Virginia Mennonite Conference
| Virginia Mennonite Conference | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motto | Agent of God's Call |
| Established | 1835 (first meeting) |
| Religious affiliation | Mennonite Church USA |
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA, USA |
| Website | www.vmconf.org |
Virginia Mennonite Conference is a body of 65 Mennonite churches in the south-Atlantic region of the United States, consisting of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and the city of Washington D.C. There are also a few Conference churches in Tennessee and Kentucky. It is one of the regional Conferences of Mennonite Church USA. The 65 congregations belong to nine Districts of the Conference: Calvary, Central, Eastern (VA), Eastern Carolina, Harrisonburg, Northern, Potomac, Southern, and Tennessee/Carolina/Kentucky.
History
The first meeting at which minutes were taken and preserved, of what would be later be incorporated as Virginia Mennonite Conference, took place in 1835 at Weavers Mennonite Church, near Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is thought that perhaps Virginia Mennonites met in even earlier gatherings.[1]
In 1955 Pilgrim Mennonite Church of Amelia, Virginia withdrew from Conference and helped begin what are known as the Nationwide Fellowship Churches. See Conservative Mennonites. Later, the Southeastern Mennonite Conference officially began upon their withdrawal from Virginia Mennonite Conference in June 1972.
Organization and commissions
Virginia Mennonite Conference is overseen by Conference Council, an appointed group that makes larger decisions about the work of the Conference, appoints overseers for the different districts, and credentials ministers.
Within the Conference structure are two Commissions that work on specific foci. The Congregational Life Commission "provides vision for new expressions of Anabaptism, provides the means for congregations, conference-related programs and institutions to communicate and network their ministries, and provides educational resources for congregations to nurture the spiritual formation of their members throughout the life cycle,"[2] according to a list of Commission duties.
The Faith and Life Commission strives to "provide leadership for Conference in spiritual, doctrinal, and faith and life issues, be a forum for interchanging concerns relating to congregational life and leadership, attend to leadership needs of congregations, promote unity of faith and practice, issue ministry credentials, and provide professional development, fellowship and inspiration for pastors,"[3] according to its list of duties.
There are also Conference Ministries: the Congregational Resource Center (housed on the campus of Eastern Mennonite Seminary), Mennonite Women of Virginia Conference, and Virginia Mennonite Missions, the mission agency of the Conference.[4]
Institutions and related ministries
Conference Institutions are Eastern Mennonite School, Eastern Mennonite University, Family Life Resource Center, Pleasant View, Inc., and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community.[5]
Conference Related Ministries, organizations that choose to be affiliated with the Conference, are: Gift & Thrift, Inc., Highland Retreat, Mennonite Disaster Service of the Shenandoah Valley, Mennonite Relief Center, Mennowood Retirement Community, Roberta Webb Child Care Center, Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center (CrossRoads), Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale, Warwick River Christian School, and Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center.[6]
Newsletter
Virginia Mennonite Conference publishes a monthly newsletter Connections in conjunction with Virginia Mennonite Missions.