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Praying Our Way Forward

“I ask you to join me, just right now, in praying that we all might be one in the Church, as God and Jesus are one, so that the world might believe that God has sent us.”
– Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky

Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky is calling all United Methodists in the Pacific Northwest Conference to join her in Praying our Way Forward, November 26th through December 2nd, 2017. You can watch or read her invitation below. On this page you will also find links to resources to assist in your personal, or congregational, participation in this initiative.

About the Praying Our Way Forward Initiative

The denominational Praying Our Way Forward initiative launched on New Year’s Day 2017 with 75 weeks of focused prayer for The United Methodist Church. Each annual conference will spend one week in intentional prayer for the mission of The United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and for the work of the Commission on a Way Forward. The effort began in the North Carolina Conference, and will wrap up in the West Angola Episcopal Area in June 2018. Our week of prayer in the Pacific Northwest Conference is November 26th through December 2nd, 2017.

Resources for Praying Our Way Forward

Bishop Stanovsky is inviting United Methodists across the Pacific Northwest to pray together with “your family, or a group of friends, a Bible study, or the choir at the church.” However you choose to respond to this call, the following resources are offered to aid in this important work.

DAILY DEVOTIONALS

Our Pacific Northwest Cabinet has written a short devotional for each of the days of our conference’s week of prayer. In recognition of our reliance upon God, the devotions each focus upon one of the fruits of the Spirit as outlined by the Apostle Paul in Galatians, Chapter 5.

PRAYER VIGIL: 1 HOUR PRAYER EXPERIENCE

An updated version of a resource produced by The Upper Room provides material for an hour long (approx.) focused on channeling prayer on unity, mutual respect in the context of denominational mission/connection.

LIST OF COMMISSION MEMBERS/PNW DELEGATES

A list has been prepared including the 32 members of the Commission on a Way Forward and the clergy and lay delegates that were elected from the PNW to attend the 2016 General Conference and the 2016 Western Jurisdictional Conference. The same General Conference delegates will be eligible to participate in the 2019 General Conference called by the Council of Bishops to consider proposed models for a Way Forward.

About The Commission on a Way Forward

The Commission on a Way Forward was proposed by the Council of Bishops and approved by the 2016 General Conference. It is tasked with working to address the denomination’s differences regarding human sexuality—more specifically, the commission was asked to do a complete examination of, and possible revision of, every paragraph of the Book of Discipline concerning human sexuality and explore options that help to maintain and strengthen the unity of the church.

The commission has recently submitted an interim proposal to the Council of Bishops for its feedback as they look toward completing their work in the coming months. The following links are provided for more information about the Commission on a Way Forward and its work.

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