March 22, 2018
Dear Readers,
Let’s be honest. We don’t always agree.
It might be about whether women should be in the pulpit, gun-control, universal health care, which version of the Bible to read, inclusion of LGBTQ people in our churches, abortion, capital punishment or if Jell-O goes in the salad or dessert section of the potluck table.
The challenge is how we will talk to each other about these items. And for some, even if we are willing to talk – and listen – to one another.
This week Bishop Stanovsky asked a clergy colleague for the respect that he talk with her before he talks about her. This is one step of respectful dialogue.
Throughout our episcopal area we are holding a series of Table Talk sessions to engage in respectful dialog. If we are one in Christ, we should be able to talk.
I’m also concerned about the people to whom we listen. In a global church, we continue to have United States-centric conversations. Today’s commentary gives us an opportunity to hear another voice. Rev. Lloyd Nyarota is a former District Superintendent in Zimbabwe. I first met him when I visited there in 2007. Take a moment to listen to him.
Greg Nelson, Communications Director
CONFERENCE NEWS
Stanovsky responds to critical post with open letter
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Last month, Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky announced her intention to appoint the Rev. Kathleen Weber to serve as the Superintendent of the new Crest to Coast Missional District in the Pacific Northwest Conference. Also in February, the Bishop approved the hiring of Rev. Brett Webb-Mitchell as the part-time LGBTQ advocacy coordinator for the Oregon-Idaho Conference, a new position fully funded by a grant from The Collins Foundation. Both leaders will support the work of their respective conferences, and also local churches as they call and equip disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Last Friday, Rev. Tom Lambrecht, who is also a member of the global church’s Commission on a Way Forward, sent a message to Good News email subscribers harshly criticizing Bishop Stanovsky for the hiring/appointing of Weber and Webb-Mitchell grounded solely in his understanding of the church’s current doctrine related to human sexuality. He wrote his piece, subsequently published online, without seeking conversation or comment from the bishop.
Please take a minute today to read Bishop Elaine’s open letter response to Rev. Lambrecht. In it, she uses some of the practices embraced by the Commission on a Way Forward in its work, offering a thoughtful, prayerful, response the church can learn from. You'll be able to experience for yourself the Anatomy of Peace principles she references if you participate in one of the many Table Talks planned in the area.
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New LGBTQ advocacy coordinator ready for spirits to be stirred
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There is no shortage of work for Rev. Brett Webb-Mitchell, who just recently stepped into his part-time role as the Oregon-Idaho Conference’s LGBTQ advocacy coordinator for the next year.
With the entire United Methodist Church on the precipice of change – or not – when it comes to the full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals within the denomination, there’s plenty to accomplish in the next year.
In addition to helping facilitate table talks on the Commission on a Way Forward discussions with local congregations here soon, Webb-Mitchell will also be assisting with the Conference’s “Called to Love” workshop series and preparing for the “Listening with open hearts: Building bridges and deepening relationships” gathering in Portland in August.
“I know that history is unfolding,” said Webb-Mitchell, who was raised United Methodist but now serves as an openly gay ordained pastor in the Presbyterian church.
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Table Talks scheduled in various communities
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United Methodists in the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences are being encouraged to participate in Table Talk conversations being planned in various settings across the Greater Northwest Area. These opportunities will provide attendees a way to engage the church’s current discussion of human sexuality and the report of the Commission on a Way Forward within a structure of worship and respect for one another.
Bishop Elaine Stanovsky sees that respectful dialog as a key to helping the church move forward, both her in the northwest, and globally.
“Christians don’t need to beat each other up when we disagree.” she says, “If you love your church, and want it to see its mission witness remain strong around the world, I hope you will come to one of the Table Talks. If you are sick and tired of opposing sides in the church fighting about human sexuality, and who should be welcome in the Church, I hope you will come to one of the Table Talks. We can find a deeper unity, and new ways of listening to God and one another.”
