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Pastor denies membership to homosexual, placed on leave July 26, 2005 A UMNS Report By Linda Green* A United Methodist pastor in Virginia has been placed on “involuntary leave of absence” for refusing to allow a homosexual to become a member of his congregation. The Rev. Edward Johnson was placed on a yearlong involuntary leave of absence, effective July 1, by action of the clergy of the denomination’s Virginia Annual (regional) Conference on June 13. He will receive medical benefits but no salary. The clergyman, pastor of South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church for six years, could be reinstated as...

...Therefore, be it hereby resolved that the Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church: 1. Calls upon the United Methodist Board of Pensions to review its investments and undertake a process of phased, selective divestment from any multinational corporations profiting from illegal demolition of Palestinian homes, destruction of Palestinian economy and confiscation of Palestinian land,... and... ...Therefore, be it resolved that the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church calls upon the President and the Congress of the United States to repudiate, without equivocation, all acts of torture as defined under the provisions of the 1949 Geneva Convention relative...

Initial Post: From: "vaumccommunications" Date: Wed Jan 26, 2005 11:50 am Subject: About Virginia’s Children of Promise Virginia's Children of Promise (VCOP) is a mentoring program provided by United Methodist Family Services (UMFS). It is made possible by Federal grant monies extended to faith-based organizations under President Bush's agenda. This program, and others like it, provides mentoring services to youth (6-15) with a parent incarcerated. UMFS has partnered with the Virginia Conference of United Methodist Churches and the All God's Children Camp to extend mentoring beyond one week of summer camp. [snip... asking for support etc.] Follow-up Post, 3 hours...

From me to Bishop Charlene Kammerer, presiding bishop over the Virginia Conference, United Methodist Church, 19 November 2004: Bishop Kammerer, Considering the increasing revelations of U.N. complicity in the Oil for Food scandal, and that money intended for Iraqi civil and humanitarian purposes has gone instead to reward the families of Palestinian terrorists, and the closely aligned activities and sympathies of U.N. and GBCS officers, what, if anything, do you propose be done to assure Virginia and General Methodists that all Conference and General BCS activities have been free from the OFF scandal? Mike Barker Trinity UMC, King George VA...

On a Tuesday evening in June, 2004, Virginia Methodists were presented with a previously unannounced resolution offered up by the Reverend Gary L. Robbins of Virginia Conference's Board of Church and Society: Be it resolved that in accordance with the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, be it resolved that the Board of Church and Society, on behalf of the Virginia Annual Conference, write the members of the Virginia Assembly: a) sending the members the Social Principles' statement on Equal Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation (paragraph 162.H, The Book of Discipline 2000), which states, "Certain basic human rights and...