July 19, 2012

Dear Reader,
Welcome to Thursday at Jurisdictional Conference!

Of the five jurisdictions in the United States, only three need to elect new bishops for this quadrennium. The Western Jurisdiction is one that does not need to hold an election. By action of the 2008 General Conference, the jurisdiction will reduce the number of bishops serving from six to five.

Bishop Mary Ann Swenson will retire at the end of July, and the five remaining bishops will be reassigned to cover the supervision of the jurisdiction.

Last night (Wednesday) the conference began with the memorial service. Former bishops of the Western Jurisdiction, Melvin Wheatley, William Dew, Edward Paup, and Leontine Kelly were remembered.

Today, because the conference does not need to hold elections for bishop, the conference has the opportunity to take time to look at the process of appreciative inquiry, explore the issues of immigration, and discuss how to embark on a journey of healing relationships with indigenous peoples.

It is a blessing that the communicators from our conferences are working together to tell the story of jurisdictional conference. Below you’ll find links to stories from around our connection.

Greg Nelson – Director of Communications

JURISDICTIONAL CONFERENCE NEWS

Decisions on Episcopal Leadership of Particular Interest at #WJUMC
The Western Jurisdiction, an area that includes 11 western states, Guam, and Saipan, gathers next week in San Diego, California from July 18-21, for its jurisdictional conference. The United Methodist constitution established five jurisdictions in the United States and its territories and determines the boundaries of them. Each jurisdiction is responsible for determining the boundaries of the annual conferences within and for electing the bishops that serve there. Read the rest of this PNW Conference story.

See Images of Jurisdictional Conference
To see some images of the events from the first day of Jurisdictional Conference, go to the Jurisdictional facebook page at: www.facebook.com/wjumc/photos.

Get the Latest Information
To get the latest information about Jurisdictional Conference, here are some links to be aware of:
Full details about elections and other events: elections.umc.org
The News about the Western Jurisdiction:
westernjurisdictionumc.org/news/2012-western-jurisdictional-conference-news/

AROUND THE GLOBE

Committee Votes to Retire Bledsoe as Bishop
OKLAHOMA CITY (UMNS) — By a vote of 24 to 4 with two abstentions, the South Central Jurisdiction’s episcopacy committee decided by more than the necessary two-thirds margin to compel Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe into early retirement.

Don House (left), chair of the South Central Jurisdiction’s episcopacy committee, talks with Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe during a break in the hearing before the committee voted to place Bledsoe in involuntary retirement. UMNS photos by Heather Hahn.

“It was very, very hard — a lot of tears, a lot of prayer,” said Don House, the committee chair and a lay church member of the Texas Annual (regional) Conference. “We considered extensive material (with) considerable participation by every member of the committee. … I would say our concern for the church as a whole was paramount.” Read the rest of this United Methodist News Service story.

Southeast Jurisdiction Confirms Committee Recommendation
The Southeast Jurisdictional Conference has confirmed the recommendation of the committee to involuntarily retiree Bishop W. Earl Bledsoe. It has not been announced if the bishop will appeal the decision to the church’s Judicial Council. He has said he will be in prayer about that decision.

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

Organist/Pianist Needed in Caldwell
Caldwell United Methodist Church is in search of an organist/pianist for Sunday morning worship services and Wednesday evening choir rehearsals. The position begins September 1 or as soon as filled. The salary will be commensurate with experience. Please send cover letter, resume’, and two letters of recommendation to Caldwell UMC at 824 E. Logan St., Caldwell, ID 83605. Or you can send the information via email to caldwellumc@hotmail.com. For more information, you can call the church at 208-459-7435.

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

A Quick Survey to Help Camping
If you or your child has been to camp already in 2012, let us know what you think by taking this easy survey of your or your child's camp & retreat experience. Your feedback helps Camp & Retreat Ministries plan for future events.