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Back to Basics: Revisiting Our Social and Spiritual Roots 4-7 Commentary March 2017 $2$2 BackRevisiting our socialto and basics spiritual roots March_2017.indd 1 2/6/2017 7:24:47 PM Vol. 185 •March 2017 • No.3 Connecting with the Virginia Advocate The official magazine of the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church PILLOW TALK P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058 Phone: 1-800-768-6040 or 804-521-1100 I think in the months to come there will be a lot of Fax: 804-521-1174 E-mail: [email protected] soul searching and identity crises with the election Website: www.vaumc.org Detailed guidelines for the following of President Trump, as his election has been both lauded and available upon request. denounced by equally vocal sides of our nation and even now as he Subscriptions moves ahead on promises made in his campaign. Print subscriptions are $20/one year; $30/ two years; $40/three years. Special bulk This election has highlighted divides against Trump supporters, rate for five or more copies going to a liberals, immigrants…and the list goes on and on. single address is $12 each for one year. For both printed copy and online access, The news coverage and our current society has made me think subscriptions are $25/year; $35/two years; Madeline Pillow often of this Bible passage: $45/three years. For online only, cost is Editor $10/year; $15/two years; $20/three years. “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty Subscribe online at www.vaumc.org, under “Resources>Publications.” and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not Deadlines invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick The Advocate is published once a month. and in prison and you did not look after me.’ The deadline to submit news and ad copy for the April 2017 issue is February 24. For more “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or information on future deadlines, contact the thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did Advocate office or visit the website. not help you?’ Advertising/Tributes “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one Rates for advertising and tributes are avail- able upon request. of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ MATTHEW 25:42-45 Local Church News The What Jesus called us to and still calls us to is radical love (see Items should be typed (preferably sent via above). Nothing about his ministry was safe — remember his death, e-mail) or printed legibly, no more than Stranger 100 words, and of conference-wide interest. think about the ministry of Peter and of Paul. Our faith is covered with Complete names of individuals, churches and districts should be included. Because of space the bodies of martyrs — of blood given in God’s name — scenes of limitations, the Local Church section prohib- fire and blood and death. its news items related to church members’ birthdays (of less than 100 years), wedding st Maybe we as Christians need a reminder in radical love. As 21 anniversaries, receptions for moving and/or century people of faith, are we willing to sacrifice and enter the life of retiring pastors, photos of traditional Chris- mon trees or Easter trees/crosses, and any the stranger? item over two months old. Color photos are encouraged. Photos returned only if But no, God couldn’t be calling us to that kind of faith. Why would submitted with a stamped, self-addressed he call us into the fear, uncertainty and uncomfortableness of a radi- envelope. Photos included on a space available basis. The editor reserves the cal faith? Best to leave that to the prophets, to the Peters and Pauls. right to edit all copy or refuse publication. Radical love is not easy. In Paul’s case, it didn’t always offer the Letters best accommodations (see; jail cells). But in this world, in this political Letters to the Editor are printed on a space- climate, it is time to be church. It’s time to welcome the stranger. available basis. Letters should be limited to 150 words for space reasons. The Advocate I would caution us from becoming Christians who close themselves will not print letters addressing a topic beyond two months of the publication of that issue. off. After all, what purpose is a Christian who has boundaries? What The Advocate editor reserves the right to good is a heart for God that is only willing to be faithful so long as the edit all letters. journey is easy, safe and clear? ©2017 Virginia Advocate The world is looking at those of faith and finding us wanting. Be- USPS 660-740 ISSN 0891-5598 Published monthly by Virginia United Meth- lieve me, that makes me take pause when a secular world is wonder- odist Communications, Inc., an agency of the ing about our morality — and that should make us all take pause. Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at I implore Christians to a radical direction that will lead you past Glen Allen, Va., and at additional mailing of- fices. The Virginia United Methodist Advocate your politics. No matter who you are or your political affiliation, there is owned by Virginia United Methodist Com- is a stranger to be welcomed. That stranger, as Jesus says in Matthew munications, Inc. 25, is also him. Will you open the door? POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Virginia United Methodist Advocate, P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058. Editorial and business offices are located at 10330 Staples Mill Rd., Glen Allen, Va. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 2 VIRGINIA ADVOCATE | MARCH 2017 March_2017.indd 2 2/6/2017 7:24:48 PM TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTIONS FEATURE 14-23 Back to basics: Revisiting our social and spiritual roots 4-7 Commentary 8-11 Virginia News STORIES 12 Local Church News 8 Convocation calls pastors and churches to ‘fresh vision’ UM Day Celebration honors past accomplishments, highlights 13 Equipping for Ministry 10 continuing advocate work 24-26 Living the Word 11 Foundation office supported additional ministries in 2016 26-27 Events 28-29 Clergy & Diaconal 30 From the Bishop 31 One Last Word Cover: A statue of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, stands in the center of campus at Asbury Theo- logical Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS The Virginia Advocate Staff Madeline Pillow | Editor, Director of Communications Cathryn Huff | Graphic Designer Pam Culler | Administrative Secretary Board of Directors of Virginia United Methodist Communications, Inc.: Keri Marston, chair. The Virginia United Methodist Advocate uses the services of United Methodist Communications and United Methodist News Ser- Scan this code to go to the vice. The reporting of news regarding any person or event, or the placement of any advertisement within these conference website: pages, does not constitute endorsement by the Virginia Advocate or any entity of The United Methodist Church. www.vaumc.org Opinions of writers are solely those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. VIRGINIA ADVOCATE | MARCH 2017 3 March_2017.indd 3 2/6/2017 7:24:48 PM COMMENTARY Controversy about that phrase worked itself central issues of sexual- into the rest of our Book ity and faith are about the sexuality is not of Discipline to prohibit the choices we have, not the new ordaining and appointment choices we don’t have. of clergy who identified as Controversy about By Rob Vaughn gay. sexuality is not new. For In addition to the para- example, Methodists have ur Book of Discipline graph on “homosexual- always been concerned Ois one of the many ity” in our Social Principle with marriage — some- blessings John Wesley and statement on “human times the issue is marrying early Methodist minds sexuality,” there are other an unbeliever or remarriage created for how we would topics about sexuality such after divorce. Today, the work together to make as: family, marriage and dominate question is how disciples of Jesus Christ. At divorce, single persons, do we embrace same-gen- the beginning of the Book gender equality, family der marriage? of Discipline are our Social violence and sexual abuse, But that’s not necessar- Principles, added in 1972, sexual harassment and ily the dominant question building upon Methodism’s much more. elsewhere. In the German 1908 Social Creed. The As a denomination, we Central Conference’s social Social Principles express would not have so much principles about marriage, our concern for personal trouble with questions there’s different language. and social transformation about sexual minorities For example, the language as well as our convic- had we paid attention to of “the marriage bond” tions about who we are building a solid foundation reads “a binding partner- as Christ-followers in the developing an apprecia- ship.” Such a change seeks Methodist tradition. tion of God’s good gift of to keep the historic essence The Social Principles are sexuality. New York Times of teaching about mar- revised every four years columnist David Brooks riage while broadening its through the participatory noted that much of our reach to a younger genera- practice of General Confer- public conversations re- tion. In the Africa Central ence. Like other legislative cently are over-politicized Conference, Methodist processes, it’s messy. But and under-moralized. That social teaching on marriage it is also an expression of could be said of our con- addresses issues unfamiliar what it means to follow versations before and after to the United States and Jesus in the day-to-day is- our General Conferences.
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