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May 2007
News from and for Pacific Northwest
United Methodists in Ministry Together
Annual Conference News
Legislative Officer's Committee Training will take place on Tuesday, June 12 from 1:30 - 5:00 pm in the Board Room Lounge.
CALLING for missions at annual conference. Collect from your congregation all the old cell phones not in use and bring them to annual conference. There will be a collection station in the registration area. These phones are exchanged for cash to be used in our western jurisdiction mission. Thank you.
What to bring to Annual Conference
1. Quilts for hanging (UMW sponsored)2. Cell phones for donation to missionaries 3. Church collection to the Hope for the Children of Africa (to be brought forward during Tuesday evening worship) 4. Three offerings scheduled: Nothing But Nets (Tuesday evening Memorial Service) Katrina Church Recovery Appeal (Thursday afternoon Retirees Worship Service) Bishop's Missional Response Fund (Friday evening Ordination Service)
Laity Transition Workshops
MEMO TO: Chairperson of Staff/Pastor Parish Relations CommitteeLay Leader Chairperson of Church Council Other Key Leaders Again this year, the Conference is offering Transition Workshops for laity in churches that will be experiencing a pastoral change this year. The intent of the workshop is to help make the transition a positive experience for the churches and the pastors involved. In the workshop, you can expect to: Explore the normal feelings and reactions during the time of a pastoral change; Become familiar with a transition model that helps you be aware of the natural stages of transition; Learn how to have a good sending, including techniques for an exit interview, and ways of saying a good goodbye; Become aware of what life will be like in an interim period; Learn ways of saying a good hello; Consider ways to assess the leadership needs of your congregation and the shifting leadership styles of departing and arriving pastors. Our experience has been that it is good to involve as many members of the S/PPR Committee as possible in the workshop. We would suggest that you also invite other key elected leadership to join with you, as well as program staff your church may have. The workshops will be led by Gail Grossman, a layperson trained in the dynamics of pastoral transitions. She has led transition workshops for the Conference for several years, with excellent feedback from the participants. The workshops will be offered at: Burien: Highline UMC Sat., June 2; 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tumwater UMC Sat., June 2; 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Spokane: Audubon Park UMC Sun., June 3; 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Edmonds UMC Thurs., June 7; 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $25.00 for each participating church, and you may send as many participants for that price as you wish. For driving directions, please contact the individual church (your local church can provide you with a contact number or address). To register, please call Anna Conklin at 1-800-755-7710. Questions regarding the content of the workshop itself may be directed to Gail Grossman at 360-738-1970.
Don't Forget to Check Local Church Link and Job Openings Now and Then.
New Appointments Dennis Magnuson (Puyallup: Light of the Hill) to Redmond UMC Melvin Woodworth (Shoreline) to Tacoma First UMC Christie Newbill (Seattle: Seaview) to St. Luke's UMC in Bremerton Bill Gordon (Anacortes) to Sequim Dick Koch (Laconner, Bayview) to Anacortes Golden Neal (Spanaway) to Sunrise UMC in Federal Way Michael Smith (Foothills UMC, Bonney Lake) to St. Paul's UMC in Everett Annual Conference News
Legislative Committee Training will take place on Tuesday, June 12 from 1:30 - 5:00 pm in the Board Room Lounge.
PNW CHURCH AND SOCIETY ACTION TEAM PROMOTES
The General Board of Church and Society has encouraged churches and other organizations to sponsor events in support of health care for all beginning 6/7/06 in reference to HR 676, comprehensive health care legislation. Using a 6/07 Sunday is not too late to promote this important issue. Health Care for All is the current priority issue of the PNW Conference C&SATeam. Go to www.umc- gbcs.org to find detailed information.
