The latest news for you

September 2026

On July 25^th, Fletcher’s Chapel UMC sponsored a picnic at the Fairview Beach property for the congregations of the Alliance (Cluster 10) Collab congregations.

Charge Conference Dates

Charge Conference Season is right around the corner! Find your Charge Conference Dates HERE!

Charge Conference Dates; Info

Call for Nominations for District Lay Members at Large

We are currently accepting nominations for District Lay Members at Large to Annual Conference 2027 which will be held June 16-19, 2027 in Harrisonburg, VA.

Please note that you cannot serve as a Church Lay Member to Annual Conference and a District Lay Member to Annual Conference at the same time. These are two separate positions.

The deadline to submit this nomination form is Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Please note that to be elected as an at-large member, a person must have been a member of The United Methodist Church for the 2 years preceding their election and shall have been an active participant in The United Methodist Church for at least 4 years preceding their election. This requirement may be waived for youth and young adult nominees. Reminder: only 2027 Annual Conference members are eligible to be considered for General and Jurisdictional conferences in 2028. APPLY

Apply to be an At Large Member

Is your church ready for Clergy Appreciation Month?

As we prepare for Clergy Appreciation Month in October, we want to remind everyone of some important ways we as a church care for our clergy. Every clergyperson is afforded:

4 weeks vacation per year (100% weeks for full time appointment, 50% weeks for 50% appointments, etc.)
1 week continuing education per year (minimum)
1 Sabbath day AND 1 personal day per week
1 week to 1 month of spiritual formation/renewal leave per quadrennium

The District maintains a list of those who can fill in and preach when clergy take these needed times away. Look for this to be on the website clergy page soon. In the emantime, call the district office.

Do you and your church want to step up support for your pastor? Check out some suggestions for congregational leaders and members. No need to save it all for October—we’ve got ideas you can put into practice year-round.

Let us know how we can advise and support your congregation as you support and appreciate your pastor. Contact Rev. Deborah Lewis.

Book Club with Lindsey – September 29th

DS Lindsey Baynham Freeman is hosting an occasional online book club this year with our district clergy. But in September, she’s inviting everyone to join in (not just clergy). We are reading “Wesleyan Vile-tality” by Ashley Boggan. To participate, simply read the book, and register here to receive the Zoom link.

Clergy gatherings

A few of our upcoming opportunities to gather are highlighted here. Please visit the clergy events page on our website for the full list, including upcoming online events with DS Lindsey Baynham Freeman.

Retirement Checkup, 9/22

John Fuller, Executive Director of VUMPI, is offering a “checkup” seminar for those 5-10 years from anticipated retirement (.5 CEU available). Register here.

Clergy Appreciation: Lunch by the River, 10/15

Join us at Merroir for an outdoor waterside and fireside lunch. The District will arrange for a $25 credit toward the cost of your meal. Space is limited. Register here.

Poetry for Preachers workshop, 10/26

You don’t want to miss this one! UCC pastor and writer Laura Martinwill lead us in an interactive workshop retreat, exploring poetry as a resource for ministry and for our own spirituality. Poetry lovers and those who don’t “get” poetry are all welcome. (.5 CEU available) Register here.

All Mission Rivers District Clergy—actively appointed, on leave, serving in extension settings, and retired—are invited and encouraged to join us! For questions, contact Rev. Deborah Lewis.

Mark your calendars for the following events! Look for more information to come!

September 29: Book Club with Lindsey
October 1: COR Leadership Institute Watch Party
October 3: Lay Servant Training (Ebenezer UMC)
October 15: Lunch by the River (CLERGY)
October 24: UMVIM Leader Training
October 26: Poetry for Preachers Worshop (CLERGY)
November 14: District Conference
April 17: District Training

Mission Rivers District Calendar

Local Church Events

Leadership Institute Watch Party

Clergy and lay leaders are invited to join us for a 2026 Leadership Institute Watch Party on Thursday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Gather with leaders from across the Three Notch’d and Mission Rivers Districts for a day of inspiring leadership training from the Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute, along with opportunities to connect, share ideas, and dream together about God’s mission in our churches and communities. Thanks to support from Pinnacle Living and our Districts, registration is only $35 per person, including lunch, and participants will also receive access to the conference recordings for one year. Space is limited to 40 participants, so register by September 28 and join us for this special opportunity to learn and grow together!

Registration Link- https://www.cognitoforms.com/VAUMC/LeadershipInstitute2026

Invitation document - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zmPSbNIVQtUIio4f5Vc4oLwukcHcBRni/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112998630135782267137&rtpof=true&sd=true

PPR Training Offered Virtually October 21

We have scheduled a virtual SPPRC Training with DS Lindsey Baynham Freeman on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. This will be especially helpful for new chairs and new SPPRC committee members for 2027.

This will be the standard SPPRC Training that has traditionally been held on District Training Day. This fall we are offering it virtually instead. Note that this is not training for the new clergy payroll process.

In Person Lay Servant Training October 3

Mission Rivers is pleased to offer this in person Lay Servant training opportunity. Participants are expected to obtain their own course materials and complete the assigned reading according to the schedule provided by the instructor prior to the training day. REGISTER

DATE: Saturday, October 3rd, 2026

LOCATION: Ebenezer UMC, Stafford

TIMES: 8:00 - check in; 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Class

COST: $30.00 (Lunch and light snacks included)

NEWS: VAUMC & Beyond

Find links and information from the Virginia Conference and the UMC below:

Ministry Toolbox Articles