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November 6, 2014
 
Dear Reader,
 
The theme that seems to have emerged with this week’s UM Connector is change. Change in leadership for the Council of Bishops, change in the challenges faced by churches, change in the numbers dying from Malaria as our efforts have an impact, and change in the office hours for the conference center.
 
In her Inspiring Generosity blog post this week, Cesie Delve Scheuermann talks about how even the way we give our gifts back to God is changing.
 
Sometimes we complain about, or even fear change, but it seems to me we need to be better at seeking and embracing change; Bishop Hagiya alludes to this in his blog talking about how churches must change with their communities, and even accept that closing might be the needed change.
 
Read it all below!
 
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications


CONFERENCE NEWS

Conference Center closed for renovations

 

The Conference Center will be closed to the public Monday - Wednesday, November 10-12 as renovations to the plumbing system continue. Staff will be in the building at times or working from alternate locations during the closure. They are looking forward to rust free water that doesn't leak from the ceiling.

Conference center adjusts office hours

With consultation with the Conference Council on Finance and Administration and the Cabinet, the open hours of the conference center have been adjusted. The conference office will now be open Monday – Thursday, 8:00 – 4:30. The change offers energy savings for the building and greater flexibility for staff. Some staff will work alternative schedules based on the needs of their ministry area, and messages can always be left for staff via voicemail and email.
 

Appointment announcement

Bishop Grant Hagiya has announced the appointment of Rev. Gary Connors-Nelson to Pioneer United Methodist Church in Coquille, Oregon. Connors-Nelson is an ordained Evangelical Lutheran Church of America clergy.  His appointment to Pioneer will be quarter-time and he will also continue serving Faith Lutheran Church in Coquille part-time.


AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Bishops blog -
On Death and Resurrection

 

In his November blog post, Bishop Grant Hagiya looks at death, dying, and the hope of resurrection as it applies to churches. Read it on the Greater Northwest Area website.

United Methodists take INM message to the basket

 

United Methodists from First United Methodist Church and their friends took the Imagine No Malaria message to the Portland Trailblazers. Raising money from group ticket sales and sharing their message at an information desk, on the jumbo screen, and on their red T-shirts helped them connect with the community while working to save lives. Read the rest of the story on the Greater Northwest Imagine No Malaria website.
 

Help Your Congregation Learn About
Peace in Palestine and Israel

November 15, the conference’s Holy Land Task Force and the Methodist Federation for Social Action will hold an event designed to help local churches increase their knowledge of the struggle for justice and peace in Palestine and Israel and learn about ways United Methodists can make a difference.
 
The event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clear Lake United Methodist Church in Keizer. The $10 registration fee will cover the cost of materials and the soup and salad lunch.
 
Members of Annual Conference accepted responsibility for studying the issues in Palestine and Israel when they passed a resolution in June asking all churches to do this study. All clergy and lay members are invited to this event, along with anyone who wants to know more and pass along that knowledge to others. Part of the day’s program will be devoted to planning study activities appropriate to each local church.
 
Clear Lake United Methodist is at 7920 Wheatland Rd NE in Keizer. Complete details, including registration information and a map to Clear Lake, are on the MFSA website at www.oimfsa.org.   
 

Employment

Tabor Heights United Methodist Church in Portland is seeking an organist. Learn more at www.umoi.org/classifieds.
 

Child safety workshops

Saturday, November 8, from 9:00 a.m. – noon, all teachers and volunteers that work with children and youth are invited to attend a workshop on Child Safety, Church Policy and Risk Management dealing with Sex Offenders in the Community hosted by Eagle United Methodist Church in Eagle, Idaho. A minimal fee of $5 will be collected at the door.
 
Then on Sunday, November 9, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., all parents are invited to attend a Parent Workshop on Child Safety, “Lessons We Can Learn From Sex Offenders”.
 
Both of these sessions will be taught by Corey Jewell Jensen, Co-Director of the Center for Behavioral Intervention in Beaverton, Oregon. These workshops are open to the community and church members are encouraged to invite family, friends, neighbors, and educational specialists. (Children and teens should not attend due to the graphic nature of the discussions.)  NO Childcare will be provided. Learn more on the church website at www.eagleumc.com.