The first talks will be held April 15 at Portland First United Methodist Church and Lewiston (Idaho) First United Methodist Church. Most of the talks are scheduled up until both Pacific Northwest and Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference sessions in June.
So far talks are scheduled in locations from Spokane Valley to Pocatello, Medford to Yakima and more. If you’re not seeing a talk scheduled for your area, talk to your district superintendent about hosting a discussion at your local church.
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Parkhurst sentenced to 11 years in federal prison
A federal judge in Colorado has sentenced James Parkhurst to 11 years in federal prison and 15 years of supervised probation stemming from his guilty plea on charges of trafficking in child pornography. The charge resulted from Parkhurst taking photos in Colorado in 2010 and transporting them to his home in Michigan.
In 2015 Parkhurst was hired as Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries for the Oregon-Idaho Conference. He was arrested in 2016 in Portland. Subsequently he was placed on leave, resigned, and surrendered his ministerial credentials. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.
In a letter to the Camp and Retreat Ministries community, current Executive Director Rev. Todd Bartlett expressed his sorrow over this breach of trust and shared, “Our Camp and Retreat Ministry team is dedicated to protecting children, youth and adults from harm” and gave details about processes and training for staff and volunteers related to safety.
Read Bartlett’s letter.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Inspiring Generosity: Five tips to put your best bonnet forward
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With Easter being one of the busiest, most well-attended church services in the calendar year, Cesie Delve-Scheuermann offers her thoughts on five ways to impress your larger crowd in your stewardship efforts.
“Easter is the time to spread the joy of God’s unending love. It’s also the time to share that love with people who are brave enough to visit you, especially if they don’t know a soul in your congregation. Make their experience one that they will remember. Not because of the pyrotechnics, but because you have shown them a place where God’s love is real and in action.”
Read more of Cesie’s blog.
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Appointment announcements
It is Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky's intention to make the following appointments, effective July 1, 2018:
- Jessica Cummins as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Eugene, Oregon. Cummins is currently a student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. She is being recommended by the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry as a provisional member of the Conference on the elder track. Pending approval by the clergy session, she will be commissioned at the Annual Conference Session held in Boise, Idaho, in June.
- Teresa Salyer to Jefferson United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Oregon. Salyer is a Licensed Local Pastor who most recently served in Silverton and is also a school teacher. She previously served in Jefferson from July 2010 - June 2012. Her appointment in Jefferson will be quarter-time.
In addition, Rev. David Prichard was appointed to Christ's Church - Methodist & Presbyterian United in Monmouth, Oregon, effective March 18, 2018. Prichard has been serving the half-time position in Monmouth with an assigned status since January 2018. With completion of the Oregon-Idaho Conference Board of Ordained Ministry's process for a approving a member of another denomination, Prichard - ordained by the Presbyterian Church (USA) - is being moved to an appointed status. He previously served at the Kalama United Methodist Church in the Pacific Northwest Conference.
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.
AROUND THE GLOBE
United Methodists help Puerto Rico rise
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Driving through San Juan and into the mountains of northern Puerto Rico, it’s hard to tell what is hurricane damage versus storm-exposed poverty.
Two-story concrete houses and mural-painted businesses stand strong alongside half-tattered rubble and buildings covered with blue tarps. Still others are just a crumpled shell of iron bars and decay. Litter-strewn patches of grass share space with grazing cows, horses and goats; a giant crushed-metal structure fills the next field over.
And everywhere, amid the wreckage and the rebuild, Puerto Rican flags wave proudly. Almost six months after the island was hit by a double-whammy of storms — Hurricane Irma Sept. 6-7, then Hurricane Maria Sept. 20 — the flags represent a symbol of strength, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Even as many are still without electricity. Even as stores stay shuttered and jobs remain scarce.
“Puerto Rico Se Levanta,” the bumper stickers read — Puerto Rico Rises Up.
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service. |
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Pastor caught up in political violence in Sierra Leone
A United Methodist pastor and his family are among those recovering from shock and home damage after a wave of violent post-election attacks on the community following a clash between the Sierra Leone Peoples Party and the All Peoples Congress ...
