April 27, 2017

Dear Reader,

This Sunday every church across the United Methodist connection will be recognizing Native American Ministries Sunday. This offering supports the ministry of Christ among Native People, both here in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, and across the United Methodist Connection. Make sure this special day is remembered in your local church.

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Judicial Council hears election arguments

Bishop Karen Oliveto
speaks to supporters Tuesday

Tuesday the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church heard arguments on the legality of the election of Bishop Karen Oliveto by the Western Jurisdictional Conference. The South Central Jurisdiction challenged the election just minutes after the election.

The council heard one hour oral arguments from representatives of the Western Jurisdiction and the South Central Jurisdiction.

Bishop Oliveto was present and supported by other Western Jurisdiction Bishops and Mountain Sky area leaders at the hearing. Bishop Elaine Stanovsky served as spokesperson for the Western Jurisdiction.

The Judicial Council will release their decisions after they finish closed door deliberations on the Western Jurisdiction item and the rest of their docket. This could be on Friday, or on Monday.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Changes to conference health plans for 2018

The Conference Board of Pensions will be proposing major changes to the health insurance plans offered to over 300 clergy and lay staff participants across the conference. To help participants, and members of the Annual Conference Session who will be voting on the plan, the board is providing seven information sessions in May.

The new plan will offer a wider range of choices while working to control costs to local churches and the Annual Conference. Read more about the changes, and sign up for an information session on the conference website.

Clergy sexual ethics testing update

Each year clergy participate in an online test to review clergy sexual ethics policies of the annual conference. For 2017 Bishop Stanovsky, the Board of Ordained Ministry Executive Committee, and district office staff have scheduled the testing for September. This will allow testing to happen after new appointments begin. But clergy and church leaders can start studying now by viewing pages 38-43 of the 2016 Journal. For more information contact Rev. Janet Farrell, administrative assistant for the Board at bom@umoi.org.

Classifieds

On the classifieds page this week look for a job announcement for a Director at the Campus Christian Center at University of Idaho, a Youth Director in Bend, and an offer of free clergy stoles. Check them out at www.umoi.org/classifieds.

Appointment Announcements

The following appointments were announced this week:

Rev.Nancy Amos to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Rev. Daryl Blanksma to Trinity United Methodist Church, Eugene, Oregon
Rev. Ryan Scott to Trinity United Methodist Church, Toledo, Oregon
Rev. Nancy Slabaugh Hart to Madras United Methodist Church, Madras, Oregon
Rev. Deena Wolfe to Monroe United Methodist Church, Monroe, Oregon
Teri Watanabe to Valley United Methodist Church, Veneta, Oregon
Jon Umbdenstock to Woodlawn Redevelopment Project, Portland, Oregon

Read the full announcements and see a list of all announced appointments on the conference website.

AROUND THE GLOBE

5 ways United Methodists have fought malaria

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMC.org) — April 25 is World Malaria Day, an international observance dedicated to malaria awareness. Since 2010, The United Methodist Church, through its Imagine No Malaria initiative, has focused on reducing malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Read a report on five ways the church has helped fight malaria.

Bishops set date for special 2019 General Conference

ST. LOUIS (UMNS) — The Council of Bishops announced the call to a special General Conference on Feb. 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis. The special meeting will be limited to dealing with a bishops’ report based on recommendations related to fostering church unity amid deep differences around homosexuality. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Spectators pray, sing at Judicial Council

NEWARK, N.J. (UMNS) — About 200 people prayed and sang before a Judicial Council hearing on whether a gay bishop can be elected and consecrated in The United Methodist Church. Those attending included Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly gay bishop in the denomination. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Bishop: Church must stand for peace in Korea

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Wisconsin Area Bishop Hee-Soo Jung says United Methodists must stand for peace in the face of tensions on the Korean peninsula. “Let us join together in solidarity with our Korean brothers and sisters in this sacred task of peacemaking, peacekeeping, and restoration,” writes Jung, who was born in Kwang hwa do, Korea. Jung also details the denomination’s official statement on Korea in the Book of Resolutions and urges President Donald Trump and other officials to use “caution, discretion, and patience.” Read more on the Wisconsin Conference website.

Wespath plans listening session May 12

GLENVIEW, Ill. — Wespath Benefits and Investments, the United Methodist pension board, invites interested plan participants to address the board of directors during a listening session at 9 a.m., Central, May 12 at the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, 2855 N. Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, Ill. To place your name and topic on the agenda, contact Colette Nies at cnies@wespath.org by April 28. Read the press release.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Youth mission trip funds available

For a limited time, the Oregon-Idaho Conference, via its United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) program, is offering funding assistance for youth mission teams. This offer is available for teams traveling between May 15 and September 15, 2017. Teams must meet the following requirements:

Be made up of at least 80% youth
Travel away from home between May 15 and September 15, 2017 for at least 2 nights
Be registered, prior to departure, with the conference UMVIM coordinator (registration form)
Show proof of insurance from one of the United Methodist US jurisdictions SE Jurisdiction or NC Jurisdiction

The conference will pay $10/night per youth up to a total of $50/youth and $500/team. These funds are in addition to any other funds allotted via the standard UMVIM policy for mission teams (background checks and partial reimbursement for insurance); see the full policy guide here.

For additional details, contact conference UMVIM coordinator, Becky Platt, at ORIDUMVIM@gmail.com or beckyplatt1@peoplepc.com.

2017 School of Congregational Development

The 2017 School of Congregational Development will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 17-20. Early bird registration rate of $325 ends April 30. Learn more at scdnetwork.ning.com.

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Volunteer work retreats and other opportunities!

Work Retreats are great opportunities to enjoy camp for at no charge (donations to cover costs gladly accepted) while contributing to your favorites site's camping ministry. Come for the whole weekend or just as schedules allow. Please RegisterER online so meals can be planned accordingly.

There are projects for all skill levels so everyone is invited to come and participate!
Three sites, Latgawa, Sawtooth, and Suttle Lake each have events that you can read more about and register at these links:
Latgawa's Breakout
Sawtooth's Memorial Day Work Party
Suttle Lake's Roundup
If you want to volunteer at Camp Magruder or Alton Collins Retreat Center, they also use volunteers extensively, so contact the directors to find out how they can put you to use!
To learn more about the volunteer process and apply to volunteer follow the steps outlined on the gocamping.org volunteer page.

COMMENTARY

May we continue to hold each other in love

Bishop Karen Oliveto

… we have never allowed our difference of opinion [to] threaten our unity, because our unity is grounded in something much deeper: our love of God and God’s people, which is what Jesus asks of us. …