The Virginia United Methodist Foundation congratulates the following students who have been awarded scholarships by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF). Through the Dollars forScholars program, the Foundation’s contribution is quadrupled. We wish the students well in their academic pursuits! Learn more at www.umhef.org. [themify_col grid=”4-1 first”] Student Scott M. Bach-Hansen Willow C. […]
I recently visited a church that needs help with ideas of how to use the facility to bring in more revenue. The church has a substantial loan, and while growing in attendance, they still need some more funding at the end of each month. After a walk-through of the building, many ideas were shared. One […]
Greetings Virginia Conference members and affiliates! Members of our staff recently returned from the Denominational Investors and Loan Administrators (DILA) Conference, an association of seasoned leaders who convene annually to discuss common challenges – in recent years a combination of post-pandemic recovery, denominational change, and financial headwinds caused by rising interest rates and inflation. […]
God on the Brain The Nexus of Religious Faith & Mental Well-Being On September 23, 2023, a group of 80 participants attended the Fox Endowment Symposium on Faith & Science. The theme of the day-long event was “God on the Brain — the Nexus of Religious Faith & Mental Well-Being.” In addition to the […]
REGISTRATION HAS NOW CLOSED. Religion is often cast in opposition to science. Yet both are deeply rooted in the inner workings of the human brain. Advances in cognitive neuroscience and brain imaging technology have given rise to the expanding field of “neurotheology,” the scientific study of religious and spiritual phenomena. Breakthrough research tells us […]
I visit a lot of churches in my work with the Foundation. Some of them are situated where God’s beautiful creation is on display. While pleasing to the eye, this is not the kind of transparency church members are seeking. Church members want the kind of transparency that builds trust and confidence. Church members want […]
This past spring, three of our team members joined staff from the Virginia Conference for a day of service to a growing ministry among low-income residents of Amelia County. The Journey Community Center developed from an original thrift store in 2009, staffed solely through volunteers, and now includes a family-style restaurant and a furniture barn. […]
The Virginia United Methodist Development Company (DevCo) offers investment opportunities to United Methodist churches and individuals across the Virginia Conference. These investments earn excellent interest for DevCo investors and are in turn loaned to churches for land acquisition, capital projects, building improvements and debt refinancing. DevCo has funded more than $37 million in loans, extending the hands of […]
I read a recent New York Times article in which the congregants of West Park Presbyterian Church in New York City have sought to partner with a real estate developer to construct luxury apartments on the site of their historic sanctuary. Ironically, it is the residents of the area who are trying to stop the […]
Registration closes on October 4th! Our 3rd Annual Golf Classic is on Monday, October 9, 2023. Since inception in 2021, this annual event has grown in popularity, so if you’d like to join in the fun and play for an excellent cause, mark your calendar now and recruit your team! We’ll be playing at […]