District.
A Message from your District Superintendent
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Happy July! Happy Summer! Happy…! You fill in the blanks.

So, I’m going to be honest. Happy has not been at the top of my list of feelings most days lately. Sad, anxious, angry, hurt, tired…these are not all, but they come closer to most of the feelings I’ve been having a lot lately. The relentless demands of these days continues likes the wave on the beach. Places of division, a pandemic, tragic loss of lives and the daily expectations of life have been relentless. Just when I think that I’ve caught up and/or can unplug, just when things seem almost calm, another wave hits and knocks me down, or at least leaves me off balance.

Relentless demands; I’ll bet some of you resonate with these words.

People all around us are upset by something, lots of things, anything. We may be carrying their upset feelings, along with our own upset feelings.

AND God’s Word says, “ Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”  We all need to honor time for Sabbath in our schedules.

Please take some time off for spiritual rest and restoration!  When we don’t spend regular time in the awareness of God’s presence and power, we get lost, overwhelmed, and led by voices that are not holy.

I want to thank my spiritual director for her wise guidance and words. She helped me to find Sabbath in my life recently. Our time together helped me to put things in proper perspective, noting how what I believe can sustain me in the greatest storms of life. God is bigger and greater than all the other forces at work in the world.

She asked me about grief.  “What are you grieving?” she asked. Lots of things began to flow from my mouth as my mind, heart, and soul released honest feeling. I started with my parents, one still living and one deceased, but quickly went to the church. I am grieving the ways that we have not lived into our baptismal vows. I am grieving the ways that we have not resisted evil, injustice, and oppression. I’m grieving the times when we let the loud, angry voices control the direction of our lives and our churches…instead of the still, small, powerful, holy voice of God!

What are you grieving?

There are many things happening right now in the world that cause deep grief…and then we have our own personal family situations. I pray that you will take some time regularly (are taking time) to talk to God and trusted loved ones (family, spiritual directors, prayer partners, counselors, coaches, etc.) about your griefs. There is much to grieve in these days. We don’t need to deny our true feelings, but to bring them to the Light. God knows and understands you. God loves you! For those griefs caused by our sins and shortcomings, God offers forgiveness and new beginnings to repentant hearts. What an opportunity we have to follow Jesus right now!

My spiritual director also asked me about “Mystery.”   After a time of silence when the very word started to draw me into the depths of God, I started to be transformed by the power of God. As I looked at the soil beneath my feet, and at the trees above my head, as I listened to the birds singing, and felt the breeze on my face, I started to feel the weight of the grief lifting from my very being. The mystery of God, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, is bigger than all of the griefs that we bear. In the presence of the mystery of God, I began to find hope.

(I thought of the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” and “How Great Thou Art”.)
Where is the Mystery of God? Sit in the silence and ponder this deep question. The miraculous power and presence of God in our lives and in the world would be considered indescribable…beyond words!
(I remembered the Chris Tomlin praise song, “Indescribable.” Google it and be transformed. I just did…and I’m so glad that I did!) “You are amazing God!”

The words of my spiritual director are still challenging me and blessing me. I pray that they will challenge and bless you as well.

I recently read an article about the #1 regret that those who are dying have expressed to those paying attention to them. The #1 regret is, “that they did not live a life true to themselves, but did what other people expected of them.” (Ware, Bonnie, Regrets of Life). Think about this. It is profound.
I believe that God has called me to help others find the fullness of God within themselves, even as I am in the process of finding the fullness of God in me. I pray that this will not be my #1 regret when I face death. As I work on knowing God and myself fully, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. God’s grace upon grace has allowed a sinner like me to be a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a pastor, etc.  

As I grow into the fullness of God, being in relationships of trust, where truth is spoken in love, is one of the greatest blessings. Having the opportunity to hear the stories of others who are not like me has expanded the beauty of my life in amazing ways. I am excited for the future as I get to be in relationships with more and more people whose lives are vastly different from mine. Loving God and my neighbors is a holy privilege. I am happy when I share relationships with the people of God. We are all invited into the fullness of God! This is the destination of the journey!

The Psalms and Proverbs talk about being happy. “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked…They are like trees planted by streams of water…” (Psalm 1:1-3) “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1) “Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12) “Happy are those who consider the poor.” (Psalm 41:1) “Happy are those who keep my ways…Happy is the one who listens to me…” (Proverbs 8: 32-34) “Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13)

Whose advice are you following? Where are you being called into repentance and forgiveness? Are you listening to God? Are you finding wisdom and understanding in holy relationships?
I am grateful for the wisdom of scripture and those who journey with me. I am finding joy and happiness in the midst of the relentless demands because of my relationship with God, the One who continues to Create, Redeem, and Empower me and you for abundant life and ministry.

Let’s look at the changes, challenges, and opportunities all around us. Let’s look for God in the midst of people and situations that we don’t understand. Let’s listen to God, and follow God into new and exciting relationships and ministries. Let’s find the fullness of God in ourselves, in one another, and in our neighbors that God will place in our lives. I’m excited about the places where God is leading us!

God bless you and keep you!

