April 16, 2015
Dear Reader,
The Annual Conference Session held each year is more than a business meeting of an organization. It’s intended to be a time of Holy Conferencing where we don’t just do business, but we invite the Holy Spirit into the conversation. This practice dates back to Methodism’s founder John Wesley. He included it along with prayer, Scripture reading, fasting and the Lord’s Supper, as a way of experiencing God’s grace.
That spirit of God's grace was present in the Legislative Assembly that met on Sunday and Monday. This pre-conference event provides a first review of petitions to the Annual Conference. Those present worked as a community of believers as they discussed and debated a variety of proposals. I was impressed with their work.
Read more about Legislative Assembly, churches living out their faith, resources, opportunities, and a commentary about what it really means to have principles. It’s all below and in the links!
Greg Nelson, Director of Communications
CONFERENCE NEWS
Legislative Assembly starts legislative process
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The 2015 Legislative Assembly
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The Legislative Assembly of the 2015 Annual Conference met in Portland, Oregon, April 12 and 13. Legislative Assembly acts as a sub-committee of the upcoming Annual Conference Session, taking a first look at 24 petitions submitted by conference agencies, groups, churches, or individual United Methodists. Read more on the conference website.
Annual Conference hotel nears capacity
The Grand Hotel in Salem is nearing capacity for some nights of Annual Conference. There may still be a few rooms left at the lowest price, but if they are sold-out for the nights you need, a secondary block of rooms has been contracted at The Phoenix Inn Suites in South Salem. Get details about both options on the conference website.
Appointment Announcement
It is Bishop Grant J. Hagiya’s intention to make the following appointment, effective July 1, 2015:
- The Rev. Melissa Harkness to Talent United Methodist Church of Talent, Oregon. Harkness will return from family leave to take the quarter-time appointment.
A summary of appointment announcements can be found on the conference website at www.umoi.org/appointments.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
McMinnville church vs. city standoff ends
McMINNVILLE, Oregon (UMNS) — City officials here say McMinnville Cooperative Ministries, a United Methodist-Lutheran church, has complied with city ordinances and no longer faces the threat of court action. The church had been given a March 31 deadline regarding the encampment of homeless people on its lawn. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Lay Servant advanced class
An advanced Lay Servant class will be offered July 17-19 in Bay City, Oregon. The class, “Lay Servants Lead in Prayer,” is one of the required core courses for certification as a Lay Speaker under the new 2012 guidelines. The group is limited to 20 people.
This class will be held at Jean Neely’s home as a prayer retreat weekend. The cost is $55. It begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening, ending about 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon. There will be some pre-work to do, so advance registration is required. The fee covers the class, two nights lodging if needed, four meals, and materials except for the textbook.
Mary Foote, conference Lay Leader, has made some scholarship money available for this weekend. Contact her at maryfoote@yahoo.com to get more information about this opportunity.
To register for the prayer class/retreat, contact Jean Neely at jn183826chi@embarqmail.com or by phone at 503-377-4694. Please register by June 5, to be sure you have enough time to get the textbook and do the pre-work before the first class session.
What is a Lay Servant?
A Lay Servant is, first of all, a lay person – a lay person who feels a calling to be a leader in their home congregation and sometimes in the wider church community.
A Lay Servant is trained in leadership skills through classes offered at different times and places throughout the conference. Everyone who wishes to explore becoming a Lay Servant must take the Basic Lay Servant Class to begin. After that, he or she may choose from many different advanced classes to continue that training. Learn more about Lay Servant Ministries on the conference website.
EMO hosts annual celebration and recognition event
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) will host their annual Community Awards and Celebration Dinner on May 7, 2015. All are invited to join them as they gather with people of faith from around the state to celebrate their work together and to recognize individuals and groups who have enriched Oregon communities through their faith, words and efforts to serve one another in their everyday lives. The Oregon-Idaho Conference is a member denomination of EMO. Learn more about award recipients and purchase tickets on the EMO website.
