West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church

On Wednesday, August 21st, the monthly gathering of the “MCFRIENDS FELLOWSHIP GROUP” met at Stout Memorial UMC in Parkersburg.

Using a hammer as a prop, Stout Memorial pastor Rev. Helen Oates shared a powerful devotional reminding the more than 90 attendees that regardless of age, we must still make every effort to put our God-given gifts to good use in helping to build the kingdom of heaven here on earth.

More than than $900.00 was collected in the freewill offering and are given to the host church. Over the years, more than $230,000.00 has been raised to help fund the ministries of Parkersburg’s and Vienna’s local churches!

Ready to Level Up Your Ministry?

You and/or a team from your church/charge are invited to join us for Level Up!

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS SEPTEMBER 15TH!
Learn more and register online at - https://susumc.org/level-up/

This will be two days of learning and equipping for you and/or your team. This event is designed to be a catalyst for your ministry as you discern and take your next steps . . . in 2025 and beyond.

Each of the keynote speakers and workshop facilitators have been specifically chosen not just for their subject matter knowledge, but because they are real-world practitioners of the ministry concepts they teach. You will have the opportunity to hear from Michael Bowie, Kenda Creasy Dean, Sue Nilson Kibbey and Rosario Picardo during our total group sessions. You will also be able to attend three different workshops with any of those keynote speakers, or up to a dozen other leaders.

Learn more about Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett’s election as President of The World Methodist Council.

Bishop Wallace-Padgett on Becoming the World Methodist Council President Hear from Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, resident bishop of the Holston and West Virginia Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church as she assumes the office of President for the World Methodist Council.

SAFE SANCTUARIES TRAININGS SCHEDULED
Check out this listing of Safe Sanctuaries Trainings planned in a District near you. Register online at https://www.wvumc.org/child-protection-policies/

Helping to make the new school year a success, Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston recently donated 30 backpacks, 50 boxes of tissues, 33 tubs of Clorox wipes, 32 pairs of paints, 11 packs of socks, 20 packs of underwear, 18 outfits, and 13 bags of food to Piedmont Elementary School.

WVUMC Celebrates the Accomplishments of Charles Ledbetter and Loretta Young

Two members of the West Virginia Conference were recognized last Friday at The Governor's 21st Civil Rights Day Ceremony held at the WV Cultural Center. The event, hosted by the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, honors dedicated advocates and leaders working to ensure residents have equal rights and protection
in West Virginia.

Lt. Col. Charles T. Ledbetter (U.S. Army, Retired) is Professor Emeritus at West Virginia State University and a member of Simpson Memorial UMC.

Loretta Young is the State President of the West Virginia National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People Chapter and a driving force behind the WVUMC's Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) Caucus.

Join youth leaders from the Western PA, Susquehanna, and West Virginia conferences to worship, learn, and fellowship with one another at the Tri-Conference Youth Leader Retreat September 20-22.

Keynote Speaker Charlie Conder will lead sessions about self care and burnout reduction, teen and ministry trends, and creative brainstorming! There will also be time to connect with one another through fun activities and with God through worship moments.

All of this plus all meals and lodging in Washington Lodge at Jumonville for only $50/person! Don’t miss out -- register today!

Learn more at https://www.wpaumc.org/eventdetail/18429780

Plan now to meet Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett as she makes her way around the West Virginia Conference.

September 17 - Southern District
September 18 - Greenbrier Wesleyan District
October 22 - Potomac Highlands District
October 23 - MonValley / Northern Districts
October 24 - Nine Rivers District
November 13 - Little Kanawha / Northern Districts

Learn more about these District Days at https://www.wvumc.org/episcopal-transition.

Calling all CLMs. The 2024 CLM Gathering is scheduled for August 24 at Quiet Dell UMC in Mt. Claire.

