OR-ID Plenary Session – June 23, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT  

OR-ID Service of Ordination – June 24, 11 a.m. PT, 12 p.m. MT 

GNW Closing Session – June 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT

Members of Annual Conference, clergy and lay You will receive an email later this week with Zoom link for the sessions Your voter ID so that you can vote A single packet of reports and legislation to facilitate you following along during the session Be sure to review the reports and proposed legislation at www.umoi.org/ac before hand so that you are prepared for the discussions and votes. Is this your first time to participate in an Annual Conference Session?  You might find our orientation video helpful. We also have Video training for how to participate in voting Find information at www.umoi.org/ac  If you have questions or need help, you can email achelp@umoi.org or call the AC Help Line at (503) 802-9206. These are monitored from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT/ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT every day and during the sessions.   Not a voting member of AC, but want to know what's going on? Anyone can watch the proceedings online in real time via live stream on the Conference YouTube channel Sessions will be recorded and shared on the Conference website, www.umoi.org/ac, but probably not until after the week of AC is over.   You can find the reports and legislation which will be considered at the AC Session at www.umoi.org/ac

Find all the latest information at www.umoi.org/ac

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ANNUAL CONFERENCE SPECIAL OFFERING TO BENEFIT TONGAN RELIEF

On January 15, 2022 a large eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Unga Ha'apai volcano created ash fall on the main Kingdom of Tonga island, Tongatapu, blotting out the sun.  Ash and small stones rained down from the sky.  As a result of the eruption, a tsunami struck the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa as well as the west coast of Tongatapu, 'Eua and Ha'apai islands.

The damage was extensive and relief has been slow due to the communication issues involving a damaged undersea cable and the relative isolation of the Tongan islands.  

United Methodists have a special relationship with Tonga and her people.  

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is the largest religious group on the islands, representing 36% of the population. Christianity was introduced to Tonga in 1822 by Methodist missionaries, pre-dating the arrival of Methodism in the Northwest in 1834, when Methodist missionary Jason Lee arrived at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River. Tongans are our spiritual elders, embracing the Methodist movement ten years earlier than Northwesterners.

When Tongans immigrated to the Greater NW, they turned to The United Methodist Church to establish faith communities. Today Tongans gather for worship in six local churches or fellowships that identify as Tongan and are active members of many more congregations in the Greater NW episcopal area.

On January 20th, Bishop Elaine Stanovsky sent out a call to prayer and action for Tonga.  The choice of Tongan Relief to be the recipient of our 2022 Annual Conference Special Offering continues that concern for the people of Tonga and solidarity with our fellow Tongan United Methodists here whose family members and friends have been affected by this tragedy.  

You can begin promoting and collecting this offering in your local churches now to share during the AC Session.  You can give now as well at this link  All three annual conferences in the GNW will be giving to this cause through our AC Sessions.  The giving platform says "Pacific NW Conference" because they had the technology, but it is for all of us!

Related:  An effort by Lents Tongan Fellowship

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SAGE DISTRICT APPOINTMENTS

Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky intends to appoint:

• The Reverend Russell Rhodes to serve Ashton Community United Methodist Church in Ashton, Idaho, beginning July 1, 2022. He is an associate member of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
   
• The Reverend Roberta Smythe, half-time, to La Grande United Methodist Church, effective May 1, 2022, while she continues to serve Zion Lutheran Church half-time in La Grande, Oregon, as well. She is an ordained clergy in the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). 

• Clynton Easley as pastor of Fruitland UMC in Fruitland, Idaho, effective July 1, 2022. He will graduate with his master's of divinity degree from Seattle Pacific University in June, will serve the church three-quarter time as he pursues ordination as an elder in the church.

• The Reverend Beth Estock to Joseph UMC in Oregon, three-quarter time, effective August 1, 2022. She will also continue in her extension ministry with EpiCenter Group one-quarter time.

• The Reverend Mary Beth Boesch to Payette UMC in Idaho, full-time, effective July 1. She is ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and is in the process of seeking transfer into the UMC as a licensed local pastor.

• The Reverend David Horning as an interim pastor at Rupert UMC in Rupert, Idaho, effective July 1 through Aug. 31, 2022. He is a retired elder from the California-Nevada Conference.

• The Reverend Brenda Sene to serve as the full-time pastor of Rupert UMC in Idaho, effective Sept. 1, 2022. She has be serving as the supervising elder at Rupert for months, but will step into the full-time role in September.

• Rev. Leon Alden as the half-time pastor of Baker UMC and Haines UMC effective July 1, 2022. He is a retired elder from the Pacific Northwest Conference.

• Stacie Ballard as a licensed local pastor to serve Boise First United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. Ballard will continue serving as the pastor of family life and children's ministry in a full-time capacity at Boise FUMC. Ballard was previously ordained in the Church of the Nazarene and is completing her transfer to the UMC

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SAGE DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION