January 29, 2022

Friends, 

The Board of Ordained Ministry will begin its holy work on Sunday. The leadership of the United Methodist Church is shared between laity and clergy, each filling valuable and essential roles. For those who discern a call to ministry, the UMC ordination process is a long and intentional process. It can be stressful for all candidates, but we acknowledge that for LGBTQ+ siblings who discern a call to ordained ministry in the UMC, the ordination process presents an additional burden. We have shared a blog post on our website that includes a letter written by a United Methodist clergyperson who has navigated this process. Their letter is addressed to LBGTQ+ candidates who are not safe sharing their full identity. Prayers abound as we move into the season of Ordination Interviews.   

It's also important to note that the Virginia Conference is holding a Special Annual Conference session tomorrow, January 29 at 9:30 a.m. The session is focused on one issue, the settlement with the Boy Scouts of America. As announced on January 10, the Virginia Annual Conference was asked to pay $988,456 as part of the $30 million total United Methodist settlement with the survivors of child sexual abuse as part of the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy. If you are a voting member of the Annual Conference, we encourage you to attend this session and vote your conscience. You can learn more on the conference website's home page.

News continues to develop as we look toward the twice-delayed General Conference, currently scheduled for Aug. 29-Sept. 6 in Minneapolis. The pandemic continues to make holding this global event a challenge. The Commission on the General Conference, which organizes the international assembly, expects to decide by the end of March whether the meeting can go forward as scheduled.

Many are growing weary as the waiting and uncertainty continue. A special online session of the North Central Jurisdiction, which includes 10 conferences in the Midwest, ratified a statement called “Covenant to Build BeLoved Community” by a vote of 135-32. It calls on the jurisdiction to work to end racism and to create a culture that welcomes and affirms LGBTQ+ people. Iowa Conference Bishop Laurie Haller then announced that in her conference, "pastors will be able to choose which weddings they officiate, as long as it is two consenting adults who have been counseled. Likewise, church leadership, in consultation with their pastors, will be able to determine their own policy regarding weddings.” CLICK HERE for a full update in Heather Hahn's UM New article.

We are continuing to collect and share reflections from both congregations (or small groups within a congregation) and community organizations across Virginia who are also working for full inclusion of LGBTQ+ siblings. This is an opportunity to hear community voices and embrace the power of organizing and standing firm in long term commitments to inclusion. If you are part of a congregation or organization working for inclusion, please share this with the communication leaders and consider sharing your group’s story.

May we all remain in prayer that God's Spirit would lead and guide our Church. Thanks for being a part of this movement in Virginia and beyond.

Grace and Peace,


Rev. Josh Blakely
Rev. Beth Givens
Rev. Kendra Grimes
Ashley Parker

VA Methodists for a New Thing Leadership Team