October 11, 2012

Dear Reader,
Today’s UM Connector is a running a bit late (and short). I was honored to be invited to join the Order of Elders at their bi-annual meeting this week in Bend. The invitation came because meeting planners had invited Bishop Mel Talbert to join them as they explored his recent call for “Biblical Obedience” in dealing with the church’s relationship to gay, bi-sexual, lesbian and transgendered people. Watch for more about Bishop Talbert’s visit to the Oregon-Idaho Conference in future weeks. Next week’s UM Connector will come from Washington D.C. I’ll be attending the United Methodist Association of Communicators meeting. It should be a good session of learning, including a visit to the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill.

Are you looking for a good book that includes Harley-Davidson motorcycles and responding to God and prophecy? Check out the novel The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue. It’s available at a discount or a free preview this week from Bookshout.com.

Greg Nelson – Director of Communications

This Week in The Annual Conference

Saturday, October 13
CLD Training – Portland
CLD Training – Salem
CLD Training – Burley

Monday, October 15
Crater Lake District Committee on Ordained Ministry

Wednesday, October 17
Columbia Colloquy, Mt. Hood area
Columbia District Church Extension Society

Saturday, October 20
Congregational Leadership Development – Florence
Crater Lake District Advanced Lay Speaking Class
UM Volunteers-In-Mission Training at Forest Grove

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

ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEWS

Clergy Gather at Collins in November
The Order of Deacons is hosting a 24-hour retreat at the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center, November 2-3, 2012. In addition to providing a time for renewal and fellowship for members of the Order, the retreat is also designed to be welcoming for anyone who is in the process of discerning a call into ordained ministry of any kind. The retreat begins with informal gathering and relaxation during Friday afternoon; dinner at 6:00 pm signals the official start of the program. The event ends with closing worship following lunch on Saturday. The online registration form should be completed by Oct. 12. For questions, contact Jeff Lowery at revjlow@yahoo.com, the co-chair of the Order of Deacons, at (541) 935-1614.

New on the Website:

Employment
Young Adult and Youth Minister, Meridian, Idaho
Administrative Assistant, Newberg, Oregon

Stewardship
The latest in Cesie Delve Schuermann’s series Inspiring Generosity is titled, Schleppy No More.

AROUND THE CONFERENCE

October 25 is Last "Great Hymns" of the Year
The final session of 2012 for the popular "Great Hymns of the Faith" series will take place on Thursday, October 25, at the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center. The program begins at 10:30 am in the beautiful Grace Collins Goudy Chapel, and includes a wonderful morning of singing, songs, and scintillating discussion about what makes a "great hymn"! The event is capped off with a delicious luncheon served in the Center's dining room, overlooking the meadow and trees in their autumn finery. Guests are invited to stay into the afternoon as they choose, to tour the facilities, relax in the library, or stroll through the forest on one of the many walking trails. The cost is $17.50, including lunch; advance registration is required and available.

And for those who just can't get enough of the Great Hymns programs, be sure to register for the special Christmas edition!

AROUND THE GLOBE

10-Fold.org Continues with Second Week
Young United Methodists are changing the world and you can help them! Visit www.10-Fold.org to trigger a US $1 donation to young people in mission, made by our sponsors. Plus, see videos and download worship resources. Learn More.

Fire Destroys Tennessee Church Building
MORRISON, Tenn. (UMNS) — Ivy Bluff United Methodist Church in the Tennessee Annual (regional) Conference burned to the ground the night of Oct. 7. “Please join them in prayer for healing and vision for the future,” writes the Rev. LeNoir Culbertson, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) district superintendent.

1 in 5 U.S. Adults Have No Religious Ties
WASHINGTON (UMNS) — A report by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows a rise in the number of U.S. adults who claim no religious affiliation. In the last five years, the number of “unaffiliated” has risen from 15 percent of the population to 20 percent. Pew says the rise is mainly because of a generational shift, with 32 percent of adults younger than 30 saying they’re religiously unaffiliated, compared with only 9 percent of those aged 65 and older. Conversely, for the first time, the number of respondents who identify as Protestant has dipped below 50 percent, continuing a decline in the Protestant population. The number of Catholic survey respondents remained a steady 22 percent. Click to view or download the full report and see a related commentary below.

RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

5 Sections to Include On Your Church Website Your church’s website is more than a resource for members. It’s also a fun place to show potential visitors how God is at work in your church. Learn the essentials for an engaging website. Learn more on the United Methodist Communications website.

RETREAT and CAMPING CONNECTION

Sawtooth Autumn
Sawtooth United Methodist Camp finished up the 2012 season with a retreat of the membership confirmation class from Whitney UMC in Boise. The pastor and sponsors spent two days with the confirmands at Sawtooth as part of their confirmation class.
The weather turned chilly at night with the low Saturday morning of 16 (yes, that’s sixteen degrees! Brrrr) , but the kids had a great experience and a lot of fun too. They also did a night zip-line experience in the dark one night, in between class activities.
If you want more details about how a confirmation retreat can support your church, email Lesli McGowan or pastor Christina Thompson. (Dave Hargreaves, Sawtooth Camp Director)

IN REMEMBRANCE

Judith Crandall
February 3, 1939 – October 9, 2012

Judy Crandall, wife of retired pastor Ronald Crandall, died October 9, 2012. She is survived by her husband, Ron; daughter, Dianna Wuagneux; son, Scott Maskell; step-daughters; Elizabeth Gaubo and Deborah Walsh; eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Reverend and Mrs. Crandall served Nehalem Bay United Methodist in the Oregon-Idaho Conference, before retiring in 2002.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 20, 2012, at 4:00 p.m., at Seaside United Methodist Church, 241 N. Holladay Drive, Seaside, OR 97138, (503) 738-7562.

Friends may contact Ron Crandall at 748 3rd Ave., Seaside, OR 97138

Grant Hagiya, Bishop
William Mullette-Bauer, Director of Stewardship and Finance
CCEF

COMMENTARY

‘Nones’ Rising: What Does It Mean For Us?
By Taylor Burton-Edwards

…In other words, these aren't folks we "haven't reached yet." They are, by and large, folks we actually raised and who now don't care to have anything to do with us or any other religion…