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March 15, 2018

Dear Readers,

Can we talk?

That’s what Bishop Elaine Stanovsky is asking United Methodists around the area to do in the coming weeks. To sit down at a table and talk about Human Sexuality. This might not be a conversation you want to have, or it might be one you’re are tired of having, but this is a turning point for The United Methodist Church, so we need to talk.

Every annual conference in the denomination is having some sort of conversation about human sexuality and how we will continue to minister to and include LGBTQ people in the life and leadership of the denomination. The work of the Commission on a Way Forward and the special called session of General Conference in February 2019 demand that we have these conversations and will lead us to even more complicated and chaotic conversations. It’s a messy place for the church.

But the church has been in messy places before and we’ve gotten through it.

And that’s the thing to remember with mess and chaos. The only way to get through it, is to go through it. The challenge before us is to take that journey with respect for one another and with a heart that reflects the love Jesus showed us.

Learn more about Table Talks in the article below.

Greg Nelson, Communications Director


CONFERENCE NEWS

Greater Northwest Area invited to Table Talks to discuss a Way Forward for the UMC

Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky is inviting United Methodists in the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences to participate in Table Talk conversations on human sexuality, the upcoming report of the Commission on a Way Forward and special called session of the General Conference in February 2019. The conversations will be held in various settings across the Greater Northwest Area.
 
Early in March, 47 leaders from the three conferences were trained to convene these conversations in a worship-full context. In her invitation to these leaders, Bishop Stanovsky shared that the United Methodist Council of Bishops is encouraging similar “conversation in each annual conference to further our life together around matters of human sexuality and church unity.” This facilitator training allowed them to experience and offer feedback on a model for conversation that they will take out to other groups across the area.
 
Dates for Table Talks are available on the Greater Northwest Area Website.They will also be on Annual Conference calendar. If you don’t see one near you, contact your district superintendent to see if one is planned in your area or if you would be willing to host a table talk.

Read the full story about table talks on the Conference website.

Abundant Health survey responses still needed

Does your church have a food pantry? Do you host Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or collect donations for world health ministries such as Imagine No Malaria?

Chances are, your church is doing something related to Abundant Health already. But your help in gathering information about what is already happening in churches in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, before any suggestions are made or initiatives launched on the global Abundant Health initiative of the United Methodist Church, is appreciated.

Fill out this simple survey on the Conference website and you could win a prize.

Share with others at Annual Conference Ministry Marketplace

Ministry Marketplace tables are available for groups to share about ministries of their church, conference group, or other organization during Annual Conference June 13-16, 2018, at the Riverside Hotel in Boise. Non-profit businesses may also request a table. The Marketplace creates a place to learn about the diversity of our conference ministries and gather resources for use in the local church.

The deadline to apply for a table is May 10, however, space is limited and reservations are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Download the application form at www.umoi.org/ac in the "Ministry Marketplace" section.

Appointment announcements from Bishop Stanovsky

It is Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky's intention to make the following appointments, effective July 1, 2018

  • The Rev. D. Scott Allen to Kuna United Methodist Church in Kuna, Idaho. Allen currently serves in Burley, Idaho. It was previously announced that Rev. Karen Hernandez, who currently serves in Kuna, will be appointed to serve as the Sage District Superintendent.
     
  • The Rev. Philip Airhart to First United Methodist Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Airhart is in a retired connection and will be appointed half-time. Rev. Robin Yim, who currently serves in Klamath Falls, will be retiring at the end of June.

A summary of appointment announcements can be found on the conference website at www.umoi.org/appointments. A list of churches that are open for appointment can be found on the Greater NW Area website. As appointments are announced and the appointment process unfolds, new clear openings will be added to the list.


AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Inspiring Generosity: Affirming emotion

In this week’s blog, Cesie Delve-Scheuermann relates her tears over the season finale of “This is Us” to the emotions that one feels when in church and the power emotional storytelling has in the stewardship of the church.

“Emotion is especially important as you tell stories to your congregation about how they are making a difference in the world. Telling these stories without passion is failing not only your congregation but it’s also downplaying the impact your congregation is making in the world.”
 
Read more of Cesie’s latest blog post on the Conference website.

Spirit Alive: What to do when you are part of the 5 percent

In his latest blog post, Rev. Lowell Greathouse, director of mission and ministry for the Oregon-Idaho Conference, talks about privilege and how one finds one’s soul in the midst of wealth and suffering.
 
“If we have enough and are not troubled by the realities of inequality and brokenness in the world, then it is probably time to simply wake up and look around. Things are not the same for everyone. There is racial division and hatred among us that leads to oppression and injustice. There are people living in fear and uncertainty. There is economic inequality and poverty....gender inequity....and there is profound human suffering all around.  The world is filled with incomprehensible hurting. But what am I called to do as a part of the 5 percent.”
 
Read the full post on the Conference website.

Legislative assembly coming April 14 in Lake Oswego

The Oregon-Idaho Legislative Assembly will meet Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855 South Shore Blvd., Lake Oswego, OR  97034. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude when the work is complete.

Guests are welcome.

The assembly will review the proposed 2018 legislative items - making edits and recommendations for the 2018 Annual Conference Session to review. Some items, if recommended with at 90% or higher vote, will be grouped on a consent calendar for voting by the Annual Conference session when it meets in June.

