Valley Ridge District of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
The Valley Ridge District connects members of 118 United Methodist Churches in Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Highland, Montgomery, Roanoke, Rockbridge, and Rockingham Counties and the cities and towns of Buena Vista, Clifton Forge, Covington, Lexington, Roanoke, Salem, Staunton, and Waynesboro with the Virginia Annual Conference, the United Methodist Church, and the World in ministry to others on behalf of Christ. At our best, we are the spirit-filled, resilient, connected, missional, faithful, diverse, deeply rooted, committed, disciple-making, Jesus-seeking, generous, justice-seeking, world-changing people of God called The United Methodist Church.
The clergy and laity of the Valley Ridge District are supervised by a Conference-appointed District Superintendent. The Virginia Conference comprises eight districts serving over 875 local United Methodist congregations across most of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of July 1, 2026, the District Superintendent of the Valley Ridge District is Rev. Alan Combs. Find our District Staff team list HERE.
Virginia Conference Bishop: Sue Haupert-Johnson
Fishersville Office
Address: 26 Orr Drive, Fishersville, VA 22939
Phone:540-932-1055
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-3:30 PM and Friday 7:30-noon
In 2009, the Virginia Annual Conference adopted the Green Church Initiative. This covenant congregation program empowers local churches to be faithful stewards of and live justly with all God has so lovingly created. Since its inception, over 100 churches have become Green Churches, and each year, we recognize exemplary churches at the Annual Conference with the Green Church Award. We invite you to become a part of the Green Church Harvest.
For a long time I’ve felt drawn to Psalm 88. It could be considered the darkest of the Psalms. So many Psalms of lament begin with naming their lamentations, but usually by the end the Psalmist erupts in thanksgiving and marvels at the way God intervened and changed their circumstances. Psalm 88 does not offer this kind of resolution. After an initial plea to God to hear his or her prayer, the Psalmist lays out their complaint,
my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
I am counted among those who go down to the Pit;
I am like those who have no help