This past week from October 12th through the 13th, rostered ministers from across the Virginia Synod gathered in a reimagined virtual event via Zoom for the annual Gathering of the Ministerium. It is both a good and challenging time to be in the church, and so this time for connection among rostered ministers in Virginia was vital. Centered on this year’s theme “Seeing Through the Lens of Another: Shifting Ministry with an Expanded Lens” challenged those present to closely examine the ways God is calling us to be faithful, bold, and serving. While this year’s event looked different than it has in years past due to the virtual design it continued to offer many opportunities for worship, renewal, sharing, and continued education as rostered ministers renewed their covenant with each other.
Each year at the gathering, the Virginia Synod ministerium renew their covenant in worship, which you can read fully here. The Virginia Synod ministerium covenant holds them together as rostered ministers. This annual renewal supports, builds, and maintains the all-important collegial relationships held by the Virginia Synod ministerium and further fosters members’ collaboration and partnership. This year’s worship was led by The Rev. Anne Jones Martin, who serves as the ministerium team chair.
The Rev. Tiffany Chaney served as the presenter for this year’s gathering. Pastor Tiffany Chaney serves as an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, where she serves bi-vocationally as Chief Diversity Officer for Baptist Health, a three-hospital health system, and as Mission Developer for Gathered by Grace, a mission community serving young adults. During the gathering, she led through important topics including how implicit bias can impact any ministry, how we can dismantle systems of racism in the church and world, and preaching with an expanded lens of love.
At the Gathering of the Ministerium, the ministerium joins together in worship, confessing, singing, and hearing God’s word with members of the ministerium from all across Virginia. The Rev. Adam C. Schultz, The Rev. Joseph Bolick, The Rev. Dan Hess, The Rev. Sarah Lyon Hess, The Rev. Dr. Phyllis Milton, The Rev. Jean Bozeman, and more all participated in the planning and leading worship services during the event. Each shared their talents throughout worship, and we thank them for all their hard work.
Along with hearing from Pastor Chaney, worshipping, learning, and sharing with one another- rostered ministers attending Gathering of the Ministerium had the opportunity to gather with one another in break out sessions. During the Monday breakout session groups were divided by interest topics that pertained to ministry and call including topics like digital worship, special calls, and supportive retirement conversation. Breakout groups for the final day of the gathering were hosted by conference partnership groups, allowing time for geographic regions to connect and share.
Along with time spent together virtually, important ministry moment updates, and do it yourself break opportunities were shared. These digital offerings allowed the Virginia Synod ministerium to receive important updates from our companion synod in Papua New Guinea, the Adult Faith Formation fall offering, and Carolie Furnace Camp and Retreat Center. It also provided time to take a moment to rest through creative outlets like drawing or yoga.
This is such an important event for all rostered ministers to attend as continuing education, and forming and maintaining collegial relationships. Even as it took shape in a new way, there were still plenty of opportunities to gather and grow together. Do encourage your leaders to be a part of other opportunities to gather as the ministerium virtually in the weeks to come, as well as attending the Gathering of the Ministerium next year.
