A Letter for Leaders in the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church
Though I have already met or corresponded with some of you, I wanted to take a moment to formally introduce myself. This spring I was named president of Virginia Wesleyan College, a private liberal arts college with an enrollment of 1,400 in Norfolk/Virginia Beach. As a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, I am both proud and excited to once again lead an institution shaped by Wesleyan values.
I have a long history of involvement in church-related higher education, beginning with my undergraduate experience at West Virginia Wesleyan College. I later served for more than 10 years as president of Wesley College in Delaware, where I co-founded Hope United Methodist Church and initiated an affiliated agreement for Wesley's operation of the UMC historic landmark, Barratt's Chapel and Museum.
Prior to my arrival at Virginia Wesleyan, I served eight years as president of Bethany College in West Virginia, the oldest Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) college. We remained active in The United Methodist Church during our time at Bethany. During our tenure at Bethany, I served four years as Chair of The Council of Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). During that time, we created a cohesive new organizational, branding and enrollment model for TCUCC that furthered the connection between colleges and universities and seminaries and theological schools. Prior to leaving Bethany, I played an instrumental role in the agreement to re-locate the Christian Church Historical Society collection from Nashville, Tennessee to Bethany.
It was a tremendous honor in July of this year to be elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC). I also served two earlier terms on the NASCUMC Board as president of Wesley College. The 119 schools, colleges and universities in the United States recognized by the University Senate of The United Methodist Church are NASCUMC members.
Virginia Wesleyan's relationship with the Church is important. The College was founded by the Virginia Annual Conference of The Methodist Church and chartered in 1961. We continually seek to strengthen the relationship between the College and the Church in order to maintain that strong historical connection to a ministry in higher education. Virginia Wesleyan fulfills this mission in a variety of ways:
Leadership
- The Presiding Bishop of the Virginia Conference, Young Jin Cho, and three area district superintendents, Alexander B. Joyner, Seonyoung Kim, and M. Wayne Snead, serve as ex-officio members of the Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees.
- The College's Board of Trustees includes members of the United Methodist Church, including Board Chair Gary D. Bonnewell '79, who also serves as Chair of the Administrative Council at Ghent United Methodist Church.
- The College has a full-time Chaplain, Rev. Greg West, an ordained United Methodist pastor who serves students, faculty, and staff.
Alumni
- More than 60 graduates serve as pastors in United Methodist churches in the Virginia Annual Conference.
- Another 40 alumni clergy serve in other annual conferences or denominations.
Events
- The College sponsors an annual Continuing Education Seminar for clergy and laity each spring. In March 2016, Bishop Timothy Whitaker will speak on: The Future Identity and Mission of the Church.
- The College hosts the annual Pastor's Licensing School of the Virginia Conference each May.
- The College hosts additional conference and district events which have included Awakening, the annual Virginia Conference youth gathering, and the Tri-District Leadership Workshop which brings local church leaders to campus for an all-day training session.
Spiritual Growth/Ethics
- Rev. Greg West supports the members of the College community in their spiritual journey through personal interaction and a variety of programs.
- The College is recognized for programs in academic honesty and spiritual growth in The Templeton Guide: Colleges That Encourage Character Development.
Community Service
- Established through the Birdsong Endowment for Community Service, this office engages students in volunteer experiences addressing community needs while enriching students' lives.
- Projects have included: Alternative Spring Break trips, Habitat for Humanity builds, and Potato Drops through the Society of St. Andrew.
Financial Aid
- Virginia United Methodist students entering full-time Christian service in the Virginia Conference receive up to one-half tuition assistance.
- Dependent sons, daughters and spouses of Virginia conference clergy receive up to one-half tuition.
- Virginia Wesleyan College Dollars for United Methodist Scholars provides a $1,000 VWC matching scholarship when a Virginia Conference student's home church contributes $1,000 in tuition assistance to the student.
Centers
- The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom is an academic initiative that promotes the education and foundation needed to meet the challenge of fostering religious freedom in a diverse world. The Center offers a forum for people of deep faith and abiding conscience to share common goals that transcend denominational boundaries-a place where students, faculty and people of all faiths join together to forge a common ground of mutual concern, working to achieve civil solutions to difficult problems. Directed by Dr. Craig Wansink.
- The Center for Sacred Music offers performance opportunities and educational programs designed to foster understanding and to encourage an appreciation of diversity and excellence in the sacred arts. The Church Music Certificate Program offers courses at the undergraduate level (also offered for Continuing Education Units) to prepare students for service in church music ministry, or enhance the skills of adults working in the profession. Directed by Dr. Sandi Billy.
As our mission statement underscores, "In accord with our United Methodist heritage, Virginia Wesleyan aspires to be a supportive community that is committed to social responsibility, ethical conduct, higher learning and religious freedom." These few words capture the historical significance and relevance of our United Methodist heritage. I am pleased to participate in the robust campus life at Wesleyan that celebrates that heritage. Our tradition of all-campus worship, weekly Bible studies, student-led worship, and other means of coming together in fellowship and friendship are central to who we are as a United Methodist-related and -inspired college.
I look forward to working with Rev. West, campus partners, and with member churches of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church to further enrich our relationship on behalf of the Church, this College, our affiliated organizations, and the spiritual and social-justice needs and aspirations of those we serve.
Sincerely,