AROUND THE GLOBE

Bishops called to be more accountable to each other

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) — United Methodist bishops must be accountable to both United Methodists in their areas and the full Council of Bishops, asserted the council's new president. Bishop Warner Brown Jr. takes the helm as the denomination is struggling with declining U.S. membership, deep divisions regarding homosexuality and questions of what it means for church leaders to be accountable. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Constitutional amendments ratified

OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) — Annual conference members have ratified all four amendments to The United Methodist Church's constitution. The Council of Bishops certified the votes on the amendments approved by the 2012 General Conference, which include one allowing General Conference to be held sometime other than the spring. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

How does The United Methodist Church live with integrity amid sexuality debate?

OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) - A video submitted by a mother whose gay son committed suicide after facing condemnation in the church was one of four personal stories viewed and discussed by a panel on sexuality in The United Methodist Church. The mother's video sparked the most vehement reaction from the panel of six bishops and the head of the denomination's publishing house during the Nov. 1 live webcast. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Religion and Race launches virtual forums

WASHINGTON (UMNS) — Vital Conversations, a new feature launched by the United Methodist Commission on Race and Religion, will focus on topics relevant to The United Methodist Church. The dialogues on the website, Facebook, and Twitter begin this month with "Native Americans: Intercultural Competency, Reconciliation, and Inclusion." Erin Hawkins, top executive for the commission, writes about the goals of the conversations. Read more on the General Commission on Religion and Race website.

Churches can help youth fight cyberbullies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — It's bad enough that people call each other names on Internet message boards - the private, yet public, nature of the online community can lead to far more dangerous behavior. But the church can help address the problem of online harassment. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.


RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Veterans Know about Malaria – Resources for Nov. 11

Veteran’s Day is coming up next Tuesday, November 11th. Did you know that the veterans in your church probably know about malaria first hand? During World War II, malaria claimed the lives of 60,000 US soldiers. During the Vietnam War, more than 40,000 cases were reported in US Army troops alone. Malaria continues to plague our brave men and women in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Liberia.
 
Honor veterans in your community this Sunday by contributing to the fight against malaria.Download bulletin inserts and a poster.

Ethinic young adult internships available

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Deadlines have been announced to apply for a 2015 Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) Summer Internship in social justice placements in the U.S. capital. The EYA program is for persons, ages 18-22 from United Methodist racial/ethnic minority caucuses and Central Conferences, who have an interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy and social change.
 
Sponsored by the General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) and the denomination's Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group, the summer internship, May 27-Aug. 1, is for young adults representing the five ethnic minority caucuses of The United Methodist Church: Native Americans, Pacific-Islanders, Hispanic/Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans.
 
Deadlines to submit applications for internships are December 1 for applicants outside the United States and February 1 for applicants in the United States. Learn more on the General Board of Church and Society website.

Imagine No Malaria encourages congregations to ‘imagine’ with Advent 2014 resources

 

Imagine hope, love, joy and peace this Advent season with Imagine No Malaria 2014 worship resources. The downloadable materials include sermon starters, hymn suggestions and children’s messages.

 

The five weeks of materials are centered on the themes of “Imagine Hope,” “Imagine Peace,” “Imagine Joy, “Imagine Love,” all highlighted by the African hymn “I’ve Got The Light Of God In Me,” from the country of Cameroon. Additional materials include litanies, prayers, and a short video that can be shared in small groups or with the congregation.
 
Imagine No Malaria, an initiative from The United Methodist Church, is committed to ending death and suffering from malaria through prevention, communication, trained health workers and facilities, and grassroots education. To date, INM has raised 82 percent of its goal with more than $64.5 million in gifts and pledges. United Methodists across the world are working hard to reach and celebrate the initiative’s $75 million goal before the denomination’s General Conference in 2016.
 
Safe, secure and easy giving opportunities are available on the site so that anyone can participate and join the effort to eliminate this disease. Visitors can make one-time gifts and pledges of any amount, but many individuals participate with a recurring pledge of $28 per month over three years, to potentially save the lives of up to 100 children at risk for contracting the deadly disease.
 
Additionally, visitors can get a glimpse at the lives Imagine No Malaria is changing through video diaries, photos and news stories.


COMMENTARY

Either My Way or the Highway #UMC: The Parable of the Spotted Sheep

By Christy Thomas
 
… As he busily fed them and washed them and harvested their wool and watched over them, he discovered something a bit worrisome. Some of the flock had developed brown spots near their noses and ears. …


 
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