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April 5, 2012

Dear Reader,

Lots of articles about General Conference - and the restructuring proposals of the church that will be considered there - have crossed my desk and computer screen. You’ll be happy to know I don’t pass all of them on to you, the UM Connector readers. However one in last week’s UM Reporter helped point out some of the key issues involved in the jockeying for consideration of the various plans. The Oregon-Idaho delegation to General Conference has not taken a stand on the proposed legislation.

And if you make it to the end… This week’s commentary is an article by Andrew Sullivan that is in this week’s Newsweek Magazine. It’s a long, but poignant article about how we’ve been seeking, and missing, the true sense of Christianity since the birth of our nation, and before. And it raises key questions for organized religion.

Corrections: Careful readers of last week’s UM Connector may have noticed that I had a couple of dates wrong. So - just to be clear - Easter Sunday will be on Sunday, April 8, and the Annual Conference session will start on Thursday, June 14, and end around noon on Sunday, June 17.

May God be with you as you journey through the rest of Maundy Thursday, the darkness of Good Friday, and the joy of Easter.

Greg Nelson – Director of Communications

This Week in The Annual Conference

Thursday, April 5
Cabinet Meeting

Friday, April 6
Conference and District Offices Closed
Good Friday

Sunday, April 8
Easter

Monday, April 9
Metro Retired Clergy luncheon

Tuesday, April 10
Ontario/Blue Mountain Colloquy
WD North Valley Colloquy

Wednesday, April 11
WD Capital Colloquy
Wallowa Colloquy

Thursday, April 12
Western Jurisdiction Archives and History Meeting
Tumbleweed Colloquy
WD Coast Colloquy

Friday, April 13
Legislative Assembly
Western Jurisdiction Archives and History Meeting
Metro District UMW Spiritual Retreat
Ontario/Blue Mountain Colloquy

Saturday, April 14
Legislative Assembly
People Reaching People Training - Salem
UMW Snake River District MELT, Caldwell ID
Western Jurisdiction Archives and History Meeting
CLD Training - La Grande
Metro District UMW Spiritual Retreat
CLD Training - Eugene

Details on these, and other conference events, can be found on the conference website.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS

Ministry Marketplace Offers Chance to Share and Learn
It's nearly time for the Oregon-Idaho 2012 Annual Conference! That means Ministry Marketplace - a popular conference event. If your congregation or a group you are involved with has a project or idea that can be displayed at Annual Conference, consider sharing it at a ministry marketplace table display
.
The purpose of the Marketplace is to enhance the overall conference experience by letting people know what is going on in our local churches, conference, and beyond.

Download instructions and the application form to get started. If you have any questions, please contact Ministry Marketplace Coordinator Janice Stevens at 503-860-1452 or grandmamaj@comcast.net. She’ll be happy to answer any questions!

Prayer Ministry Continues for General Conference Delegates
A weekly prayer ministry to support the Oregon-Idaho delegates to General Conference continues to reach out. General Conference begins in 19 days. Westside United Methodist Church has led a pray ministry through weekly letters for churches to use as a guide. This week’s letter continues by sharing about some of the delegation team members. See all the letters at the Connected in Prayer page of the General Conference Connection web space on the conference website.

Appointment Announcements
It is Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata's intention to make the following appointments, effective July 1, 2012:

• The Rev. Daniel Benson to Madras United Methodist Church, in Madras, Oregon. Benson currently is appointed to Banks Community United Methodist Church in Banks, Oregon. Rev. Janet Farrell, who currently serves in Madras will be retiring.
• The Rev. Joung Youl (John) Go to Tabor Heights United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon. Go is currently appointed to First United Methodist Church of Fruitland, Idaho and First United Methodist Church of Ontario, Oregon. Rev. Donald Barnhart who currently serves at Tabor Heights will be retiring.
• The Rev. Teresa Salyer to Lebanon First United Methodist Church of Lebanon, Oregon. Salyer currently is appointed to the Jefferson United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Oregon. Rev. Sue Owen, who currently serves in Lebanon, retired in 2009 and will begin a 2-3 year position (with husband Jim) at Maua Methodist Hospital in Kenya.

A summary of appointment announcements can be found on the conference website at www.umoi.org/appointments

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Boise Area Churches March on Hunger
Last Saturday the sun came out to welcome marchers as Boise area United Methodist churches took to the streets in the culmination of a month of focusing on hunger in the Treasure Valley. Churches have spent the month of March doing Bible study, volunteering, collecting food and educating themselves and others about the issues of hunger. "I didn't know how much of a problem it was in Idaho," Randy Mendiola from Eagle UMC told the Idaho Statesman.

Saturday’s marchers, complete with police escort, carried bags of food and wore red t-shirts to show the community the need to impact hunger. Over 350 people participated in the Saturday event, but the month’s activities gathered over 2,300 volunteer hours, five tons of food and at least $4,000 for additional food purchases.

The event was supported by an impact community grant from the Rethink Church program at United Methodist Communications. This program, supported by apportionment payments to the world service fund, works with regional clusters of churches to impact communities and raise United Methodist awareness through media advertising, event registration support, and consulting on creating successful events.

See a local TV news story on the event.

Portland Church Sign Goes Viral
Tom Tate’s effort to share a “non-churchy” message on the church sign has kept the staff at Rose City Park United Methodist Church busy answering calls and e-mails from around the world. Little did he know that his thought for the week would go viral on Facebook, and be picked up by news organizations. Now they can expect a new round of reposts with recent articles in the United Methodist Reporter, Christian Post, and Portland Oregonian. Comments are running 40 to 1 in favor of the statement with those who contact the church.

Woodburn Also Featured in Oregonian
Woodburn United Methodist Church was also featured on the front of the “living” section of today’s Portland Oregonian. They have stepped out in faith to say that all money received at their Easter offering will be given to others in need, both locally and across the globe in Kenya.

