July 23, 2015

Dear Reader,

There is a unique opportunity for a five-day Spanish immersion class offered in Toppenish, Washington, August 10 to 14. Lead time to tell you about this class came in short, but if it is something you can use in your ministry, it is recommended. See more in "Spanish Language Immersion" in Resources and Opportunities below.

There won't be an UM Connector next week. The next issue will be August 5.

Enjoy the long days of summer!

Greg Nelson, Director of Communications

CONFERENCE NEWS

Bishop's Blog

Bishop Grant Hagiya

Bishop Grant Hagiya recently had the opportunity to do some concentrated teaching. He writes, "... the teaching component was an absolute joy. Working with the students, and opening up new vistas of ministry for them is truly rewarding. Both groups of students provided a sense of hope for me for the future of our church."

Read the Bishop's Blog on the PNW Conference website

Josh Hauser

Portland interns connect church to community

Every summer since 2011, Portland’s First United Methodist Church has been sponsoring two young students from their community as interns in local non-profit organizations. Josh Hauser is working with Oregon-Idaho Conference Director of Communications, Greg Nelson, helping smaller churches improve or establish a web presence and providing web content for the conference website.
Read more about Josh's work on the OR-ID Conference website

2015 Introduction to Ministry Overview
Certified Lay Minister Course

$100 (Includes training, two nights' double occupancy lodging, and most meals)

Registration is open for the September 18-20 Certified Lay Minister Course to be held in Portland. This is a required course for those lay persons wishing to pursue CLM certification. However, this course is open and available to laity who are interested in expanding their knowledge base, but may not be pursuing CLM certification.

The course will provide a basic overview of the tasks of pastoral ministry leadership including Wesleyan theology, preaching, and administering the local church and pastoral care. Participants are asked to prepare a seven-to ten-minute sermon in advance.

Teaching staff will include Bishop Grant Hagiya, Rev. Dale Cockrum, Rev. Peg Lofsvold, Rev. Gwen Drake, Rev. Bill Mullette-Bauer, Rev. Kim Fields, Rev. Juli Reinholz, Rev. Steve Ross, Rev. Lowell Greathouse, Rev. David Nieda, Rev. Erin Martin, and Rev. Cara Scriven.

Get more information or register online.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Creating Cultures of Congregational Generosity training for local churches is coming to Idaho September 11 and 12. The event is brought to you by The Bishop Jack and Marjorie Tuell Center for Leadership Excellence.

Is your church ready to take a new look at the issue of money, giving and the Sunday collection basket? Your church is invited to send a leadership team to participate in a training experience that could change the way you and your congregation approach 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 two day 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 two-session training will be held at Hillview UMC in Boise, Idaho on September 11 and 12, 2015. 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 $350 per four person church team. Pastor must register for their church. For more information or to register go to: www.umoi.org/stewardship.
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Employment

Salem First United Methodist Church is seeking a Facilities Manager, 20 hrs/wk.

Read about this and other job listings on the conference website at www.umoi.org/classifieds.

AROUND THE GLOBE

Filipino 'ham' radio operators
train for disasters

"One thing I wouldn’t like to happen again is when we couldn’t communicate nor seek any help in times of disaster." - The Rev. Iris Picardal Terana, who was isolated during Typhoon Haiyan.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church is training clergy and laity disaster management teams on the use of amateur, or "ham" radios, as a vital communications tool during typhoons and landslides when the country experiences power outages.

Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story

Gathering to look at future of worship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - “Fusion: The Future of Worship in the UMC” is scheduled Feb. 4-6, 2016, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to bring together practitioners from vital congregations and recognized expert professors to delve into current worlds of worship resources and leadership in the areas of music, worship planning and design, preaching and sacraments. The $149 registration fee will be discounted to $129 for anyone who registers by Dec. 1. Registration for seminary and course of study students is $89.

Learn more on the umc.org website

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Spanish Language Immersion
for Church Leaders

Does your church's community have lots of Spanish speakers but you can't say more than a few words?

Come spend a week developing the ability for a simple conversation, say a prayer and read a liturgy in Spanish!

Spanish Language Immersion for Church Leaders
August 10-14, 2015
Toppenish, Washington

Space is limited. Sign up soon. Partial scholarships are available.
Click here for more information or to register.

Register for Mission u Oregon by July 24

The registration deadline for the United Methodist Women's Mission u at Alton Collins Retreat Center is Friday, July 24th. Men and women are invited to attend.

The three studies include: