September 18, 2014
Dear Reader,
As a member of the conference’s Ministry Leadership Team I can tell you that the main thing the conference is focused on is helping local churches be vital and successful. We do that by equipping and providing leadership, through connectional ministries and organizational support. And we do it by providing the best possible training for the areas in which local churches need help.
One of those areas where churches need help is in stewardship. By stewardship I don’t mean the practice of begging for money, but I mean helping people get a right relationship with their money and make giving to God their first priority so that they build on God's blessings.
An excellent opportunity for this critical training is coming in a three session event, with the first session October 11. This training, which focuses on the call to generosity, is something that every church in our conference can benefit from. Sadly, we do not have enough churches signed up to attend, and there is risk that the training will be cancelled. With a deadline next week to order materials for students, you need to talk to leaders at your church (today!) and see if you can get a team to the valuable training. Get more details at www.umoi.org/stewardship.
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications
CONFERENCE NEWS
Bishop's Blog: Apple has failed us!
Apple, Inc. has failed us. I never thought I would say that. As an enthusiastic fan of their products, often over and against their competitors, that is a difficult thing to say.
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One might question my sanity on the eve of their iPhone 6 launch which may prove to be one of their most successful product launches ever. The fact that the pre-order website crashed under the sheer volume of orders, some 4 million within 24 hours, is an indicator of impending, commercial success. Read the rest on the Greater Northwest Area website.
New Church start ends connection to historic church
In a recent letter to district leaders, District Superintendent Lowell Greathouse updated them on changes happening in the relationship between the CrossBridge @ new church plant in the St. Johns community and the St. Johns United Methodist Church.
In the letter, Greathouse shares some of the lessons learned in this experiment, and how both congregations will be moving forward. Two linked letters provide further information. CrossBridge @ pastor Christy Dirren shares how the new start will be moving forward, and Steve Ross, Director of the Vital Church Project and coordinator for new starts across the conference offers an update on new church starts across the conference.
Pancake feasts underway
This month, churches across Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Alaska are sponsoring pancake meals to help raise awareness about malaria. The Area-Wide Pancake Feast is taking place mostly between September 21st (International Day of Peace) and October 5th (World Communion Sunday) 2014. But some churches just couldn’t wait to get started.
The first Pancake Feast happened at Morningside UMC on Saturday, September 6th. Read more on the Greater Northwest area website. And get resources for your pancake feast at inm.greaternw.org/pancake.
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AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Employment
Project Manager – Portland, Oregon
The Oregon-Idaho Conference is seeking a Project Manager to support the work of the General Conference Local Host Committee for preparation for the 2016 General Conference Session of the United Methodist Church that will be held in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at www.umoi.org/classifieds
Creating Cultures of Congregational Generosity:
A new training opportunity for local churches
As churches look for new ways to look at the issues of money, giving and the Sunday collection basket, new training is being offered to help them see new ways to think about stewardship. Churches are invited to send a leadership team to participate in a training experience that could change the way they view giving and generosity!
This course is intended for churches that:
- Believe in their congregations' capacity for greater generosity
- Have a desire to become more comfortable with money
- Are willing to redefine giving in your congregation
- Understand giving to include service, social networks, and the sharing of ideas and professional expertise.
The Greater Northwest Area, in conjunction with the Tuell Center, is offering this three-part inter-active seminar demonstrating how pastors and ministry leaders can unearth and energize congregational generosity by exploring the significant and necessary steps to creating lasting cultural change within a congregation.
This three session training will be held in Northwest Portland on Saturdays one in October, November and January. This is a team event, to include the pastor, and church leaders on the Finance Committee and Governing Board, along with a member with an “entrepreneurial spirit.” Cost is $150.00 per participant. Each pastor must register for their church. For more information go to www.umoi.org/stewardship.
Oregon and Idaho supporters of Climate March gather
People of faith from around Oregon are converging on Portland September 21st, for a People's Climate March. The 3:00 p.m. event will support the larger event taking place the same day in New York City in support of United Nations climate talks beginning Tuesday.
Oregon’s gathering will be at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, beginning near the Hawthorne Bridge. There will be a time of interfaith prayer before the march at 2:00 p.m., at St. James' Church in the park blocks. Learn more at www.peoplesclimate.org/oregon/.
An Idaho event is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the state capital in Boise.
AROUND THE GLOBE
People’s Climate March to send message to U.N. summit
NEW YORK (UMNS) — United Methodists are among those planning to march in midtown Manhattan Sunday, Sept. 21, to call for renewed action on climate change and other societal priorities that make for healthy communities. Read more on the General Board of Church and Society website.
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Participants in the People’s Climate March, loosely coordinated through 350.org, hope to send a message to world leaders gathering for a U.N. summit two days later. Read more on the General Board of Church and Society website.
