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September 6, 2012
Dear Reader,
Bishop Grant Hagiya has a new found understanding of the Oregon-Idaho Conference. On the way to the airport this afternoon he said, “There were so many wonderful places that I wish we could have taken the time to stop and see.” But he did have time to see over 60 churches, ministry sites and restaurants (for clergy gatherings).
The bishop was greeted warmly at churches throughout the conference and church members now know a bit more about him. Look for more details next week on the conference website. For now you can see pictures of many of his stops on the conference facebook page.
Greg Nelson – Director of Communications
This Week in The Annual Conference
Saturday, September 8
Oregon Trail UMW Annual Meeting
Monday, September 10
Metro Retired Clergy Luncheon
Tuesday, September 11
Crater Lake All District Colloquy
Wednesday, September 12
Retiree HRA Workshop – Twin Falls
Retiree HRA Workshop - Boise
Saturday, September 15
UMW Southern District Annual Meeting, Coos Bay OR
Sage District UMW Annual Meeting, Burley UMC
Details on these, and other conference events, can be found on the conference website.
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Crater Lake District Lay Speaking Classes
Crater Lake District will have the following Lay Speaking Classes this fall:
- An advanced class, “Grow Spiritually through Daily Discipline,” will be offered Saturdays October 20 and 27, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Cave Junction Immanuel UMC. Jo Spencer will be the leader. Registration deadline is September 25.
- A Basic Lay Speaking Class is scheduled for Saturdays, November 3 and 17, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Roseburg First UMC. Bill Lapp will be the leader. Registration deadline is October 10.
Classes are for all interested laity and cost $30 each. For more information and registration form, please contact Nadine Wiles, Crater Lake District Director of Lay Speaking at nwiles@pacinfo.com or 541-998-3547.
Order of Elders Registration Online
Information about the 2012 Order of Elders gathering and online registration are now available on the conference website. Get all the information you need, and register online for the event in one easy place. The Order of Elders will meet October 9-11 in Bend, Oregon.
AROUND THE GLOBE
Philippines ‘Still In Desperate Need’
 NEW YORK (UMNS) — “The Philippines is still in desperate need,” reminds Jay Rollins of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Typhoon Saola tore into the region in early August and combined with seasonal monsoon rains to force more than 270,000 people to flee their homes in the provincial areas around Manila. Emergency teams used rafts and makeshift boats to rescue people from the city's districts of poor and cramped housing. Read what UMCOR has been able to do and what still is needed.
Louisiana Outlines Ways to Help
BATON ROUGE, La. (UMNS) — Louisiana Annual (regional) Conference officials have expressed thanks for the prayers for those affected by Hurricane Isaac and ask that those prayers continue. They also provided a list of additional ways in which United Methodists can help:
Report: Older Clergy Bubble Grows
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — The Lewis Center for Church Leadership on Sept. 6 released its 2012 report on “Clergy Age Trends in The United Methodist Church.” The report, prepared with assistance from the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits, found that United Methodist elders ages 55 to 72 represent 53 percent of all active elders. The preponderance of older clergy is a trend across all mainline denominations, the report also found. The Lewis Center is part of United Methodist-related Wesley Theological Seminary.
Read the full report.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Idaho Interfaith Roundtable Against Hunger Gathering
IIRAH will be holding a gathering Tuesday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church.
"Solutions to Hunger: Policy Changes that Make Emergency Food Not the Norm" will be the topic for the evening. Panelists will include Karen Vauk CEO of Idaho Foodbank, Janet Monti of Emmett Hunger Free Community and Adrienne Evans, Director of United Vision of Idaho. Panel members will share their vision for this statement followed by a question/answer period. The audience will also divide into small groups with the panel members for more discussion. Anyone interested in ending hunger in Idaho is welcome. Shepherd of the Valley is located at 3100 S. Five Mile Road in Boise. Find more information at www.iirah.org.
RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION
Wallowa Lake Camp Sees Changes
 For a special Labor Day treat, Susan Delany in the camping office put together an update of the many construction projects that staff and volunteers have been laboring on at Wallowa Lake camp. There are too many great pictures to include in this space in the UM Connector, so you can check it out on the gocamping.org website. And if you want to get all the camping news, you can subscribe to the camping newsletter that comes out each week.
COMMENTARY
Holding the Church Hostage
By Dyton L. Owen
“Nowhere in the New Testament do we find any teaching or indication that the body of Christ is to center only on those who make up its membership. That is not to say members are not important; they are! But to focus only on members will eventually lead to death: members die, move away, and drop out. Then what? By that time, it may very well be too late to change course.”
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