On Tuesday, Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky issued the following COVID-19 notice no. 9, which included a link to phase 2.1 - an option within phase 2. If you missed Monday's announcement, here is a re-cap:

The circumstances and risks from COVID-19 vary from place to place and from time to time. Therefore, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Team has adopted a new Phase 2.1 addendum to Reimagining Life Together, which opens the possibility of gatherings of up to 25 for worship and other activities. In places where data shows a low risk of spreading the virus a church or other ministry can present a ministry plan for approval to move to Phase 2.1 as long as the risk remains low.

Read the full notice on the Greater NW Area website.

New book exploring ‘Sustainable Engagement’ offered as free download for GNW church leaders

Since 2015, the Rev. Dr. William Gibson has been working with District Superintendents, innovators, and local churches across the Northwest to instigate new and renewed vitality in United Methodist communities of faith. After more than five years of cross-conference resourcing across the area, he now supports such efforts as a member of the Greater Northwest Area’s Innovation and Vitality Team, through the team’s change theory of inclusion, innovation, and multiplication.

Louise Kienzle, Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Volunteers in Mission coordinator, is working to help survivors of the floods in the Pendleton, Oregon, and Walla Walla, Wash., areas.

She is serving as the co-coordinator of volunteers and hopes to build a base for long-term recovery. But right now, Kienzle is calling for volunteers from both the Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest conferences to help before winter weather sets in. Immediate priorities include cattle fence building and mobile home skirting.

“As volunteers, we strive to serve with compassion and help survivors return to a safe, sanitary, and secure primary residence” Kienzle explains.

Read more of this story on the GNW Area News site.

As we write this, Honduras has just been hit hard by Hurricane Eta. Heavy rainfall for several days now has caused flooding in certain regions of the country and also caused roads and bridges to wash out. Earlier this morning the government ordered evacuations in the Valle del Sula area and indicated that the Ulúa river was expected to reach levels higher than those reached during Hurricane Mitch, which devastated much of Honduras 22 years ago.

Several of our pastors have been cut off from communications due to the electricity, internet, and cell services going out. One of the Methodist Mission’s pastors’ homes was flooded, but thankfully he and his family were able to evacuate in time and are safe in a refuge center. One Methodist church is currently giving refuge to several families, and others are in the process of setting up relief efforts. The church buildings have remained closed due to the Coronavirus since March, but this emergency has necessitated emergency openings to provide help.

Read more of Desiree & Osías' story on the Greater NW Area News site.

Oregon-Idaho Conference

Inspiring Generosity: 2 More Reasons to Consider a Second Pledge Drive in the New Year

After writing about the many advantages to churches considering a second pledge drive outside of stewardship season, Cesie Delve Scheuermann was given two more reasons to consider a second pledge drive: tax advantages and spiritual advantages. "So Covid Time or no Covid Time, it is time to think out of the box about your annual pledge drive. Tax advantages and, perhaps even more importantly, spiritual advantages make this the time to start planning for a second (or first) opportunity to bring joy to your people through the gift of giving." Read more of Cesie's blog on the Oregon-Idaho Conference website.

