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Submitted by Debbie Mallis Each year at the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Session, in among the budgets, appointments, reports, and celebrations are conference legislation items. Many of these actions and standing resolutions are intended to live out the values of The United Methodist Church as it exists in the Oregon-Idaho context. This article is one in a series to highlight legislative items related to social justice and values.   Last year, members of our Annual Conference voted to pass ...

In 2022, the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference passed a resolution "Identifying and Opposing Apartheid in the Holy Land."  On March 15, 2023, at 9 am Pacific Time, Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) and United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) will put on a webinar on "Apartheid Free Communities"   The international human rights community agrees that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people amounts to apartheid. In the first two months of 2023, we have seen the current Israeli ...

Oregon-Idaho Methodist Federation for Social Action invites justice-seekers to its spring event, “Why Justice Matters – A conversation with Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth.” The zoom event will provide a time to hear from Bishop Bridgeforth on justice issues and explore justice in a Wesleyan context. The two-hour online event will be via Zoom meeting on April 22 at 3:00 PDT/4:00 MDT. As the church, the country, and the world face new challenges of racial, economic, and gender injustice, how can the...

This time of year, Keren Rodriguez is likely to show up for all sorts of appointments with Christmas trees in the back of her car. She’s not trying to carry off that authentic Christmas-tree-smelling air freshener, she’s simply busy helping her congregation at Aloha United Methodist Church provide Christmas cheer to families in need. “I really value the way our faith community shows up,” Rodriguez said. This is Aloha UMC’s second year of giving away Christmas trees thanks to a congregant who ...

Submitted by Greg Nelson with the Oregon-Idaho chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action Each year at the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Session, among the budgets, appointments, reports, and celebrations are conference legislative items. Many of these actions and standing resolutions are intended to help us live out the values of The United Methodist Church as it exists in the Oregon-Idaho context. This article is one in a series to highlight legislative items related to social ...

United Women in Faith, formerly United Methodist Women, of the Oregon-Idaho Conference will host its annual celebration and all-member leadership training Oct. 21 – Oct. 22 at Boise First UMC and will feature United Women in Faith’s global president,  ‘Ainise ‘Isama’u, as a special guest speaker. Individuals can attend in person or over Zoom, if needed. The registration form covers both options. There will be times of worship, celebration, learning, meals and more.  “If you are participating ...

by Emilie Kroen and Rev. Karen Nelson Perhaps you are among the lucky in the United States and you have a good health insurance plan. Many people in the United States have inadequate health insurance or none at all. What happens when someone without health insurance gets sick? You know the story – you may be the story. Life doesn’t have to be that way in this country. It is possible to have Health Care for All – and our faith calls us to advocate for the right to health care for all people. It ...

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have called Israel an “Apartheid State” for its numerous human rights violations against Palestinians.  Now the Oregon-Idaho Conference has joined them by passing a resolution at its most recent Annual Conference affirming that “apartheid is antithetical to the Gospel message.”  The resolution, which was submitted by the OR-ID Holy Land Task Force and Methodist Federation for Social Action, and passed by a 145-48 vote,  calls on ...

The Oregon-Idaho Conference is continuing its commitment to dismantle racism and create beloved community through a new fund designated for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) serving its churches as well as BIPOC ministry settings. The Board of Pensions has approved setting aside portions of the investment earnings from its pension reserve fund and health insurance reserve fund to create the BIPOC Benefit Support Fund, which certain churches and ministries can apply for to cover the ...

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.” – Matthew 5: 14-16 Join us this Advent season as we journey to the manger by celebrating the laity in the Oregon-Idaho Conference who light up this world! Each day of Advent, beginning this ...