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February 12, 2020
Tim Overton-Harris

First Appointment Announcements Shuffle District Superintendents

The first announcements of the Bishop's intention to appoint for 2020 portend a change in District Superintendents in 2 of the 4 districts in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.  

Columbia District Superintendent Erin Martin will return to the local church.  The Bishop intends to appoint her to Fremont UMC effective July 1, 2020. Rev. Martin has served as Columbia DS since July 2015.

The Bishop has announced her intention to appoint current Cascadia District Superintendent Tim Overton-Harris as District Superintendent of the Columbia District effective July 1, 2020.  Rev. Overton-Harris has served as Cascadia DS since July 2017. 

“The honor and challenge of serving Columbia District is great. The many and varied ministries, innovation projects, new starts, and the diverse communities of the district offer a unique opportunity for me,” he said. “I will build off of the faithful work of Erin Martin and know that my skills, gifts and graces will be well used in my work with Columbia District.”

Bishop Stanovsky asks that you hold Tim and his wife, Rev. Amy Overton-Harris, in your prayers as this transition is made. 

Wendy Woodworth

To fill the Superintendent slot in Cascadia District, Bishop Stanovsky has announced her intention to appoint Rev. Wendy Woodworth to that role as of July 1st.

Rev. Woodworth is currently appointed to Open Door Churches of Salem-Keizer with primary pastoral responsibility for Morningside UMC.

“You know Wendy’s deep faith, broad experience and steady demeanor. I know that you will celebrate with her this new responsibility and honor her for her seven years with Morningside and Open Door Churches. Please keep Wendy and her wife Lori, in your prayers during this time of transition,” Bishop Stanovsky said.

Rev. Woodworth earned her master’s of divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion. She has served as an associate pastor at Portland First UMC, and senior pastor at Pendleton, Portland Trinity UMC, Portland Fremont UMC, Salem Morningside UMC and now the Open Door Churches of Salem-Keizer, with primary responsibility at Morningside. She also served on the Conference’s Council on Finance and Administration for 12 years and currently serves as the chairperson of the Board of Ordained Ministry.

“I can’t wait to hit the road and visit the diverse churches and ministry settings across the Cascadia District: from the coast to the mountains to the painted hills, from urban settings to the small towns, and from large churches to smaller ones,” she said. “Each of you is called to unique ministries in your context and yet all of us are called to the vital ministry of bringing God’s love, grace and justice into our communities by following Jesus and being empowered by the Spirit.”


 

Lenten Plans - Christian Unity in the Wesleyan Tradition

What are you and your church planning for Lent?  

Newberg First UMC and Mountain Home UMC are cooperating with three other Wesleyan congregations in their community to celebrate Christian unity and explore the Wesleyan way of being faithful disciples of Christ.

The two United Methodist congregations will join with Newberg Church of the Nazarene, River Street Church of God, and Northside Community Church (Free Methodist) to break bread together at simple suppers on Thursday evenings during Lent and explore:

  • Growing as Disciples through Wesleyan Hymns
  • Embodying Wesleyan Mission
  • Ministry of Healing as Wesleyans
  • The Sacraments in the Wesleyan Way
  • Wesleyan Small Groups

For more information, contact Pastor Marty Williams at Newberg FUMC or Pastor Aric Clark at Mountain Home UMC.


White Supremacy in Oregon: History and Current Events - an opportunity to learn and gain skills for change

The SE Portland Parish is sponsoring a four-meeting series on the history of white supremacy in Oregon.  Participants in the course will delve into Oregon's history and current realities and collectively build an understanding of how Oregon's whiteness has and does function, providing a basis on which to move forward to develop a better future for all.

The meetings are March 4th, 11th, 18th and April 1st  at 6:30 - 9 p.m., and will be held at Trinity UMC, 3915 SE Steele St., Portland, OR 97202

The cost is a sliding scale of $40-$70 which covers all sessions.  The presenter is Kristin Teigen, M.A., M. Ed., who is an educator at Portland State University, where she teaches white supremacy in Oregon and issues of women's homelessness.

Learn more and register by clicking here.

Questions?  Contact SE Portland Parish Associate Pastor, Jayde Dunkerley

__________________

From the editor - some additional resources:

  • From the Lewis Center for Church Leadership:  a free resource of 4 brief videos to help your congregation begin a discussion about race.  Moving Faith Communities to Fruitful Conversations about Race is a dialogue about race in America that may be used to help your church bring people together to talk about moving forward bravely and boldly in the name of Christ. The free resource is divided into four videos which may be used in one or more sessions.  Topics include:
    • Why should race be a central focus?
    • Why should local congregations participate in these conversations?
    • How can congregations partner with law officials in the community?
    • What can your congregation do to make a difference?
      Learn more by clicking here.
  • Making the Invisible Visible: Prophetic Drama and Social Change is an essay by Andre Henry which might inspire you as to the church's role in social change.  The author says, "Policy alone can’t transform the myths that distort our society’s imagination with xenophobic visions. The way to convert fear to courage, apathy to love, and despair to hope is through the imagination. And we access the imagination through story, art, and symbol."  And, that, dear friends, is the language of the church.  The author concludes, "The prophets tell us about the world God desires to bring about, a world free from all of the fatal phobias and isms of history, a world where tears are obsolete. However, those visions don’t give us license to wait passively for God to bring that future into fruition. Instead, those visions of a coming age, where God makes all things right, serve as the grounds for summons to live in the world as God always intended in the present. The message is not, “Relax. Everything will be fine,” but rather, “Repent. The reign of God is at hand.” "
 

Confirmation Retreat
Suttle Lake Camp
April 24-26, 2020

Confirmation group at Suttle Lake

Confirmation Camp at Suttle Lake

Many of our confirmation classes at the local church level are small.  Suttle Lake Camp offers an opportunity each year for you to bring the youth in your confirmation class to a time away with others which can enrich their experience.  

