September 15, 2016

Dear Reader,

Without much fanfare Bishop Elaine Stanovsky took the reins of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference this week. Yesterday she arrived at the conference office and had a short time to meet staff in building before spending time with the Ministry Leadership Team. Today (Thursday), she will meet with a joint Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conference team to begin planning for the 2017 Annual Conference Session.

While meeting staff she took time to share about her northwest area roots. While growing up in Vancouver and Seattle she had relatives in Oregon and would visit the area and vacation at the Oregon coast. She’s looking forward to conversations around the conference to get to know the people and churches of the Oregon-Idaho Conference.

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

A short greeting from Bishop Stanovsky

Watch the Bishop's message.

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

I’m Elaine Stanovsky and I’m the brand new bishop in the Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church, having just moved here from Denver, Colorado where I served for eight years. I can’t tell you how excited my husband Clint and I are to be in the Northwest, we came from the Northwest, we served all of our professional lives in the Northwest and its great to be back in the Pacific Northwest Conference, the Oregon-Idaho Conference, and the Alaska Conference.

I believe to the core of my being that God is still at work in the world through the Church. And that the job of those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and who know the power of Christ’s life-giving work; our job is to figure out where God is at work, and how God is at work in the world, and to go join God in that work! I hope that all of you and all of your places are looking for that kind of new reengagement with your neighborhoods.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to get to meet you as I begin to travel the Area, learn about the ministries you are involved in, and encourage you along the way. But for now I’m going to say:

God bless you, God keep you, and may God bring us together on the road.

Bishop Elaine J.W. Stanovsky

Bartlett named Interim Camping Executive

The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries has named Rev. Todd Bartlett as the Interim Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries. Bartlett is currently the Director at the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center. He will immediately assume the new role, as a half-time position while continuing to support the retreat center half-time. Bartlett, an elder in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology. He served as a local pastor in Bend, Pine Grove/Odell, Junction City, and Lebanon before taking over the role of Director at Alton L. Collins Retreat Center in 2009.

The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries will conduct a search for a new Executive Director in the coming months. Retired Executive Director,Rev. Lisa Jean Hoefner will assist Bartlett in the area of donor relations and grants that support the camping ministries. Email to Bartlett in the Executive Director role can be sent to Todd@umoi.org.

Parkhurst arraigned in Colorado

According to a story on the OregonLive website, James Parkhurst was indicted and made his first court appearance in Colorado on Monday. He is charged with the production of child pornography and transportation of child pornography related to activities in 2008 - 2011. His case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He was arrested August 2 in Portland, Oregon. Parkhurst began serving as the Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries in April 2015. He resigned and surrendered his ministerial credentials as a deacon following the arrest.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Called To Love!
Making Our UMC’s Safe Places for Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Persons

Saturday October 1 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Eugene FUMC
Saturday October 22 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Albany FUMC

You and your church can help save lives!

Come and find out how your warm welcome and acceptance can make all the difference to gender-nonconforming young people, adults and their families.
This practical workshop is being offered by our annual conference to help us focus our ministries with those who all too often experience rejection.
“Called to Love!” will help you and your church be better informed and resource you to be more hospitable.

Are you trying to imagine a welcoming statement that would work for your congregation?
Are you feeling called to open your heart and draw the circle just a bit wider?
Do you want to help provide a healthier and safer environment in your ministry setting?

Then this workshop is for you!!

Leaders for this event will be Revs. Jim and Bonnie Parr Philipson, retired Oregon-Idaho clergy.

Register online now and bring your pastor and other church leaders.
Registration deadlines: Monday Sept. 26 for Eugene, and Monday October 17 for Albany. Cost is $10 per person and covers lunch and materials.
Child care for younger children (up to age 8) will be provided if you request it when you register. For more information contact Bonnie Parr Philipson at 503-547-3822 and download a bulletin insert to share.

Flood Bucket update – A great response!

Nearly 30 churches, from every corner of the Conference, have answered the call to build ‘flood buckets’ for the UMCOR depot! From Coos Bay to Ashton, Hood River to Klamath Falls, churches have answered the call with either materials or funds. Becky Platt, Oregon-Idaho Volunteers in Mission Coordinator, thanks all who responded with abundance for the survivors of the many floods in the past months. She says these cleaning buckets will be put to immediate use where most needed.

If you haven’t already, email Becky at beckyplatt1@peoplepc.com right away if you want to have your buckets picked up September 18-19 and taken to UMCOR in Salt Lake City.

Want to help but can’t make the Sept. 18-19 date? There will be a second truck heading out on about Sept. 24. If your church has other kits (health, school, etc.) ready for delivery to the depot this is a good opportunity to send them.

AROUND THE GLOBE

Aiding Migrants in Central America

Watch the video of missionary James D. Perdue as he shares about the human rights work extended to protect migrant families when they are forced to flee their homes due to deadly gang recruitment efforts in El Salvador.

This video is a companion piece to the “Aiding Migrants in Central America: The Good, the Bad, and the Deadly” article, which was published in the September-October issue of New World Outlook magazine. Read the article on the Global Ministries website.

Bishops select staff in reorganization

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — New appointments for a centralized staff reorganization, including the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships, were announced by the Council of Bishops’ Executive Committee. Bishop Marcus Matthews became the council’s executive secretary on Sept. 1. Read press release on umc.org

Needed start to racial bridge building

KANSAS CITY — An editorial in The Kansas City Star commended two United Methodist pastors, the Rev. Adam Hamilton and the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver III, for making an “impressive start” on improving race relations by bringing their congregations together for a nonthreatening dialogue between black and white Kansas City area residents. Read editorial in Kansas City Star.

Bishop Brown serves as interim at Glide

SAN FRANCISCO — Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, who leads the California-Nevada Conference, has assigned recently retired Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr. as the interim senior pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. Brown follows recently elected Bishop Karen Oliveto, who now leads the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone conferences.
Read story on the Cal-Nevada website.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

World Communion Sunday Resources

World Communion Sunday, traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday in October, is a time to be in communion with Christians all over the world and to enable us to "press on toward the goal" of serving God in life-changing ministries.

World Communion Sunday is one of the six churchwide Special Sundays of The United Methodist Church. The World Communion Sunday offering provides scholarships for international and United States (racial- and ethnic-minority) graduate students and scholarships for racial and ethnic minority persons seeking second careers in church-related vocations.

Download the pastor's and leaders toolkit at UMCom for sermon ideas, children's sermon ideas, graphics and social media tools.

Cultural Competency training offered Sept. 17

The Oregon-Idaho Council on Native American Ministries is sponsoring an introductory workshop on Cultural Competency this Saturday, September 17. This workshop is intended for both lay and clergy church members who are interested in expanding their cultural awareness so they can connect with a changing mission field.

Wilshire United Methodist Native American Fellowship is the location, 3917 NE Shaver in Portland, Oregon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no cost for the training, and a donation will be asked to cover the cost of lunch. Get more details and register by contacting Gloria Marple at ggmarple4653@yahoo.com or Eva Johnson at 503-37-7730. Church teams are encouraged at this training. Download a flyer to share with others.

Back-to-School Registration Discount Available for Imagine What’s NEXT

Imagine What’s NEXT, a collegiate conference designed to equip students with the skills needed to merge and connect their gifts with innovative discipleship, and effect immediate change, is rapidly approaching. College students around the world are encouraged to attend NEXT from November 4-6 in Atlanta’s historic Tabernacle Theater. Throughout the month of September, students will be able to register at a discounted, back-to-school, rate of $100. Read the rest of the General Board of Higher Education article.