January 12, 2017

Dear Reader,

While the conference office is once again closed due to weather, the UM Connector will still make its way to you! (As long as you have power for your computer.)

The cold weather has once again raised the issue of safety for the many people who do not have stable housing. At times people will take refuge in the shelter of the conference office doorway at night. I hope and pray that they have found a safe and warm place to be. And I’m thankful for those in our churches who have been working on both short and long-term solutions to this crisis.

Part of most solutions is legislative advocacy. I’ve share a couple times about the Oregon Legislative Advocacy Day sponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and the United Methodist Women on February 7. In today’s UM Connector is information about United Methodist Women’s Idaho Advocacy Day on February 26 and 27. Both of these events are key ways for United Methodists - men and women - to make their values known to the people elected to represent. If not you, then who?

On a national level, please read the information below about the "Reclaiming our Common Good" event on January 20. This is a great opportunity for you to participate, or host, a conversation about our core Wesleyan values and explore challenges in this moment as they impact our communities and nation.

Is a new church website one of your New Year’s resolutions? If so, check out the new options for local churches from Brick River Technologies (provider of the umoi.org and gocamping.org websites). It’s a new option for churches that can offer a quick setup and highly reliable system for creating that important first impression of your church and it’s ministries.

Stay warm!

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Bishop connects at Olympia

On a wet and windy Sunday afternoon, 80-plus clergy and laity were greeted with warm hospitality as they arrived in the Great Hall of Olympia First United Methodist Church to welcome Bishop Elaine Stanovsky. This first Threshold Event hosted in the Pacific Northwest Conference was the third of eight being held across the Greater Northwest Area, each providing opportunities for people to meet the new bishop, ask questions, and offer mutual blessings. Read more on the PNW Conference website.

The next Threshold Event will be Saturday, January 21 in Eugene.

From the Conference Lay Leader

It's winter in Oregon and Idaho! For some of us that means snow sports and snowball fights and an occasional day off from work or school. For some it means ... Read more.

Spirit Alive

As a new year begins, it is as good of a time as any to consider how you wish to invest your spiritual energy in the coming year. One way to consider this is to consider a spiritual practice I call modulation. ... Read more.

Inspiring Generosity

Help me! Help me reach my goals!!! The New Year. I love it. I hate it. Love it because it’s a time for new beginnings – watching new TV shows, scoping out new ice cream flavors, catching a new... Read more.

Employment

Director, Alton L. Collins Retreat Center - The Camp and Retreat Ministry of the Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Church is seeking a director for the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center, located just southeast of Portland, Oregon. Learn more at www.umoi.org/classifieds.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

United Methodists called to Reclaim the Common Good

On January 20, 2017, United Methodists around the United States are encouraged to host or join house/church parties from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for an evening of fellowship and food to discuss and engage in ways to Reclaim the Common Good. These conversations will be biblically and theologically grounded, affirm our core Wesleyan values, explore challenges in this moment as they impact our communities and nation, and offer opportunities to name ongoing faithful conversations as United Methodists. We hope you'll join.

Five United Methodist agencies - Church and Society, Commission on Religion and Race, Commission on the Status and Role of Women, Higher Education and Ministry, and United Methodist Women - are working together to provide resources for hosts to use to facilitate meaningful conversations.

If Friday (Jan. 20) does not work well for your community, consider hosting an event another time in January. And if you already have plans that fit with this theme, think how you might incorporate Reclaim the Common Good into your program.

United Methodists participating in conversations for the Common Good share visions using the hashtag #UM4CommonGood.

Learn where there is an event near you, or sign up to host an event on the General Board of Church and Society website. When you sign up to host, you will receive resources for a meeting.

Commission member to receive send-off blessing

When the Commission on the Way Forward gathers January 23 in Atlanta, Georgia, Rev. Donna Pritchard from the Oregon-Idaho Conference will be one of the commission members. This will be the first face-to-face meeting of the commission. So far the group has been doing its work via teleconference.

The Commission on a Way Forward was proposed by the Council of Bishops and approved by the 2016 General Conference to do a complete examination and possible revision of every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.

The Oregon-Idaho Reconciling United Methodists (RUMS) have invited Pritchard to join their meeting, Saturday, January 14, for a service of blessing before the January commission meeting.

Anyone interested in participating in the blessing is invited to join for the service of blessing which will be part of the morning program. The gathering will begin at 9:45 a.m. The program speaker will be Nancy Thurston, speaking on the topic “Hidden in Plain Sight: Skin Color and Justice.” Following the blessing, there will be a potluck lunch and the RUMS business meeting. All parts of the day are open to everyone. The meeting will be at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 14700 SE Rupert Drive, Oak Grove (Milwaukie), Oregon. For more information contact the convener, Deborah Maria at yourbest@juno.com.