“We were under siege for five hours with the attacking youths pelting our homes with stones and just anything they could lay hands on. We could hear their angry voices accusing us of supporting the (Sierra Leone Peoples Party) as we hid inside our homes,” Rev. Ndapi Saffa told United Methodist News Service. “They said this is a predominantly SLPP community; hence, they were going to destroy every home.”
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service. |
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Gay pastor’s case heads back to West Ohio committee
A ruling in the case against a United Methodist Cincinnati gay pastor will go back to the same committee that investigated the case in 2017 to address “egregious errors.”
The North Central Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals ruled the West Ohio Committee on Investigations made errors of church law in dismissing some of the charges against the Rev. David Meredith and remanded the case back to the conference committee to re-examine parts of its findings.
However, the appeals committee asked the appellant, the West Ohio Conference, to “pause” further judicial proceedings until the completion of the special General Conference set for Feb. 23-26, 2019, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service.
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Vitality takes many forms in German churches
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Editor’s note: This is the ninth in an occasional series of stories, “German Methodism: A strong Christian voice,” about the 51,000-member United Methodist Church in Germany.
On the surface, a lively church in a new building with plenty of children and youth programs might not seem to have much in common with a tiny village church that runs a weekly community café or an inner-city church with aging members and multiple outreach programs.
Those United Methodist churches are quite different from another inner-city church that runs a nonprofit after school program for poor or immigrant children, or a church in an economically depressed area that holds regular outdoor services.
All those churches, as well as a group of young adults who just get together for dinner, have one thing in common: Each is an example of a vital congregation in Germany — an effort to reach out in “fresh expressions,” which Bishop Harald Rückert said is “simply doing good work.”
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service |
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Bombing victims in Austin had family ties to church
A man and a teenager recently killed in separate package explosions in Austin, Texas, both had family ties to a historic African-American United Methodist Church in the city.
The pastor of Wesley United Methodist confirmed the connections but emphasized that neither of the victims attended the church and that he has no reason to believe the church was a target or factor.
“None, not at all,” said the Rev. Sylvester Chase, adding that he had not been contacted by police.
Read more of this story from United Methodist News Service.
RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES
March in Portland April 4 to remember MLK's legacy
People are invited to participate in a march in Portland to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., on the 50th anniversary of his death.
Sponsored by the Albina Ministerial Alliance, the Beloved Community of Oregon, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, “The Movement Isn’t Over: March and rally commemorating the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination” will begin April 4 at 5 p.m. at the Japanese-American Historical Plaza (westside waterfront at Davis Street).
The goal of the march is simple: “calling on all people of faith in the common good to gather, march and re-dedicate themselves to the unfinished work of the original Civil Rights Movement and Poor People's Campaign. Let us remember that the movement isn't over, and there is still much to be done in order to make King's dream of a true Beloved Community possible”
Starting at 5:30 p.m. the group will march its way across the Steel Bridge to the MLK Statue (at the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and NE Holladay Street). A rally will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the statue.
For more information contact Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon at (503) 221-1054.
Celebrate Native American Ministries 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.
'Anatomy of Peace' is tool for conflict resolution
What if conflicts at home, conflicts at work, and conflicts in the world stem from the same root cause?
What if we systematically misunderstand that cause?
This is the question explored in the second edition of the best-selling book The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute.
The book will be part of the learning sessions for the upcoming 2018 Annual Conference Session in June, has been recommended at reading for follow up to the Table Talks being held across the Greater Northwest Area, and is recommended reading by the Commission on a Way Forward.
Cokesbury.com currently has it on sale for $9.99. Order your copy online today. |
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COMMENTARY
By Rev. Lloyd Narota
… In past years as The United Methodist Church, we have found ourselves off course and spending more energy on politics than mission. We have become a divided denomination because we are no longer focusing on mission, but on political and institutional power and control. …
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