April 10, 2017

APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

It is Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky's intention to make the following appointments effective, July 1, 2017:

The Rev. Richard (Ric) Shewell to Christ United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon. Shewell is a Provisional Elder in the United Methodist Church having previously been ordained in the Church of the Nazarene. He currently serves St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Rev. Bret Strobel, who currently serves Christ Church, will be taking a leave of absence.

The Rev. Eilidh Lowery to Southeast Portland Parish Project, Portland Oregon. Southeast Portland Parish Project is a collaborative ministry of Sellwood Faith Community and Trinity United Methodist Church, sponsored by the Oregon-Idaho New Start Initiative. Lowery will be serving full-time developing new ways of collaboration across different types of faith communities, as well as reaching out to the wider SE Portland community. Her spouse, Rev. Jeff Lowery, will continue in his current appointments to Sellwood Faith Community and L.A.S.T. Portland.

Amanda Bollman to Southeast Portland Parish Project, Portland, Oregon, a collaborative ministry of Sellwood Faith Community and Trinity United Methodist Church, sponsored by the Oregon-Idaho New Start Initiative. Bollman will serve quarter-time with a focus on community organizing and congregational faith development. She is currently seeking to be licensed as a Local Pastor by the Columbia District Committee on Ministry.

The Rev. Martha Myre to Parkrose United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon. Martha is an ordained elder in the North Texas Conference coming off of Leave of Absence. Her appointment to Parkrose will be three-quarter time. Myre earned both her Masters of Theology degree and her Ph.D from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and she has served several United Methodist congregations in the greater Dallas area.

The Rev. Courtney McHill to the Sunnyside Redevelopment Project in Portland, Oregon. In partnership with the New Start Initiative, the Sunnyside Redevelopment Project will be exploring the development of a new faith community with the housed and the unhoused in the Sunnyside neighborhood in Southeast Portland.

The Rev. Stephan Ross to Rose City Park United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon. Ross will be retiring as Director of the Vital Church Project for the Greater Northwest Area and serving the Rose City congregation in retirement as a two year transitional intentional interim.

The Rev. Michael Gregor to College United Methodist Church in Philomath, Oregon. Gregor currently serves at Valley United Methodist Church in Veneta, Oregon. His appointment to College will be as a two-year intentional interim.

The Rev. David Thompson to Roseburg United Methodist Church in Roseburg, Oregon. Thompson currently serves churches in Emmett and Sweet, Idaho.

Rev. Scott Harkness, who currently serves the Roseburg community will be retiring June 30, 2017.

A summary of appointment announcements can be found on the conference website at www.umoi.org/appointments. Clear openings are listed on the Greater Northwest Area website.