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From the Bishop: Helping Afghan refugees
September 3, 2021
 
Virginia Conference members,
 
Our admiration and gratitude go out to our military, diplomats, and civil servants who have been working on the front line of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. This work is soul-rending and heartbreaking as well as exhausting. We are thankful for their service and mourn the 13 service members who gave their all to save the lives of others.
 
We are grateful for the willingness of organizations, many of them faith-based, that are continuing the work of those who helped evacuate the Afghan refugees. Many of these refugees have risked and sacrificed more for our country than most of us will ever be asked to do and these resettlement agencies are working to make sure that those individuals have as soft a landing and as warm a welcome as possible. The Virginia Conference is committed to working alongside these agencies, picking up the baton of the work of the frontline, and continuing this work of caring for all our refugee families. 
 
As a church, we are called to serve people who are marginalized, regardless of their race, background, or religion. We also understand that this race is not a sprint, but a marathon. Our work will continue for the coming months and years, ensuring our new neighbors and fellow children of God are loved and shown hospitality as we are commanded in the Scriptures "for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2).
 
The Virginia Conference reminds churches that the connectional system can be a powerful tool to reach out to thoese who are in need. Your church may participate in this effort in the following ways:
 
  1. Pray and remember that Jesus Christ was also a refugee - Ask God how your church can be involved in supporting these families who are marginalized. Pray for more people to hear God’s call to care for the ones who are mourning (Romans 12:15).
 
  1. Give to UMCOR - UMCOR released a statement (click here to read the statement) on how they will use UMCOR Global Migration Advance Special (#3022144). The Advance Special partners with Church World Service in assisting temporary settlement for the refugee families, through the Global Migration Advance Special. All offerings sent to the Virginia Conference will be directed to this fund.
 
  1. Refugee Response Team - We have assembled a Refugee Response Team to coordinate the effort of our Annual Conference churches in the work to support the refugee families. Kenn Speicher, Arlington District/ lay member, will serve as the point of contact between various agencies and the local churches to support and sponsor the families in their settlement.
 
  1. Utilize the resources shared through the Conference website and communication channels - The Refugee Response team has already published a number of resources to help the churches, including the recent update which can be downloaded here. Use these resources that will help your churches to be involved in this work. All resources can be found at www.vaumc.org/refugeeresponse.
 
I am grateful for all the work that has been done and anticipate the blessings to come as we continue on this long journey together! Please continue to pray and seek God’s direction in our effort to care for these families!
 
Grace and Peace
 
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

Resident Bishop
Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
 
DISTRICT CONFERENCE DATE
Our District Conference will be Sunday, November 14 at 2:00 pm via ZOOM.
Nominations Committee Begins Work for 2022
Please be in prayer for members of the District Nominations Committee as they begin to fill the slate of District Positions for 2022. We've listed the members below.

If you're interested in serving on a District Committee or Position, please contact one of these folks or email Lynn at the District Office.

Charles Ledlum-Bates
Terry Bain
Dave Berry
Bert Cloud
Penny Kelly
Bob Pickett
 Robb Almy
Sandra Hooks 
Deb Myers
Peggy Clark
Audrey Lowery
Debbie Messick
Connie Devenport
Bryan McClain

We are seeking nominations for District Lay Members to the 2022 Annual Conference (June 16 – 18, 2022 in Hampton).
 
We will accept nominations by email or mail. Since our District Conference will be virtual, we will vote on the ballot as a whole – not on individual nominees. We will put the first 19 eligible nominees received on the ballot. The next 7 eligible nominees received will be listed as alternates.  Any additional nominations received after this first 26 and any nominated during our District Conference will be added to the alternate list. 
 
Pastors and laity are urged to submit names for nomination to the District Office no later than November 1, 2021. If you are nominating someone else, please be sure to obtain your nominee’s permission prior to filling out this form.

The form should be emailed to rappahannockriverdistrict@vaumc.org or mailed to PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501. Never mail anything to the street address.
 