Activities engage participants in learning about church history, the quadrilateral, social principles, acts of service, and exploring what we believe as United Methodists and as individuals.  Learning together, sharing worship, and taking time for recreation makes this retreat a celebration of the larger United Methodist connection and the beauty of being a part of the body of Christ.

What participants had to say after last year's retreat:

  • “The retreat was so much fun. I’m coming away wanting to learn more about John Wesley and church history.”
  • “What an amazing community! I loved meeting new people and learning more about my faith.”

For more information, check out https://www.gocamping.org/campsession/12255642 and/or contact Jane Petke at Suttle Lake Camp at suttlelake@gocamping.org or (541) 595-6766


Information for Upcoming General Conference

Comparisons of proposals to GC banner

Find resources at www.umoi.org/cascadia to give you the most up-to-date information on the proposals before General Conference that will give you some sense of what will be debated and what possible changes and decisions will have to be part of the work of each member, each congregation, each annual conference, each episcopal area and each jurisdiction.

DS Tim Overton-Harris says, "Please don’t go into this season of change uninformed – the very future of our church is at stake. May God guide us through this time and show us how we can be partners together with Christ in transforming lives and the world."


Time to Apply for Scholarships for 2020-2021 Academic Year

The Annual Conference and the United Methodist denomination offers scholarships for higher education.  Check it out at www.umoi.org/scholarships.  Applications will be open January 3 through March 1, 2020.  

Women of Oregon-Idaho Conference, who are pursuing post-graduate studies for a vocation in the church, are invited to apply for the Gertrude Boyd Crane Scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Information and the application form can be found on the United Methodist Women page of the Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Church website:  www.umoi.org/cranescholarship

The deadline for applications for the Crane Scholarship is May 30, 2020.


 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

This week in the
Cascadia District

Cascadia District UMs are walking with Christ in their communities and loving God by loving their neighbors

Looking Ahead

March 1

Deadline to apply for conference sponsored scholarships

Tues., March 3

Suburban Ring Colloquy

High Desert Colloquy

Wine Country Colloquy

Wed., March 4

Open Door Churches Colloquy

White Supremacy in Oregon: History and Current Events

Thurs., March 5

Molalla & Pudding River Colloquy

North Coast Colloquy

Tues., March 17-
Weds., March 18

Order of Elders, Order of Deacons, and Fellowship of Licensed Local Pastors

Weds., March 18 -
Fri., March 20

Northwest Leadership Institute

April 24-26

Confirmation Retreat at Suttle Lake Camp


Prayer Calendar

Feb. 9 -15

Open Door Churches: Salem-Keizer UMs - member church Las Naciones Hispanic Ministry
Interim lay pastor Zaida Huereca

Feb. 16 - 22

Open Door Churches: Salem-Keizer UMs - member church Morningside UMC
Lay Leaders: Duane Medicine Crow, Rob Chenoweth, Frances Nelson

Feb. 23 - 29

Open Door Churches: Salem-Keizer UMs - member church Trinity UMC
Lay Leaders: Ann Jeffries, Pat Clark, Jim Harless

See the full prayer calendar


DS Schedule

Please let District Superintendent Tim know about significant events happening in your local congregation.  He may or may not be able to attend, but he would like to know about them!  Tim is also occasionally available to preach at your church!  You can e-mail him at tim@umoi.org


Upcoming events in the District Superintendent's Schedule:

Feb. 10-12  GNW Cabinet
Feb. 13     EMO Lunch
                 Meeting with DSs and District AAs

Feb. 15      Sherwood all-church celebration
Feb. 16      Carus all-church celebration and Marquam all-church celebration
Feb. 17       Forest Grove all-church celebration
Feb. 18       Tualatin all-church celebration
Feb 19        Cabinet Zoom
Feb 23        Dallas all-church celebration
Feb 26         Cabinet Zoom 
Feb 29         Tillamook County UMs all-churches celebration
 

In addition to what is listed here, Tim is meeting with local church SPRCs where an appointment change is anticipated.  


Resources

Your congregation can now pay its apportionments and its benefit payments online!

In late January, the Conference Finance office rolled out a new Conference online pension-and-health-benefits and apportionment payment system:  Mission Connect.

A letter went out to pastors, finance committee chairs, and church treasurers on January 23rd to inform them of this new service.  

If you have questions about 

  • benefit statements and payments, contact Meg Kau by e-mail or at (503) 802-9224
  • apportionments and other giving payments, contact Andrea Cooper by e-mail or at (503) 802-9217

There is a link to the online payment system and instructions at www.umoi.org/treasurer


Contact us

DS Tim Overton-Harris
tim@umoi.org

District Lay Leader
Paula Sadler

jpcsadler@aol.com

District Administrative Assistant
Linda Grund-Clampit

linda@umoi.org
503-581-3969

Check out the Cascadia District webpage:
www.umoi.org/cascadia

Find us on Facebook

Cascadia District Office of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
680 State Street, Suite 200, Salem, Oregon, 97301 ~ (503) 581-3969 ~ Cascadia@umoi.org