July 08, 2020

United Methodist Followers of Christ in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference,

God is leading the human family through troubling, disrupted, hopeful times. The Oregon-Idaho Conference is finding its way on an uncharted path.

COVID-19 has reset the rhythms of our lives in many ways: personally, in our families, our work, the nation and the world. The calendar of The United Methodist Church has been reset to protect public health and prevent dangerous spread of the disease.

The shared Annual Conference Session for Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences, originally scheduled for June in Puyallup, Wash., was cancelled. In its place, I called and held special Clergy Sessions of the three Conferences in June 2020.

Many Americans have heard and heeded the demand to dismantle attitudes and systems of racism, that were codified in the Christian Church 500 years ago in Europe, exported through colonial expansion around the world, and have not been rooted out since. Today, they are still deeply embedded in personal attitudes, cultural assumptions, relationship networks and social systems. The United Methodist Church participates in these oppressive patterns in both obvious and hidden ways. We are called to dismantle racism with a new urgency at this time, as the cruel and lethal costs of institutionalized racism are being revealed in undeniable and immediate images.

Amidst all of this, individual United Methodist churches and ministries are reimagining life together during times that stretch us beyond the norms and practices with which we are familiar. We have important work ahead of us — much that we can do better together — as we find ways to respond to God’s leading in calls for justice and purposeful connection.

What a blessed and troubled time to be the Church!
May God bless, keep and lead us as we live with and for our neighbors.

Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky

Attachments:

• Who may attend and participate in Annual Conference?
• Frequently Asked Questions