AROUND THE GLOBE
Native American Ministries Sunday, April 19
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More than 100 years ago, God planted a Methodist presence in Standish, Mich., and the Saganing Indian Mission was born. A congregation grew. Children were baptized, and tribal elders were buried in the cemetery grounds.
Recently, however, the congregation disbanded. In hopes of reviving the ministry, a pastor was provided for one year, but an active congregation was not to be resurrected.
The Detroit Conference’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) met and prayed. Chair Amy Alberts arranged conversations about the property’s future that seemed to indicate God was making something new at Saganing.
Today, CONAM has begun implementing a vision for the Saganing Indian Church site. The plan includes growth opportunities, historical perspectives, Christian fellowship and activities culturally significant to the whole community, but especially those of Native ancestry.
Read more about the Detroit Conference program on the General Board of Church and Society website.
Oklahoma mission trip results in partnership
MOUNT JULIET, Tenn. (UMNS) — A lasting friendship among United Methodists in two states began with a phone call. That's how Providence United Methodist Church in Mount Juliet connected with Clinton Indian United Methodist Church and Community Center in Oklahoma. As United Methodists prepare for Native American Ministries Sunday on April 19, Barbara Dunlap-Berg shares an example of how United Methodists work together to help Native communities. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Liberian Christians don't need legislation to expand faith
MONROVIA, Liberia (UMNS) — United Methodist Bishop John G. Innis opposes a proposal approved by a recent constitutional review committee to make Liberia a Christian country. "Liberians, especially Christians, do not need any legislation to practice or expand their faith in Liberia," Innis said in an interview after delivering his annual Easter sermon at First United Methodist Church. Other United Methodist leaders agreed, calling for tolerance and evangelism to promote Christianity. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
New resource helps youth understand sexual identity issues
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — A new resource to help youth struggling with their sexual identity is now available as part of the "SEX: A Christian Perspective on Our Bodies, Decisions and Relationships" series from Young People's Ministries Division of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries. "We know that teens dealing with issues of sexual identity are two to six times more likely to attempt suicide because of issues of isolation and hopelessness," said Michael Ratliff, head of the Young People's Ministries. Learn more on the Discipleship Ministries website.
Upper Room offers call-in event for caregivers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — Upper Room Ministries, part of United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, and the Henri Nouwen Society have scheduled a call-in seminar for caregivers on April 23. The event, "Caregiving from the Heart: A Spirituality of Caregiving," will be held 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. CDT. The Rev. Gordon Peerman, an Episcopal priest and psychotherapist, and the Rev. Marjorie Thompson, a Presbyterian pastor and retreat leader, will speak. The cost is $19. Register online.
Transforming Ministries IV
Ministry Leaders are invited to participate in the Transforming Ministry Conference IV May 26-28 at the Glendale (California) United Methodist Church. This year's conference will offer an opportunity to enter into dialogue with the bishops of the Western Jurisdiction and a visit to DreamWorks in sunny California.
The WJ College of Bishops will spend a full day with participants to dialog and reflect on the future of the church and Episcopal expectations of clergy in current and future contexts and converse about issues that matter to participants.
Participants will also have an opportunity to visit DreamWorks, the home of Shrek and faith-oriented films like Prince of Egypt, for a time of learning and exploration. While at DreamWorks, attendees will hear some of the world's premiere storytellers share about how they create and learn the guidelines of transformational storytelling in a 21st Century context. Learn more and register online.
RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION
Celebration of Ministry
Camping advocates from across the Annual Conference gathered on April 11 to celebrate the ministry of Rev. Lisa Jean Hoefner. Hoefner retires at the end of April after 16 years of ministry in the Oregon-Idaho Conference and many years before that of parish and camping ministry on the East coast of the United States.
Staff at Alton L. Collins hosted the event and provided refreshments. More than 100 people gathered and when asked to share three words about Hoefner they said things like, “caring,” “advocate,” "committed," “friend to all,” and "let's go camping!"
COMMENTARY
By Dan Dick
… The value of conversation with church leaders outside of the U.S. context cannot be estimated. So much of the current Social Principles have been developed from a U.S.-centric perspective. …
