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April 12, 2012
Dear Reader,
As we try to remember the message of Easter, we begin the season of church meetings. This week it’s Legislative Assembly, Then General Conference, Annual Conference, and Jurisdictional Conference. I’ll try to keep you up to date on all of it with the UM Connector and conference website at www.umoi.org.
But through it all, I hope we can remember the message of Easter, and don’t lose our focus on connecting with our communities and being vital churches that serve Christ.
Greg Nelson – Director of Communications
This Week in The Annual Conference
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 UMW 2012 Spiritual Retreat
Ontario/Blue Mountain Colloquy
Saturday, April 14
Legislative Assembly
Western Jurisdiction Archives and History Meeting
Metro 2012 UMW Spiritual Retreat
People Reaching People Training - Salem
CLD Training – Eugene
CLD Training – La Grande
UMW Snake River District MELT, Caldwell ID
Sunday, April 15
Western Jurisdiction Archives and History Meeting
CLD Training - The Dalles
Monday, April 16
Southern District Leadership Team
Tuesday, April 17
Cabinet Meeting
Wednesday, April 18
Cabinet Meeting
Friday, April 20
Annual Confirmation Retreat at Suttle Lake Camp
Bishop's Initiative to Eliminate Hunger Task Force Meeting
UMW Applications due for Racial Justice Award and Zimmerman Trust Grant
Saturday, April 21
Annual Confirmation Retreat at Suttle Lake Camp
Oregon Trail UMW All Member Enrichment Event
People Reaching People Training - Treasure Valley
CLD Training - Madras
Cross Cultural Training Event-Beaverton
Sunday, April 22
Native American Ministries Sunday
Details on these, and other conference events, can be found on the conference website.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS
Legislative Assembly to Meet this Weekend
The first review of legislation submitted to the 2012 session of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference will be this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, a representative group of church leaders from around the conference will consider, amend, and vote on legislation that has been proposed by individuals, churches, and interest groups of the conference. These recommendations will be forwarded to the full session of the Annual Conference when it meets in Salem, Oregon in June.
The Legislative Assembly will be at First United Methodist Church in Portland. A schedule and information on the legislation to be reviewed is on the Conference Website.
Pages Help Make Annual Conference Happen!
Applications are now being accepted for Pages at the 2012 Annual Conference session. Floor Manager Daryl Blanksma is seeking youth who are friendly, reliable, and excited about serving others. Pages are a vital (and hard-working) part of the Annual Conference sessions, helping to get information to members exactly when it’s needed. Pages will get to see how Annual Conference works, and worship, learn, and play with youth from all over Oregon and Idaho. Applicants should be in 9 – 12 grade now and be active in a United Methodist Church.
Pages get to see Annual Conference up close as they distribute materials, run errands, carry messages, and helping AC members with official business. Only five - six youth will be accepted as pages. The applications are due April 27. Page application forms are now available for download on the Conference website.
Music of Mark Miller Will lead and Teach at Annual Conference
 Building Community and Congregations through Worship & Song will be the focus of the Annual Conference training event on Saturday, June 16. This special training focus, during the Annual Conference Session, is part of the meeting for members of the Annual Conference (clergy and elected lay members), but is also open to anyone who wants to spend time learning from Mark Miller, a nationally known composer, worship leader, teacher and performer of sacred music.
Miller will also lead the Annual Conference Session in worship, but this special focused time from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 16 at the Salem Conference Center will be a time exploring worship and song in a modern look at the Wesleyan tradition. Church musicians and worship teams should be especially encouraged to come to Salem for the day.
Single day registration is $25 for visitors (Members of Annual Conference are already registered). You can download a flyer to share with your church, and register as a visitor online at www.umoi.org/ACSession.
Appointment Announcements
It is Bishop Robert Hoshibata's intention to make the following appointment, effective July 1, 2012:
The Rev. Catherine Davis to Junction City and Monroe United Methodist Churches. Junction City and Monroe are located in the Willamette Valley, north of Eugene, Oregon. Davis is an Elder from the Western North Carolina conference of The United Methodist Church and is has been serving the Junction City church for 1 year.
A summary of appointment announcements can be found on the conference website at www.umoi.org/appointments.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Cross Cultural Competency Training
The Commission on Religion and Race is offering two opportunities for church leaders to attend a workshop on Cross Cultural Training.
The first will be Saturday, April 21 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Beaverton First United Methodist Church (12555 SW 4th St., Beaverton, Oregon). The second will be Sunday April 22 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Whitney United Methodist Church (3315 Overland Rd., Boise, Idaho).
We are Jesus’ disciples interested in growing vital churches that reach out to our communities. The upcoming ‘Cross Cultural Competency’ initial training is a great opportunity to develop some ideas and skills for that work. Many of us live in communities with a variety of people from different cultures. The event is designed to provide skills for reaching out to new people. If you have an interest in being part of the event, please contact the Metro District Office (Barbara Collins, 503-249-1851 or metrodistrictoffice@umoi.org) or the Snake River District Office ( Phyllis Ross, 208-385-0598 or srdumc@qwestoffice.net) for registration.
