Aloha UMC is on the cusp of creating housing pods on its church property to help Washington County address the growing houseless crisis. The church feels called to this work through their commitment to community and understanding of Jesus' teachings in scripture. | Read more on the Conference website.

Through the leadership of retired clergy, Rev. John Pitney, more churches in the Oregon-Idaho Conference are moving to solar power as part of the Oregon Interfaith Solar Campaign. Communications Specialist John Shaw spoke with Pitney as well as Rev. Jon Hughes from Molalla UMC to understand why this is an important step in creation care for churches to take. | Read more on the Conference website.

Members of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference will be called together on Saturday to process disaffiliation requests from three churches in The Oregon-Idaho Conference per chapter 2553 of the Book ,of Discipline. Eligible voting members, who registered for this session, were emailed their Voter ID as well as a link to the Zoom webinar on Wednesday night. All materials are available for the public to review at www.umoi.org/specialsession. The session will be livestreamed at www.umoi.org starting at 9 a.m. Pacific Time, 10 a.m. Mountain Time on Saturday (May 6).

Make, help collect Disaster Kits for Annual Conference

With a hybrid setting for Annual Conference 2023, the Oregon-Idaho Conference will once again be collecting certain disaster kits when it meets in Meridian, Idaho, June 8-11. Churches are not only being asked to create and bring hygiene kits and cleaning buckets to Annual Conference, but Conference interim Disaster Response Coordinator Louise Kienzle is seeking volunteers to help get kits distributed to locations across the Conference. | Read more on the Conference website.

Rev. Sheila Miranda shares her first hand account of the impact of UMCOR on shared ministries across the Greater Northwest Area. Recently, she received training from UMCOR’s Angela Overstreet in Boise, ID, prior to participating in three new home dedications in the Okanogan area. She was joined by Overstreet, PNW Disaster Response Coordinators Dana and Kathy Bryson construction manager Barry Hansen, and several others at the dedications. | Read more on the GNW News site.

United Methodist missionary Joy Prim is in the Greater Northwest Area in April sharing her work through several in-person and virtual opportunities for supporters and interested people in the Alaska and Pacific Northwest Conferences. | Read more on the GNW News site.

In the news: Pro-LGBTQ churches hold vigil after anti-trans flier campaign 

Politicians and LGBTQ advocates attended a vigil in Edmonds Tuesday night after hateful, anti-trans fliers were placed on cars at two local churches known to welcome queer people. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, State Senator Manka Dhingra, Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson, and other Snohomish and King County officials spoke at Edmonds United Methodist Church Tuesday. | Read more from The Stranger's website. RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES Abundant Health, Disability Awareness training: Is your church disability-friendly & accessible? People across the Greater Northwest Area are invited to attend a seminar being put on by the Oregon-Idaho Conference's Abundant Health ministries in partnership with The UMC's Disability Ministries Committee on May 25, starting at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Deaconness Lynn Swedberg, a disability consultant for the committee will lead participants in a thoughtful discussion on the importance of accessibility. | Learn more & register on the Conference events calendar. GLOBAL NEWS Amid rupture, bishops called to renew church During the United Methodist Council of Bishops' first in-person meeting in more than three years, Council President, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, urged his episcopal colleagues to take time to grieve disaffiliations but then work for renewal. He and other bishops spoke of their confidence that with God's help, United Methodists can make their way to a brighter future. | Read more of this story from UM News Service. United Methodists join fight against drug abuse The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe is helping raise awareness about the harms of drug and substance abuse and the importance of rehabilitation. Local churches are focused on community awareness and outreach programs while United Methodist schools have also been affected by the growing problem and are offering counseling services and other programs. | Read more of this story from UM News Service. Conflicting actions sought on Bishop's suspension As United Methodist bishops meet this week, they are hearing from different groups who seek opposing actions on Bishop Minerva Carcaño’s suspension. The Council of Bishops has received various statements and open letters in recent days — some urging the episcopal leaders to intervene and reinstate Carcaño while another letter urges the bishops to let the complaint process move forward in the Western Jurisdiction. | Read more of this story from UM News Service.