VA Constitutional Amendment Vote on Redrawing Congressional Districts
Many Virginians may not yet be aware of an important development in our state government. Along party lines, the Virginia Democratic leadership in the General Assembly has advanced a referendum that would amend the state constitution to give lawmakers the authority to redraw congressional districts.
This move stands in sharp contrast to the will of VA voters just a few years ago. In 2020, roughly two-thirds of Virginians approved a constitutional amendment establishing an independent redistricting commission. The message then was clear: voters wanted to take map-drawing power out of the hands of politicians (Republican and Democrat alike) and ensure a fairer, more transparent process. Now, that decision is effectively being revisited.
If you’re looking to better understand what’s being proposed, we’re providing resources to help you make an informed decision – click the link below. These include voting times and locations for Loudoun and Fairfax counties, as well as side-by-side comparisons of the current and proposed congressional maps. You’ll also find background information and perspectives from both sides of the issue.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE INFO DOCUMENT
After careful consideration, we ask you to consider a “no” vote on this amendment. Early voting is already underway until April 18, and Election Day is Tuesday, April 21. Because this is a lower-profile election, turnout is expected to be lighter than usual, which means your vote carries even greater weight. Thank you for taking the time to stay informed, to pray, and to participate in this important decision.
Livestream Only – January 25
Dear RBC Family,
The RBC campus will be closed all day both Sunday and Monday (Jan. 25-26) due to the winter storm.
A recording of Jim’s new message in our Romans series will be streamed on live.restonbible.org and our YouTube channel on Sunday at 9:00am and then available in the sermon archive afterwards. The livestream and sermon archive are also accessible via the RBC app.
As we move into the week, keep an eye on restonbible.org/weather or contact your ministry leader with any questions about church activities and events. Our snow removal contractor and facility crew will be working to clear the parking lot and sidewalks on Monday afternoon. All events are tied to the Loudoun County school opening and closure schedules unless exceptions are granted.
Remain prayerful and alert as to how the LORD might use this time beyond enjoying the beauty of it to build new or existing relationships that one day lead to spiritual conversations. Shoveling snow, cleaning cars, sledding, and hosting warm snacks and meals often provide opportunities to engage neighbors in unique ways. When Diana and I were first married and living in an apartment in Reston, there was a significant snow, and we met an upstairs couple for the first time. Eventually, they came over for dinner and we talked about their spiritual journey and Jesus Christ. He became their Savior and LORD, and after all these years are still His active disciples.
Looking forward to seeing you for in-person services on Sunday, February 1st.
Thanks,
Bruce
Bruce Campbell | Executive Pastor
As a resource to our church body, RBC partners with RightNow Media—think of it as “Christian Netflix,” giving you online access to thousands of video Bible studies, sermons and teachings for adults, youth and kids. This resource is offered to anyone who considers RBC their church home. To request an account, click here or email info@restonbible.org.
VA “Right to Reproductive Freedom” Amendment
VA Constitutional Amendments and House of Delegate Elections: The Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment is a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution that would establish a right to “reproductive freedom,” defined as the “right to make and effectuate one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy.” By clicking on the link above, you can find the full text of the amendment, Senate Joint Resolution No. 247, House Joint Resolution 1, and the breakdown of the vote in each chamber.
The constitutional amendment process in Virginia requires four steps. Here’s the full process:
- A simple majority of both the state House and Senate approves an amendment.
- There must be an election for the state House (all 100 House seats are up for election this November.)
- A simple majority of both the state House and Senate approves an amendment for a second time. This attempt will be made in January or February of 2026.
- Voters decide on an amendment in a statewide election. It only requires a majority vote to be added to the state constitution. This would occur sometime in 2026 likely coinciding with next fall’s midterm federal elections.
The proposed amendments have all completed the first step. A governor cannot veto an amendment.
Currently, Virginia allows abortions into the third trimester, with restrictions. That will no longer be the case under this amendment. Babies who survive an abortion attempt will no longer have the legal protection of reasonable, life-saving care currently required by Virginia law. Abortionists will be legally allowed to deliver the baby and let it die on a medical table if it survives the abortion process. Further, rights of parents to know about or consent to their teenage daughters’ invasive abortion surgery will be eliminated.
“Reproductive Freedom” is an umbrella term not limited to women. Men, women, and minors would also have a right to sterilization and therefore “transgender” surgery. One of the other constitutional amendments is on codifying same-sex marriage. It is also destructive to our society, but for different reasons. Please vote for the delegate who will protect life. We will keep you posted as the process unfolds next year.
