News
Report/el informe: Gilliam & Associates for VMC
In August 2022, Virginia Mennonite Conference sought consultation with Gilliam & Associates in regards to our leadership crisis, widespread mistrust, and pain within our family. From December 2-10, Craig Gilliam and Betty Johnson traveled to all 8 districts hosting listening circles. This report is the compilation of their findings. En agosto de 2022, la Conferencia…
iCLT News
The Cow Knew the Path A visitor to worship asked my friend, “Tell me, what are Mennonite Churches like.” “Well,” he responded, “If you’ve been to one Mennonite Church, you’ve been to one Mennonite Church.” After the laughter, my friend did describe the life and mission that we walked. I think my friend could have…
iCLT News
Re-Focus, Reflect, Resolve As the year has drawn to a close and you look at the possibilities ahead of you, what is it that seems impossible? What has the Lord called you to do that appears far beyond your ability to achieve? You may not see how it could ever work out, but God does….
iCLT News
This past May I had the privilege of spending time in Israel/Palestine. Two sites we visited were the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds’ Field in Bethlehem. Different images now come to mind when I read the Nativity narratives in Matthew and Luke. However, the message remains the same. God has come to us!…
iCLT News
Greetings brothers and sisters, My name is Caleb Schrock-Hurst and I work for VMC as the Church Relations and Racial Justice Leader – a title I find a little bit clunky. ‘Leader’ is an alternative to ‘minister’ since I have yet to finish seminary; however, assuming I don’t fail my Greek exam, I will finish…
Listening Circles
As you may know, from December 2-10, facilitators Craig Gilliam and Betty Johnson will lead listening circles throughout Virginia Mennonite Conference. Working with circles of up to 12 participants, plus 2 liaison team reps. listening circles will be held in each district. Please allow 1.5 hours per session. For rational and history for initiating this…
iCLT News by Maren Tyedmers Hange
My title is Minister of Formation and Soul Care. This is a new role, and a portion of my initial work is discovering what that might look like for the conference. In the midst of the chaos of our days, I think of the prayer Paul prays in Ephesians…”to strengthen you with power through his…
iCLT News – Bishop Leslie Francisco, III – What If?
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to see the world through the eyes of a melanated person? What if you woke up tomorrow as a person of color. Would you choose light brown, medium brown, or black skin? If you had no choice in your skin pigmentation, how would your life change? Systemic racism is an undercurrent that is easily dismissed…
Trauma-Informed Care-Giving
On September 22, Virginia Mennonite Conferenced hosted a Leadership Enrichment workshop with Dr. Leah Thomas on the topic of Trauma-Informed Caregiving. Dr. Thomas, is the Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Contextual Education at AMBS. Ridgeway Mennonite Church welcomed 30 participants who were eager to learn more about how to care for those in our…