July 13, 2017
Dear Reader,
It’s moving season.
If you have a new address, physical or email, please let your district office know about it. We want to always stay in connection with you!
Email the offices at:
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications
CONFERENCE NEWS
Willamette and Claremont enter talks on relocation
Claremont School of Theology and Willamette University have entered the due diligence phase of a plan to embed Claremont School of Theology (CST) on the Willamette University Campus in Salem, Oregon.
CST is facing severe financial challenges, in part from the maintenance of an aging campus. Embedding in Willamette will help with those costs and give the school the resources to support its expanding enrollment. CST and Willamette leadership identified that Willamette, a United Methodist related university, and CST share common values and goals for education. Embedding will provide new opportunities for dual degree, co-curricular classes, and expanded opportunities for Willamette undergraduates. Read more on the conference website.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Stover receives Asbury award
Rev. Tim Stover
|
Rev. Tim Stover was one of 16 recipients of the 2017 Francis Asbury award. The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry offers the award to honor outstanding leadership, above and beyond basic responsibilities, to help bring heightened awareness to the significance of the church’s higher education ministries. It is named after Bishop Francis Asbury, one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the U.S.
Stover retired this year after serving for 20 years at the Oregon State University's campus ministry, Westminster House.
See the full list of recipients.
|
|
In the News
Trinity UMC in Idaho Falls was featured on television local news for their 100 year celebration and outreach event.
AROUND THE GLOBE
Responding to global climate issues
|
NEW YORK (UMNS) — When Jefferson B. Knight attended the Paris climate summit at the end of 2015, he already knew that climate change was not a theory for debate but a present-day crisis in Liberia and other parts of Africa. But he and other United Methodists are concerned that the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord undermines global goals to address those issues. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
|
|
Inmates learn to grow food
HARARE, Zimbabwe (UMNS) — Seventeen inmates at a prison in Harare have learned to grow food through a program organized by The United Methodist Church and the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service, graduating with certificates in horticulture. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Making discipleship a 'contact sport'
INDIANAPOLIS (UMNS) — To follow Christ, get off the sidelines and onto the field. Some 600 United Methodist Men heard variations of this call and put it into action throughout the group's 12th National Gathering. Heather Hahn reports on the event with the theme "Discipleship: The Contact Sport" for United Methodist News Service.
Commission on A Way Forward to meet in Chicago
WASHINGTON – The Commission on a Way Forward will convene in Chicago July 19-21 to continue its work concerning human sexuality and exploring options for the future of The United Methodist Church on the issue.
This will be the fourth meeting of the 32-member Commission, which was appointed by the Council of Bishops to assist the bishops in discerning a way forward.
After the last meeting in April in Washington, D.C., members indicated that they were leaning toward a simpler structure with clearer processes for decision-making and accountability for the UMC in its mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Commission members have received input from several advocacy and renewal groups who have strong interest in the outcome and from general boards and agencies of the church.
During annual conference sessions, members of the commission made presentations and hosted discussions on the work of the commission, and a video, capturing the commission at work, was shown. In preparation for the July meeting, the team has started to prepare an initial draft plan for review at the July meeting. The commission’s ultimate assignment is to present its report to the Council of Bishops for action at the Special Session of General Conference set for February 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward was appointed by the Council of Bishops to assist the bishops in their charge from the 2016 General Conference to lead the church forward amid the present impasse related to human sexuality and resulting questions about the unity of the church. For more information on the Commission on a Way Forward, visit umc.org/wayforward.
Gay clergywoman's case heads to top court
DES MOINES, Iowa (UMNS) — The Rev. Anna Blaedel, a campus minister, faced a complaint after she told the Iowa Annual Conference last year that she is “a self-avowed practicing homosexual.” Now, questions related to the dismissal of that complaint are heading to The United Methodist Church’s top court. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Safe Sanctuaries
Mark your calendars for a Safe Sanctuary training, October 1, 2017 in Beaverton. A cooperative effort of BEST (Bystander Efforts Serve Transformation) and the Oregon-Idaho Safe Sanctuary team, it will be held at Beaverton United Methodist Church, from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person, or $50 for church groups up to 12 people. For more information, and to register, contact Warren Light at uowesleycenter@gmail.com and see more information on the conference website.
Faith & Why Unions Matter
Talk with economist Marty Hart-Landsberg about how the strength of labor unions is related to the strength of the economy. Hear about the personal and positive impact being a union member has had on local working people. Explore why unions matter from a faith-based perspective with Rev. Andrea Cano. Presented by the Portland Jobs with Justice Faith-Labor & Portland Rising Committees, and cosponsored by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Center for Christian Voice, and NW Oregon Labor Council. 6:30 p.m. at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 2408 SE 16th Ave., Portland. For more information contact, Karen Nettler at karen.en21@yahoo.com or 503-771-0095.
Registration Now Open for Exploration 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Registration for Exploration, a three-day event for young adults age 18-26, is now open. This biennial event is designed to help attendees listen, discern, and respond to God’s call to ordained ministry, as they explore their gifts for service as a deacon or elder in The United Methodist Church. Exploration is a program of the office of young adult discernment and enlistment at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM).
This year’s event will be held November 3-5 in Portland, Oregon. Young adults who have a sense that God might be calling them to ordained ministry, who have wondered what ministry in The United Methodist Church is all about, who would like help sifting through issues involved in an ordained vocation, or who want to learn more about The United Methodist seminaries and theological schools should attend this event. Exploration is part of GBHEM’s strategy to enable and resource leadership within the church.
“Exploration is an amazing experience where youth and young adults can gather, and in the midst of community, discern their calls together,” said Rev. Dr. Trip Lowery, director of young adult ministry discernment and enlistment at GBHEM. “The United Methodist Church does not have a shortage of youth and young adults feeling called into church leadership. Exploration is a space where those feeling called can continue to discern what their next faithful steps should be, even if they discern those next steps are not into ordained leadership.”
There are several ways to live into vocational ministry in The United Methodist Church. Speakers and workshop leaders from various ministry settings will facilitate discussion about the diverse ways of living into a call to church leadership.
To register, or learn more about Exploration, visit ExploreCalling.org. More information about GBHEM can be found at GBHEM.org.
Online master’s in Wesleyan youth ministry
You can earn a master’s degree or certification in Wesleyan youth ministry from Southwestern College! Learn practical, applicable theology from top United Methodist scholars alongside other youth workers from around the country. Courses will help you plan confirmation classes, UMYF lessons, and mission trips that are theologically sound while giving you the tools you need to counsel and lead your youth like never before. No travel is required for this degree – all the master’s-level courses are entirely online. Apply and start the program at any time, but Fall 2017 courses start August 14 and are a great place to begin. The program’s academic advisor can guide you through the application and acceptance process. Learn more and apply at www.beadisciple.com/masm/youth or email masm@sckans.edu.
COMMENTARY
By Ross Douthatt
… For the sake of their country, their culture and their very selves, post-Protestants should find a mainline congregation and start attending every week. …