Love in Jesus,

Sylvia

Bishop Sharma Lewis Announcements
Bishop Lewis talks about Stage 2 of return to in-person worship

In a  letter from June 16 , Bishop Lewis thanked clergy, laity, and the Healthy Church Teams for all of the hard work in planning and executing worship from in-person, to online, to drive-in, to telephonic and shared next steps as the conference enters Stage 2. Beginning Sunday, June 21, the conference will expand in-person worship and other church gatherings. A new resource has been created, the  Technical Assistance Manual (TAM) , for Healthy Church Teams to use which will replace the Handbook for Local Churches. The TAM is considerably reduced in size and easier to use and includes all the requirements for in-person worship and gatherings.
Bishop Lewis calls for action on systemic racism.
In a letter from May 29, Bishop Lewis reflects and calls for action following the death of George Floyd. "When do we, as children of God, decide that God is calling us into action? When do we decide that mere words or social media interactions for a few days are just not enough? When do we, as children of God, decide that the systemic racism in our society, whether manifested overtly or covertly, is a sin that hinders our relationship with Jesus Christ and is antithetical to the gospel?"
Dear Virginia Annual Conference:

On Memorial Day, when the world was honoring and remembering all military men and women for their sacrifice to this country, Mr. George Floyd, another African-American man, while handcuffed and in police custody, was pleading for his life. His dying statement, “I can’t breathe,” rings again in my ears just as it did in 2014 when Eric Garner used those same words as he was dying from being held in a chokehold by a New York Police Department officer.
As I have reflected since Monday, I find my emotions range from sadness to anger to disbelief. I ask myself the simple questions – “How long, Lord? How long, Lord?”
Isn’t it enough that we are fighting a pandemic and at the same time fighting life’s other challenges? Isn’t it enough that we witnessed the senseless death of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, the disturbing exchange between Christian Cooper and Amy Cooper in Central Park, and the barely-mentioned Breonna Taylor, who was killed by Louisville Metro Police Department officers executing a warrant at the wrong house in March?
           When do we as children of God decide that God is calling us into action? When do we decide that mere words or social media interactions for a few days are just not enough?
When do we as children of God decide that the systemic racism in our society, whether manifested overtly or covertly, is a sin that hinders our relationship with Jesus Christ and is antithetical to the gospel?
When do we as children of God in the second largest annual conference in The United Methodist connection decide to have the crucial conversations and examine our own experiential and inherited stories of race and racism? I believe that everything in life begins and ends with the story you have accepted as truth about yourself and others. These stories shape our thinking, actions and assumptions about different races. 
The lesson from these senseless deaths is that the fight to eradicate racism is not another person’s problem but humanity’s problem, and I believe that I’m not the only voice in the Virginia Annual Conference that wants to see real change and work toward the complete eradication of racism.

As the Resident Bishop of the Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, I am requesting that leaders of the Virginia faith community join in a conversation about policing with Governor Ralph Northam. The requested conversation will focus on statewide community relationships and policing training and practices. 
In addition, I would like to invite the people of the Virginia Annual Conference to join me in these call to action steps:

  1. We need informed clergy and laity to have authentic conversations about race and reconciliation in houses of worship, communities, and workplaces in which we acknowledge racism as a sin and actively pursue whatever is necessary to dismantle the injustices. One resource for starting that conversation is the Racial Justice Conversations Guide produced by the General Commission on Religion and Race;
  2. Community policing emphasizes working with neighborhood residents as partners in creating public safety. We can offer our support and involvement with law enforcement agencies that want to work with community residents to identify problems and collaborate on implementing solutions that produce meaningful results for the community; and
  3. We can encourage civilian participation in oversight of law enforcement in order to strengthen trust with the community. Every community should define the appropriate form and structure of civilian oversight to meet the needs of that community.

Continue to pray for the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Let us hold close the words of the Apostle Paul, who reminds us in Romans 12:21; “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (NKJV)

Peace and Blessings,

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

cc:      Governor Ralph Northam
           Attorney General Mark R. Herring, Esq.

An Update on Financial and Staffing Matters
Dear Virginia Annual Conference:
 
Following up on my  May 12 letter , here are key updates pertaining to the Virginia Conference’s finances and staffing.
 
While we continue to face strong financial challenges, I am cautiously optimistic that the toughest economic effects of the pandemic are slowly subsiding. The cost controls we have implemented have been working well, though we still need to be vigilant and to continuously find ways to work to optimal efficiency.
 
I am also optimistic that apportionment payments will soon increase now that the Commonwealth is re-opening, albeit gradually and carefully, with a proper emphasis on public safety. A number of churches in the Conference are returning to in-person worship this Sunday and I am expecting other churches to do so in the coming weeks.

Through May 31, we have collected 26.5 percent of the 2020 apportionments. Last year we had collected 31.3 percent of apportionments at this same time. As a reminder, the Council on Finance and Administration reduced 2020 apportionments by 27.2 percent in March 2020.

Cost saving measures at the Conference have resulted in lower expenditures which is partially offsetting the decrease in apportionment receipts. I thank the many churches that have made substantial apportionment payments in 2020, and prayerfully ask that other churches do so as well.

