Church guide

The United Methodist Church’s top court is poised to review actions taken in February during a contentious legislative session that still threatens to divide the denomination. The Judicial Council meets April 23-26 in Evanston, Illinois. No oral hearings are scheduled, and the court’s rulings will be posted on its website at some point after the session concludes.

ASSIGNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS Columbia District Superintendent Rev. Erin Martin has announced her intention to assign Forrest Nameniuk and Nicholle Ortiz as pastors to Tabor Heights United Methodist Church beginning July 1, 2019. This assignment is in partnership with the Innovation and Vitality Team of the Greater Northwest Area of the United Methodist Church and will focus on redevelopment and renewal in the congregation. Nameniuk and Ortiz are recent graduates of Warner Pacific University and are exploring candidacy within the United Methodist Church. It was previously announced that Rev. John Go, who currently serves the Tabor Heights community, will be appointed to Mercer Island UMC in the Pacific Northwest Conference.

An Easter message from Bishop Elaine Stanovsky!

Church is more than a building, writes Cesie Delve-Scheuermann in this week’s Inspiring Generosity: “People started getting the idea that Jesus’s ekklesia was a building with a steeple on top, instead of a gathering of people called out. That’s when things started going south, because once ekklesia became church, people began making three lethal assumptions: ...”

“I believe the Modified Traditional Plan is the best way forward because it is true to the words of Jesus and to the overall witness of the scriptures as related to issues of human sexuality,” added the pastor of Chapin United Methodist Church in South Carolina. “Having said that, I also grieve because this outcome has caused no small amount of pain for those who wrestle with same sex attraction. For anyone to feel that there is no place in this denomination for them is heartbreaking,” Flowers said.

HOT off the presses! Your weekly UM Connector!

Millions have already been pledged to repair Notre Dame. Rural black churches in the United States may not get as much notice.

After 11 years with the Oregon-Idaho Conference (on top of 25 years working in the public sector), Communications Director Greg Nelson has announced his retirement in July.

Congratulations to Lesli McGowan on this new step in ministry! Cudos to Whitney United Methodist Church for nurturing in her journey.

Columbia District Superintendent Rev. Erin Martin has announced that Sunia Gibbs will be assigned to explore a new start ministry located at the Sunnyside facility in Southeast Portland. Currently Sunia is an artist, worship leader and co-pastor for the Groves Church.

Columbia District Superintendent Rev. Erin Martin has announced her intention to assign Andru and Regina Morgan as pastors to Parkrose United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon, beginning on July 1, 2019. Assignment of the Morgans is in partnership with the Innovation Vitality Team of the Greater Northwest Area. Andru and Regina will collaborate with the church and the Innovation Vitality Team for redevelopment and renewal of the congregation. The couple will share a full-time ministry assignment as lay persons.

What's the ticket to transforming from a 'welcoming' congregation to one that affirms LGBTQ+ individuals? Publicity, according to Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell! Read on for more tips!

"During this Crossover Year, we are reading Brian McLaren’s book, We Make the Road by Walking. When I heard that title, one of my first thoughts was “no we don’t—one makes a road by doing a topographic survey where they want to build the road, drafting design plans, producing a cost estimate, putting it out to bid, hiring a contractor, and then finally building the road according to plan. That’s how you make a road." ... says Rev. Dan Wilson-Fey (who used to work for consulting engineers) in this week's CrossOver to Life blog! https://greaternw.org/engineers-make-roads-too/

“But our times so resemble Jesus' own times...which were filled with political power plays, social inequality, religious turmoil, and spiritual longing.....that not to focus on Jesus would be foolish on our part, especially as people who call ourselves Christians and who seek to follow his Way of living.” Read more of Rev Lowell Greathouse's latest blog!