Memorial Service for Cindy Wiese
Longtime RBCer Cynthia “Cindy” Edwards Wiese, 70, passed away peacefully at her home in PA on March 26. Click here to read her full obituary. A memorial service to celebrate Cindy’s life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 10 at New Story Church, 110 Valley Park Road in Phoenixville, PA. To RSVP for in-person attendance or to request the livestream link, email Roy.
Loudoun County Special Elections
As Pastor Jim discussed during his series on “Christ in Culture,” we wanted to alert our body to an opportunity to be involved in our local elections. There are some critical moral issues to be decided by our local government authorities in a upcoming special elections that we can impact not only for our good, but for society’s well-being in general (Romans 13:1-4, 1 Peter 2:13-17.)
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, a special election will be held in Loudoun County for Senate of Virginia, (District 32) and House of Delegates (District 26.) The stakes are exceptionally high, and will determine who holds the state senate majority until 2027 and whether the House of Delegates will require bi-partisan support to pass legislation. To further understand the implications and moral issues of those candidates running for District 32 State Senate—including the important topics of abortion/life, gender & sexuality, preventing boys from playing in girls’ sports and keeping boys out of girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms—Tumay Harding’s website is here and Kannan Srinivasan’s website is here. To understand the implications and moral issues of those candidates running for District 26 House of Delegates, Ram Venkatachalam’s website is here, and J.J. SIngh’s website is here.
Only residents of House District 26 and/or Senate District 32 are eligible to vote. To determine if you are eligible to vote visit the Loudoun Co. Government website. You can vote early through Saturday, January 4 at the Office of Elections in Leesburg or at Claude Moore and Dulles South Recreation Centers. There is no pre-application required. Otherwise, voters must vote at their assigned precinct on election day between 6:00 am – 7:00pm, January 7. The turnout will likely be very low. Your vote will matter.
Mortgage Update
Watch the short video below for some amazing news of God’s provision and how it affects the mortgage on the RBC property.
Special Announcement for RBC Attendees
As I mentioned last Sunday, I wanted to give you a special mid-week announcement.
Please watch the video below, and remember, there are at least two things included that you don’t know!
Aiding Ukraine Together
A long-time RBC attender, Sandy Varney, was born in a barn while her parents fled from Ukraine during World War II. She would become a refugee in Germany then eventually immigrate to America. Eventually she would marry, practice dentistry and raise a family in Reston. In May of this year, Sandy went to Germany as a translator in a Ukrainian refugee camp. That became a springboard for a later trip into Ukraine where she met relatives, assessed urgent needs and found reliable on-the-ground organizations where the gospel of Jesus Christ would be spread in conjunction with delivering material needs.
As with all war, devastation and destruction leave people without adequate shelter and basic things for life. This is coupled with the mental and emotional trauma many experience. As a congregation, we have not forgotten about the needy and poor of Ukraine. Together, RBC recently supported a large purchase of sleeping bags that protect to -20 degrees. These bags will keep people in some targeted villages from freezing in their bombed-out homes. Generators were also purchased for churches so people can be fed and kept warm.
The generosity of the RBC congregation allows us to extend the love of Jesus to Ukrainians in need. Please continue to pray for an end to hostilities and for many to turn to Jesus Christ. Thank you for being a generous church. Below are some pictures of the villages where this aid was sent.
Mike Minter’s January 2 Final Message – POSTPONED
A variety of factors converged last evening for Mike and his family where a decision was made by all of us to postpone his farewell message until the March/April timeframe. The new date will be decided next week and then communicated out. Mike and Kay are in good health and have already arrived from Nashville to NOVA. This news will be especially disappointing to those planning to attend from out of town. Even though this update is being sent to several thousand email addresses, please pass the word around and notify anyone you might know who was traveling from out of town. This notice will be posted on our website and Facebook page later this morning.
Weeks ago, the leadership asked Jim Supp to tell part of his story knowing many of you don’t know Jim that well. Jim will go ahead and do that this Sunday, January 2. On January 9, the Elder Council will officially install Jim as the new Senior Teaching Pastor, as was already planned. Jim will then begin a series of teachings through January and February.
On behalf of Mike and all of us, thank you for your patient understanding of this late, significant change. We look forward to all the LORD Jesus Christ will accomplish for His church and glory as together we serve Him in the New Year.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
COVID Protocols Update – May 23
Pastors Bruce Campbell and Aaron Osborne take some time to thank RBC for their ongoing generosity, give an update on COVID protocol changes at the 10:45am service, and encourage families who have not done so to make a plan to return to in-person worship. Starting May 30, the 10:45am service will be fully open, with no mask or social distancing requirements in services. All COVID protocols at the 9:00am service will remain in place as they are for now, and the elders will reevaluate this by the end of June.