Tapestry Team

Tapestry’s mission is to empower congregations in the Virginia Synod to be boldly inclusive in matters of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility while walking with God and guided by the Holy Spirit to bring healing, reconciliation, and justice. Tapestry provides resources, facilitates conversations, and fosters networking across the Virginia Synod in order to advocate for God’s desire to weave a rich and diverse Body of Christ!
The Tapestry Team of the Virginia Synod has five Threads to address social justice issues throughout the year: Racial Justice, LGBTQIA+ Inclusion, Care of Creation Justice, Justice for Women, and Accessibility Justice. Tapestry has Thread Teams devoted to planning events around these justice areas. NOW is the time to express your interest in participating in any or all of these teams!  To get involved, please email: hetrick@vasynod.org.

Weaving Our Stories: Tapestry Story Telling Zoom Gatherings

In 2026, the Tapestry Team invites you to storytelling Zoom gatherings. Weaving Our Stories invites us to tell stories and listen deeply to one another. Each of the five Tapestry Threads will host a series of three Zooms to explore participant experiences about the focus Thread. The first of the three Zooms is a kick off night. The final two Zooms of each Thread’s series will dig deeper. The schedule is below. 

Tapestry’s aim is to have meaningful dialogue and learn from each other’s lives. Members of each of the focus communities, allies, and those seeking to learn and understand more are all invited to each of the series. It’s okay to not have all the answers and to ask vulnerable questions. Let’s weave our threads together into God’s diverse tapestry. 

Participants do not have to attend all of the Zooms. There will be separate sign ups for each of the series. Participants can choose to attend all three Zooms in a Thread series or just the first one. 

Individuals or congregational groups can sign up. Individuals will be grouped with others in breakout rooms for discussion. If requested, congregational groups can be assigned their own breakout room.

The sessions will begin at 7pm and wrap-up by 8:15pm. The sessions will not be recorded. However, the discussion guides will be shared as a resource for congregational or individual use.

The first series will be hosted by the Racial Justice Thread Co-Leaders: Pastor Harry Griffith, Maurice Gallimore, and Pastor Paul Pingel. The dates are: Mondays, January 12, January 26, February 9 at 7pm.

REGISTER HERE

Download Printable Flyer Here

Calendar for 2026

Justice for Women

Dates: Mondays April 20, May 4, May 18

Accessibility Justice

Dates: Tuesdays June 2, 16, 30 (July was too much with the 4th, RM Gathering, and PITS)

Care for Creation

Dates: Mondays, August 17, August 31, and September 14 

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion

Dates: Tuesdays, October 13, October 27, and November 10

Racial Justice

Coordinators

Pastor Harry Griffith

Maurice Gallimore

Pastor Paul Pingel

See Tab below for Additional Resources

Justice for Women

Coordinators

Sylvia Vick-Eley

Pastor Kayla Keilholtz

See Tab Below for Additional Resources

Accessibility Justice

Coordinators

Coming Soon!

More information coming soon!

Care of Creation

Coordinators

Sister Phyllis Cox

Bill Franz

See Tab below for Additional Resources

LGBTQIA+ Inclusion

Coordinators

George Donovan

River Smith

Additional resources below.

Tapestry Resources

Resources are grouped by Thread focus, however we recognize that justice ministries are intersectional.

Resources are grouped for ease of access, however we recognize that justice ministries are intersectional.

Resources curated by Deacon Phyllis Cox

Do Justice is a bi-monthly newsletter of the Virginia Synod,  lifting up God’s call and command that we, God’s people, do justice. You will find helpful info about justice ministries in congregations, around Virginia, and through the ELCA. If you have stories of justice to share from your congregation, please share those with The Rev. Kelly Bayer Derrick, Assistant to the Bishop at bayerderrick@vasynod.org so we share them with others in the synod!

For a full archive of Do Justice newsletters, visit www.vasynod.org/do-justice

Sign up for Do Justice
Sister Phyllis Cox & George Donovan
Tapestry Team Co-Chairs

Email: tapestry@vasynod.org

The Rev. Colleen Hetrick

Staff Support
Email: hetrick@vasynod.org
Phone: 540-389-1000

Tapestry Team Charter