The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church

Congregational Equity Cohort
2024-05-31 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Grotto Retreat Center, 8840 NE Skidmore St, Portland, 97220, United States
The date for one of six in-person Equity Cohort gatherings for Congregational Leaders within the Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences.

Laity Meet-Up: History was made - Learn what happened at General Conference
2024-06-01 10:00 - 23:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/laity-meet-up-history-was-made-learn-what-happened-at-general-conference/
‘The Laity Meet-Up’ Set for This Saturday, June 1: Click here to register today!
All area laypersons are encouraged to register now for the next installment of “The Laity Meet-Up” this Saturday, June 1. The free event will be held via Zoom 9 a.m. AKT | 10 a.m. PT | 11 a.m. MT.
A panel of speakers will address the topic: “History Was Made: Learn About the Recent General Conference.” The panelists – Skylar Marston-Bihl, Jan Nelson, and Jo Anne Hayden, represent all three of the annual conferences in the Greater Northwest Area at General Conference, held recently in Charlotte, N.C. More than 1,000 petitions were processed, and more than 800 delegates from around the world (and an additional 1,000-plus reserves and observers) attended.
The panel will discuss important legislation addressed as the conference, specifically: removing restrictive language from the Book of Discipline, revising church structure, updating the Social Principles, and how the church has dramatically changed.
All persons, laity and clergy alike, are welcome to the gatherings of The Laity Meet-Up. For more information or to register, click here.

2024 PNW Annual Conference Session
2024-06-13 - 2024-06-16 | Central United Protestant, 1124 Stevens Dr., Richland, WA, 99354, United States
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth announced at the close of our 2023 session that we would gather in the Seven Rivers District on June 13-16 for our 2024 PNW Annual Conference Session. More information about this event is now available on the PNW Annual Conference 2024 subsite.

An Evening with Lifelong Climate Activist Bill McKibben
2024-07-02 19:00 - 20:30 | Seattle First United Methodist Church, 180 Denny Way, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
In-Person and Livestream | Free and open to the public
Third Act Washington presents author, educator and environmental activist Bill McKibben on July 2 at 7:00pm in a talk about what’s needed now to save our planet and democracy, what’s bringing him joy and gives him hope, and why he believes Third Act can have a huge impact on making our world a better place for all of us, and for generations to come.
Bill is renowned for mobilizing popular support for action on climate justice and democracy. He has authored 20 books, including The End of Nature (1989) which is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change. He also helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, which has organized protests on every continent, including Antarctica, for climate action. In 2022 he founded Third Act, a national organization with over 70,000 members that organizes people over the age of 60 for action on climate, justice, and democracy.
Bill will give a call to action to inspire and motivate attendees to take stepped-up action on climate and democracy, especially in the face of intensified climate disruption, political polarization and backlash, and our democracy in peril. His talk will be followed by a Q & A.
Register Today!

Western Jurisdictional Conference
2024-07-10 - 2024-07-13 | WA
Dates for the 2024 Western Jurisdictional Conference were announced at the end of the previous session. The Pacific Northwest Conference will host the conference in Spokane, with more details to be announced at a later date.

Congregational Equity Cohort
2024-07-19 09:00 - 17:00 | Fairwood Community United Methodist Church, 15255 SE Fairwood Blvd., Renton, WA, 98058, United States

SeaTac District Day
2024-07-20 09:30 - 14:00 | Federal Way UMC, 29645 51st Ave S, Auburn, WA, 98001, United States
SeaTac laity and clergy are invited to join us for a day of fellowship and learning! A variety of workshops will be offered, including Single Board Organization, Engaging our Communities with Curiosity, Environmental Justice Ministry, and Pastoral Ministry and the 35 Work Week (an SPR Conversation).
Registration is $20, and lunch will be provided (Lay Leader J.D. Drollinger is grilling for us!). Childcare is available upon request.
Click here to view a PDF flyer that you can download and share with your congregation.

Mission u 2024
2024-07-25 - 2024-07-27 | Yakima: Wesley UMC, 14 North 48th Avenue, Yakima, WA, 98908, United States
Each year, United Women in Faith members prepare for faithful living and action by engaging in transformative educational experiences at Mission u events. These events are centered around Mission u curricula that are designed to motivate, inform, and enrich our commitment to global ministry.
Join us at Mission u as we explore the good news and what it means for our lives! Questions? Email Jan Catrell, Mission u Assistant Dean: jcatrell@yahoo.com.
To register for Mission u 2024, please complete this form and submit it to the address noted in the form.

