THE RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH A Newsletter of The Richmond District • Virginia Conference • The United Methodist Church July 2020 Welcome to COVID-19 Date Changes Welcome, Farewell and Congratulations! General Conference scheduled to begin May 5, has been rescheduled e welcome the following clergy Rev. Ron White to Providence UMC for August 29-September 7, 2021. who received new appointments (Chesterfield) as associate W VA PAUMCS Spring Event planned for to the Richmond District effective July 1: And wish God’s richest blessings Rev. Pam Anderson to Discovery UMC to these pastors who are leaving the May 27 at the VAUMC Center will be as associate District to begin new adventures in rescheduled. Rev. Hanna Bryn to Discovery UMC as ministry: Annual Conference scheduled for June Minister of Community Discipleship Rev. Sandra Bottoms, to extension 18-20 in Roanoke is being moved to and Youth ministry at Chester Presbyterian September 19 online. Rev. Joshua Dalton to Woodlake UMC Rev. Terry Eum to the Rappahannock The Lay Servant Academy scheduled as associate River District July 17-19 at Randolph-Macon College Rev. Renee Delgado to Good Shepherd Rev. John R. Hall, Sr., retired, to the has been canceled. UMC as Minister of Child Discipleship James River District MIssion Encounter scheduled for July and Worship Rev. Mi Sook Ahn to the York River 24-26 at Smith Mountain Lake has Rev. James Dettmer to Bethel UMC District been canceled. Rev. Shayne Estes to Central UMC Rev. Marilyn Heckstall to the Roanoke Jurisdictional Conference scheduled for Rev. Hikisha Harris to Worship and District July, has been postponed until November Praise UMC as associate Rev. Doug Forrester to the Roanoke 10-12, 2021. Rev. Amy Wolz Johnson to District as Superintendent Mechanicsville UMC Rev. Michael Whaley to the Elizabeth Rev. Michael Kendall to Duncan River District UM Center Closings Memorial UMC And prayers for a blessed retirement he VAUMC Conference Center and Rev. Eunji Kim to Fairmount UMC for: Tthe Richmond District Office have Rev. Hyeon Ho Lee to Laurel Hill UMC Rev. Burt Brooks reopened for staff only effective July Lay Supply Joe Maslanka to Mt. Rev. Pam Culler 6. Please call, 521-1124, to set a time Hermon and Prospect UMCs Rev. Marie Misiaszek for a Zoom meeting or phone visit. Rev. Mike Mayton to Bon Air UMC Rev. John R. Hall, Sr. Rev. Peter Moon to Reveille UMC Rev. Dorothy McNeer O’Quinn Rev. Lynda Moore to Asbury UMC Rev. Kerry Boggs INSIDE (Church Hill) Rev. Sheldon McLeod Rev. Archana Samuel to Sherbourne Rev. Yunho Eo A Word from the Superintendent .......2 UMC Rev. Gay Hall Welcome Our New DS ..............................2 Rev. Jim Sprouse to Huguenot UMC Rev. Mark Ogren All God’s Children Camp Canceled ......3 Rev. David Torrence to Willis UMC Rev. Kathy Talley Opportunities ..............................................4 Page 2 RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH July 2020 Welcome Our New DS Richmond District e welcome WRev. Dr. Hyo Lee as our The Virginia Conference • United Methodist Church P.O. Box 5606 • Glen Allen, Virginia 23058 new District Telephone (804) 521-1124 • Fax (804) 521-1175 • [email protected] Superintendent. Dr. Lee was born July 2020 in South Korea in 1964, and raised in Dear laity and clergy of the Richmond District, a Christian home through the faith As we live through and engage in ministry in this unprecedented time, I of his mother and pray that God’s marvelous grace and Christ’s life-giving power to uphold you grandmother. through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. After graduating from Yonsei University, Until a few days ago, just like you I was on the front lines of ministries of one of the schools established by recording messages for online, experimenting with drive in service, having Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries in 1885, he served three years in the multiple zoom meetings, discussing financial matters with the leadership Army as an officer. In 1990, he came while seeking ways to provide pastoral support to those who are scared, to the States to further his theological mourn, and angry. Through all, people often asked, “Pastor, will we be ever education. He completed his M.Div. the same again, ever? When do you think we will open?” from McCormick Theological Seminary, At the same time, since February I had the honor of working closely and Ph.D., from Vanderbilt University with Bishop Lewis and the cabinet members as a District Superintendent Graduate School. He was ordained in designee. Many times, I witnessed our Bishop and the cabinet fast, pray, and the Tennessee Annual Conference as seek God’s guidance because they deeply care for the churches and the an elder in 1999, and transferred to