September 5, 2017
Vol.6 Issue 9.1
|
How can we help? In a world that seems to be full of fire and water, saber rattling, and xenophobia, it can be overwhelming to know how one person can make a difference. But we are not alone; we are members of local communities of faith, we are members of a connected denomination which has quick response systems in place, and we are members of the body of Christ at work in the world. We can help each other make a difference with trainings and companionship and systems. And we rely on God to empower and guide us, and to make our small offering of loaves and fishes magnify into enough.
This week's newsletter highlights two workshops which can help us understand each other better and create safe spaces within our faith communities for vulnerable people. Called to Love workshops will be held in Corvallis and in Madras during September, and in Salem and Gresham in October. A Safe Sanctuary Training will be held in Beaverton on October 1st. We encourage you to check out both of these events.
For information on how to respond to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey or its ongoing tropical storm, see last week's newsletter, and be sure to check out the Upcoming Events column to the right for links to other important happenings, including the All-District Colloquy on September 20th. Those appointed or assigned in the district are required to attend; retired clergy are welcome. Please register online by September 12th.
If you need information to prepare for your congregation's Fall Charge Conferences click here, or contact me in the district office.
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for your leadership in the local church -- that is where Jesus is touching lives -- through you!
|
|
Blessings,
Linda Grund-Clampit
Cascadia District Administrative Assistant
Called To Love!
Making Our UMC’s Safe Places for Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Persons
You and your church can help save lives!
Come and find out how your warm welcome and acceptance can make all the difference to gender-nonconforming young people, adults and their families.
This practical workshop is being offered by our annual conference to help us focus our ministries with those who all too often experience rejection.Leaders for this event will be Revs. Jim and Bonnie Parr Philipson, retired Oregon-Idaho clergy. “Called to Love!” will help you and your church be better informed and resource you to be more hospitable.
- Are you wanting to learn more about gender to help your church be more welcoming?
- Are you feeling called to open your heart and draw the circle just a bit wider?
- Do you want to help provide a healthier and safer environment in your ministry setting?
Then this workshop is for you!! Register now and bring your pastor and other church leaders.
Four events are scheduled -- two in the Cascadia District, and two within reach of many Cascadia District churches:
Registration deadline: the Monday at noon before each Saturday event!
Registration is online at https://umoi-reg.brtapp.com/CalledtoLove. Cost is $5 per person and covers refreshments at Corvallis and Salem, lunch at Madras and Gresham, and materials.
Child care for younger children (up to age 8) will be provided upon request if made when you register. For each child you are welcome to provide a snack from home. If your child will be coming more than an hour late you must let us know.
|
|
Take Advantage of this Safe Sanctuaries Training in Beaverton
Cascadia District Superintendent Tim Overton-Harris encourages all congregations who can to send a team to the Safe Sanctuaries Training on Sunday, October 1st 1 -4 p.m. at Beaverton UMC, 12555 SW 4th St, Beaverton, OR 97005.
Safe Sanctuaries is our United Methodist term for our efforts to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults from abuse in our churches, during church activities, or by church leaders. Every ministry setting within the annual conference is required to have a Safe Sanctuaries policy and to have an annual training for staff and volunteers who work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
The training on October 1st is led by Rev. Warren Light, who has served as the Safe Sanctuaries Coordinator for our conference and who helped develop the template for the local church safe sanctuaries policy. He will be joined by BEST (Bystander Efforts Serve Transformation) trainers who are students and young adults from the Eugene, Oregon higher education communities. Warren is also campus minister at Wesley Center in Eugene which serves these communities, and this training is part of their ministry to the annual conference. Other special guests will be representatives from organizations that can be resources for your local church efforts to prevent to abuse and support survivors of abuse.
The training includes workshops in
- “Being in the Moment, Creating a Safe Space” role plays
- “Seeing the Big Picture: Prevention 101”
- “Understanding What We Do and Why”: current policy issues in the Oregon-Idaho UMC, Q & A
and information about trauma-informed worship and teaching, and resources for healing and hope.
The cost of the training is $10 per person or $50 per church for groups of 5-12. You can pay at the door, but must pre-register for planning purposes. For more information and to register, send an e-mail to Warren Light at uowesleycenter@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
This week in the
Cascadia District
Gearing up for the fall events coming soon!
Looking Ahead
Sept. 14
Early bird deadline to register for Exploration 2017 (Portland)
Health-Flex 2018 Informational Workshop - Oregon City
Sept. 15
Health-Flex 2018 Informational Workshop - Boise
Sept. 15-17
Social Justice Retreat at Suttle Lake
Sept. 16
Called to Love: Making Our UMCs Safe Places for Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Persons - Corvallis
Sept. 20
All District Colloquy
Sept. 23
Called to Love - Madras
Sept. 24-29
Transformations Prayer Retreat
Sept. 24
Fall Charge Conferences Begin
Sept. 25
Health-Flex 2018 Informational Workshop - Hillsboro
Sept. 28
Health-Flex 2018 Informational Workshop - Eugene
Communion at District Office
Oct. 1
World Communion Sunday
Safe Sanctuary Training, Beaverton
Prayer Calendar
Sept. 3 - 9
Cornelius UMC
Pastor Margot Thompson
Lay Leader Sean Ballard
Sept. 10-16
Dallas UMC
Pastor Quinton Kimbrow
Lay Leader Nancy Adams
See the full prayer calendar
Resources
The 2017 Oregon-Idaho Conference Journal is Online
The 2017 Oregon-Idaho Journal will be mailed out to all local churches, all clergy, and all lay members of the Annual Conference later this month.
But it is online now! You can view sections or download it to your computer to have at your fingertips 24-7!
The Journal contains copies of Conference Rules and Conference Policies, the minutes of the Annual Conference Session this past June, copies of legislation that was adopted, history sections, clergy service records, statistics about our churches, and so much more!
It also has directories of clergy, lay leadership, conference staff and churches. But you can find much of that also on the conference website: www.umoi.org and then look under Directories on the home page menu. If you are perusing the conference website, you'll find the Journal under "resources" in the top ribbon.
Contact us
DS Tim Overton-Harris
tim@umoi.org
District Lay Leader
Paula Sadler
jpcsadler@aol.com
District Administrative Assistant
Linda Grund-Clampit
linda@umoi.org
503-581-3969
Check out the Cascadia District webpage:
www.umoi.org/cascadia
|
