June 7, 2012

Dear Reader,
Okay, it’s just about here. One week from now Annual Conference will be underway, and many of you will be there. But if you can’t make it, I hope to provide daily updates, and you can count on your friends on Facebook to keep you informed. Be sure to stay connected to the Oregon-Idaho Facebook page for up to the minutes updates.Okay, maybe they will be up to the hour updates.

And if you really want to keep an eye on things, you can watch many parts of Annual Conference online. Next week you can check the conference website for the link to watch plenary sessions and two of the worship services. Live streaming will begin with the first Living the Connection session next Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Worship on Friday and Sunday will be available, and as a special bonus, the Mark Miller training event on Saturday will be online. But it won’t be the same as being there in person. Check the conference schedule for more times.

See you in Salem!

Greg Nelson – Director of Communications

This Week in The Annual Conference

Thursday, June 7
Cabinet Meeting
UMW Regional School of Christian Mission

Tuesday, June 12
Board of Ordained Ministry

Wednesday, June 13
Board of Ordained Ministry

Thursday, June 14
2012 Oregon Idaho Annual Conference
Memorial Worship

Friday, June 15
2012 Oregon Idaho Annual Conference

Saturday, June 16
2012 Oregon Idaho Annual Conference
People Reaching People Training

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

ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS

AC Online Registration Closed
Online registration for the Annual Conference Session is now closed. You can register in person at the Salem Conference Center Wednesday, June 13 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. or Thursday morning. Credit card payment is not available on site, so be prepared to pay for any meals (limited availability), training registration, or late fees with cash or check.

AC Worship Services Promise Special Opportunity
This year’s worship experiences at Annual Conference promise to be especially enriching with the musical leadership of Mark Miller. Worship services are a wonderful time for members of the church community to join the Annual Conference members for a special time. Although a sense of worship is part of all of the conference there are four special times of worship.

Memorial Service: Thursday, June 14th 7:30 p.m. at Salem’s First UMC.

Celebrating Vital Congregations: Friday, June 15th 7:30 p.m. at Salem Conference Center
Worshipers are invited to sit by districts and near the people from your local church or ministry setting. Seating will be set up in sections and will be clearly marked according to our current district names.

Ordination-Commissioning Service: Saturday, June 16th 7:30 p.m. at Salem’s First UMC.
The Bishop invites all deaconesses, elders, deacons, lay assigned, local pastors, and provisional members to process and sit together and to come attired in robes and wearing red stoles appropriate to their office as a sign of your commitment to ordained, commissioned, or assigned ministry in The United Methodist Church.

Call of the Future: Sunday, June 17th 9:00 a.m. at Salem Conference Center. Closing worship will be a look forward for the Annual Conference with messages from Lay Leader Cesie Delve Scheuermann and Bishop Robert Hoshibata.

Worship Workshop at Annual Conference – Not to be Missed
On Saturday, June 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Mark Miller will speak about how music moves us from the spiritual depths of worship into action in the world. Miller is convinced that music helps us achieve John Wesley’s call to balance both personal and social holiness. And you can stay for the worship service that follows from 2:15 – 3:45 and see what you’ve learned come alive!

Register at www.umoi.org/ACSession. Cost is $25 for the workshop; lunch is on your own. (There are many places to eat within a block or two of the Salem Conference Center, which is at 200 Commercial Street in downtown Salem.)

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

• The Rev. Terry Graunke to Gold Hill United Methodist Church in Gold Hill, Oregon. Graunke is an ordained Evangelical Lutheran Church of America pastor and currently is serving First Presbyterian Church in Central Point as a half-time interim. He will continue at First Presbyterian while serving Gold Hill. Rev. Melissa Haugen has been serving in Gold Hill for six months and will be returning to family leave.
• The Rev. Chuck Currie to Sunnyside Centenary and University Park United Methodist Churches, in Portland, Oregon. Currie is an ordained United Church of Christ pastor with a strong commitment to working for social justice issues, fighting homelessness, and interfaith dialogue. Rev. Jeanne Knepper, the current pastor at University Park will be retiring.

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

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Portland Hosts Jurisdictional United Methodist Women
Portland’s Marriot hotel hosted the 2012 quadrennial United Methodist Women’s meeting June 1-3. Delegates gathered to recognize accomplishments, learn in workshops, and elected delegates and officers for the 2013-2016 quadrennium. Read more on the conference website.

AROUND THE GLOBE

Denominations Unite to Fight Malaria
The relief and development agencies of two mainline Protestant denominations are forming a new strategic partnership to prevent and control malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Together, Episcopal Relief & Development and UMCOR will reach 21 countries where malaria is endemic. Read more on the UMCOR website.

Conferences Voice Support for Gays
DES MOINES, Iowa (UMNS) — Promises of support for gays, lesbians, transgender and bisexual people are coming from bishops, pastors and laity, despite the recent decision by the denomination’s top body to continue to call homosexuality “incompatible with Christian teaching.” The statements of support are coming through regional conferences held annually within The United Methodist Church. Among them: the Iowa Annual Conference at which hundreds of people signed documents expressing compassion for gays. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Abortion Social Principle Modified: General Conference Rewrites Statement in Book of Discipline
United Methodism's highest legislative body reaffirms reluctance to approve abortion while recognizing ‘tragic conflicts of life with life’ that may make it necessary. Read more and download the updated social principles statement from the General Board of Church and Society website.

CBS Profiles Interfaith AIDS Response
TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS) — A CBS television special to be aired June 17 will include an interview with a United Methodist elder who believes faith communities can lead the way in ending discrimination associated with AIDS. June is national AIDS Education Month, and June 27 has been set aside as national HIV Testing Day. Read more of this United Methodist News Service story.

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITES

New Instructional Videos For UMCOR Kits
New instructional videos show just how easy it is to assemble health, school, layette, and birthing kits as well as cleaning buckets. Watch them now!

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Snow Couldn't Stop the Work Weekend
Sawtooth Camp's Memorial Day Work Weekend was delayed a bit, but not canceled even though the snow was still falling there! This hearty group of workers washed windows and did repairs anyway. What a testament to their love of the camp and their love of fellowship with each other....you just can't keep good folks down!

Plan Now
Come to Labor Day Family Camp, August 31st to September 3rd, at Camp Magruder on the coast north of Tillamook. The deans are organizing some outstanding activities for all ages, from the cradle to 105, including a train ride, boating, swimming, fishing, wave jumping, the Follies (a talent show), a study group, religious services, evening campfires and singing--or campers can just choose to relax. The camp is designed for the very active and the not-so-active. For more information and/or to register, go to the Labor Day Family Camp description on gocamping.org .

If your church congregation would like more explanation of the benefits of this Labor Day Family Camp, one of the co-deans (listed below) would be glad to come answer your questions. Contact Ray Hilts (dean from Albany) at 541-928-0951 or MaryAnn Sward (dean from Corvallis) at 541-760-1307.

IN REMEMBRANCE

Haines Memorial Service to be Held
The Rev. Henry Haines died September 17, 2011, and his family invites you to a memorial service Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Lake Oswego United Methodist Church. Cards of condolence to the family may be sent to son Bruce Haines at 1301 Risden Place, Eugene, OR 97404.

COMMENTARY

Celebrate the Signposts
By Lowell Greathouse, Assistant to the Bishop for the Metro District

…after all what could reconfiguring districts really accomplish? But on another level it reflects that we, as an annual conference, continue to be in a process of active change…