2022 VIRLINA DISTRICT CONFERENCE
November 11-12, 2022
GRANDIN COURT BAPTIST CHURCH, 2660 BRAMBLETON AVENUE, ROANOKE, VA
"BOUND TOGETHER BY LOVE"
"And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
- 1 JOHN 4:21
DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2022 is will be 100% in-person! Praise God for the passing of time, the availability of vaccines, and a better understanding of the spread of Covid. With that said, we have learned that God equips us to make changes for the safety of our delegates, leadership, and participants as we see the need to do so. Please refer to the Virlina District Headliner, eHeadliner, Memos for Ministers, and this website for updates.
2022 Conference Package
Registration for Delegates
By August 31, each congregation will have been mailed the printed information sheets with delegate registration forms, meal forms, conference times, and additional information about District Conference. The fee for delegates is $30.00/person. Preregistration is required by Sepetember 30. A limited number of report booklets will be ordered for non-delegates and will be available at the door.
Ministers and Spouses DInner: OPEN TO EVERYONE! Please sign up and join us!
Located at Grandin Court Baptist Church, the pre-conference dinner is being planned now by the Program and Arrangements Committee. Traditionally a gathering time for the Southern and Northern Area Ministers' groups, everyone in the district is invited, but guests must preorder by October 21 to receive a meal. The meal will feature guest speaker David Steele, Church of the Brethren General Secretary. The price is $18.00 and the food will be delivered from Remini's Italian Restaurant. The registration form is in the packet above. We provide safe spacing at dinner tables and drink stations.
Exhibits
There will be an exhibit space this year! All Church of the Brethren agencies, Virlina committees and Camp Bethel are invited to contact Mary St.John, Director of District Conference, Nurture and Witness to receive table/exhibit space information. Hand-outs for the delegate packet are encouraged, as well. Some agencies may provide videos for viewing on www.virlina.org. (Click on the image below to download the form)
Friday Night Worship 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Worship will begin at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary of Grandin Court Baptist Church. Lynn Myers, 2022 District Conference Moderator will serve as worship leader and the guest speaker will be Jeff Carter, President of Bethany Seminary. Special music will be provided by the Lavinder family from Germantown Brick Church of the Brethren.
The service will be one hour and fifteen minutes. Everyone is invited to come be a part of the worship service!
We are planning a forty-five minute social time after worship in the gym downstairs with coffee and snacks. In order for District leadership and the Grandin Court staff to prepare for the early start time on Saturday, we ask that everyone please exit the building by 9:00 PM Friday evening.
We are providing on-site child care and age-group activities on Friday and Saturday. Please pre-register by using one of the children's activity forms above.
Saturday Business Sessions
ALL DELEGATES MUST BE PRESENT TO VOTE IN 2022. There will not be mail-in voting options this year. Please come and celebrate being together after two years of alternative conference styles.
Registration will begin at 7:45 AM. Delegates will sit in designated pews on the main floor of the sanctuary. There will be seating in the back of the sanctuary, in the balcony and in the vestibule for non-delegates. Everyone is welcome to attend District Conference. We pray that 2022 will be a celebration year as we go back to our traditional District Conference. Program and Arrangements will monitor CDC guidelines in the fall and if changes in protocol need to take place then we will post them on this website, the Virlina District Headliner, eHeadliner and Memo for Ministers.
The morning session runs from 8:15 AM to 12:00 PM. Lunch break/Reorganization for newly elected and returning board and OMC members is 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM. Elected leadership will be asked to have lunch in the designated rooms so that the board and committees can reorganize. All other persons will have their pre-ordered lunches from Firehouse Subs in the gym or at nearby restaurants for those wishing to go off-site. To order an on-site lunch, please fill out a form provided in conference packet above.
The afternoon session will be from 1:15 PM to 3:00 PM. Please do not leave early. It is important that our afternoon business is heard and that all delegates are present for the commissioning of and prayer for the new leadership.
Ballots and New Business Items
The ballots for 2023 District Board, OMC, Nominating and Personnel, Program and Arrangements and Standing Committee will be done on site. There will not be a mail-in option this year. We hope to have a safe and welcoming conference where we are all once again in fellowship with each other. Those persons who are on the ballot should plan to be present on Saturday, November 12 for introduction and later reorganization. After the results are counted by the tellers, nominees will be announced prior to lunch. Each congregation will be sent the delegate booklets in advance and the biographical information of each nominee will be in the booklet. Please read the credentials and faith statements and be ready to vote on Saturday morning.
Meals
Ministers and Spouses Meal: $18.00/person. Italian meal from Remini's Italian Restaurant. Fill out a form provided above.
Saturday Lunch: $12.00/person. Firehouse Subs. Fill out a form provided in packet above.
ALL MEALS WILL BE SERVED IN THE GYMNASIUM OF GRANDIN COURT BAPTIST CHURCH. ROUND TABLES WILL BE SPREAD OUT EVENLY AROUND THE SPACIOUS GYM. NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS, AND OUTDOOR MINISTRIES COMMITTEE WILL BE HAVING THEIR LUNCHES IN HAMNER HALL AND THE SUNSHINE ROOM. LUNCHES WILL BE DELIVERED TO THESE ROOMS. Please remember that some of us have been sharing space and eating together for some time; yet, there are some of us who are still weary of being too close or exposed. We will protect, support and love one another as we each come together in our own ways. We honor God when we honor each other.
Snacks:
We know that the day is long and that having nourishment at the breaks is a welcome energy boost. We are still processing whether we will be offering snacks from trays, buffet style, or if we will offer individual snack bags with a variety of crackers, chips, candy, and fruit. Grandin Court has asked that we limit drink in the sanctuary to water bottles. Please consume coffee, drinks other than water, and food products in the lobby or gym.
Hotels Nearby:
Hampton Inn, 1886 Electric Road, Salem, Virginia 540-776-6500
Comfort Suites Inn, 2898 Keagy Road, Salem, Viringinia 540 375 4800
Holiday Inn, 4468 Starkey Road, Roanoke, Virginia (540) 774-4400
Sleep Inn, 4045 Electric Road, Roanoke, Virginia (540) 772-1500
Hilton Garden Inn, 4500 South Peak Boulevard, Roanoke, Virginia (540) 776-3400
2023 AGE GROUP ACTIVITIES ARE TBD
The Program and Arrangements Committee and District Conference officers and leadership want to safely provide child care and children and youth activities. The final decision about age-group activities will be made by August 20.
THE PROGRAM AND ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE, WITH MODERATOR LYNN MYERS, MODERATOR-ELECT NOEL NAFF, AND DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT CONFERENCE MARY ST.JOHN ARE STILL IN DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT DISTRICT CONFERENCE WILL OFFER IN NOVEMBER 2022.
CONTACT MARY ST.JOHN,
DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT CONFERENCE, NURTURE AND WITNESS TO DISCUSS ANY CONCERNS ABOUT DISTRICT CONFERENCE.
THIS WEBSITE WAS UPDATED September 6, 2022.
Under Construction:
"Church of the Brethren Annual Report"
(Click the button or the link above to view the report)