Power in the Spirit's July 13-15, 2023 at Roanoke College



Power in the Spirit is an inspirational conference for people of all ages who wish to explore God’s call to service through joyous worship, Bible studies, keynote addresses, workshops, games, and fellowship. In addition, congregational leaders—teachers, music directors, choir members, council and committee members, family life consultants, deacons, pastors, and others—will find Power in the spirit nurturing and challenging as they consider their mission and ministry.

To print the event brochure, click here.

Bishop Election Committee's

Pre-Assembly Gatherings

Discernment: a process of prayer and looking forward to where God is calling us. As a part of this process, the Bishop Election Committee is looking to lead the Synod in discernment conversations as we look forward to where God is calling us as the Virginia Synod. Join other members of the synod and a member of the Bishop Election Committee as we dream and listen to God as well as answer questions you may have on the process. May God be with us all as we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

Register below for one of the following gatherings:

• Coastal Partnership (Tidewater and Peninsulas) on April 30 at 3:00 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hampton
• Valley Partnership (Central Valley, Northern Valley, and Page) on April 30 at 3:00 PM at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Mt. Jackson
• Southern Valley Conference on May 7 at 7:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church in Staunton
• New River Conference on May 7 at 3:00 PM at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg
• Southern Conference TBD
• Piedmont Partnership TBD
• For anyone wanting to attend online by Zoom on May 16 at 7:00 PM

Bishop Election Committee Forms and Resources

As the Virginia Synod continues to prepare for the 2023 Virginia Synod Assembly and for the election of a new Bishop, the Bishop Election Committee has prepared several documents to assist with the discernment process. These documents include:

• The Biography Form for those open to consideration to a call as Bishop.
• The Disclosure Form required of all candidates for Bishop.
• The Background Check form required of all candidates for Bishop.
• Speech Guidance outlining the expectations for a candidate speech.
• The Question and Answer Guidance outlining how that process will occur during the election.
• Congregational Information offering guidance for communicating with congregations if a pastor is open to the call to serve as Bishop.

(Use the button below to access the Assembly website and then the scroll down to the Election Forms section.)

Pre-Assembly Meetings

The following meetings have been organized for those discerning synod leadership and for those coming as voting members to the 2023 Synod Assembly. All are invited to attend any of the meetings (lay, rostered, voting member or not). Each meeting will be recorded and shared online.

General Information & Voting Procedures

All voting members are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting to get to know the basics of the Assembly and to learn about the voting system we will be using.

Monday, May 8 at 7 pm

Investment in Ministry Plans & Compensation Guidelines

Bring your questions about the 2023 and 2024 Investment in Ministry Plans and the Compensation Guidelines to this meeting.

Tuesday, May 9 at 7 pm

Bishop Election Committee Gathering

Gather with Pastor Leslie Weber, chair of the Bishop Election Committee, to learn about the bishop election process.

Tuesday, May 16 at 7 pm

The Way in the Wilderness:

Preparing for Assembly Together

April 24 & May 22

from 7-8:15 pm on Zoom

As Virginia Lutherans prepare to gather for the 2023 Synod Assembly, everyone is invited to join in a five-session bible study to explore the theme, The Way in the Wilderness.

In each session, participants will hear a story about God’s presence in the wilderness, will learn how that story has impacted a synod leader, and will have opportunity to share their wilderness stories too.

Everyone is welcome to join the conversation. Portions of the sessions will be recorded and shared. 

Thank you to our session leaders: Bishop Bob Humphrey, Pastor Kelly Bayer Derrick (Assistant to the Bishop), Pastor John Wertz Jr. (Director for Evangelical Mission), Charles Downs (Synod Council President), and Blythe Scott (Synod Council Secretary). 

Looking to Love: LGBTQIA+ Conversations with Our Church

May 1, 15, and June 5, 2023

7-8:30pm Zoom

The LGBTQIA+ Inclusions Tapestry Thread is hosting a three-part discussion series in May and June. Participants will collectively watch a YouTube TED Talk and join Pastor Alex Sheppard-Witt (Our Saviour, Norge, VA) and Pastor Joel Neubauer (St. Mark, Yorktown, VA) in an exploration of the weekly topic and its application in daily life. 

May 1: Civility: Faithful Civil Engagement.

May 15: Acceptance: Faith and Family.

June 5: Love: Extending Love to All. 

The sessions will not be recorded. You do not have to attend all three sessions. 

Truth in Love Workshops

Perhaps you’ve heard this term: “implicit bias.” Sometimes there are things going on inside us that we don’t even realize are happening, things that have an impact on how we speak, how we listen, and how we manage conflict. It’s what we don’t think we think. This workshop will unpack implicit bias and the effect it can have on conflict management. We will look at: 1) Recognizing Implicit Bias within ourselves and within our community; 2) Questioning Implicit Bias; and 3) Transforming Implicit Bias. We’ll ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for the sighs that aren’t quite making it to words.

