Staff Services To District and Local ChurchesCHILDREN’S MINISTRIES AND DISCIPLESHIP—Ann Davis Resource the local church in all areas of ministries to children, including Sunday School and child protection (Safe Sanctuaries), as well as discipleship ministries for all ages. Staff liaison with the Children's Initiative Committee (which involves advocacy, education, the Children's Initiative grants, and the All God's Children Camps for children of incarcerated mothers), the Board of Discipleship (Divisions of Education, Worship and Spiritual Formation) and Christian Educator's Fellowship. CHURCH DEVELOPMENT, EVANGELISM AND ETHNIC MINISTRIES—Anna Gail Workman Assists districts and local churches as they discover their opportunities to extend the church’s witness into new or changing communities using a variety of models; provides training and resources to congregations considering the purchase of land and/or the construction of new church facilities; assists congregations and districts with demographic information about their community; works with existing congregations to examine their church health through the Natural Church Development system; equips local churches and districts through training to develop effective evangelism ministries; facilitates the development of ministries among African American, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American communities. Works with the Division of Evangelism of the Board of Discipleship, with the Church Development division of the Board of Global Ministries, with the Ethnic Local Church Concerns committee and with Equitable Compensation.
COMMUNICATIONS—Linda S. Rhodes, Director of Communications/Executive Editor of the Neill Caldwell--Virginia Advocate/Journal Editor/ and Publications Associate Bryan Compton—Computer Information Technology Coordinates the many aspects of print and electronic media for the conference; maintains the conference database, website and information technology systems; publishes the Virginia Advocate, Sunday Advocate, Journal, Clergy/Diaconal Directory, and assorted brochures for agencies and staff; produces and distributes DVDs for the conference; hosts on-line learning and provide on-line registration with a secure credit card site; assists in benevolence interpretation; maintains an extensive Media Center; provides Igniting Ministry training and grants; supervises the release of conference news and acts as its public relations agency; and resources the local church as it develops effective communication strategies.
DIRECTOR OF CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES — Marc Brown HIGHER EDUCATION AND SOCIAL CONCERNS MINISTRIES — Raymond H. Edmonds Jr. Interpret mission and programs of our conference schools and campus ministries; oversight of Wesley Foundations and ecumenical campus ministries for the Board of Higher Education Ministries; provide college-bound and preparatory school persons with information about our conference schools, scholarships, etc.; resource training events and experiences related to higher education and student concerns. Serves as staff person for the Board of Higher Education Ministries, the Society for Wesleyan Studies, the Commission on Religion and Race, and the Board of Church and Society.
HISPANIC/LATINO MINISTRIES – Ileana Rosario
LAY LIFE AND WORK, DISABILITIES, AND OLDER ADULT MINISTRIES — Martha E. Stokes Assists local churches with all areas of lay life and work including lay leadership, retreats and conferences, stewardship, and scouting. Provides resources, support, and program ministries for older adults, persons with disabilities and challenging health conditions, and mental health/mental illness. Specific program ministries in this area include Camp Rainbow Connection, parish nursing, and Virginia Interfaith Committee on Mental Illness Ministries (VICOMIM). Serves as staff for Health & Welfare/Relief Division under Board of Global Ministries, Board of Laity, United Methodist Men and United Methodist Women.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (LDI) — Thomas L. Joyce The Institute is charged with helping to equip local church leaders for effective ministry especially in the areas of clergy and congregational vitality; conflict management; clergy development; multi-staff team building; and understanding the cutting edges of societal change. The guiding principles of LDI are: God calls us to renewal. Servanthood is primary. Lifelong learning is at the heart of spiritually centered leadership. Laity and clergy are called into partnership.
MINISTERIAL SERVICES — Beth C. Downs Provides primary staff support to the Board of Ordained Ministry. This office offers support and information for clergy, diaconal ministers, and certified lay professional in the following areas: distribution of Ministerial Education Funds for continuing education and financial aid for seminary students, clergy families, publication of the Thrival Kit for clergy families, clergy effectiveness and evaluation, resources for S/PPRC’s, a Handbook for Local Pastors and Associate Members, extension ministries, district chaplains’ ministry, Ministerial Family Counseling Program, resources and training in sexual ethics, Ministers’ Convocation, Licensing School, Probationary Process, seminary visitation, self-care, Exploration Events for high school and college students, and the Orders of Deacon and Elder, the Fellowship of Diaconal Ministers, and the Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members.
The primary mission is to serve as a resource to the congregations and districts for stewardship education and programs throughout the Conference. To promote the Scriptural and spiritual tenets of Christian stewardship and tithing as the basic tenant of all programs is the emphasis. And to assist and to provide training for the development of discovering effective stewardship of God’s creation as a response to God’s gifts and callings is a way of life for all God’s people.
TREASURER/BUSINESS MANAGEMENT — Dennis H. Scheer Consult with local church Finance Committees and other local church administrative bodies; advise on establishing local church accounting systems; consult on various insurance programs; interpretation of conference benevolences and apportionments; workshops on stewardship and internal controls of local church finances; interpretation of tax responsibilities and equitable compensation.
YOUTH, YOUNG ADULT, AND SINGLES MINISTRIES - Angie Williams Staff person for the Virginia Conference Councils on Youth, Young Adult, and Singles Ministries. Primary responsibilities include: 1) providing training to local churches and districts to help them further develop their ministries to young people and singles, 2) serving as a resource to local churches and districts in a wide variety of ways in the areas of youth, young adult, and singles ministries, 3) designing and implementing spiritual growth and mission opportunities for churches around the conference in the areas of youth, young adult, and singles ministries. Contact person for Youth Service Fund grants.
|