March 2016 $2$2 Vol. 184 • March 2016 • 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 “I have to try, but I do not have to succeed. Following Christ has noth- 804-521-1100 ing to do with success as the world sees it. It has to do with love.” Fax: 804-521-1174 E-mail: [email protected] – Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water Website: www.vaumc.org Detailed guidelines for the following At the end of January, I, along with our Communications director available upon request. and videographer, traveled to Portland, Ore., for the United Method- ist Association of Communicators meeting as well as the Pre-General Subscriptions Print subscriptions are $15/one year; $25/ Conference Briefing. It was a good time to meet people in the com- two years; $36/three years. Special bulk munication industry, learn more about what to expect at General rate for five or more copies going to a single address is $12 each for one year. Subscrip- Madeline Pillow Conference and explore Portland. tions are $20/year for both printed copy and Editor I admit that in planning for this trip, I knew that visiting Voodoo online access. For online only, cost is $10/ year. Subscribe online at www.vaumc.org, Doughnut was high on the priority list. But I also wanted to go where under “Resources>Publications.” the locals were, to see the places they have carved out for them- selves. Something I wasn’t prepared for were the number of homeless Deadlines The Advocate is published once a month. that we saw on the streets. The deadline to submit news and ad copy In talking with a pastor from the Pacific Northwest Conference, she for the April 2016 issue is March 1. For more information on future deadlines, contact the said that this is due in part to the lack of churches and shelters in the Advocate office or visit the website. city. But it is also because Portland is a large hub for victims of human Advertising/Tributes trafficking. Rates for advertising and tributes are avail- Clutching my bag of doughnuts (you can’t have just one) and being able upon request. asked by person after person for money, I asked myself not to forget Local Church News Missing the faces. There’s a part of me that wants to. The part that wants Items should be typed (preferably sent via to pretend that we don’t live in a world where people are homeless, e-mail) or printed legibly, no more than the 100 words, and of conference-wide interest. hungry and taken against their will. The part that reminds me that no Complete names of individuals, churches and matter where I am, there is hurt all around. districts should be included. Because of space landmarks limitations, the Local Church section prohib- But it’s true. It’s such a common way of life for many people that its news items related to church members’ it seems so overwhelming to resolve. In 2014, Seattle, Wash.; Los An- birthdays (of less than 100 years), wedding anniversaries, receptions for moving and/or geles, Calif.; and Portland each declared a state of emergency in terms retiring pastors, photos of traditional Chris- of homelessness. According to the Portland Housing Bureau, around mon trees or Easter trees/crosses, and any 4,000 persons spend the night in shelters or on the street every night. item over two months old. Color photos are encouraged. Photos returned only if And while I’m left with the sweet thought of doughnuts in Port- submitted with a stamped, self-addressed land or the great food and fellowship we experienced, I also brought envelope. Photos included on a space available basis. The editor reserves the back other landmarks. For me these landmarks weren’t just statues. right to edit all copy or refuse publication. They are real people. The people living in tents under bridges or Letters standing on street corners by food trucks with their children and pets. Letters to the Editor are printed on a space- It makes me think about my own, relatively new home of Rich- available basis. Letters should be limited to mond. What people and situations do I pass by on a regular basis 150 words for space reasons. The Advocate will not print letters addressing a topic beyond because I just get used to their presence? What do visitors who come two months of the publication of that issue. to the city see as landmarks that maybe aren’t so pretty? The Advocate editor reserves the right to edit all letters. This is present in every town and city, state and country: the things that we think are too big to overcome, the problems we don’t ©2016 Virginia Advocate USPS 660-740 ISSN 0891-5598 think we can help or the problems that overwhelm us into submis- Published monthly by Virginia United Meth- odist Communications, Inc., an agency of the sion and defeat. So it’s not just a problem for Portland. I saw home- Virginia Annual Conference of The United less persons every day when I lived in D.C. and now in Richmond, but Methodist Church. Periodical postage paid at sometimes by going to see the “sights” in another city, I see the true Glen Allen, Va., and at additional mailing of- fices. The Virginia United Methodist Advocate landmarks of our city landscapes that we may forget about. is owned by Virginia United Methodist Com- Here’s to not missing the landmarks but finding a way to meeting munications, Inc. them head-on. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Virginia United Methodist Advocate, P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058. Editorial and Until our next issue, 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 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTIONS FEATURE 18-25 Improving Global Health: A focus of The United Methodist 4-7 Letters & Commentary Church 8-17 Virginia News NEWS 26-27 Events 8 Candidates endorsed for bishop 27 Local Church News 10 Davis named new Lynchburg District superintendent 29 Technology Tips 12 United Methodists advocate key issues at General Assembly 30-31 Living the Word 15 New program helps church ministries grow Wesley Seminary student experiences cultural immersion 32 Clergy & Diaconal 16 34 From the Bishop 35 One Last Word Above: Cataract surgeon Isatu Sesay examines Aminata Bangura’s eyes at the Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Eye Hospital in eastern Freetown. Bangura is an Ebola survivor receiving free treatment. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS On the cover: Fatmata Samu worships at the United Methodist church in Kortihun near Bo, Sierra Leone. Several villages in the Bo district received new, insecticide-treated mosquito nets from The United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria campaign. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS. The Virginia Advocate Staff Linda S. Rhodes | Virginia Conference Director of Communications Madeline Pillow | Editor Cathryn Huff | Graphic Designer Pam Culler | Administrative Secretary Scan this code to go to the 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- conference website: vice. The reporting of news regarding any person or event, or the placement of any advertisement within these www.vaumc.org pages, does not constitute endorsement by the Virginia Advocate or any entity of The United Methodist Church. Opinions of writers are solely those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication. VIRGINIA ADVOCATE | MARCH 2016 3 LETTERS Need for lasting the UMC has adopted on young people such as those change these issues at the General in the audience to carry Conference. At the Febru- out God’s purposes — it ighty three years ago, I ary 4 United Methodist Day is improbable that all dis- was born into a family E at the General Assembly, ciples were teenagers when with a history in Method- what will the UMC mem- called. Peter was mar- ism going back to Francis bers seek to accomplish? ried (Mat 8:14) and payed Asbury. Most of my adult Will local pastors and lay taxes (Mat 17:26-27) which life I have been blessed to leaders tell their congre- would almost certainly be a member of St. Luke’s gations about the event? mean he was over the age UMC in Falls Church. Mine never have. Will there of 20, Matthew was a tax Though small, St.Luke’s be follow-up and legislative collector which would also is a diverse congregation alerts sent out following make him a good candidate with members of different the event? for being over 20 years old. races, nationalities, ages, I thought the January A compelling case can economic standing, politi- issue of the Advocate was be made that most — if not cal views, and yes, we even excellent. It just did not go all — of the other disciples have a few with a different far enough. It gave national were, indeed, teenag- sexual orientation. Like figures on poverty, not ers when called by Jesus. the churches you featured state. None of the issues However, the truth is that in the January Advocate, that deal with poverty one cannot assert this. My our members spend much and other human needs statement at our confer- of their time supporting that are being addressed ence middle school retreat programs for the needy in at the state government should have sounded our area.