The two groups responsible for putting together the general church budget approved a plan for how to divide significantly reduced funds. The groups’ votes April 4 culminated nearly a week of discussions — which were tense at times — about how to slice a much smaller financial pie, while leaving ministries with more than just crusts. The Connectional Table and the General Council on Finance and Administration board each agreed to the Connectional Table’s recommended allocations for most of the 2021-2024 general church budget.

Hanwa Mission School, a project of the Community United Methodist Church of Crofton, Maryland, is now officially a United Methodist school. In March, the Murewa Rural District Council transferred the primary and secondary school to the Zimbabwe United Methodist Church for further expansion to benefit the local community.

The conference is intentionally designed to “engage, encourage, and empower innovative, missional practitioners as they go about practicing the way of Jesus in place.”

The WJ College of Bishops offers this statement to a church finding itself harmed once again by a General Conference incapable of making space for ALL of God's children. Together they declare that they are staying in the #UMC, remain committed to the full inclusion of LGBTQI siblings today, and will not ask them "to carry the cross of exclusion for the church any longer." #OneChurch4All Learn More: http://westernjurisdictionumc.org/ahomeforall/

Cedrick Bridgeforth, clergy, California-Pacific Conference, argued that A Simple Plan may not go far enough to address issues of inclusion. He told the assembly that while the Church is silent, he lives with fear.

JJ Warren offered this impassioned plea for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA persons within The United Methodist Church. After a day filled with close votes, the room erupted in response to this moment of light.

PNW lay delegate Marie Kuch-Stanovsky explains how the One Church Plan may get before delegates tomorrow as a minority report attached to the Traditional Plan, offering #UMCGC another chance to do the right thing. 50-60 signatures from delegates in the USA, Europe, the Philippines, and Africa are among the signatories. #OneChurch4All

Rev. @Donna Pritchard offers this short response from the floor of General Conference on the vote today to prioritize the Traditional Plan by delegates today at #UMCGC. The One Church Plan, supported the majority of Commission members, and the Council of Bishops, was the second ranked of the four major plans before delegates at General Conference. Pritchard is an Oregon-Idaho clergy delegate and was a Commission on a Way Forward member.

United Methodists from the Western Jurisdiction share some of what they have been doing and praying for on this first day of #UMCGC.

The Western Jurisdiction's College of Bishops offers a video reflection on Epiphany and the baptism of Christ which speaks to the Church's calling to illuminate God's revelation in Jesus and to live into family as God defines it. As The United Methodist Church approaches a special called session of its General Conference in February, the bishops also remind us of God's faithfulness and of the Church's enduring work. They reflect on the family that God has created and the sacred worth of each person. Looking ahead to the February General Conference, Bishop Minerva Carcaño shares that she has, "no doubt that we will have a God sent epiphany at the General Conference – that God will be with us, because God is ever faithful."

This Sunday United Methodist Churches around the connection will celebrate United Methodist Student Day. It's a chance to recongnize the achievement of students and to financially support christian learning.

Across the northwest, rooms filled with ordinary people are putting their trust again in an extraordinary God! This video provides a snapshot of the 'Love Thy Neighbor' Ordinary Revivals as they crossed the Greater Northwest last summer, seeking to inspire new connections between faithful people and the communities they live in. These revivals remind us that God is indeed at work outside the church and that there is strength in diverse communities that keep their hearts open to cries for justice. Keep your eyes open for information on revivals coming to Boise (ID), Anchorage (AK) and Tri-Cities (WA) in the spring. Learn more: http://ordinaryrevival.org

Across the northwest, rooms filled with ordinary people are putting their trust again in an extraordinary God! This video provides a snapshot of the 'Love Thy Neighbor' Ordinary Revivals as they crossed the Greater Northwest last summer, seeking to inspire new connections between faithful people and the communities they live in. These revivals remind us that God is indeed at work outside the church and that there is strength in diverse communities that keep their hearts open to cries for justice. Keep your eyes open for information on revivals coming to Boise (ID), Anchorage (AK) and Tri-Cities (WA) in the spring. Learn more: http://ordinaryrevival.org