Hope for the Children of Africa
Hope for the Children of Africa has just started their own website. You can
visit it at: www.HopeForTheChildrenOfAfrica.com
Small Church Fundraising - Ideas Needed, click here: http://www.pnwumc.org/html/localchurch.html Position Available: Children's Ministries Coordinator click here for details: http://pnwumc.org/html/jobopenings.html Director of Family Ministries opening at St. Peter's UMC in Bellevue for more information click here: http://www.stpetersumc.net
More Annual Conference News God's Beloved Community Annual Conference 2007 University of Puget Sound June 12-16th, 2007. Registration: If you have not already done so, please send in your registration form for Annual Conference which was due May 10th. Hope for the Children of Africa and UMVIM: We are asking that each church collect and bring the following items to Annual Conference: toothbrushes (in original packaging), toothpaste, band aids, children's vitamins, and OTC meds (including antibiotic ointments), school supplies (pencils, pens, paper). For items with an expiration date - it must be later than October 2008. We are also collecting used computer ink cartridges and used cell phones (no accessories). Laity Session Speaker: Nationally known storyteller Ray Buckley, Director of Connectional Ministries and Native Discipleship, Alaska will be speaking at the Laity Session Wednesday morning, June 13 during the Worship Service. Laity session begins at 8:30 am. Annual Conference Information
Annual Conference is scheduled for June 12-16, 2007 at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. Registration open Tuesday, June 12 from 12:00 until 6:30 pm. There will be a gathering time at Mason UMC at 6:00 pm June 12 and Opening Memorial Service of Worship at 7:00 pm at Mason UMC with a reception following Worship.
Pre-Conference Handbooks have been mailed. Due to mailing cost increases the petitions, stat tables, and lay member sections were mailed. The Orientation Section of the Handbook along with the reports will be handed out with your Registration Packet at Annual Conference. If you would like to see the Orientation Section of the packet you may now download it from our website at: www.pnwumc.org. If you do not have access to the internet and would like a copy of the Orientation section mailed to you, you may call the Conference Office. Maps: Directions along with a map to the University of Puget Sound is available for download on our website: www.pnwumc.org along with a disabled accessibility map and a map to Mason UMC. CALLING ALL CHURCH VANS. As host district for Annual Conference, we need to help transport persons from one place to another during Annual Conference. Keith Smith is working with United Methodist Men to accomplish this. They need our help to provide Vans for this purpose. Vans would need to be available for Tuesday and Friday evenings. If your church owns a van, please consider making it available during Annual Conference. Call KeithSmith if you can offer a van, or if you have questions. He can be reached at 206-380-3041 or by email at smitlo825@msn.com
Hope for the Children of Africa
Bring your congregational gifts for Hope for the Children of Africa (in the form of a check or money order please). There will be an ingathering of these monies early in the Memorial Communion Service at Mason, Tuesday night June 12 at 7:00. Later in the service an offering for Nothing but Nets will be received.
Information for those Nominated as Lay Delegates to the General and Jurisdictional Conference
As nominees for Election of Lay Delegates to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences you may want to provide an informational sheet regarding your background to be distributed at Annual Conference. The following rule would apply for items being distributed: per Rule XI, Sec. 4 (g) At the sessions of the Conference, Distribution of promotional material shall be limited to a single sheet no larger than 8 � x 11 inches printed through private arrangements by the candidate or sponsors, and distribution shall not be allowed after balloting has begun. You would need to supply 900 copies and bring them to the OCM Office located at the University of Puget Sound by 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, June 13, 2007, so we may distribute them on the plenary floor prior to the election.
Those nominated as Lay Delegates are: Late Reports and Petitions: are now due in the Conference Office if they are to be submitted in the packet handed out at registration.
Camp Small Group Leaders needed
St. Francis once said: "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." We need adults to continue on their faith journey by being a small group leader at camp with some children and youth. We need both male and female counselors to themselves and others. You will have a cabin of 5-6 kids, hot showers, good meals and great fun! Plus, you will be creating a lifetime of memories for some very special kids. If you, or someone you know, can volunteer to work as a small group leader for a week, please contact Brant at bhenshaw@pnwumc.org or call him at 800- 755-7710. Camp registrations remain open for most sessions.