Learn more at https://www.wvumc.org/news/2024/08/certified-lay-minister-retreat-on-august-24/

WV Annual Conference was well represented at the World Methodist Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Rev. Dr. Alicia Randolph Rapking and Rev. Dr. Joe Kenaston (Members of the World Methodist Council); Judi Kenaston (Chief Connectional Ministries Officer of the UMC’s Connectional Table); and Bishop Debbie Wallace-Padgett (incoming President of the World Methodist Council).

Celebrating a connection with three new colleges, including the University of Charleston, Davis and Elkins College, and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Higher Education Team is thrilled to announce that it has awarded its first round of grants for the 2024-2025 academic year.

These projects support a diverse range of ministries and are excited about the impact funding will have throughout the conference.

Learn more at https://www.wvumc.org/news/2024/08/higher-education-grants-support-college-ministries/

On August 14, Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett was elected as the new president of the World Methodist Council (WMC) and will serve a five-year term.

The World Methodist Council is an international organization that connects and represents over 80 Methodist, Wesleyan, and related Uniting and United Churches worldwide. Founded in 1881, the council aims to foster unity, share resources, and promote the Wesleyan message of God's grace and love for all people. The council serves as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and mutual support among its member churches, which together represent over 80 million individuals.

Learn more at https://www.wvumc.org/news/2024/08/bishop-debra-wallace-padgett-elected-as-president-of-world-methodist-council/

Suncrest United Methodist Church is doing great work through their Faith Without Limits room.

Learn more at the link below.

Suncrest United Methodist Church opens new, inclusive group room - Dominion Post Suncrest United Methodist Church opened Faith Without Limits, a new Sunday School/Youth Group room for children with disabilities.  The room was started by SUMC’s Children’s and Youth […]

Please keep our friends in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in your prayers as they endure and recover from Hurricane Debby.

After making landfall in Florida on Aug. 5 and traveling up the coast into Georgia and North Carolina, has the potential to bring historic amounts of rainfall. UMCOR has awarded a solidarity grant to the Florida Conference and is coordinating with others.

Please join us in praying for everyone in its path. To help UMCOR - United Methodist Committee On Relief supplying assistance to disasters such as this, visit: https://umcmission.org/united-states-disaster-response

Please keep our friends in the western US in your prayers as they battle wildfires.

Join us in prayer for all those affected by the multiple fires burning in the . UMCOR is coordinating with the California-Nevada Conference and The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church to support response efforts in California and Idaho.

We pray for the safety of the residents, firefighters and first responders.

To support those affected by this and other disasters throughout the U.S., donate to https://bit.ly/umcorusdr.

Nuclear Prayer Day is an annual day of prayer on August 6th, the day the first atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in Japan.

Please join with people all over world on this day as we pray for an end to nuclear weapons. Learn more at https://www.voices-uri.org/nuclear-prayer-day

Sunday, August 4th is Campus Ministry Sunday!

Learn more about the WV Conference Campus Ministry's initiatives and download an informational bulletin insert at https://www.wvumc.org/young-disciples/campus-ministry/

Great to see United Methodist Temple sharing the good news of tonight’s Dinner Church.

CLENDENIN UMC CAR SHOW IS A LEGACY OF SUCCESS & MINISTRY TO COMMUNITY

As in the parable of the mustard seed David Townsend’s idea how to raise money for the Clendenin United Methodist Church apportionment goal was sown. The mustard seed was David’s passion for restoring old cars. David and his wife, Sandy, decided to have a Father’s Day Car Show held at the church. They had a plan and involved the entire church family to make the car show happen.

Over the next 20 years the annual event grew in size, and David's mustard seed grew into a ministry. Others in the church family added their talents to increase the variety of activities. It succeeded and the church has met their apportionment goals ten years running. This year's car show broke all records.

Sadly, Sandy passed away four years ago, but her spirit is still present.

In God’s own way, a ministry grew. Young children were fascinated with pedal cars. Children talked with the “old timers” about what it was like when they were their age. Adults from surrounding counties shared David’s love of restored cars and talked with one another about their projects. New friendships were formed, and old ones renewed. Others were drawn to the music. Some sang along with the old tunes while others heard the songs for the first time. Other people came inside the church and felt the joy of family as they worked together.

