July 12, 2012

Dear Reader,
In a staff meeting today we were commenting on the fact the different people have different gifts. This particular conversation focused on balance sheets and big pictures.

Some of you know by now that I’m not the best speller (but getting better!) and I throw in an extra capital letter every now and Then. So after getting the date wrong on last week’s UM Connector, and changing the name to “M Connector” I feel like it’s a good time to thank those who help me, and bring their gifts to the UM Connector.

Foremost in that group is my wife Karen who proofs the UM Connector every week that she has time or her schedule allows. My great joy is when she can’t find anything to correct. But I also want to thank the District offices and others in leadership and local churches that send in items for the UM Connector and website.

And I especially should thank you the readers that comment on items, and ignore my misteaks.

Watch for special emails next week as each day of Jurisdictional Conference brings new news!

Greg Nelson – Director of Communications

This Week in The Annual Conference

July 12 - 15
UMW Oregon School of Christian Mission, George Fox University, Newberg OR

July 18-20
Western Jurisdiction Conference, San Diego CA

Friday, July 20
North East Oregon (NEO) Colloquy

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

ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS

New Videos from Annual Conference Posted
New videos from the 44th Annual Conference Session have been posted on the conference website. You can find links to all the videos, the appointment list, pictures, a PowerPoint presentation and other resources on the conference website.

2012 Conference Journal Available in Early September
The 2012 Oregon-Idaho Conference Journal is scheduled to be published in early September. All churches and other ministry settings will receive two complete editions of the two-volume book. Lay and clergy members of the annual conference will be mailed a print version of Volume 1 (contains directories, agency and staff listings, appointments, and conference policies). Volume 2 will be available for download on the conference website at www.umoi.org/Journal. (The 2011 Journal is available there now). All of this will happen automatically; no need to order anything.

If you are a conference member and would like a print version of Volume 2, please email the Conference Secretary, Rev. Laura Jaquith Bartlett with your request, and put "Journal Volume 2" in the subject line of the message. Anyone may purchase a copy of Volume 1 ($5) or the complete set ($25); contact the Conference Secretary.

Jurisdictional Conference Meets Next Week
The Western Jurisdictional Conference will begin next Wednesday, July 18 in San Diego, California. The Oregon-Idaho delegation that represented the conference at General Conference will once again be in action. Be sure to watch Facebook, the umoi.org website, follow twitter (search for hashtag #wjumc) and look for email updates to stay up to date with the conference happenings.

Jurisdictional Conference will be looking at the future of the conference, establishing the new episcopal area, nominating and electing leaders to general and jurisdictional agencies, and ratifying the assignment of bishops to the episcopal areas. The report from the jurisdictional committee on episcopacy, which will include the recommendation of assignments, is scheduled for Friday, July 20 in the 10:00 a.m. hour.

At most Jurisdictional Conferences the major agenda is to elect new bishops. Because the General Conference has reduced the number of bishops serving each jurisdiction, the Western Jurisdiction does not have a vacancy to fill. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of the Los Angeles area will be retiring August 30, 2012.

You can learn more on the jurisdictional website.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

Community Outreach Program Coordinator and Youth Ministries Program Coordinator Openings – Salem, Oregon
Morningside United Methodist Church is recruiting for two part time positions including a Community Outreach Program Coordinator and a Youth Ministries Program Coordinator. Each position is targeted for up to 10 hours a week. The positions will work closely with other church positions including the Christian Education Program Coordinator in order to provide cohesive support for children and families in our church and community.

If you are interested in either (or both) of these positions, or know of someone who might be interested please refer to Craigslist.org for Salem, under jobs in the nonprofit sector (posted Wed. Jul 11). The listing has Morningside in the title. The positions will be open until filled with an initial screening taking place on July 25th.

Portland State University Campus Ministry Making Changes
Portland Christian Campus Ministry (PCCM) is announcing a change in its ministry to the students and faculty at Portland State University in downtown Portland, Oregon. PCCM will be actively engaged in a process of visioning and redeveloping the ministry during the coming academic year.