Thursday, April 27, 2023: 5:00-8:00 pm

Sunday, April 30, 2023: 5:00-8:00 pm

These are digital workshops. The cost per person is $25.

What Every Nurse Needs to Know About Spiritual Care

The intentional care of the spirit is foundational to faith community nursing. Yet, many FCNs feel unprepared to identify spiritual needs and provide care in complex situations with diverse clients in a rapidly changing world. This workshop provides information on assessing spiritual needs, spiritual care barriers and interventions. This workshop will be presented by Sondra Weinzierl, MA, BAN, PHN, Faith Community Nurse on May 11 from 7-9 pm on Zoom.

Register for these Youth Events

Register for Youth Assembly

June 9-11, 2023 at

Roanoke College

for 7-12 graders

Register for Kairos

June 25-30, 2023 at Roanoke College

for 9-12th graders

Register for Launch

July 9-13, 2023 at

Roanoke College

for youth who just graduated from high school.

At the Water’s Edge is a week-long servant event for Youth who have just completed  the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, and their adult advisors. We spend the week together experiencing the Christian life through worship, fellowship, fun and service. And of course, being near the beach, we also spend some time at the water’s edge.

At the Water’s Edge is the perfect opportunity to grow together in faith and to deepen your relationships with other Lutheran youth from across the Virginia Synod. We will spend the week serving at various local agencies, learning about issues such as domestic hunger, homelessness, and immigration, as well as experiencing some of the unique opportunities for fun and recreation that the Beach has to offer. The all-inclusive cost for the week is only $110.00 per youth participant (includes meals, tools and supplies, any evening activities, and a T-shirt). Adult leaders are FREE. In terms of a summer youth mission trip, you won’t find a better deal than this!

Join Us This Summer!

Addiction & Developing Nations Webinar

The Center of Addiction & Faith is presenting a one-hour free webinar on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 12 noon-1:00pm ET with a follow-up 30-minute Q/A Zoom discussion.

The invited guest is Andy Partington, Founder of Novō Communities. Andy Partington leads the work of Novō Communities and Novō Adventures. Novō Communities’ vision is to bring new life to individuals, peace to families, and hope to communities gripped by addiction by empowering local teams in developing nations to create transformational communities that offer healing, wholeness, and hope. Andy has served as Director of Training at London School of Theology, in local church leadership in the UK and Bolivia, and as CEO of Yeldall Manor, an addiction treatment center in the southeast of England. Co-hosts of the webinar are Pastor Ed Treat & CAF board member Timothy McMahan King.

ELCA Launches Truth and Healing Movement

“We must be in better, right, and healthy relationships with the Indigenous people of Turtle Island,” said Eaton. “As we know,

the truth and our knowing and embracing it, is the first step

toward healing for all of us.” 

In 2016, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery. Following this action, Eaton commissioned a task force to lead the work outlined in the repudiation. The task force also developed “A Declaration of the ELCA to American Indian and Alaska Native People,” which confessed the church’s complicity in the oppression and genocide of Indigenous people and recommitted the ELCA to the work of Repudiation.

The ELCA’s Truth & Healing Movement will enlist and empower members to become involved in the areas of focus started by the task force: development of appropriate settler narrative from a Lutheran perspective; encouraging the ritual practice of land acknowledgement; understanding Lutheran participation in Indian Boarding Schools; and support for communities impacted by murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. The movement will also offer ways to participate in the national Truth and Healing Movement.

Since the 1960s Lutherans have supported the American Indian Movement, working towards justice for and with Indigenous People. The ELCA’s Truth & Healing Movement commits this church to building and strengthening right relationships with our Indigenous neighbors.

Roanoke College Introduces

New Brand and Logo

“We know our story resonates with all kinds of people and holds true to who we’ve been, who we are and who we are becoming,” Roanoke President Frank Shushok Jr. said. “The sum of experiences, interactions and communications at Roanoke shapes how students engage, how alumni remember and participate, and how faculty and staff deliver on our promise and vision. There is so much to be proud of at Roanoke!” 

A new shield logo, the most visible representation of the new branding, is inspired by key elements of the school’s values, history and goals: The dogwood flower represents the Commonwealth of Virginia, the College’s Lutheran heritage, and our tree-filled campus, including its designation as a 2019 Tree Campus USA. The school mascot, the maroon-tailed hawk, occupies the lower left quadrant as a symbol of natural beauty and campus spirit. This is balanced by the founding year and, in the lower right quadrant, a detail of the Administration Building that represents the school’s architecture and rich history.   

"Yours, Roanoke” is the message at the heart of the new communications. The approach is designed to share Roanoke’s story and convey what makes the College unique for every Maroon.

This Easter, would you help us bring HOPE to the incarcerated men and women that we serve? Would you prayerfully consider a generous, sacrificial one-time gift and/or a recurring monthly gift to GraceInside? Do you love and care enough for “the least of these” to help us provide additional ministry hours and to help us raise more of our Chaplains to FULL-TIME status??? Thank you SO, SO much for helping us spread the message to prisoners that HOPE springs from an Empty Tomb!!!