Bishop: more love, blessing, salvation needed

In this CrossOver year where the United Methodist Church has been discerning whether to stay together or split apart, Greater Northwest Area Bishop Elaine Stanovsky knows the church isn’t going to be the same.

“General Conference (2019) sought to chart this new way forward,” she said in her opening episcopal address. “But it may turn out to be a tipping point that tears us in two.”

Since that gathering in February, she said she’s heard from people at every point along the spectrum who feel victimized. She hears from people who don’t want the church to split, but don’t know how to see a way to stay together as the General Conference voted to approve the LGBTQ+ exclusionary Traditional Plan.

Read more of this story on the Conference website.

Town Hall tackles tough questions about church future

Annual Conference members got the sense that something new is being birthed from the brokenness caused by General Conference 2019, but what that baby will look like remains to be seen.

At least, that’s how Rev. Jeannine Knepper phrased it during Thursday’s town hall discussion when different representatives gathered at the front of the plenary room to answer questions formed by different Table Talk groups and also included questions from the crowd.

Panelists were asked to tell the truth about how they viewed the church being in the position it is of possibly splitting over the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion and the General Conference 2019 adoption of the traditional plan.

Read more of this story on the Conference website.

Medicine Crow, Newman UMC highlighted at awards banquet

Because of his clear demonstration to everyone on repentance, and his many years of service to Native American Ministries, Duane Medicine Crow earned the Bishop’s Award for 2019, which was presented during Thursday night’s awards banquet.

"I did not see this coming. I am really overwhelmed," Medicine Crow said. "I didn't realize what a marvelous fellow I am."

Medicine Crow, who has been active in the Conference since moving to Salem to be with his daughter in 2006 and joining Morningside United Methodist Church.

A member of the Crow Tribe, Medicine Crow was raised up and down the west coast by his mother, who is Crow and his stepfather, who is white. He said he was raised white, not knowing for many years his actual father was famed leader Joe Medicine Crow from the Crow Tribe in southeast Montana.

Read more of this story on the Conference website.

Laity session introduces 2020 delegate candidates

Laity session included hearing from nominees who have already put their name forward as a General Conference 2020 delegate candidates.

Voting will begin during plenary sessions and nominations can be taken from the floor.

Here are the lay delegate candidates so far: Mark Bateman, Salem FUMC; Estaban Galan, Boise FUMC; Lydia Henry, Gresham FUMC; Jesse Kiboko, Pocatello; Jan Nelson, Salem Morningside UMC; Kylie Nelson, Wesley UMC; Paul Nickell, Portland FUMC; Aaron Pazan, Portsmouth Union; David J White, Portsmouth Union

Memorial service honors passing of saints in AC