January 19, 2017
Dear Reader,
In today’s UM Connector we welcome a new staff member, share several upcoming events, and offer tools and ideas for ministry.
Western Oregon is beginning to thaw out, and ice is melting around the conference office. You can read about the impact of snow days in a commentary from our neighbor at Portland’s First United Methodist Church, Rev. Jeremy Smith.
For those still in the snow – stay warm, stay safe, and keep an eye on your neighbors.
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications
CONFERENCE NEWS
Bishop continues Threshold Events
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Bishop Elaine Stanovsky will continue her journey around the Greater Northwest Area when she visits Eugene, Oregon for the fourth of eight Threshold Events.
Saturday, January 21, at 2:00 p.m. she will be at Eugene’s First United Methodist Church, 1367 Olive Street to share, connect, and answer a few questions. Before the Threshold Event, Bishop Stanovsky will meet with campus ministry students and participate in the Women’s March in Eugene.
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New Sage District Administrative Assistant hired
Terri Bartish
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Terri Bartish will start her employment as Administrative Assistant to the Sage District on February 1, 2017. Her most recent employment is with Edmonds United Methodist Church in Washington as Coordinator of Pastoral Support and Adult Spiritual Formation, a combination of administrative support, coordination of volunteer leaders, and program planning. She looks forward to providing support for the district superintendent and local churches of the Sage District. She loves the east side of the conference having lived in Walla Walla for a time.
Terri is relocating to the Portland area, where she grew up and has friends, family, and a fiancé. Her children are grown. Sam, 25, is a graduate of University of Oregon in geology, and lives in the Edmonds area; Nick, 21, is a student at Western Washington University in Bellingham, studying environmental sciences. The family enjoys being outside, and is happy to reside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where outdoor activities are so abundant.
The Sage District Office will continue to be housed in the Conference Office in Portland, Oregon, as a systems consultant assesses the advantages and disadvantages of moving to centralized district offices in relation to the work of the conference staff.
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AROUND THE CONFERENCE
People of the Book gather in Boise
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At First United Methodist Church in Boise, Idaho’s first “People of the Book” session, attendees from a variety of faiths shared a meal, talked, and got to know each other. The dinner offerings represented different traditions and cultures and was followed by a panel discussion. The discussion was focused on ways to bridge differing traditions, connecting all as one family under God.
Judaism, Islam and Christianity can all trace their lineage to Abraham, and each faith’s sacred texts reflect traditions and promises revealed to this patriarch by God. As “People of the Book,” this shared lineage connects people in other ways, too.
For their second event on February 21, the series will host Beth Harbison, Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel (CABI) Director of Education and Teen Advisor, Quratulain Landis from the Islamic Center of Boise, and Lutheran Pastor Reverend Kari Sansgaard, as they share their faith experience and tradition of Hagar.
The Interfaith dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. and panel discussion begins at 6:30 p.m. Learn more and make your dinner reservation on the church's website.
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Employment
- Director, Alton L. Collins Retreat Center -The Alton L. Collins Retreat Center has a position open for an on-site Director.
- Administrative Assistant – Portland, Oregon - Montavilla United Methodist Church is seeking a half-time administrative assistant.
Learn about these and other openings at www.umoi.org/classifieds.
Clear Appointment Openings
A list of churches that are open for appointment can be found on the Greater NW Area website. As appointments are announced and the appointment process unfolds, new clear openings will be added to the list. See the latest.
AROUND THE GLOBE
New dormitory in Liberia to house women in need
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MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — The United Methodist Women in Liberia will open a women’s dormitory later this year to provide free housing for young women attending schools in and around Monrovia. The project will help young women in need further their education. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
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40 United Methodists in new U.S. Congress
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The overall number of United Methodists in the U.S. Congress has dipped to 40, but at least two appointees to President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet are United Methodists. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
60 United Methodist congregations to offer sanctuary
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (UMNS) — California-Nevada Conference, Bishop Minerva Carcaño says 60 United Methodist congregations are preparing to offer sanctuary to immigrants fearing deportation. Her statement comes as President-elect Donald Trump, who campaigned for stronger enforcement of immigration laws, takes office on Jan. 20. Read Carcaño’s statement.
Iowa group helps man get legal residency
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (UMNS) — Through the work of United Methodist Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors and support from Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador was able to get legal residency. Now, he can stay in the U.S. with his wife and family without fear of deportation. Read more on the Justice for our Neighbors website.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Disability Awareness Sunday is Feb. 5
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The United Methodist Church has designated the first Sunday in February as Disability Awareness Sunday. The Commission on Disability Concerns offers a downloadable kit to assist with worship planning and ideas for observing the day. The Baltimore-Washington Conference website has useful information and links.
How to Be an Ally with People of Color
The road to racial justice has often been three steps forward and two steps back, that is, moving forward, making a little progress, then retreating from it. Everyone is affected by issues of race and racism in the ever changing political and social environment. The challenge for many, is how to be an effective ally to those who are the primary focus of racism and prejudice.
The First Congregational Church of Salem will host a two-session training addressing racism, featuring educator and activist Dr. Johnny Lake, from 1-5 p.m. on February 11 & 25, 2017. The workshop will explore some of the history of racism in the US and Oregon, and offer ways to actively address racism. Participants will examine their own and others’ identity and perceptions of race, share stories, crate safe and healthy dialog and engage in small and large groups for learning.
The event is designed to benefit white people and persons of color who want to be agents of change for racial justice. The workshop is divided into two sessions, February 11 and 25. Participants will get the most benefit from attending both. A $10 donation is requested for each session, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Pre-registration is not required, but it is highly recommended. Pre-register for both sessions online. For more information, contact Kevin Seckel at kseckel2@gmail.com.
Ministry Toolbox of key resources
Margaret Marcuson, author of Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry and Money and Your Ministry had created a free tool box of resources for those in ministry. The 15 page e-book is a collection of book recommendations, time-tested workshops, online tools, and apps to make ministry easier and more effective.
Download the free tool. (Note: you will be subscribed to Marcuson’s email list when you download.)
COMMENTARY
By Rev. Jeremy Smith
… We may pass by other sojourners, but barely lift our heads in greeting. We fail to recognize other folks working towards the same goal, also in silence. Sometimes our woundedness causes us to lash out or shortchange the other seekers when their journey is not the same as ours. …