News from Missionaries
Read the latest from Teri and Evelyn Erbele, missionaries serving in Ketchikan, Alaska on the conference website.
Free Music Evening Offers a Trip Around the World
 The Rev. Debra Tyree will lead a fun, informal sing-along featuring music from around the globe on Monday, April 16, at 7:15 p.m. in the Chapel at the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center. This musical offering is the kick-off for the second program in the 2012 Liturgical Arts Renewal@Collins series (LARC). Debi is a leader in the "Global Praise" program of The United Methodist Church. Not only does she have an astounding knowledge of global music, but she has the unique ability to teach anything to anyone...and make it fun! Participants will sing familiar songs as well as learn some new ones. Debi will also share the stories behind the songs, and give ideas about how to successfully use global music in worship.
Debi will join the Rev. Mary Scifres to lead workshops at Collins all day April 17, but the April 16 evening is offered as a gift to the community. There is no admission charge and no need to register. Just come to the Chapel at the retreat center at 7:15 p.m. There are still spots available for the workshops the next day, which will focus on worship in the post-modern world--what is it and why does it make a difference to congregations? More information and a link for registration can be found on the Collins website.
Working, Learning, Serving with Others!
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) has mission sites around the world for individual volunteers to serve for 2 months to 2 years. You can learn more at the umcmission.org website.
Required training will be accessible to Western Jurisdiction this August. Scott and Bev Pressman, UMVIM Coordinators for OR-ID Annual Conference would be happy to share their own positive experiences serving one year in Peru and Bolivia as individual volunteers. Please contact them at bspressman@gmail.com.
One way to learn more is to attend the required training for individual volunteers. This training will be coming to the Western Jurisdiction this summer on August 1-5 in Salt Lake City. Check out opportunities as an UMVIM Individual Volunteer and learn more on the website or by contacting Nancy Eubanks at individualvolunteers@gbgm-umc.org or the Pressmans.
GENERAL CONFERENCE NEWS
Oregon-Idaho Delegation Shares Thoughts
As they prepare for General Conference, the Oregon-Idaho Delegation has been learning, and thinking, about what is coming up for them on April 24 – May 5. They have taken the time to share some of their thoughts on the delegation blog page. Read what they are thinking about on the conference website. And keep checking back for ongoing updates to the Oregon-Idaho General Conference web page (www.umoi.org/GC) as conference gets near, and during General Conference.
Want to Get All the News?
During General Conference, there will be extra editions of the UM Connector to share the story of what is happening, with a special focus on the OR-ID point of view. If you want to get more news about The United Methodist Church, especially during General Conference, you might want to subscribe to the daily news digest from the United Methodist News Service.
Get the Mobile App
 One way to keep track of General Conference is to get the Mobile App. This new tool can connect you with the schedule and stories of General Conference. In parts of the globe where cell phones have become the predominant communication tool, the mobile app will provide a new level of access to the work of the church. Worship and business sessions will be available on the mobile app via live streaming.
Western Jurisdiction Bishops Respond to Restructuring
On behalf of the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops, Phoenix Area Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño sent a memo relaying the bishops’ concerns and suggested changes for the proposed consolidation of general agencies. The Western Jurisdiction is not drafting any legislation. “Our hope has been to contribute to a much-needed conversation about mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church,” Carcaño said by email last week. “We have shared our proposals with the delegates of the Western Jurisdiction so that they are aware of our hopes and our concerns. We give our work over to the General Conference delegates trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide them to do that which God has envisioned for The United Methodist Church.” Read the Bishops’ letter.
Investment issue before GC 2012
A petition before the 2012 United Methodist General Conference would require the denomination to back its opposition to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories by dropping investments in selected companies whose products are used in the occupation. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.
Visitor Registration for General Conference
Visitors to the 2012 General Conference, The United Methodist Church’s top legislative assembly, may now pre-register online. General Conference will meet in Tampa, Fla. at the Tampa Convention Center April 24 through May 4, 2012.
Registration is $10 per person and may be paid online by credit card or in person at General Conference by cash. Visitor registration is not required to attend General Conference sessions. However, registered visitors will receive a name badge and program book by bringing their confirmation email to the visitor registration booth on the second floor of the Tampa Convention Center. To register, visit www.umcevents.org/visitorregistration.
AROUND THE GLOBE
Resource: Cleaning Buckets
 UMCOR is preparing for spring floods and tornadoes and needs cleaning buckets to get ready. Our inventory is low. Use this video to learn how to assemble a cleaning bucket today! They can be shipped to any of the depots in the UMCOR Relief-Supply Network . Your monetary donation to Material Resources Ministry, UMCOR Advance #901440 through your local church, will help UMCOR purchase these supplies.
Resource: Us Spring Storms Bulletin Insert
This year’s unusually mild winter and warm start to spring have fueled a series of dangerous storms across the United States. Use this new church bulletin insert to share UMCOR’s response to these and future storms.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITES
Register by April 15th to take advantage of the SCD 2012 Early Bird Rate
Be sure to register this week to take advantage of the Early Bird Rate for this year's School of Congregational Development 2012 which will be in St. Louis from Thursday, August 16 to Sunday, August 19th. The Early Bird Rate of $375 will be available until April 15th. On the 16th it will go up to $425.