Disaster Response Ministry Partners with Iowa Church to Replace Roof
This week, the West Virginia Conference Disaster Response Ministry partnered with Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation to repair the roof on a home in Chesapeake. The roof was damaged during the April 2nd tornado that impacted Kanawha County.

Youth from Collegiate UMC choose a mission focus each year and this year selected construction projects. Through the help of Cross Lanes United Methodist Church, they paired up with our Disaster Response Ministry to make this week's project possible.

WVUMC's Disaster Response Ministry is a partner with the West Virginia VOAD and works to fulfill requests related to recent disaster.

Chaplains Present Poster on ‘Cultivating Connection to Meaning and Purpose’ at National Conference

Two members of the Spiritual Care and Education department at WVU Medicine WVU Hospitals (WVUH) presented a poster at the Association of Professional Chaplains and National Association of Catholic Chaplains meeting, held in June in St. Louis, Missouri.

Chaplains Moira Reilly, of WVU Medicine Children's Hospital, and Heather Moore, of WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center, presented "Cultivating Connection to Meaning and Purpose: Pauses for Healthcare Workers Surrounding Patient Death." The poster introduced the WVUH Spiritual Care and Education department's chaplain-led pauses for staff care following a patient death as well as following an Honor Walk for an organ donor.

Moira and Heather left the conference more informed on a host of topics, including trauma, resilience, and emotional regulation; healthcare colleague well-being; communication and assessment tools; and social determinants of health and health equity. They look forward to incorporating the latest methods and research into spiritual care practices at WVUH.

Chaplains Moira Reilly (left) and Heather Moore (right) are pictured with their poster presentation. Heather is a Chaplain in the MonValley District.

As we reflect back on the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference that ended on Friday, we want to share some photos from the week.

The WV Delegation (appointed back in 2019) did amazing work to prepare our Church, Jurisdiction, and Conference for the next four years. More information about an exciting West Virginia Immersion Experience will be announced soon!

In addition, Rev. Amy Shanholzter and Judi Kenaston devoted more than 100 hours to conversation and prayer as members of the Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy (and Inter-Jurisdictional Committee on Episcopacy) that led to the creation of new episcopal boundaries and bishop assignments.

The delegation was even joined by a youth delegate, Wesley DeLeurere, who shared his thoughts on the NEJC experience in this week's Short Circuit newsletter.

We thank each of these individuals for their time, prayer, and discernment that will lead us into deeper levels of ministry and mission throughout West Virginia.

Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball closed the NEJC with a powerful message on the abundance of hope that overflows from those who seek to tell the good news of Jesus Christ. See photos from this service that was hosted by the Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh - Closing Worship Photo Gallery (Courtesy of James Lee) https://epagnj.smugmug.com/2024-NEJ-Jurisdictional-Conference/Closing-Worship?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3IR8RAj4WQExnG1TgKUuR0sWaSx3VcFTBM4CaPkaVf4UyTdLwci4aHE54_aem_GpHqSJ5pAmRcAc1XD2T2AA

Friends in the Fairmont area! Come out tomorrow and help celebrate at the open house of Scott’s Run Settlement House. Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball will be one of the guest speakers.

Scott’s Run Settlement House (SRSH) is holding a community celebration open house on July 13, 2024, from noon to 1:30 PM at their new Fairchance Road facility, located at 750 Fairchance Road in Morgantown. This event will recognize the rich history of SRSH, the current programs helping county residents and guests can see everything the new facility has to offer.

SRSH’s open house celebration is open to the public and anyone who has been a part of the Settlement House or has been helped by SRSH is encouraged to attend the event. Leaders from the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Mon Valley District and local church representatives will be offering remarks, blessings and prayer to officially dedicate the new building.

Building tours and refreshments will be available following the celebration for anyone interested. Those attending are also asked to consider bringing a non-perishable food item for the food pantry. Parking will be available on site and the event is free to attend.