Seattle First UMC Sold
Members of Seattle First United Methodist Church voted unanimously yesterday to sell the present historic church building to developer, Nitze-Stagen, and to purchase property near the Seattle Center for development of a new church building. Nitze -Stagen is committed to preserving the historic sanctuary as it develops the half block at 5th Avenue between Marion and Columbia Streets. (For more coverage, go to http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/316497_church21. html)
Prayers Needed
Please pray for the community of Moscow, Idaho as it deals with the shootings which took place Saturday night. The janitor at the moscow Presbyterian Church murdered his wife in their home, opened fire at the latah County courthouse, wounding two people and killing a police officer, then went to the Presbyterian church where he killed their sexton in the churuch offices then killed himself in the sanctuary. Moscow First United Methodist Church is hosting prayer vigils the next four nights on behalf of the Moscow Interfaith Association. The services will be held from 5:30-6:30. Child care will be provided.
May 31st Closing
The rules of the Annual Conference require that "5/12 of each church's annual apportionments shall be paid in full by May 31" (Rule VII, Sec 5(b), page N-24, 2006 Journal). This year we will close the books for May on Thursday, May 31, 2007.
Peace with Justice Sunday, June 3, 2007
PNW Conference Church and Society Action Team and its Peace with Justice Coordinator is issuing a reminder that Peace with Justice Sunday is to be observed June 3rd this year and encourages local church participation. The Book of Discipline, ¶ 264.5 states "Historically, Peace with Justice Sunday has been celebrated with an offering on the First Sunday after Pentecost. Pentecost celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit calling for God's shalom. Peace with Justice witnesses to God's demand for a faithful, just disarmed, and secure world." One half of this offering goes to the General Board of Church and Society for Peace with Justice programs, half remains in the Annual Conference for support of Peace with Justice ministry opportunities. This year these have included in the PNW Annual Conference seven awards or partial awards of Peace with Justice Grants to programs within this Conference.
New Appointments
Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint Rev. Abby Henre as pastor of Sumner United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2007.Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint Rev. John Chae (Sultan and Everett: St. Paul's) as pastor of Highline United Methodist Church in Burien, effective July 1, 2007. Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint Monty Smith (Tacoma First) as pastor of Browns Point United Methodist Church in Tacoma, effective July 1, 2007. Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint the Rev. Al Aosved as pastor of North Mason United Methodist Church in Belfair, effective July 1, 2007.
Parish Nurses
Laity Transition Workshops:
Again this year the Conference is offering workshops for churches that will be experiencing a pastoral change this year. The intent of the workshop is to help make the transition a positive experience for the churches and the pastors involved. The workshops will help participants explore the normal feelings and reactions during the time of a pastoral change, become familiar with the natural stages of transition, and gain tools for helping congregations say an appropriate goodbye and hello. Members of Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees, along with other key leadership are encouraged to attend. Gail Grossman, consultant with churches and pastors in our Conference, leads the workshops. The workshops will be offered at:Burien: Highline UMC Sat., June 2; 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tumwater UMC Sat., June 2; 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Spokane: Audubon Park UMC Sun., June 3; 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Edmonds UMC Thurs., June 7; 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. A more detailed mailing has been sent to Chairpersons of Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committees. For further information, contact Anna at the Conference Office, 1- 800-755-7710. Clergy Transition Workshop Reminder: If you haven't already registered, and expect to be experiencing a change in appointment this summer, you're strongly encouraged to attend the Clergy Transition Workshop designed to provide information and support for pastors during this time of change. It will be held on Tuesday, May 22, beginning at noon, and will conclude on Wednesday, May 23 at 1:00 p.m., at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center, near Ellensburg, WA. Additional information, costs, and registration procedures have been mailed to pastors whose moves are now public. Questions may be directed to your District Superintendent, or Anna at the Conference Office can answer registration questions, 1-800-755-7710.