WESTERN JURISDICTION NEWS

Where Love Lives: Scripture, difficult conversations, and diversity

In this blog post from the California-Pacific Conference, LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Coordinator Rev. Denyse Barnes, discusses the Wesleyan rooting of scripture into the DNA of The United Methodist Church and how that leads to conversations of love and inclusion. “When we follow Wesley’s lead, using scripture as the foundation of all we do, together we can produce amazing results and create places where we truly live out the greatest commandment...” Read more of this Where Love Lives blog on the Cal-Pac Conference website. Where Love Lives: Meaning in the Reading of Scripture Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan, president of Claremont School of Theology at Willamette University shares thoughts on scripture's role in our theology as United Methodists. "As Christians who love the Bible, taking seriously the Bible means that we recognize that the Bible was written by multiple writers who were products of their time and space. It means acknowledging that these biblical writers, as people of faith, were bounded by their context, their culture, their theology, their ideology. Recognizing the contextual nature of the texts requires that we enter into a conversation with the text critically. As readers of texts, there is also another context we must be mindful of, namely, our context as readers. As readers, we are culturally and socially located. It means that we cannot deny who we are as humans who bring our socially, culturally, and religiously constructed ideologies and theologies into the reading and engagement with the biblical texts." Read more of this blog on the Cal-Pacific Conference website. RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES Register now for Nov. 18 Collins Summit: Shalom in Divided Times It’s no secret we are living in unprecedented and divided times. Racial unrest, political tensions and COVID-19 have impacted nearly every aspect of our lives. What do shalom and unity look like in 2020? Shalom is a Hebrew word that means wholeness, harmony and peace. It’s a complex idea, often oversimplified, similar to the way “unity” becomes a euphemism for sameness. Through a virtual format, we will explore these racial, political and social divisions, asking how we bring our whole selves to the table and stay engaged in light of our differences, not in spite of them. The Summit will include a lecture from Lisa Sharon Harper, a live Q&A, and the opportunity to hear from members of the Common Table and their important work. The event is open to anyone to attend and the registration fee is $10 (scholarships are available). Learn more and register on the Greater NW Area news site.  Don't forget: Liberating Advent resources to be released Sunday for churches across the GNW Grounded in the concept of liberation theology and led by voices of color leading some of our new churches, congregations in the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area are invited to celebrate advent in a unique way.* "Liberating Advent: A journey of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love" will be a resource for local churches to include in their worship services with videos and text of scripture readings, artwork, original music and deep theological reflections. The resources – electronic and in print – will be available for churches to access by Nov. 15. Congregations can use each week’s worship service as a whole product or incorporate different elements. Churches will be able to download videos and other printed materials, and if needed, can request an electronic copy of the material (DVD, Flash Drive). Be sure to check www.greaternw.org/news for updates on the resources. GLOBAL NEWS United Methodists devastated by trio of typhoons Filipino United Methodists are picking up the pieces after three strong typhoons pummeled the Philippines in less than three weeks.   The latest, Typhoon Vamco (Ulysses), rolled through Nov. 12, leaving millions without power and many stranded on the northern island of Luzon. Major flooding affected Metro Manila and its suburbs.   The Rev. Fely Dela Cruz, district superintendent from the Metro District of the Rizal Philippines East Conference, said San Mateo United Methodist Church has 200 evacuees, and she is continuing to seek updates from leaders and laity from other churches within the Marikina area, noting that many of the roads are impassable. Read more of this story from UM News Service. Legal settlement means Glide leaves The UMC A battle for control of a landmark church in San Francisco has ended with a multimillion dollar financial settlement in which Glide Memorial leaves The United Methodist Church but retains its famed 330 Ellis St. building. The United Methodist California-Nevada Conference will retain control of a $4.5 million trust and receive an extra $1.5 million from the Glide Foundation “in recognition of the long-term and unique relationship between Glide and The United Methodist Church.” In 1929, Lizzie Glide, a Methodist laywoman, started a trust fund to establish a center to benefit all of San Francisco and to establish a center for preaching and teaching in conformity with the doctrines of the Methodist Church. Read more of this story from UM News Service. Amid post-election crisis, Côte d’Ivoire church calls for peace More than a week after the presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire, The United Methodist Church works to ease tensions as uncertainty weighs on Ivorians. In a similar political scenario to the one that led to a civil war 10 years ago, the country is divided between supporters of former President Alassane Ouattara who was re-elected with 94% of the vote, and those for his opposition, who boycotted the electoral process and formed a parallel administration. They argue Ouattara’s win violates constitutional term limits, but the Constitutional Council validated the election results on Nov. 9. The Côte d’Ivoire United Methodist Church is calling for prayer and peaceful resolutions.  Read more of this story from UM News Service.