Change is hard. It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable. But change can also be positive. It can allow for growth and vitality and opportunities!
This past July, Bishop Lewis appointed eight district superintendents to the sixteen districts in the Virginia Conference. Now she has asked each of those district pairs to develop plans by which the two districts can become one new district. We here in Alexandria and Arlington Districts have an advantage. We have long had opportunities for Bi-District events; for example, Bi-District Training Day, District Conference, and the annual United Methodist Women Bi-District Day. These joint events have prepared us to become one new district.
We are asked to develop a draft plan for the structure of this new district during the month of November, to be presented to the Cabinet in mid-December. The Annual Conference will vote on this redistricting in June 2022, which would then go into effect in July 2022. As we prepare our plan, we need to hear from you, the laity of the two districts. What do you want to keep? What is no longer serving us? And if we could create something new, what might that be?
You have several opportunities to speak up. Please fill out the survey, linked here. Consider participating in a listening session on November 11 at 7:30 p.m., via Zoom. The link to registration is here. Attend District Conference on November 20, via Zoom. You can find that link here.
Finally, two further opportunities to learn more about the mission and the work of the church are upcoming. For lay leaders, SPRC members, finance committee members, and trustees; specialized training will be held Nov. 29 – Dec. 2 from 7-9 p.m. via Zoom. Register here. Additionally, all interested laity are invited to attend Bi-District Training Day on January 15, with registration opening in early December.
We want to hear from you! Please plan to join us at one or more of these events.
Karen McElfish John Meeuwissen
Arlington District Lay Leader Alexandria District Lay Leader