This year’s focus on transformation promises to help leaders in conferences, new churches,
and existing churches respond to the overwhelming desire among United Methodists
to create vital congregations. Highlights include a Ministry Track on Creating a Missional Church with Reggie McNeal, and four tracks for existing churches that focus on Breaking Growth Barriers: Breaking the 80 Barrier, Breaking the 200 Barrier, Breaking the 400 Barrier, and Barrier breaking for New Churches.
In addition seminars will be offered on such topics as Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, Multi-Culture is the New Church Culture of Growth, and Transforming Urban African American Congregations for Growth.
Please go to www.scdumc.org for registration and a full listing of the program which includes 10 Seminars, 16 Ministry Tracks and 12 Workshops. If you would like a PDF brochure, be sure to go to www.scdnetwork.ning.com.
Making Facebook Timeline Work for Your Church
The social media site Facebook has changed its display format to a new “timeline” method. This has changed how churches need to think about using Facebook to reach out and interact with members and the community. United Methodist Communications had recently posted and article about what churches should consider in this new environment.
Webinars Offer Tips for Transitioning Pastors and Churches
A pair of webinars from the General Board of Discipleship are aimed at helping clergy and churches make the best of transitioning to a new church or new leader.
Making A “Good” Move (For Pastors) is April 24 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific/12:30 p.m. Mountain time. All pastors who are moving to a new congregation will be reminded of ways to say good-bye and say hello. Tips and advice from several sources for this change which impacts the well-being for clergy, their family and fiends.
Changing Pastors (For Congregational Leaders) will be May 3 at 4:30 p.m. Pacific/5:30 p.m. Mountain time. Nearly 1/3 of all United Methodist congregations change pastors each year, but it may have been a while since YOUR congregation changed pastors. This training for laity will offer tips and review the church members’ responsibilities in the change process.
Register and learn more about these, and other webinars at www.gbod.org/committee_resources.
Is it Hard For You to MAKE THE ASK?
Most of us find it easier to talk about our faith than about money. If you find it difficult to talk about giving, consider taking this online course: Turning Connectional Living into Connectional Giving. In this free online course, you’ll move at your own pace. The course is interactive, with discussion forums, quizzes and other activities. You’ll learn:
• How to be a missional storyteller— describing the differences the church makes in the world and how giving affects that difference.
• What the apportioned and designated funds are— and the difference between the two.
• How to “make the ask” in your congregation.
Want to know more? Check out the UMC Giving website for information about the class.
Weekend of Service Offered in Portland
Sierra Service Project (SSP) is pleased to announce that we are offering an exciting service opportunity to churches throughout the Pacific Northwest. Our Weekend of Service program was established in Portland, Oregon in early November 2011 as we hosted 20 volunteers for three days of meeting new friends, worshipping God, and serving the local community through challenging and rewarding service opportunities.
Due to the success of this project, SSP is offering a spring program with the opportunity to perform much needed repairs and renovations to community service organizations throughout Portland. While these Weekend of Service programs have proven to be an excellent way for established SSP churches to maintain their passion for service based ministry throughout the year, new churches (who often enjoy the chance to “sample” one of the programs without committing to the time and expense of one of our full week summer projects) are also welcome.
The upcoming Portland Weekend of Service Program will run from Friday evening, May 18th to Sunday afternoon, May 20th. This project is very affordable at only $75 per volunteer, which includes food, lodging, materials, and a t-shirt. To learn more information about this opportunity, please visit the Weekend of Service page on the SSP website, sierraserviceproject.org/weekend_of_service.html, or call (916)488-6441 and ask for Megan Taylor.
RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION
Why We Go Camping
USA Today wrote a nice piece on camps: "Why People Need Camp Today More Than Ever" from the American Camp Association. It highlights, among many other points, that:
- Camp creates future leaders.
- Camp promotes community.
- The camp experience embraces the natural environment.
- Camp teaches kids how to be active participants, ask questions, ask for help, and try new things.
- (Read the whole article here)
As a faith based program, we also infuse the above benefits with the power of the Holy Spirit– the power of prayer, love, and walking with God. Camp is "Awesome" in its truest sense. (Lisa Jean Hoefner, Camp & Retreat Ministry Executive Director)
IN REMEMBRANCE
Camilla Adams
August 16, 1940 – April 5, 2012
Camilla Adams, wife of pastor, Robert Adams, died April 5, 2012. She is survived by her husband Bob; two daughters, Diana & Joni; four stepdaughters, Rebecca, Heather, Melinda
and Katharine; one stepson, Douglass, and sixteen grandchildren.
Reverend Adams has been serving at Fort Klamath United Methodist Church in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, for the past 13 years. A memorial service will be held Tuesday April 10, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in Klamath Falls. Friends may contact Bob Adams, PO Box 405, Sprague River, OR 97630.
COMMENTARY
Come to the Banquet
By Rev. Francisco Cañas
…To continue perpetuating the old rule of inviting only the people we know, who look and behave like us, will not produce the vitality and diversity that, by nature, belongs to God's kingdom…
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