clergy. Through this transition process, I learned that we are dealing with the Virginia Conference in 2000. He many unknowns, and we don’t have all the answers. previously served churches in Arlington, Besides, I have personal anxieties as I moved to this new role of Danville, Winchester, and Alexandria districts. While serving a local church superintendency. I am not sure whether I am qualified to serve as a District in Winchester, he also taught biblical Superintendent especially in time like this. While many congratulated me, studies at Shenandoah University. He they also commented, “This is difficult time to be DS. I will pray for you!” has served on the District Committee of Besides, English is not my first language, I have fear whether people would Ordained Ministries, Conference Board of understand me with my accent. And then, there is that big “what if with the Ordained Ministries, CEMCA, and Asian General Conference.” Do I have the courage to do what God asked me to do American Ministers’ Associations. Rev. at all cost? Lee and his wife, Kay, who is a registered So, I lost some sleep. Yet, in spite of these anxieties, I believe the good nurse, have two children, Joshua and news that Christ the risen Lord is still the head of the church, his body. His Sophia living in the Washington D.C. authority and power is “far above all rule and authority and power and area. dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.” And our God, “by the power at work within us is Prayers for... able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.” The family of the Rev. Henry Mason, (Ephesians 1:21, 3:20, Italics added, NRSV). This means, in spite of the virus member of Lakeside UMC, retired and its negative impacts on our lives, in spite of our struggle for racial justice, minister of another UM conference, in spite of our worry for our future as a denomination, the risen Lord reigns and former professional baseball player in the Negro Leagues, who died and God’s mighty power is working in us; therefore, we can accomplish new June 4. and great things with God. The family of Marion Dillard, widow This is the good news I believe. Would you remember this good news and of the Rev. F. Douglas Dillard, who was ask the Lord to show you and your churches awesome and exciting ways to the Conference director of Council on serve the Lord far more than you have been thinking or imagining? Ministries, who died June 17. Rev. Judy Oguich, Trinity, on the death In the Lord, of her mother, Mildred Clegg, who died June 13 in Ohio. Rev. Denise Watkins, St. Andrew’s UMC, whose mother in WV has had a Hyo Lee, Richmond District Superintendent serious stroke. Rev. Louis Carson, retired, on the death of his wife, Geneva, June 6. Rev. Owen Taylor, Beaverdam and Rouzie’s Chapel UMCs, who will have gall bladder surgery on July 9. July 2020 RICHMOND DISTRICT DISPATCH Page 3 New Conference Website Unveiled ou may have noticed a new Yconference website was quietly Clergy Facebook Group launched recently. The Conference istrict clergypeople are invited to Communications staff is thrilled to Djoin us on Facebook at https://www. release this new resource and the facebook.com/groups/625932661327796/. new possibilities it allows for future communications and resources. This group is dedicated to our Look around the website at www. Richmond District Clergy. We want to 2020 camp dates cancelled vaumc.org to familiarize yourself with help keep our clergy resourced and the new features and the new layout. for All God’s Children Camp he All God’s Children Camp board encouraged! Please use this page to You will notice the magnifying glass icon share valuable resources that help you at the top right of the website which Tmet and it is with a heavy heart in your ministry so that others can will allow you to search the website for that camp will be cancelled for this also benefit! If you have any specific anything you might need. summer. The leadership team shared questions for our Richmond DS, please Unfortunately, all the internal and in a statement, “This decision was email him directly at <RichmondDS@ external links had to be changed with not made lightly but felt this was the vaumc.org>. the move to a new platform and host. best decision we could make given Richmond District Please be aware of this if you have the circumstances and information we shared documents from the conference have regarding COVID-19. Please pray for COVID-19 Resources website. You will need to redo links you our staff, our mentors and our campers here are an abundance of resources have shared in the past. who will be missing their yearly Tavailable to local churches pursuing If you have questions, please email reunion with each other and will be ministry during this time of Coronavirus.