News and Information
News and Information
Find articles written by our District Superintendents, Lay Leaders, Staff, and more here.
Neighboring
“Good morning, neighbor!” I have heard myself say these exact words on more than one occasion recently. My husband and I established a routine during our COVID-19 lockdown of taking a walk through the neighborhood each morning. As we walk, we often see the same groups...
Pandemic & Blitz Leadership
Winston Churchill (on a US Postage Stamp) I don’t think any of us would have believed that 2020 would be like ‘this’! The layers of complexity, creativity, decision making and re-thinking have been immense, and sometimes, as I am sure you will agree, we all just want...
Striving or Stressing
(Adapted from a Lead Like Jesus blog) We hear a lot about striving in the Scriptures. Strive for restoration of relationships (2 Corinthians 13:11). Strive to do what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Strive together in prayer (Romans 15:13). ...
A Wide Welcome
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:7 (New Revised Standard Version) Our theme for charge conferences this year is “See All the People.” We receive this theme from the Virginia annual conference, who is...
2020 Annual Conference Postponed
Because of the technical issues encountered with the Sept. 19 virtual annual conference session, Bishop Sharma D. Lewis announced at 12 noon the decision to invalidate this annual conference and postpone to a later date. “Because of the technical difficulties and...
Democracy, Values and the 2020 Election
One of the most important actions we as citizens can take is to vote. In just a few months we will be deciding on issues and candidates likely to shape the future. How do we as people of faith respond? What values do we uphold? As United Methodists, we are called to...
Be Still
“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”Psalm 46:10 (New Revised Standard Version) Dear Lord: I am trying to be still! In fact, I do not think I have gotten up...
August Book Recommendations
Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi (Bold Type Books, 2016) is a history that is most timely as people across the country are ready and even eager to learn more about a system of racial oppression that has...
Leaving a Legacy
Charles Wesley UMC was a new church plant in McLean, VA when it met for the first time in May 1958. Among the charter members was Janet Nelson Davenport and her young family. Her son, Craig Nelson was the first infant baptized in the church. On December...
“How Do We … Should We … Respond?”
People often react hastily or in anger, especially when difficulties fuel their anger. Yet, God calls us to respond differently than the world. Scripture tells us that we are not to sin in our anger, so it must be possible. What does responding...