This is to inform you that Rev. Fred Agtarap, currently pastor of Colville (WA) UM Church, has accepted an appointment in another Annual Conference, effective July 1, 2007. Deadline Tomorrow, Thursday May 10!
TO: Clergy members of the PNWAC who are eligible to vote for General Conference delegates FROM: Gloria Kymn, Conference Secretary RE: Pre-Conference Nominating Ballot for General and Jurisdictional Conference delegates Dear Sisters and Brothers: During the 2007 Annual Conference, lay and clergy delegates are to be elected to the 2008 General and Jurisdictional Conferences. Three lay and three clergy delegates are to be elected to the General Conference to be held April 23 - May 2, 2008, in Fort Worth, Texas.. Representation is based on the number of clergy and lay members of an annual conference not to exceed 1,000 members total. An additional 3 lay and 3 clergy delegates are to be elected to the Jurisdictional Conference to be held July 16-19, 2008, in Portland, OR. Conference Rule XI, Sec. 5 (enclosed) provides a process for clergy to nominate colleagues prior to the Annual Conference session. This rule is an effort to speed the clergy delegate election process through the use of a pre-conference nominating ballot. Enclosed is one pre-conference nominating ballot, and a sheet containing the conference rule, disciplinary requirements for eligibility for both voting and election, and a brief outline of our process of nominating and balloting at our Conference session in Tacoma, June 12-16. Please review the enclosures, then nominate in alphabetical order up to three persons eligible to serve as clergy delegates to the General Conference in the year 2008. Return your nominations to me in the enclosed envelope. All nominations must be in my possession before May 10, 2007. Balloting tally sheets will be ready at the beginning of Conference, pre-printed with the names of all those who have received at least fifteen nominating votes. At the opening session of Conference, additional nominations may be read if supported by at least fifteen signatures (forms will be available at registration). This nominating procedure does not limit the freedom of anyone to vote for any eligible member in all subsequent balloting. If you have questions, please feel free to call or e-mail me. In Christ's service, Gloria Kymn, Conference Secretary 206-542-2484 umcpastorglo@yahoo.com Ronald UMC 17839 Aurora Ave. N Shoreline, WA 98133
Conference Rule XI, Sec. 5: Procedures relating to Pre-Conference Nominating Ballot for General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegates for clergy. (a) At least three months before the Conference session at which elections are held, the Conference secretary shall mail a Pre-Conference Nominating Ballot to all eligible clergy.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY resources are ready!
Hunger Awareness Day
Hunger Awareness Day is June 5, and the Sunday prior or the Sunday following would be a very good time to lift the problem of hunger in our country and maybe take a special offering of food for your local food bank.
Resources include: www.secondharvest.org www.hungerday.org www.umc.org Search: Hunger Awareness Day
· Pilgimage: Journey to the heart of Israel and Palestine, May 12th at Bellevue First UMC http://www.pnwumc.org/html/localchurch.html · An invitation to WALK TO SAMARIA from Palabra Viviente UMC of Everett and Mapton UMC http://www.pnwumc.org/html/localchurch.html
New Appointments
Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint Rev. Sharon Hamilton (Elma and McCleary) as pastor of Tracyton United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2007.
Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint Rev. Kelly Dahlman-Oeth (Tacoma: Browns Point) as pastor of Lake Washington United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2007. Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint Rev. Jeanne Harvey Duncan (Belfair: North Mason) as pastor of Pasco First United Methodist Church, effective July 1, 2007. Bishop Edward Paup intends to appoint the Rev. Lowell Murphree (retired) to Tieton Highland UMC and to Tieton First Presbyterian Church in a new joint arrangement to share a full-time pastor, effective July 1, 2007. The bishop's appointment is made in consultation with the local churches and the ministry committee of the Central Washington Presbytery
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