During the past year, Virginia Synod congregations of all sizes have embraced digital ministry in response to the pandemic. The habits and patterns of church participation formed during the pandemic, and the expectations for competency and creativity in the digital space developed during the pandemic will remain even after COVID-19 is under control.
For the Virginia Synod to fulfill its mission to be faithful, bold and serving, the decision was made to restructure the Virginia Synod Staff to emphasize digital ministry, to support digital ministry in congregations, and to launch two new digital Synod Authorized Worshipping Communities (SAWC).
On March 15, 2021, Pastor Colleen Montgomery will begin her call as the Director for Digital Ministry. In this call, Pastor Montgomery will guide the digital ministry of the Virginia Synod and serve as a resource person to help local congregations and leaders strengthen their digital ministry. This new call is ½ time.
Pastor Montgomery has also been called to a ½ time call as the Mission Developer for All Places Together, an innovative and experimental digital ministry designed to reach those who are not currently connected to a worshipping community and are seeking to connect faith and life.
While All Places Together is designed to reach individuals, who have not been connected to a congregation, a second digital ministry, Peace and Hope, is designed to provide a traditional Lutheran digital worship option for congregations who would like to partner with the ministry, and for individuals who do not have access to an existing congregation. Peace and Hope will be led by Pastor Bryan Katz (New. Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, Blacksburg).
Sadly, the restructuring of our staff means that the Director of Communications position will be coming to an end and that Emily Pilat will no longer be a part of our staff. We are grateful for Emily’s ministry among us and for her creativity and kindness. Emily’s last day with the Synod will be February 10, but she won’t be going far. Emily begins a new position with Roanoke College as Assistant Director for Admissions on February 15, 2021. This new role for Emily will continue her work in communications and support the admission office digital programming for prospective students and their families at Roanoke College. You can stay in touch with Emily at emily.a.pilat@gmail.com.
If you have articles for Synod newsletters, please send them to Lenae Osmondson (osmondson@vasynod.org). In the new structure, Pastor John Wertz, Jr., Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission, will oversee overall communication strategy. You can contact Pastor Wertz at: wertz@vasynod.org.
Over the next few months, the Synod Office will share more details about this new digital ministry emphasis and how it will enhance our ability to be faithful, bold, and serving together.