UMCOR Grants to advance tornado recovery
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Two new grants approved by the board of directors of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) will advance recovery in towns in Arkansas and North Alabama that were devastated by tornadoes and severe storms last April.
Together, the grants total half a million dollars and will allow the Arkansas Annual Conference and the North Alabama Annual Conference to assist a total of nearly 1,400 families.
Over the course of a year to a year and a half, the funds will be used to repair or rebuild homes, support disaster case management and provide survivors with spiritual and emotional care.
The storms, including an EF4 twister that lumbered through the towns of Vilonia (pop. 3,800) and Mayflower (pop. 2,300) in Arkansas, were part of a powerful system, which, over four straight days in late April, impacted 17 states. Thirty-six people died and scores were injured.
The new grants will help the local church attend to survivors’ long-term recovery needs. Your gifts to UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response, Advance #901670, support these and other disaster preparedness and response efforts.
MARCHA approves declaration on border crisis
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (UMNS) - More than 150 Hispanic/Latino clergy and lay leaders celebrated communion through a fence on the U.S.-Mexico border, approved a declaration addressing the humanitarian crisis of unaccompanied children coming to the United States, and defined strategies to achieve their goals within The United Methodist Church. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story. A video of bishops explaining the border crisis accompanies the story.
More Liberian United Methodists afflicted by Ebola
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) - Two United Methodist pastors and about 18 church members have died, and others are have been quarantined because of concerns about the Ebola virus. The deaths are suspected to be Ebola, but have not been medically confirmed. Julu Swen, a communicator in Liberia, reports on the latest. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
AIDS conference: Just Save One
DENVER (UMNS) - Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey asked participants at a conference on fighting HIV/AIDS what they were willing to risk "to just save one?" The conference, sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund, aimed to provide participants with the knowledge, resources and inspiration to take action in eliminating the AIDS virus. Read the rest of the story on the Rocky Mountain Conference website.
Bishop Middleton named interim leader in New York
NEW YORK (UMNS) - Retired Bishop Jane Allen Middleton will be the interim bishop for the New York Annual (regional) Conference, from Jan. 1, 2015, through Aug. 31, 2016. Bishop Warner Brown, president of the Council of Bishops, announced that the Executive Committee of the council has approved the assignment, recommended by the Northeastern Jurisdiction College of Bishops. Retired Bishop Neil Irons will continue to serve as interim until Dec. 31. Irons has been interim bishop since Bishop Martin McLee went on leave because of illness in July. McLee passed away Sept. 6.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Youth worker retreat – October 10-11
You are invited to join youth workers from around the Annual Conference at a youth workers retreat at Alton L. Collins Retreat Center on October 10 and 11, 2014. Come for a time to learn together, recharge your spirit, meet new people and find colleagues for support and encouragement in your ministries with youth. We will gather on Friday night for dinner and depart before 4pm Saturday afternoon. The youth workers retreat is open to all who are working with youth in our United Methodist local churches. Conference youth ministry funds will help subsidize this event to make it affordable for everyone. Just $30 per person for one night and 3 great meals. Space is limited so register today! If you have questions don't hesitate to contact Rev. Jeff Lowery at revjlow@yahoo.com or 541-654-1878.
Play Live Action Clue – October 12
The Metro area youth ministries group is hosting a live game of Clue. Youth groups are invited to come and join others in this one of a kind, fun event! This game of Clue is played like the board game but there are real life characters that will spill the beans so we can solve the puzzle. This is happening at Tigard UMC on Sunday, October 12th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Cost is just $2.00 per person plus one canned food item to benefit our local food pantry. The event will begin with mingling activities with the clue suspects, then play the game, reveal the winners and give prizes for winners and door prizes from some great area businesses. The time together will end with refreshments and worship. Download the event flyer, or contact Jeff Lowery at revjlow@yahoo.com for more information.
EMO offers guide to
Oregon ballot measures
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This fall, Oregon voters will be asked to vote on seven measures that will be on the November ballot, including:
During each General Election year, EMO publishes a Voters Guide to Ballot Measures, which provides an overview of these ballot measures and initiatives under consideration, including the social principles that informed each recommendation taken by the EMO Board of Directors. Download the Guide (you may also download a printer-friendly version).
This fall, EMO is also offering Ballot Measure Forums, which will provide the opportunity to learn more about each ballot measure. If you are interested in scheduling a Ballot Measure Forum, led by an EMO staff member, at your congregation, please contact Jan Elfers, director of EMO Public Policy Advocacy, at (503) 221-1054 or jelfers@emoregon.org.
COMMENTARY
By Kayla Rush
… Second, and more damning: None of these pieces are written by Millennials themselves. With all this speculation flying around as to why our generation is abandoning church in larger numbers than our parents’, no one’s bothered to ask us why we’re leaving the church. …
