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UMCOR Sunday 2021 — Rio Texas Annual Conference

The official date for UMCOR Sunday is March 19, 2023, but you can choose to celebrate on any day that works best for your church! For over 80 years, UMCOR has provided hope and healing for people and communities devastated by natural and human-made disasters.

The special offering on March 19th underwrites UMCOR’s “cost of doing business,” making it possible for UMCOR to focus on responding to communities and individuals when they need immediate assistance. It allows UMCOR to preserve the promise that 100% of any donation to a specific UMCOR project or missionary will go towards that project and not administrative cost Resources for churches can be found here 

https://www.resourceumc.org/.../umcor-sunday-pastor-and...

You can Donate online or mail your gift to: GCFA, P.O. Box 340029, Nashville, TN 37203.

 


Here is the March edition of the monthly newsletter for VIM and Disaster Ministries,        ‘Go and Serve’

Volunteers in Mission | Disaster Ministries, March 2023 (mailchi.mp)


 GBHEM logo

March 20th is the deadline to apply for Scholarships for higher education -- undergraduate, graduate, and seminary -- are available for members of The United Methodist Church through a variety of channels.  Be sure to check out all those for which you may qualify!

Application link and more information here 

 


CHURCH LEADERSHIP TRAINING ONLINE

Saturday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to noon PT/ 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT

Join Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, district superintendents and staff of the conferences of the Greater Northwest Area for a free online training. The training begins with greetings, worship and a message from our new bishop. The second hour will allow participants to receive focused training in one of several workshops on managing financial assets, engaging in conflict, working with staff, exploring single-board governance as well as a Spanish language cohort. | Registration is required but there is no fee.

This training is for all church council members, finance chairs, treasurers, SPRC chairs, trustees, finance secretaries, and anyone in church leadership. 

Register Here →


ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023 

Information about the 2023 Annual Conference Sessions

The theme is "Go and Do Likewise," with scriptural focus on Luke 10:30-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan. Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth will invite us to encounter the characters in the parable as mirrors to see ourselves more clearly and as windows to see possibilities beyond our imaginings.  
The official invitation email to the June Session has gone out by email to lay and clergy members.  If you did not receive it and you think you should have, please contact Etha in the district office, to follow up. More information about travel and lodging will be available in the coming weeks. Registration will also come later. 

The June sessions will be held in-person at Meridian, Idaho at Meridian UMC from June 8 - 11. It will be a hybrid session so members of annual conference can also attend on Zoom. Sessions will be live-streamed for those who are not members of annual conference.

Submitting Legislation: Today is the last day!

This is your chance, as a person sitting in the pew or standing in the pulpit, to participate in the process that can shape the future of our Conference and denomination.
You have the opportunity and ability to submit legislation that demands the Conference take action on something or you can submit legislation that requires the Conference to take a position on societal issues. In addition to these avenues of legislation, you have the opportunity to seek Conference endorsement of any petitions you're interested in putting before the global body of The United Methodist Church when General Conference 2024 convenes.
The deadline to submit legislation for the Legislative Assembly and Annual Conference is March 15, 2023.

"We often think of Annual Conference as a time for business and reports, but it's so much more than that," said Conference Secretary Laura Jaquith Bartlett. "The legislative process gives everyone across the conference the opportunity to seek changes, speak up and have their voices heard in order to create legislation that has a lasting impact on our collective work as followers of Christ."

Calendar of AC Session events

  • Special Session for OR-ID Annual Conference on disaffiliation requests - May 6, 2023
    • online only (will have separate registration from the June session)
    • all clergy and lay members of annual conference are expected to attend
    • save the date - registration, information, and details coming soon.
       
  • Regular annual AC Session Opening Session - May 20, 2023
    • for entire Greater NW Area
    • live stream only
    • will include installation service for Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth
       
  • Oregon-Idaho Clergy Session - May 23, 2023
    • online only
    • the clergy who should attend will be contacted
       
  • Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Session - June 8-11, 2023
    • Hybrid event: in person at Meridian UMC, Meridian, ID or by Zoom
    • Lay and clergy members will be able to participate fully in either attendance mode
    • Registration will open late April - early May
       
  • Closing Session - June 15, 2023
    • for entire Greater NW Area
    • live stream only

Check out www.umoi.org/ac for the most current information


 

 
Columbia District Office of Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
1505 SW 18th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97201 ~ (503) 249-1851 ~ Columbia@umoi.org