Southern District UMC, West Virginia Conference

08/15/2026

Scammers are getting better at making emails look like they come from people we know and trust, including pastors, district superintendents, Conference staff, and other church leaders.

Don’t take the bait!

Before responding to an unusual request, take a moment to look closely at the sender’s actual email address and watch for requests involving money, gift cards, passwords, banking information, or other sensitive information.

If something doesn’t seem right, pause and verify the request using a phone number or email address you already know and trust, not by replying to the suspicious message or using contact information it provides.

A few extra seconds can help protect you, your congregation, and our connection.

PAUSE. VERIFY. PROTECT.

08/13/2026

Register Now!

REGISTER NOW for ERT TRAINING!
Join our WVUMC Disaster Response Ministries and become a member of an Early Response Team. These teams are critical in helping our neighbors recover from a disaster incident.

WHEN: Saturday, September 19th
TIME: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, WV
COST: $25 (includes lunch)

REGISTER HERE: https://wvumc-reg.brtapp.com/ERTMarch21202671

07/26/2026

Please share. Pass the word.

07/23/2026

If you or someone you know has been affected by the flooding in and around the Weston & Buckhannon area, please check this survey!

🚨🚨🚨 OFFICIAL FLOOD DAMAGE SURVEY 🚨🚨🚨

Information is KEY to unlocking critical financial aid and resources. If yourself or someone you know has flood damage and it has not been reported, fill out our quick Survey123. As always, if you are in immediate need or danger contact 9-11 or your local emergency officials.

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/de033ec0327f4a5db41884eb5fc0974b

As you are SAFELY able, recording and documenting this event is essential during recovery. Photos, videos, and even written documentation are wonderful tools to utilize as well. If you have any questions, feel free to message our page or call our office 304-558-5380 in regard to the survey.

07/22/2026

We are actively monitoring the response needs for areas impacted by flooding. More details will be shared when available. Do not self deploy.

If you are looking for ways to help immediately, donate to our Conference Disaster Response Ministry at https://wvumc.brtapp.com/page/donate/disaster-response-ministries

07/14/2026

06/26/2026

Please share with flood victims so we can better respond.

06/26/2026

05/14/2026

Southern District Gathers for Chaplain's Deployment: By Audrey Stanton-Smith

Church members from throughout the Southern District gathered on the afternoon of May 3 to pray for the safe deployment and return of Chaplain (Maj) Christopher W. “Chip” Bennett. Bennett has served as the Southern District superintendent for five years and is being deployed to the Middle East in early July.

The “Hail and Godspeed” celebration of ministry — hosted by United Methodist Temple, Beckley, and organized and led by district lay leaders, servants, ministers, and speakers — also welcomed retired Rev. Dr. Ellis Conley, who is slated to serve as interim district superintendent for the year Bennett will be away.

“Both of these gentlemen and their families have lots of courage,” said Bishop Debra Wallace-Padget, who used Mark 1:16-20 as the basis for her meditation on “Courage for the Unknown.”

”We can take courage from the reality that Jesus goes with us,” Wallace-Padget said. “In addition to the family and friends around you, Christ is with you. We can face the unknown with courage because Jesus is with us.”

Retired Col. Randall Isom, a CLM from United Methodist Temple, spoke about his personal experience with Army chaplains and the critical importance of Bennett's job.

“He is like a stethoscope listening to the health of the organization,” Isom said, emphasizing the importance of spiritual issues and the human condition of soldiers, especially during a time of war.

Other certified lay ministers, servants and speakers from churches throughout the Southern District led the congregation in prayer, Scripture readings and singing. A reception followed.

05/06/2026

Please Share!

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM YOUR DISASTER RESPONSE MINISTRIES TEAM:

July 22-31 Scouting USA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) are coming to Summit Bechtel Reserve near Oak Hill, WV. They will be making and donating 2500 cleaning buckets and 2500 feminine hygiene kits during their stay.

We need teams of 5-6 to be at the camp from 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon to supervise assembly and loading of these items.

We also need teams from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the Depot to assist in unloading these from trailer/trucks, placing them on the pallets and wrapping them for storage.

We have a team for July 22 in the afternoon (no morning work that day). We need a team for the morning only for July 31(no afternoon work that day)

We need you to consider organizing a group to come from your church or community and work for a day. Each participant will be asked to go on a Scouting USA link to do a background/orientation program. This does not take long.

Important: Those working at the Depot do NOT need background check, and they may also bring volunteer youth 12 and older. Those working at the camp must be 18 and older.

At this time we are not enlisting individuals. We need groups with one designated leader to be our contact person.

Please let me know by Friday May 22 if you have an interest and availability for this very important service project.

Please contact me at the [email protected] to enlist or if you have any questions. Feel free to call or text the # below for further information.

Pastor Jim McCune
Disaster Response Ministries Coordinator
West Virginia Conference United Methodist Church
PO Box 2313
Charleston, WV 25328
304-813-1274