Praying, Worshipping and Serving Together

The Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (VAUMC) has more than 800 churches throughout most of the state of Virginia, except for the far southwest part of the state. Delegates and clergy from all these churches met at Annual Conference, where we prayed, we worshiped, and we celebrated. 

We started the days with programs to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the granting of full clergy rights to women and the 30th anniversary of the creation of the order of deacons. As one of the days we met was June 19, we had a Juneteenth service of remembrance and celebration of our African American members and churches. And marking the 60th anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. M.J. Kim, the first Asian elder ordained in the Southeastern Jurisdiction (SEJ) of the United Methodist Church, we celebrated the contribution to our church of Asian Americans.

In conjunction with the celebration of Asian American ministries, there was created a new fund, named in honor for the Rev. M.J. Kim, the first Korean pastor to also serve our annual conference. Rev. Kim came to Virginia in the late 1950s as a young adult and is now 92 years old! This fund will support our growing number of immigrant pastors serving in Virginia. Particularly in the current atmosphere of immigration uncertainty, as well as the more general needs of immigrant pastors, this fund is designed to give our immigrant ministers much needed support.

This year at Virginia Annual Conference, there was also adopted a new program run by the conference designed to help those churches that do not use professional services to handle paying their pastors and preparing their W2’s; this was adopted because some churches have had problems in getting their pastor’s pay and W2’s accurate and timely.

One of the hard and sad responsibilities of Annual Conference is formally closing churches that can no longer remain viable. This year, twelve congregations were closed. Six were on the Eastern Shore, and one was here in our region: Arlington Temple UMC in Rosslyn. Known by many as “the church above the gas station,” Arlington Temple served a unique ministry in the heart of a rapidly changing neighborhood. As development intensified and demographics shifted, the congregation discerned that they could no longer continue. Their faithful presence in Rosslyn will be deeply missed.

Placed before the Conference was a resolution calling upon the government of Virginia to pay more attention to the adverse impacts of data centers. This resolution produced the most discussion from the floor of the Conference. Although the clear consensus of the delegates was in favor of the intent of the resolution, the delegates felt the resolution as worded was not sufficiently supported and sent it back to be rewritten to address the concerns voiced by the Conference.

There were also several programs associated with Annual Conference, but not a formal part of it, to serve the church and its missions. Two of them were the Crop Drop, hosted by the Society of Saint Andrew and United Methodist Men; which during the Conference bagged 20,000 pounds of gleaned potatoes. There was also a Reconciling Ministries Network dinner (this is the photo above!) that featured a discussion of how our Methodist campus ministers are supporting LGBTQIA+ students who are attending universities and colleges in Virginia.

In recognition that Methodism is but one expression of our Christian faith, Annual Conference was addressed by Bishop Phyllis Blair Milton of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Bishop Gayle Lewis of the Episcopal Church participated in the ordination of our new elders. 

As a part of Annual Conference, retiring ministers are recognized and new deacons, lay ministers, and licensed local pastors, are presented as they enter the service of the church, and new elders are ordained. This year two deacons and ten elders were newly ordained.

The theme of this year’s annual conference was “Reclaiming the Heart of Methodism,” which includes both personal holiness and social holiness working together and feeding off each other. As our denomination moves on from the recent time of controversy, division, and separation, there is the hope that the United Methodist Church can move into a season of renewal. An active and involved laity has always been a vital part of Methodism, and thus this renewal must include the vital participation of the laity. There are 8.6 million people who live within the geographical boundaries of the Virginia Annual Conference; almost all, 99.7%, live within a 15-minute drive of at least one of our United Methodist Churches! The potential for the church’s ministry is out there, if we can only meet the need.

Read: Philippians 1:3 - 10 (NIV)

Reflection Questions

Prayer

Holy and Faithful God,

We give you thanks for the gift of connection — for the ways you bind us together across churches, counties, and communities. As we receive Richard’s witness from this year's Annual Conference, open our hearts to the movement of your Spirit in the stories he brings home. Thank you for the glimpses of your grace at work in our wider church — in ministries that feed and shelter, in the courage of immigrant clergy, in the leadership of laity and young people, in celebrations of calling, justice, and renewal. Let these testimonies strengthen our hope and deepen our gratitude.

We also hold before you the tender places he named — congregations closing, communities in transition, and the grief that comes with change. Meet us with compassion and teach us to trust that you are still completing the good work you began in us.

As Paul prayed for the Philippians, we pray for ourselves:

Let our love abound more and more with wisdom, insight, and courage. Where we are hesitant, make us bold. Where we are weary, make us steadfast. Where we are divided, make us one in Christ. Send us from this moment with renewed purpose — ready to bear the fruit of righteousness, ready to serve our neighbors with joy, ready to live as people shaped by grace.

In the name of Jesus, who holds us in his heart and sends us in his love. Amen.