For those needing lodging for Legislative Assembly, a small block of rooms have been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn, 14850 Kruse Oaks Dr., Lake Oswego, OR  97035. Call the hotel directly at (800) 445-8667 or (503) 684-8900 and mention "Oregon-Idaho United Methodist rate." A discounted rate of $79 plus tax per night, the offer is good through 3/30/18.  After that date, rooms may be available at the going rate.

Find details about lodging and meals that are available on the Legislative Assembly registration form.


AROUND THE GLOBE

Commission on a Way Forward meets March 19-22 to prepare final report

WASHINGTON D.C. – The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward will meet in Los Angeles on March 19-22 to prepare a final report to be submitted to the Council of the Bishops for consideration by the bishops at their April/May meeting.

“The Commission is focused on suggesting a way forward that pays attention to our public mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, especially with those who are not yet a part of our churches,” said Bishop Ken Carter, resident bishop of the Florida Area. “We are also focused on contextuality in a global church, and our continuing call to learn from each other and listen to each other.”

Bishop Carter, who is the incoming president of the Council of Bishops, is one of the three moderators of the Commission, together with Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball of West Virginia Area and retired Bishop David Yemba from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In preparing for the final report, the Commission will continue to work with traditional, contextual and progressive values drafted in the sketches of models that were presented to the Council of Bishops at their November and February meetings.

In the report given to the Council at the February meeting, the Commission shared with the bishops two sketches that carry forward many of the values and principles of the three sketches presented to the bishops at the November meeting.

The bishops offered feedback but did not vote on the revised sketches, instead asking the Commission to continue working on a final report to be presented at the April/May meeting. At that meeting, the bishops, in collaboration with the collective work of the Commission, will decide on a report to be presented to the Special Session of the General Conference called for February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis.

United Methodist hospital changes blind boy’s life

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Born blind with cataracts in both eyes, 8-year-old Morlai Bangura can now see and has started attending school in eastern Freetown, with support from the Sierra Leone Conference’s Lowell and Ruth Gess United Methodist Eye Hospital.
 
In a country where opportunities for the blind are limited and many are reduced to beggars, Morlai — who was living in a remote village in northern Sierra Leone — did not have the slimmest prospect of sight or city life, let alone education.
 
He now has all three, thanks to the United Methodist eye hospital’s outreach team who discovered him in the woods of Barmoi and brought news of his condition to hospital authorities in Freetown.
 
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service.

Appeals committee to rule on charges against gay elder

INDIANAPOLIS – The United Methodist North Central Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals has up to 20 days to rule on charges stemming from the Rev. David Meredith’s 2016 marriage to another man.
On March 9, the West Ohio Conference presented arguments that the conference Committee on Investigation made “egregious” errors when it dropped some of the charges against Meredith.
 
Meredith, pastor of Clifton United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, faced complaints of violating church law after he married Jim Schlachter, his partner of almost 30 years. Two days after his 2016 marriage, complaints were filed with the West Ohio Conference.
 
The United Methodist Church does not allow “self-avowed practicing” gay people to be ordained and does not allow same-sex unions.
 
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service.

Church in Honduras has planted four other churches

The Central United Methodist Church of Danlí is considered the first organized church of the United Methodist mission in Honduras.
 
It began in 1997 as a mission initiative of Bishop Armando Rodriguez, who was the leader of the Methodist Church in Cuba. At that time, Rodriguez had retired from episcopal duties and became a missionary of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
 
With 200 members and an average attendance of 80 congregants, the church has Sunday school with groups of all ages, worship service, prayer service and five growth groups. It has several ministries oriented to outreach and community service — providing food for children at risk of malnutrition and a recovery program for people with addictions. It also provides pastoral accompaniment to workers in a local tobacco factory.
 
Currently, the church is evaluating opening a new congregation and studying options to select the most appropriate location. The Danlí church has a lot of experience in this area, as it has already started four other churches.
 
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service.

Bishop Ough, thousands of United Methodists to join in rally against racism

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., United Methodists will unite with members of the National Council of Churches in Washington, D.C., April 3-5, for the Truth and Racial Justice Initiative.

The events begin with a briefing on alleviating racism and injustice in the areas of criminal justice, economic justice, the media, health care, voting, civil and human rights, environmental justice, education and immigration. Led by the General Board of Church and Society, the briefing will be held April 3, from 1 to 2 p.m., at the Methodist Building at 100 Maryland Ave., NE, in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Bruce Ough, president of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, will kick off the ACT NOW to End Racism event on April 3 with a prayer rally to Awaken, Confront and Transform, at the United Methodist Building at 2 p.m. Leaders from Baltimore-Washington Conference, Virginia Conference and others will also be in attendance.

Read more about this opportunity on the Pacific Northwest Conference website.


RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

Native American Ministries Sunday set for April 15

Congregations can support spiritual development and educate Native American seminary students during Native American Ministries Sunday on April 15 (or a date of your choice).
 
Giving to this effort equips Native congregations to worship and serve as only they can. To build awareness and encourage generosity in this effort, there are plenty of resources available for download – everything from videos to social media assets, worship resources, e-books, posters and more.
 
Find the resources for your church at umcgiving.org.

COMMENTARY

Snippets of conversation

by John Howard

“And then there was an encounter a year or so ago with a young Israeli woman, who said “Isn’t it a pity that Palestinian mothers don’t love their babies.” …


 
Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Conference Office: 1505 SW 18th Avenue Portland, OR 97201
503-226-7931 ~ 800-593-7539 ~ 503-226-4158 (fax)