AROUND THE GLOBE

Homeless helped by youth-inspired Blessing Box

PUYALLUP, Wash. (UMNS) — Homeless people can get emergency food, clothing and other items in a take-what-you-need Blessing Box outside Puyallup United Methodist Church. One of the church’s youth, Kheira Bach, had the idea. She writes about her motivation and seeing the Blessing Box become a reality. Read more on the PNW conference website.

Pastor: 'In the midst of evil, there was peace'

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (UMNS) — The Rev. John Schlicher lay on the ground praying, thinking he and his family would die at the hands of a gunman who killed five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Values stressed as part of confirmation hearings

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — In a Jan. 9 letter to U.S. Senators, the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, asked that each nominee for the new Trump Administration be considered using the values of dignity, justice, peace and the common good. The Senate is holding confirmation hearings this week. Read the letter.

Wespath joins effort on climate concerns

GLENVIEW, Ill. (UMNS) — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the United Methodist pension agency, has joined 13 major global investors representing $2.4 trillion in assets in launching the Transition Pathway Initiative. The initiative will assess how individual companies are positioning themselves for the transition to a low-carbon economy. Read the press release.

New Liberian bishop looks at pastor salaries

MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — During his induction as the new United Methodist bishop of Liberia, Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. said he wants to find ways to augment pastor salaries, especially rural pastors. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

UMW sponsor Idaho Legislative Advocacy Days

February 26 and 27 - Boise, Idaho
The Legislative Advocacy Event is an opportunity to become acquainted with the legislative process. Attendees do not need to be a member of United Methodist Women to participate; everyone is welcome.

This event begins Sunday, February 26, with registration from 3 – 6 p.m. at Boise First United Methodist Church. Beginning at 3:30, sessions will focus on an overview of legislative issues related to funding for social services. Attendees will receive printed materials about the legislative process and the state’s budget process, and agendas of the Monday committee meetings. Featured speakers include Hollis Brookover, Vice-President, Idaho Business for Education; Lee Flinn, Idaho Primary Care Physicians, and Christine Tiddens, Policy Director at Idaho Asset Building Network talking about Medicaid expansion, and other issues affecting Idaho women and children, as well as tips on talking with legislators. Dinner is provided at First UMC.

Monday will have an opportunity to visit the Capitol to attend committee meetings and sessions of the House and Senate, have lunch with legislators, and take a guided tour of the capitol building.

Cost is $25 for both days, or $15 for one, and includes Sunday supper and/or Monday lunch and all materials. Download the registration form for more information. For additional information, contact Mary Getchell at 208-860-2715 or mlgetchell@aol.com.

Missional Internship opportunity

The missional internship program is primarily for college age students (18-26) who are interested in a life formation internship experience. The internship is paid and is primarily based out of Gresham United Methodist Church. In the past it has specifically drawn those with interest in childhood education and those seeking spiritual development. The 2017 program will take place between June 8th - August 7th of 2017.

Learn more and see video’s about the program on the Quad W and Portland internship websites.

Brick River Technology offering free webinar on church websites

Local churches searching for a new option on websites can learn more about Brick River Technology through a free webinar every Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT/12 p.m. MT.

Brick River Technologies is the provider of the Oregon-Idaho Conference and GoCamping.org websites. The company is based out of New Hampshire and specializes in United Methodist conference websites. Their latest offering is a ready-to-go package for United Methodist Churches.

Brick River websites use content management tools and are easy to set up. The company also offers a tiered system for churches needing flexibility and affordability. Learn more about Brick River for churches and see the information below on the free webinar each Wednesday.

Join this webinar from your computer, tablet or smartphone at global.gotomeeting.com/join/508252445. For audio please dial in using your phone to (408) 650-3123 (Access Code: 508-252-445). For more information contact Tim Provencal at tim@brickriver.com.

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Two camps welcome permanent staff

Two Camp and Retreat ministry sites are welcoming “new” staff.

Sam Grainger has been hired as the director at Camp Latgawa. After a nation-wide search and an interview process Sam was invited to step beyond the role that he has served as the interim director to become the full-time director. Sam has grown up in the United Methodist Church and in the outdoor ministry program in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, primarily Potosi Pines outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, and has served as the interim director since April of 2016. Sam, and his wife Samantha, first came to Camp Latgawa in April of 2016, and are excited about serving in ministry in Southern Oregon for the long term.

Camp Magruder is excited to announce Hope Montgomery as the full time Program Director. Hope originally hails from Union City, Tennessee. She has served in camp leadership at Lakeshore UM Camp in West Tennessee and the Life Enrichment Center in Center Florida before coming to the Oregon Coast. Hope has been Summer Program Director the past two summers and served as Interim Program Director before coming on full time. Hope has been an instrumental part of Magruder’s focus to help young leaders grow in their faith and develop creative, powerful worship experiences.