I am also encouraged because the Conference’s unrestricted reserves are above the minimum target set at last year’s annual conference. Should there be a hard hitting second wave of COVID-19, these resources will be quite important for the Conference and all the churches we serve.
 
Considering the evolving financial situation and to best serve our members, we have returned three professionals at the Conference to full-time status from part-time status. Two are in the communications area and one is in information technology. These professions are especially important given the challenges at hand. 
 
Finally, I want to commend the Treasurer’s Office at the Conference and the United Methodist Credit Union for helping dozens of churches and affiliated organizations to obtain $2.8 million of forgivable loans under the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program. Funds are still available as the credit union made clear in an  announcement on June 17 . The Treasurer’s Office and the Credit Union are available to work with churches on applications.
 
We are fully committed and focused on our mission of making Disciples for Jesus Christ. While the pandemic has forced us to make many changes, we have been and will adapt to perform that mission.    
 
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
 
Peace and Blessings,
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

Bishop Lewis Daily Prayer Invitation
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis has issued an invitation to the Virginia Conference to join her at noon every day in praying a prayer she has provided. "Let us invoke the power of the Great Physician to do a mighty work in eradicating this disease all over the world," she writes.
 
Click here  for the invitation and the prayer or see attached.
A Message from your Director of Congregational Excellence
“Do No Harm”
Around the Virginia conference we have had a lot of conversation about the “general rules” of Methodist societies (sometimes called John Wesley’s “Three Simple Rules”). These were three rules that John Wesley established at the beginning of the Methodist movement for people who wanted to live out their faith and grow as followers of Jesus Christ. The rules are: “do no harm,” “do good,” “attend to the ordinances of God” (sometimes understood as “stay in love with God”). 

               The instruction to “do no harm” has been getting a lot of attention recently because our conference guidelines on returning to in-person worship have used this rule as a starting point: we want to be very careful to avoid harming anyone by gathering in person in ways that could spread COVID-19 and end up hurting many people. The unfortunate reality is that churches around the country have harmed people by gathering and we want to “do no harm.”

               When you read the different instructions Wesley gave on how to “do no harm” (you can find them in the Book of Discipline paragraph 104), you can see the biblical reasons for this command. Wesley drew it from what is variously called the “great commandment” or the “golden rule”—that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31). This way of loving our neighbor starts with avoiding those things which would harm those around us—just as we would want them to avoid harming us!

               An interesting part of the call to “do no harm” is “by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced ” (Book of Discipline paragraph 104, emphasis mine). In today’s world, there are many general practices which have the possibility of exposing others to harm, including some practices of our brothers and sisters in Christ in other denominations who have returned to in-person worship with little or no concern about the possibility of causing harm. We are faced with a tough challenge—do we go with what is generally practiced (or at least practiced by some) or do we take seriously the first general rule?

As a conference, we have made “do no harm” our priority. Even when other churches have made other choices. Even when some of us have been upset about this choice. I don’t always like the decisions made in our conference office, but if we are to take seriously our Methodist (and Biblical!) heritage, doing no harm must be the place we start as we figure out how to be the church in this new season.
Funds still available--Contact TUMCU about SBA Paycheck Protection Program
The United Methodist Credit Union (TUMCU) has already funded nearly $2.8 million dollars of forgivable loans under the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program. CEO Jim Eads shared, “We are so happy to have helped dozens of United Methodist churches, as well as agencies, districts, charities, and even a couple of Methodist camps weather the storm of the recent COVID-19 economic shutdown.”
 
There is still significant money available in this program, and TUMCU would like to help any church or organization obtain this needed funding. Many churches may not be familiar with how the program works, but TUMCU can provide a lot of assistance and help churches and organizations qualify for  complete forgiveness  of these low-interest loans. Essentially, the result is permanent, no-cost funding for your church or organization.
 
Any interested party can call TUMCU at (804) 672-0200 to learn more, or can start the application process at  https://www.tumcu.org/sba-paycheck-protection-program/ .
Calendar Updates!
Please check the District Calendar for updated information on postponed events, rescheduling, Pastoral meetings and more!

View the District Calendar for more information and keep for your records!

We will make it through this!
Around the District
We will have more events coming soon!
Awards - Grants - Assistance
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Prayer Requests
Comfort for the Family of John “Jack” Wade Guidry (Rev. Jeaux Simmons’ older brother)

Healing for Elaine Diehl (Rev. Jack Meservey’s daughter)

All pastors and families moving and beginning new church ministry or retiring
 
We rejoice in the birth of Ethan Landon Chavez, born May 19, 2020. He is Rev. Jeaux and Brian Simmons’ grandson in North Carolina.

JAMES RIVER DISTRICT UMC | 804.732.2538 |  jamesriverdistrict@vaumc.org  
Rev. Sylvia Shepard Meadows, James River District Superintendent
Keith Jordan & Gerry Fuss, Lay Leaders
Tish Borden, Administrative Assistant
Rev. Andrew Book, Director of Congregational Excellence
Ronnika Davis, Communications Coordinator