Virginia Conference e-advocate
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May 18, 2012, e-advocate
News from the Virginia Conference – May 18, 2012
Conference seeks Assistant Network Administrator/Videographer
The Virginia Conference office of Communications is seeking an Assistant Network Administrator/Videographer to assist the Network Administrator with an array of technical functions associated with managing a highly available, customer-focused IT environment. The position includes responsibility for staffing the Help Desk to provide technology support to conference staff, managing an active directory and assisting in server maintenance. Videographer responsibilities include creating and producing videos to be used by the conference as effective communications tools to describe its mission, vision and ministry. The position reports to the director of Communications. To apply, send resume to Linda Rhodes, director of Communications, at LindaRhodes@vaumc.org or P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058. Applications will be received through June 1. Click here for more information, or go to the Virginia Conference website (www.vaumc.org), click on “Resources,” then “Job Opportunities.”Virginia congregations will help ‘Change the World’
Virginia Conference churches are participating in this weekend’s opportunity to “Change the World” by expressing justice and compassion in their local communities May 19-20. Begun three years ago as part of Rethink Church, this outreach encourages United Methodist Churches to select a mission project and invite others in their communities to participate. More …Bishop Kammerer given Lifetime Ecumenist Award
Virginia Conference Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer received the Lifetime Ecumenist Award from the Virginia Council of Churches at a lunchtime ceremony May 15 at The Brandermill Church in Midlothian. More …Two Virginia ministries receive Peace with Justice grants
Two ministries in the Virginia Conference were awarded Peace with Justice grants by the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS). These were among 22 grants totaling $60,000 awarded in conjunction with the denomination’s Peace with Justice Sunday, which witnesses to God's demand for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world.
JustFaith Christian Leadership Program at Shenandoah University in Winchester will receive $1,600. The program empowers leaders who are committed to spiritual depth and social justice as integral aspects of ministry in a global context. Undergraduate students take six religion courses that provide biblical, theological and theoretical background for JustFaith. In addition, immersion experiences outside the classroom promote spiritual growth and development of practical skills in Bible study, retreat planning and social ministry.
Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church in Alexandria has been approved for $2,500. The funds will support the South County Coalition for the Restoration of Voting Rights, the church’s cross-community project to restore voting rights for ex-felons who have paid their debt to society. The project will run workshops for potential beneficiaries, and refer eligible persons in accessing assistance of pro bono lawyers to have voting rights restored. More …June 3 is Peace with Justice Sunday
Sunday, June 3, is Peace with Justice Sunday, one of six Special Sundays with offering in The United Methodist Church. Traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost, Peace with Justice Sunday can be observed on any Sunday, if a scheduling conflict occurs. The Peace with Justice Sunday special offering supports diverse ministries that challenge war and other forms of violence, as well as injustice, suffering and abuse. Click here for resources.
Half of the offering goes to the general church and half remains for use within the Virginia Conference. The conference Board of Church and Society manages these funds. Currently the board is using a portion of these funds to help underwrite the Disciple University peace with justice initiative across our conference. The board also offers grants to local congregations, district and conference groups to support activities that increase awareness of and bring about peace with justice transformation opportunities. Click here for grant applications and guidelines to seek funding support for your congregation's peace with justice initiatives. Or, go to www.vaumc.org, click on “Ministries,” then “Church and Society,” then “Grants.”UMVIM Team Leader training scheduled for June 2, 9, 16
United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM) Team Leader training has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 2, at Floris UMC, 13600 Frying Pan Rd., Herndon; Saturday, June 9, at Trinity UMC, 903 Forest Ave., Richmond, and Saturday, June 16, at Market Street UMC, 75 Market St., Onancock. Pre-registration is required. Registration payment is due by noon the Monday prior to training. Cost is $40 which includes Team Leader Handbook, snack, lunch and handouts. To register and for more information, go to www.vaumc.org/umvimtraining.Retreat for youth leaders to be July 12-15 at Eagle Eyrie
“Finding Your Own Way” retreat for youth workers, youth leaders and youth pastors will be July 12-15 at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg. Leader will be retreat guru the Rev. Robert Davis of Joplin, Mo. The retreat is limited to the first 40 people to register. Cost is $300. More …Second year of Camp Loud and Clear set for July 13-15
Camp Loud and Clear will be held July 13-15 at Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center in Appomattox County. This is the second year for the camp which is specifically designed to meet the needs of children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing regardless of their degree of hearing loss or their chosen communication mode. Camp Loud and Clear is being supported by the Virginia Conference Commission on Disabilities, Longwood University, Radford University and the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center. More …Mission events for children to be held this summer
“Helping Hands” is a two-day mission experience for rising 4th - to 6th-graders, parents and adult leaders. There are two dates and locations: July 19-20 at Woodlake UMC in Midlothian (click here for more information), and Aug. 6-7 at Williamsburg UMC (click here for more information). Kids can learn about mission opportunities and the importance of being a caring Christian. Cost is $36 per person, which includes a t-shirt, meals, snacks and overnight stay. Each group must have one adult leader for every six children. Churches should register their entire group by getting a flyer and mailing it in. No e-mail or phone registrations. For the Midlothian event, contact Beth Christian at (804) 739-4535, ext. 28, or bchristian@woodlakeumc.org. For the Williamsburg event, contact Cindy Banek at (757) 229-1771 or cbanek@williamsburgumc.org.Mission Encounter set for July 27-29, July 30-Aug. 2