During this process the Spiritual Life Center on the corner of Broadway and Montgomery streets will be closed, but the ministry will have a continuing presence at Portland State University through the Episcopalian Campus Ministry (ECM). Popular programs and relevant ministries such as the labyrinth, weekly worship, and prayer groups will continue to meet as regularly scheduled during the year, and the ECM chaplain will also be available for spiritual counseling and pastoral direction.

For more information contact PCCM Board President Audre Bratcher at pccm@pdx.edu; or Oregon-Idaho Conference Campus Ministry Coordinator, Joanne Tilton Rannells at revrans@aol.com.

Retirement Celebration
Members of Tualatin United Methodist Church are offering an open invitation to a retirement celebration for Rev. Dr. Penny Christianson & Mike Meriwether. The event will be a potluck gathering at the home of Rochelle Martinazzi on Monday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m. The Martinazzi home is at 10050 SW Hazelbrook, in Tualatin. Guests are asked to bring a main dish, salad or vegetable to share. Tualatin United Methodist Women will be providing cake and ice cream for dessert. Beverages will be provided. For more information or directions, email Karen Walker at karenrw@comcast.net or call Rochelle Martinazzi at 503-692-3243.

AROUND THE GLOBE

UMCOR Responds to Wildfire Needs
NEW YORK (UMNS) — The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has issued $10,000 in emergency grants to three annual conferences hardest hit by the “profound disaster” of this summer’s horrific wildfires. “After a fire, people have a very small chance of finding anything that is not destroyed,” says UMCOR consultant Gordon Knuckey. He and other experts say cash donations are best, because they enable responders and survivors to purchase locally as needs change. UMCOR has set up a special Disaster Response relief account (Advance #901670) to aid in recovery efforts. Learn more on the UMCOR website.

Senate Endorses Fight Against Malaria
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The U.S. Senate approved a resolution July 11 supporting World Malaria Day and efforts to end malaria deaths by 2015. The resolution also commended “the recent progress made toward reducing global malaria deaths and prevalence.” The United Methodist Church’s Imagine No Malaria campaign has distributed almost a million bed nets to ward against malaria-carrying mosquitoes and has raised more than $20 million to fight the disease. Read more about it.

Two Die In Ukraine Roof Collapse
L’VIV, Ukraine (UMNS) — A United Methodist volunteer from Texas and a Ukrainian student were killed after a building’s roof collapsed on July 10. A mission team from First United Methodist Church in Sugar Land, Texas, and Lakewood United Methodist Church in Houston were repairing a church-related facility when the accident occurred. David Nevotti, a member of the Sugar Land church, and Illya Onoprienko, a member of the student ministry at the University of L’viv, were killed. The Rev. David Goran, a United Methodist missionary, was seriously injured. Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

TechShop and HP Launch New Website for United Methodists
United Methodists now can buy discounted computer hardware and peripherals, thanks to a new affiliate website launched by Hewlett-Packard Co. and TechShop, a ministry of United Methodist Communications. The service, available to United Methodist Church members as well as church organizations, features the entire line of HP computers, laptops, tablets, printers and other equipment at prices 8 to 10% below retail.

You can reach the website at www.hp.com/go/umc. The HP website does not require a registration process to qualify to purchase at TechShop prices.

Regional Media Center Has New Study on Isalm
This is a series of half-hour documentaries on Islam produced by Discover Islam and provided to faith-based resource centers for free. Did you know that nearly 1.5 billion people worldwide are followers of Islam? How much do you know about the beliefs, practices and values of Islam? What do you think of when you hear the word "Muslim"? A study guide for this resource has been prepared by the ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations group. You can view the study guide online or request to borrow the item by contacting the regional media center at www.regionalmediacenter.org.

Note: if your church's membership in the Regional Media Center has lapsed, they are offering a July special to let you rejoin with only 50% of the annual fee.