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Fairfax United Methodist Men

Be doers of the Word, not only hearers.

Purpose

As specified in The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012, each church within the United Methodist Church (UMC) is to have an organized Fellowship that is charted annually by the General Commission on United Methodist Men (GCUMM). This men’s organization is to provide a dedicated ministry for building men spiritually and involving men in the total ministry of the Church. The United Methodist Men (UMM) exists to declare the centrality of Christ in every man’s life. The Men’s Ministry is to lead to the spiritual growth of men in effective discipleship. The organization’s purpose is served as men are called to model the servant leadership of Jesus Christ.

Vision

The Men’s Ministry of the local church is defined as a core group of men, who partner with their pastor, to invite and initiate spiritual growth opportunities for all men of the church, realizing that everyone has different gifts, graces and areas of interest.  Opportunities for participation include diverse ministries of the church, such as prayer groups, missions, Bible studies, retreats, workshops/seminars, small groups in the Wesleyan tradition, leading and participating on church committees, teaching Sunday school classes, youth ministries, scouting, and mentoring and assisting in worship service leadership.  The focus in not inward, concentrating only on those who attend a set of meetings; but, outward to all men, assisting them to engage in the process of spiritual growth.

Mission

The UMM mission is to support the spiritual growth of men, helping them to mature as disciples of Christ, as they encourage spiritual formation.

Goal

The UMM goal is to help men grow in Christ, so others may know Christ.

Fairfax United Methodist Men Fellowship

The Fairfax United Methodist Men (FUMM) Fellowship exists at the Fairfax United Methodist Church (FUMC), in the Virginia Conference of the UMC, within the Alexandria, Virginia, District to carry out the above stated Purpose, Vision, Mission and Goal, to:

  • Encourage knowledge of and support for the total mission of the UMC.
  • Engage in evangelism by sharing the fullness of the gospel in its personal and social dimensions.
  • Clarify and speak to the identity and roll of men in contemporary society.
  • Seek commitment to discipleship.
  • Study and become familiar with the UMC, its organization, doctrines, and beliefs.
  • Cooperate with all components of the UMM, in carrying out the UMM goals and objectives provided by GCUMM, the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC, the Virginia Conference of the UMC, and the Alexandria, Virginia, District UMM.

Membership

Membership in the FUMM is open to any man, who indicates a desire to belong and participate in any aspect of the ministry of the church, through the UMM, as specified in the above Vision Statement.

Regular Events

  • Pancake Breakfasts:  As a fund raiser, monthly on the second Saturday of each month, except for the months of June, July and August, from 8 AM to 10 AM, in the church’s Fellowship Hall, the FUMM offers the community a home-style breakfast, where attendees enjoy plain or blueberry pancakes, as well as scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits, grits and gravy.
  • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers. Annually, the FUMM provides a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, where pancakes, scramble eggs and bacon are served.  Shrove Tuesday is the last day before the beginning of Lent. This day is also known as “Fat Tuesday,” the last day of the Mardi Gras season, and in many countries the day is known as “Pancake Day.” Making and eating such foods is considered a last feast, with ingredients such as sugar, fat, and eggs, since the consumption of these foods are traditionally restricted during Lent.
  • Holy Thursday: The Last Supper Drama. Every other year, the last being in Year 2016, the FUMM sponsors a living dramatization of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” which was written by the Rev. Ernest K. Emurian.  Attendees experience “The Last Supper” in the church’s sanctuary in a service of drama, music and worship.
  • Mulch Sales Project.  As a fund raiser, the FUMM provides and sells 3 cubic feet (CF) bags of regular shredded hardwood mulch and 2 CF bags of black mulch twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.
  • Saturday Bible Study.  Monthly, normally on the fourth Saturday of each month, men gather between 7:30 AM – 9 AM in a church school classroom for a “Biblical Examination of Men’s Issues.”

For a current calendar of events, click here.

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Other Participations

National Gathering of United Methodist Men.  Every four years, the last being in Year 2013, at national sites scheduled by the General Commission on United Methodist Men of the United Methodist Church.  Men from across the USA, as well as from Africa, gather for a weekend of spiritual fellowship with keynote speakers, song and service projects such as a sweet potato drop for the Society of St. Andrew, where a trailer load of sweet potatoes are bagged for distribution to the needy.

Virginia Conference United Methodist Men Spiritual Retreat    Held annually, the first weekend of the month of November, with the weekend starting on first Friday of the month, at the Assembly Center in Blackstone, VA. This is a weekend of preaching, sharing, singing and fellowship in a spiritual environment. Later in the summer of Year 2014, more information will be provided about this event, along with an opportunity to make online reservations. Current information may be found on the Virginia Conference United Methodist Men website.

Bi-District Rally   Shared with the Arlington, VA, District, the Alexandria, VA, District holds an annual one day event at different churches within the two districts for spiritual growth and fellowship.  The Districts alternate leadership.

 Virginia Boy Scouts of America   The FUMM supports a Boy Scout Troop that meets at the FUMC, providing advocacy, cooperation, and relationship in partnership with the National Association of United Methodist Scouters (USA) and the Boy Scouts of America, as channeled through the GCUMM, Virginia Conference UMM, and the Alexandria, VA, District UMM Scouting Coordinators.

Regular Donations

Using funds received from various FUMM projects, such as the monthly Pancake Breakfasts and Mulch Sales Project, annual donations have been made to the following organizations:

FUMM Leadership

James (Jim) L. Conklin, Jr., President

Roger Courtney, Vice President

Robert (Bob) Bridge, Secretary

Joseph Bekhor, Treasurer