"Fun Day at the Park" for Ethnic Clergies/Leaders and Families
2024-07-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Seward Park, 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, 98118, United States
English:
You’re Invited to a Fun Day at the Park!
Join us for a day of fun and fellowship at Seward Park. We invite Ethnic Clergies/Leaders and families to come together on July 26, 2024, at 10 AM. We’ll be at Seward Park, located at 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle WA 98118.
We will provide Hamburgers, Hotdogs, and drinks. Please consider bringing Chips, Fruits, Desserts, and Salads to share.
To confirm your attendance or for more information, please contact Lourdes Tifre at loutifre@hotmail.com or Cruz Edwin Santos at cesantos@pnwumc.org
This event is sponsored by the PNW Commission on Ethnic Ministries and the PNW Hispanic/Latinx Committee.
Spanish:
¡Están invitados a un Día de Diversión en el Parque!
Únete a nosotros para un día de diversión y compañerismo en Seward Park. Invitamos a los Líderes y Clérigos Étnicos y sus familias a reunirse el 26 de julio de 2024 a las 10 AM. Estaremos en Seward Park, ubicado en 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle WA 98118.
Nosotros proporcionaremos hamburguesas, Hot Dogs y bebidas. Les pedimos su colaboración trayendo Chips, Frutas, Postres y Ensaladas para compartir.
Para confirmar su asistencia o para más información, por favor contacte a Lourdes Tifre en loutifre@hotmail.com o Cruz Edwin Santos at cesantos@pnwumc.org
Este evento es patrocinado por la Comisión de Ministerios Étnicos y el Comité Hispano/Latino del Noroeste del Pacífico.

Worship Workshops: “small bites, BIG FLAVOR”
2024-08-16 18:30 - 2024-08-18 12:00 | Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N Raymond Rd, Spokane Valley, WA, 99206, United States
As a layperson, do you find yourself responsible for leading worship? Do you need help with worship resources? Would you like to learn skills to enhance worship leadership in your small church? If so, these worship workshops are for you!
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) Conference has invited Dr. Marcia McFee to lead three workshops over the next several months to empower laity to become more effective in worship planning and leading. Bitesize mindset and skillset lessons will be taught, which can add flavor to your worship. Resources for each liturgical season will also be shared.

August 16-18, 2024 – Advent / Christmas / Epiphany – held in (and live-streamed from) Spokane Valley UMC, Spokane Valley, WA
January 10-12, 2025 – Lent / Holy Week / Easter – held in (and live-streamed from) First UMC, Olympia, WA
May 2-4, 2025 – Ordinary Time – held in (and live-streamed from) Wesley UMC, Yakima, WA
An orientation will be held on Wednesday, July 31st at 9 a.m. PT, a recording of which will also be available

While these workshops are offered with laypersons in mind, pastors of small churches are especially invited to attend with their laity. Pastors of larger churches are welcome but strongly encouraged to see this event as an opportunity to equip and train laity as partners in worship design.
Click here to review the schedule for these workshops.
Participants from the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho, and PNW Conferences will have free access to all three workshops, both in person and online. For more information and to register, please use the following link based on the conference your local church is in.

Alaska Conference Registration
Oregon-Idaho Conference Registration
Pacific Northwest Conference Registration

For those attending in person, a nominal fee is required to cover the costs of meals and other host church expenses. A separate (simple) registration (for each event) is required so we can prepare for your needs. Registration for in-person hospitality at the August event is available here. Others will become available closer to the workshop dates.
Scholarships are available for Lay-Led Congregations and churches served by a CLM in the PNW Conference to cover this expense and support travel and housing during each workshop. Please contact your District Superintendent (PNW) for scholarship support.
If you have questions, please contact Sheila Miranda at smiranda@pnwumc.org

Roots & Wings - Puget Sound District Training
2024-08-17 09:30 - 14:30 | Stanwood UMC, 27128 102nd Dr, Stanwood, WA, 98292, United States
The Puget Sound Missional District is excited to bring back our event focused on leadership training for our laity! Because our district is geographically spread out, we are hosting this event in three different locations on three different Saturdays. Come to the one that is closest to you or the date that works best for your calendar. There will be overlap in what workshops are offered on each day, but you’re welcome to come to more than one event. Although this event is geared toward laity, interested clergy may also attend.
August 17 – Stanwood UMC
September 14 – Sequim Trinity UMC
October 12 – Issaquah Faith UMC

Some of the workshops being planned include:

Indigenous Neighbor Engagement
Solar Energy Projects
Serving the Unhoused/Volunteer Engagement
Good Neighboring Experiment
Disaster Preparedness/Response
Planned Giving/Endowments
Messy Church
Environmental Advocacy
Lay Servant Ministries/Certified Lay Ministries

To register, click here.

Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2024-08-20 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/introduction-to-lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course-3/2024-08-20/
The “Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry: The BASIC Course” is the foundational course for Lay Servant Ministries. This is the gateway course for those who are called to be Certified Lay Servants, Lay Speakers, and Lay Ministers. And can also be part of a person’s discipleship plan to acquaint you with their gifts, calling, and responsibilities as followers of Christ.
This course will be offered over five two-hour sessions on Zoom on August 20 & 27, September 10, 17 & 24, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. PT.
Click here for more information and to register today!

Cancelled: Author Sarah Augustine @ Wesley UMC in Yakima
2024-08-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Yakima: Wesley UMC, 14 North 48th Avenue, Yakima, WA, 98908, United States
This event has been postponed due to extenuating circumstances. The church is working on rescheduling at a future date.
Wesley United Methodist Church in Yakima, Washington, and the Wesley United Women in Faith invite you to learn from author Sarah Augustine on Saturday, August 24 at 1 p.m. PT. Sarah Augustine is founder and cochair of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery and executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. Augustine, who is Pueblo (Tewa), has published two books – The Land is Not Empty and So We & Our Children May Live, written for Sojourners, The Mennonite, and other publications, and she is an adjunct professor at Heritage University. She and her husband, Dan Peplow, and their son live in the Yakima Valley of Washington.
Admission is free and the doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Click here to download a flier to share.

Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2024-08-27 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/introduction-to-lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course-3/2024-08-27/

Online CLM Orientation for Clergy
2024-08-29 15:00 - 16:00 | WA
The Desert Southwest Conference is inviting all clergy to join them in an “ABC’s of CLMs” session on Thursday, Aug. 29, 3-4 p.m. PT. You will hear from clergy persons who are in team ministry with Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs), learn about the application/accountability process for a CLM, and “why” there should be a CLM at every church.
While some of the process pieces may differ from conference to conference, our PNW Conference Director of Lay Servant Ministry John Townsend recommends that clergy attend this event, expecting that it will be a helpful and informative event.
Click here to join this orientation on Zoom.
For event information, contact Kathy Jewell at kpjewell7676@gmail.com.

Setting Ministry Priorities Conversations - PNW #6
2024-08-29 18:00 - 19:15 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/setting-ministry-priorities-conversations-pnw-6/
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth has invited lay and clergy members within the Greater Northwest Area to conversations about resources, ministry and collaboration in the area, continuing conversations that annual conference members started when they met in June. This is another step in a discernment process that will help us determine ministry priorities and future opportunities to collaborate for better outcomes and greater efficiency.
Click here to RSVP for this and other remaining opportunities.

Setting Ministry Priorities Conversations - GNW #1
2024-09-04 18:00 - 19:15 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/setting-ministry-priorities-conversations-gnw-1/

Pacific Northwest AC Hispanic/Latinx Pastors and Leaders Missional Priority Meeting
2024-09-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Rev. Dr. Lydia Munoz will be leading a discussion with the Pacific Northwest AC Hispanic/Latinx Pastors and Leaders on the revision of our Hispanic/Latinx Strategic Plan. Together, we will define our new priority mission for the years 2025-2028.
For any questions or further information, please contact:

Aurora Pavon at L.a.c.p.3122@gmail.com
Rev. Cruz Edwin Santos at cruzsantos84@gmail.com

Setting Ministry Priorities Conversations - GNW #2
2024-09-05 19:30 - 20:45 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/setting-ministry-priorities-conversations-gnw-2/

Setting Ministry Priorities Conversations - PNW #7
2024-09-10 18:00 - 19:15 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/setting-ministry-priorities-conversations-pnw-7/

Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2024-09-10 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/introduction-to-lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course-3/2024-09-10/

Roots & Wings - Puget Sound District Training
2024-09-14 09:30 - 14:30 | Sequim Trinity UMC, 100 S Blake Ave, Sequim, WA, 98382

Understanding Charge Conference Forms
2024-09-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-09-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Charge Conferences: Do you know what paperwork is due? Do you know what a People Portal is? If you don’t, you’re not alone. This meeting was designed for church admins, clergy, laity, and anyone who helps complete your fall charge conference paperwork.
Join District Administrators Laura Velonza and Erin Tombaugh as they answer questions and discuss the paperwork and processes of this year’s fall charge conference.
Meetings will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, September 17th, from Noon to 1 p.m. and Wednesday, September 25th, from 7 to 8 p.m. Register Here!

Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2024-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/introduction-to-lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course-3/2024-09-17/

Webinar: Pledge Campaign Best Practices
2024-09-18 18:30 - 19:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/webinar-pledge-campaign-best-practices/
What do successful pledge campaigns have in common? Cesie Delve Scheuermann of Inspiring Generosity and Julia Frisbie of Faith Foundation Northwest will team up to teach an interactive class rich with real-world examples from our own episcopal area. Whether you’re preparing for your first pledge campaign or your thirtieth, Cesie and Julia invite you to bring your own stories and questions to the discussion. Attendees will receive a free e-book that contains five different appeal letter templates.
Click here to register for this webinar.

Inland/Seven Rivers District Cergy Gathering
2024-09-21 11:00 - 15:00 | Cheney United Methodist Church, 204 4th Street, Cheney, WA, 99004, United States
Join your Inland and Seven Rivers District Colleagues for a day of connection
at the Inland and Seven Rivers District Clergy gathering
Saturday, September 21, from 11-3 pm
Please plan to arrive between 10:15 – 11 am
We will start at 11 AM with a Worship Service and Communion. Enjoy Lunch and Strengthening of the Community Activities, and end the day with District Superintendent Daniel Miranda.
Please register Here and let us know if you will be attending

Introduction to Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2024-09-24 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/introduction-to-lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course-3/2024-09-24/

Leadership Institute 2024
2024-09-25 - 2024-09-27 | Resurrection: A United Methodist Church, 13720 Roe Ave, Leawood, Kansas, 66224
Registration is open for Resurrection, a United Methodist Church’s annual Leadership Institute conference, happening this fall September 25-27, 2024.
In the wake of a monumental General Conference for the United Methodist Church, this year’s Leadership Institute will be centered around the theme of “onward.” This reflects a spirit of hope, healing and resilience as the denomination moves forward. Onward: Leadership Institute 2024 will provide leaders practical tools and inspiring insight as they gather, share experiences and navigate this next season of ministry with a renewed sense of purpose and unity!
Churches are invited to bring their ministry leaders, staff and volunteers and join a community passionate about strengthening the local church.
Highlights of the conference include:

Keynote Sessions led by Rev. Adam Hamilton, author and Resurrection’s senior pastor; Brian McLaren, author, activist and public theologian; Kara Powell, Chief Executive of the Fuller Youth Institute, and Candace Lewis, the President of Gammon Theological Seminary.
Featured Sessions on Thursday Sept 26 offer you a chance to choose topics that resonate with your ministry. Led by dynamic guest speakers like topics include: youth ministry, AI, tools for smaller churches (Under 100), environmentalism, justice in your community and more.
Moving worship from a diverse slate of Resurrection musicians.
Connection with church leaders serving a variety of church settings and sizes from across the nation and internationally
50+ Pre-Conference Workshops are offered in a variety of ministry areas, led by Resurrection staff and guest speakers focused on tangible takeaways. This is an optional, additional experience for in-person attendees only taking place Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Details and registration can be found at leadership.sharechurch.com. Super Early Bird Deadline is July 15. Workshops fill quickly, so register today for the best rates and availability. Questions? Contact sharechurchevents@cor.org or 913-232-4120.

"St. Sebastian" Climate Justice Art Exhibit
2024-10-06 | Seattle First United Methodist Church, 180 Denny Way, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
Throughout October, First Church is grateful to display Arlington-based artist Joseph Gregory Rossano’s sculpture “St. Sebastian”. His sculpture is part of his exhibit, “Portraits of the Divine”, which depicts a menagerie of endangered and extinct animals as encounters with the divine. Rossano’s St. Sebastian will be on loan through November, courtesy of the artist and Traver Gallery.

The St. Sebastian sculpture exhibit is free and open to the public for viewing on Sundays in October after worship until 3pm. (And after the Hispanic Heritage Month Recital on Oct 13th).
The artist will speak about his “Portraits of the Divine” exhibit at our October 13th Blessing of the Animals service. Click here for a link to a flier with more information.
Parking is available in our garage for attendees on Sundays until 3 pm.
Find us at 2nd & Denny, downtown Seattle, next to the Pacific Science Center. Enter from the North Sanctuary entrance.

Registration is not required, but we appreciate knowing in advance what day you may be interested in coming. Or let us know if you would like to arrange a different time.