Please note that to be elected as a District Lay Member, a person must have been a member of the United Methodist Church for the 2 years preceding their election and shall have been an active participant in the United Methodist Church for at least 4 years preceding their election. This requirement may be waived for nominees under 30 years of age (contact the DS for approval).
Rappahannock River District offering fall virtual Lay Servant Training

The Rappahannock River District is pleased to offer another Virtual Lay Servant Training this fall. These classes will be held via Zoom and are open to all districts.

The classes will be held on consecutive Saturdays (September 18, 25, & October 2). The classes offered include:

  • Basic (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • United Methodist Heritage (1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
  • Called to Preach (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
  • 
Registration should be submitted no later than September 13, 2021. Learn more...

Lay Servant Training is a leadership development program for any and all laity in the UMC. It can help anyone who is interested in learning more in their pursuit of being a better leader and servant for Christ’s church. If you are a Lay Servant, you must attend the ENTIRE course in order to receive credit for certification or recertification. Recertification is required every three years for both Certified Lay Servants and Certified Lay Speakers.
Foundation Office Grants
The Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 grant awards. Please visit https://vaumfoundation.org/about-us/grants/ for an application, guidelines for each type of grant and instructions on how to submit a completed application package. Deadline to submit an application is October 31, 2021. Questions? Email us at foundationgrants@vaumc.org.

804-521-1121 
Special and Sustaining Grant Applications for 2022
 
SPECIAL PROGRAM GRANTS are designed for programs outside of normal conference and local church funding processes. They are intended to provide funding for the first three years of innovative programs of tangible and caring outreach that is beyond a local church’s current financial resources.
 
SUSTAINING PROGRAM GRANTS are designed for programs outside of normal conference and local church funding processes. They are intended to provide funding for the sustaining of innovative programs of tangible and caring outreach that is beyond a local church’s current financial resources. They are for churches of all ethnic groups and should help the church requesting the funding to relate to the ethnic groups within its community. 
 
The purpose of these grants is to encourage churches of all ethnic groups to move from an emphasis on self-care to an emphasis on reaching out to the local community in the name of Christ. In every ethnic group, vital and creative outreach ministries by United Methodist churches produce vital, self-sufficient, and growing local churches. Because it is important that outreach ministries have the support of the whole church, the church council or other appropriate body must approve the project prior to submission for a grant request.
 
These grants are for program expenses and not for building projects. Program expenses would include “consumables” necessary to facilitate a particular ministry and only under the most unusual of circumstances include salaries or compensation for workers or coordinators of the ministries beyond the local church.
 
Normally, a project will not be funded for more than three years. All local church programs should strive for self-sufficiency within the three-year period. Funding is paid in the month following each quarter and is contingent upon the receipt of satisfactory quarterly reports from the project. If a quarterly report is not received, the next payment cannot be made. Please note that no application will be considered without the District Superintendent’s approval and signature. Applications are available below. They are due in the Office of Connectional Ministries by November 1. Questions may be directed to Bev Myers at BevMyers@vaumc.org  
 
Applications are due in the Office of Connectional Ministries by October 15, 2021.
Click anywhere on flyer for more information on Bible Land Exploration Trip
Part-Time Custodian
Eastland UMC in Fredericksburg is looking to hire a part time custodian starting immediately. Pay is $75/week. A job description is available from the Rev. Bob Gochenour at bobgochenour@vaumc.org.
Job Opening
Regester Chapel UMC in Stafford is seeking a Director of Music Ministry. Please click here for a complete job description.
  CONTACT INFORMATION

District Superintendent: Rev. Charles F. Ledlum-Bates, Ph.D.

2020 District Co-Lay Lay Leader:

2020 District Co-Lay Leader:

Lay Servant Director: Ms. Jennifer Robinson O'Brien fxbcryptkeeper@gmail.com
Youth Coordinator: TJ Oliver, rrdyouth@vaumc.org
Office Manager: Lynn Manley rappahannockriverdistrict@vaumc.org
Administrative Assistant Connie Devenport conniedevenport@vaumc.org


Mailing Address: PO BOX 100, Ladysmith, VA 22501 Phone   804.448.8326
Office Location: Inside Wright’s Chapel UMC at 8063 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, VA (do not use for mail)