Virginia Conference Mission Encounter 2012 (formerly called School of Christian Mission) is an opportunity for men, women, youths and children to learn about being partners in God’s global mission and to grow spirituality through study and worship. Click here for information about the weekend session July 27-29. Click here to learn about the week-long session July 30-Aug. 2. Both will be at Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center.‘SERVE’ will help students explore call to ministry
Do you know of a high school student who may be interested in or has the potential for ministry? An event at Randolph-Macon College, Aug 5-7, will help students explore this calling. The event, “SERVE,” will have a work camp focus and include small groups, Bible study, recreation, special worship services and much more. Click here for more information, or call Margie Turbyfill at (804) 368-7276, or e-mail margieturbyfill@rmc.edu. The program is co-sponsored by the Bailey Pre-ministerial Program at Randolph-Macon College and the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.‘Tee-ology’ will use golf to understand faith Aug. 7-8
“Tee-ology” will be Tuesday, Aug. 7, through Wednesday, Aug. 8, at Packsaddle Ridge and Retreat at Overlook Retreat and Camp Ministries. Play golf and share insights that use the joy and challenge of golf to help you better understand your faith. The Rev. Dan Garrett (pastor, seminary professor and golf enthusiast) will reflect on the book inspiring the retreat, Tee-ology by John Freeman. Participants will stay and dine at Blessings Lodge at Overlook Retreat and Camp Ministries. Visit the Overlook website for a brochure: www.campoverlook.org. Fee of $145 (for individual) includes two rounds of golf, cart fees, lodging, dinner, breakfast and program fees. Discounts are available for groups of four registering together and for day attendance only.‘Connect with God’ spiritual retreat to be Aug. 17-19
“Connect with God” weekend retreat to focus on your spiritual journey will be Aug. 17-19, at Blessings Lodge at Overlook Retreat and Camp Ministries. Listen to God, pray, share in small groups, experience creative worship and find space for your own deeper reflection. Theme of the retreat is based on James 4:8a, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Cost is $125 per person. Visit the Overlook website for a brochure: www.campoverlook.org.UMCOR, CWS partner in mission to refugees, immigrants
Church World Service (CWS) is partnering with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to provide leadership for UMCOR's historic mission among refugees and immigrants. As ecumenical relations director, Jen Kilps will help get United Methodist congregations involved in resettling the displaced refugees and immigrants, as well as identify local programs for them. More …Celebrate 60 years of US-2s, 35 years of Mission Interns
A conference Aug. 2-5 in Arlington will celebrate, reconnect, educate and inspire people who have been involved with the long-term Young Adult Mission Service programs of The United Methodist Church. These growing programs have sent and supported over 60 years of US-2s and 35 years of Mission Interns. Goal of this conference is to bring alumni and partners together who have been involved in mission and justice work around the world. Participants can expect to network, to learn about groundbreaking efforts led by current partners, and to gain tools and strategies to support alumni’s continued social action work. Three hundred attendees are expected. Click here for more information or to register.GBGM, GBHEM offer new Collegiate Ministries program for young adults
The General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) and the General Board of Higher Education Ministries (GBHEM) have formed a partnership to offer a new Collegiate Ministries program for young adults. Select young adults from the Mission Intern and US-2 programs will be commissioned as Collegiate Ministries Mission Interns and Collegiate Ministries US-2s. The program will allow these young adult missionaries to focus on ministry to college and university students with a justice and service emphasis. More …GCFA offers training for church administration staff
A special training seminar on church administration and administrative duties will be held July 15-20 at the office of the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) in Nashville. GCFA offers this program in support of the Professional Association of United Methodist Church Secretaries (PAUMCS), formed 30 years ago to “provide individual growth, professional development, continuing education, spiritual enrichment and work toward the betterment of The United Methodist Church.” Interested people may contact Cynthia Haralson, GCFA staff person to PAUMCS, at (615) 369-2386 or charalson@gcfa.org.GBOD offers free webinars for church leaders
The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) offers free webinars for congregational leaders. Register at www.gbod.org/adultseminars for the following: June 5 at 7:30 p.m.: How Do Adults Make Decisions? Authority and Issues of Faith; July 24 at 7:30 p.m.: What Happens When the Rules Don’t Work? Critical Thinking and Adult Faith; Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m.: How Adults Learn, Part 1 - The Emotional Aspect of Learning; Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m.: How Adults Learn, Part 2 - The Behavioral Dimension of Learning: Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. How Adults Learn, Part 3 - The Cognitive Dimension of Learning.GBCS seeks director for women’s advocacy
The General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is seeking a director and organizer for women’s advocacy. The opening is part of the board’s Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project, whose mission is to work with and on behalf of women around the globe, particularly those most marginalized, by advocating for the passage of just policies by the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. The director reports to the agency’s chief executive and will work at the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill. Click here to see full job description.
For in-depth news and features about United Methodist mission and ministry, subscribe to the Virginia United Methodist Advocate, the Virginia Conference’s award-winning monthly newsmagazine — now available in both print and digital formats. Click here to subscribe. Or call Peggy Cribbs at 1-800-768-6040, ext. 110, or (804) 521-1110. Or e-mail Advocate@vaumc.org.
