October 12, 2017

Dear Reader,

Today’s UM Connector is filled with news and resources.
The fall leaves may just be turning orange, but it’s time to think about planning for Advent. There are two resources for that.

In addition you’ll find an opportunity for a study on Paul and a great article about giving effective stewardship testimonies.

Enjoy the resources – and the fall leaves.

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Kuan to discuss CST move

The President of Claremont School of Theology, Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, will meet with Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference clergy on Tuesday, October 17th at 10 a.m. to share about the possibilities of a partnership between CST and Willamette University in Salem. The session will give an opportunity for guests to hear from Dr. Kuan and to ask questions. Woodburn United Methodist Church will host this event. They are located at 700 N Cascade Dr, in Woodburn, Oregon. Light refreshments will be served. Those unable to attend in person can watch via a live webinar.

Learn more about the possible partnership on the conference website.

Bishop's Symposium:
No Joke Live! tickets now available

Tickets are now available for No Joke Live, November 4, from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Seattle First United Methodist Church. The event is one of three ways to engage in this year's Bishop's Symposium. Click here to learn more. Tickets will be on sale exclusively for United Methodist clergy and laypersons for one week.
No Joke Live is a dynamic opportunity to learn more about developing interfaith relationships. Aneelah Afzali of the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS), noted Christian author and public theologian, Brian McLaren, and a rabbi yet to be determined will join the Christian pastor, Jewish rabbi and Muslim imam whose story is presented in the documentary entitled, No Joke: When People Like Each Other the Rules Change. You can learn more about them and view the trailer for their film on the No Joke Project website.
Space will be limited, so be sure to buy your tickets quickly. This will be a public event, co-sponsored by the Greater Northwest Area and Jim Henderson Productions.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Response Teams preparing for Texas trips

Joint Early Response Teams (ERT) from the Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest conferences are preparing to head to Texas in late October and November. Three teams are being formed for 8-day deployments in the Houston area. If you're interested in learning more about being on one of these teams, contact Becky Platt at beckyplatt1@peoplepc.com. You must be a certified ERT to join these teams. If you are interested in certification for these, or future deployments, you can attend a certification class in Portland on October 21.

Plan now for UMVIM trips

In the months ahead, many churches will be planning United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) trips to Texas, Louisiana, or other places in need. Trip leaders need to attend leadership training to participate in conference sponsored insurance and support programs. Get qualified early by attending one of two trainings being offered in the Pacific Northwest Conference. The first is Saturday, October 28 in Pasco, Washington. The second is November 18 in Tumwater, Washington. Click on the links to get more information and register.

Oregon-Idaho’s new UMVIM Coordinator is Louise Kienzle from Hermiston, Oregon. She will be setting up more training opportunities in the months ahead to support local church ministry through mission experiences. You can contact Louise at oridumvim@gmail.com.

Employment

Here are some of the employment opportunities listed on the conference website:
Director, Sawtooth Camp - Kimberly, ID
Registrar, Camp and Retreat Ministries - Portland, OR
Youth Leader - Portland, OR
Accounts Payable Clerk - Portland, OR
Get more details on these, and others at www.umoi.org/classifieds.

AROUND THE GLOBE

Church repents for racism of its history

WASHINGTON — Mount Vernon United Methodist Church observed the 100th anniversary of the laying of the church cornerstone with a formal call to remembrance and repentance of the racist history of the church. The church was built by white slaveholders as “the representative church” of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the denomination that was the result of an 1844 schism over the issue of slavery.

Judge strikes down tax-free clergy housing

MADISON, Wis. — A U.S. federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional a 1954 law that gives clergy tax-free housing allowances. The same judge also struck down the law in 2013, but that ruling was later overturned on appeal. The “remedy” for her judgement has not yet been determined, or if she will issue a stay of the ruling pending anticipated appeals. At this time, there is no change to the existing law, and the ruling does not affect church owned parsonages. The United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration legal team has issued a statement on the ruling. Download and read it here.

GC2020 delegate count holds steady

GALLANT, Ala. (UMNS) — The Commission on General Conference set the target for the number of delegates at the 2020 legislative assembly. They also discussed the possibility of completely digitizing the Daily Christian Advocate. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Planning the special General Conference

GALLANT, Ala. (UMNS) — The Commission on General Conference, meeting at a United Methodist camp, approved plans for the special General Conference on Feb. 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

"You did it for me": Serving others in tragedy

After tragedies like the recent shootings in Las Vegas, a story Jesus tells about serving others is a useful guide for United Methodists to reach out in love. Read more on umc.org.

What do the Bible and church say about preventing gun violence?

The UMC Justice website of the General Board of Church and Society has a page with information about biblical statements and church teaching on preventing gun violence. It also includes a handy “Gun Violence Pastoral Cheat Sheet” to help with holding meaningful conversations about peacemaking.

Advent resources available from UMCOM

New resources that support local church Advent outreach efforts are now available. The resources carry the theme, “Unwrap the true meaning of Christmas,” and complement The United Methodist Church’s national Advent advertising campaign, which will feature children sharing about their faith and what Christmas means to them.

“These tools will support United Methodists as they reach out to their communities with a message of hope and invitation during the holiday season,” said Jennifer Rodia, chief communications officer at United Methodist Communications. “We have added new, turnkey elements that will make Advent outreach easy and fun.”

Learn more, download resources, and connect to training webinars at umc.org.

Advent devotional booklet

The Society of St. Andrew, a group committed to ending hunger and food waste, is also offering an Advent resource, you can download or order printed copies of their devotional booklet for the Advent season from their website.

A better way to do stewardship testimonies

Nate Berneking says testimonies about giving and money are powerful when done well, but disastrous when done poorly. He outlines how an interview approach to testimony can keep things focused and on track.
Read more on the Lewis Center for Church Leadership website.

Free (maybe) video study on Paul

John Dominic Crossan, scholar noted for his work on the historical Jesus and Paul, has an educational DVD series on Paul, “The Challenge of Paul,” which may be available to use in your church for FREE!

The two-theme set with four lessons per theme is being offered to churches through a program of the Faith & Reason organization (faithandreason.org), a group working to encourage critical thinking about Christianity and about issues of justice. Download a promotional flyer to learn more and watch a video trailer online. But, they need to get a critical amount of interest to produce the free DVDs. If 500 churches request them, they will become available. You can indicate your interest by calling 1-800-882-7424 or by e-mailing jennifervail@faithandreason.org.

COMMENTARY

JFON helps immigrants get the welcome they deserve

by Rob Rutland-Brown

… However, the immigrants and refugees we work with are generally unified in their hopes to live in the U.S. safely and freely, to be united with their family, and to fully participate in American society. …