Volunteer in Mission Event for Kenya Hospital
The Hermiston First United Methodist Church is hosting a special mission event featuring the 2012 Kenya Volunteers in Mission team to be held Sunday April 15th, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Special guest speaker will be Jim Monroe, pastor of the Woodburn UMC. This will be the seventh volunteer in mission trip to Kenya that Jim, along with his wife, Sue Owen, has led. Following this summer’s VIM trip, Jim and Sue will be remaining in Kenya for the next three years to serve as full time volunteer in mission coordinators. Also sharing at this event will be Jamie and Louise Kienzle, members of the Hermiston FUMC congregation, who have participated with the Kenyan VIM team for the past two years and are returning with the 2012 team this summer.

The gathering will begin with a light, late afternoon dinner featuring Kenyan stew, bread, Kenyan tea, and coffee. All are welcome at this special presentation to learn more about the exciting ministry this year’s team will accomplish including plans to build an AIDS orphan home, a cook shed for a local school, place a concrete barrier against invading insects in a school, provide and staff an outreach medical clinic, de-worm hundreds of children and serve in many other projects.

If you have any additional questions, or would like to have childcare, contact Hermiston First UMC at 541-567-3002, or herfumc@eotnet.net.

UMW Charter for Racial Justice Award Nominations Due April 20
Do you know a person or group whose activity broadly exemplifies the implementation of the Charter for Racial Justice? If so, consider nominating them for this award from the United Methodist Women (UMW). Nominees may include any member, constituent, or organization of The United Methodist Church located within the boundaries of the Oregon/Idaho Conference. The activity may be a one-time event or on-going, but must have taken place within the last year.

The award will presented at the UMW Oregon-Idaho Conference Annual Meeting on October 27. For more information, contact Dixie Jacky at president.umworid@gmail.com. You can download the nomination form and more information from the Conference Website.

AROUND THE GLOBE

Which Came First: Easter or the Eggs?
Even the most seasoned Easter worshippers may have questions about traditions such as decorated eggs, lilies and Peter Cottontail. Read about it in this United Methodist News Service story.

Bishop Preaches About Trayvon Martin
SAN JOSE, Calif. (UMNS) — In a March 31 sermon at Korean United Methodist Church of Santa Clara Valley in San Jose, Calif., San Francisco Area Bishop Warner H. Brown Jr. called for “extravagant love” in referencing the Trayvon Martin tragedy. Watch the video of his message.

Clergy TV ad Opposes Alabama Immigration Law
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (UMNS) — A group of Alabama clergy, including United Methodists, have unveiled a TV commercial opposing Alabama's immigration law. Watch the video.

Petition Drive Seeks Support for Major Reforms
With General Conference looming, backers of the first and most aggressive restructuring plan for general agencies of the UMC have mounted an online petition drive. They want to show that, despite noisy opposition and the emergence of alternative proposals, they have broad support from across the denomination. Read the rest of this United Methodist Reporter article.

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITES

Deacon’s Dinner One of Many Options for Annual Conference
The order of Deacons invites anyone attending Annual Conference to join them at the Deacon Dinner on Friday Night, June 15. The event is planned for the sole purpose of greeting persons who would like to learn more about being a deacon in the United Methodist Church. Those at the dinner will be able to meet current deacons and find out what they are doing and learn more about becoming a deacon. For more information, contact Joyce Sluss, co-chair of the O/I Order of Deacons at themom123@aol.com.

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Shop Hop to Camp
Have you been wanting to attend a craft camp, but driving to Camp Latgawa seems like a long trip by yourself? If you live in the Portland area, you can hop in the van on May 16th and join our group of other quilters as we make our way to Camp Latgawa for the Quilting and Fiber Arts Camp! We will stop at unique quilt shops on the way down to Medford, arriving at camp after dinner. The camp is a combination gab-fest and spiritual retreat, and a place to share your love of fibers and Christian community. Come join us for a weekend of friendship and sunshine. (Beth Dieker, Missioner for the Ministry Development and dean of Fiber Arts Camp)

Prayers for General Conference
The Rev. Tom Albin recently led four prayer support workshops at Alton L Collins Retreat Center where participants created hand-dyed silk prayer mantles for each delegate at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida, April 24 - May 4, 2012. Giving these mantles will show tangible prayer support for the Oregon-Idaho United Methodist delegation as well as for the work of the entire General Conference. (Laura Jaquith Bartlett, Program Director at Alton L Collins Retreat Center)

Visualize Yourself at Camp
The three brief videos from Camp & Retreat Ministries are now on You Tube! These video clips are also reachable from the home page of the gocamping.org website and have been distributed by DVD to interested churches. (Contact the camping office, If you’d like a dvd to use for mission moments at church.) We’ll soon post links to two new videos promoting Camp Latgawa. (Lisa Jean Hoefner, Camp & Retreat Ministries, Executive Director)

IN REMEMBRANCE

Charles Johnson ~ March 13, 1931 – March 15, 2012
Charles Johnson, retired pastor, died March 15, 2012. He is survived by his wife Nancy; children, Bryce, Brenna, Leslie and Wendy and one grandchild.

Reverend Johnson served Gardiner, Pine Grove and Nehalem/Wheeler in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, before locating in 1963.

A memorial service will be held June 2, 2012 at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County, 22785 NW Birch St., Hillsboro, OR 97124, 503-648-1720.

Friends may contact Nancy Johnson, 16905 SW Kattegat, Beaverton, OR 97006.

COMMENTARY

Christianity in Crisis
By Andrew Sullivan

...Christianity has been destroyed by politics, priests, and get-rich evangelists. Ignore them, writes Andrew Sullivan, and embrace Him...