The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church

Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2025-09-30 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course/2025-09-30/
The “Introduction to Lay 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 your gifts, calling, and responsibilities as a follower of Christ. The course is being offered this Fall (Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 PM PDT, September 9 – October 14 online for those interested in taking this next step in exploration.
While the course is offered for those who register at no cost, participants must secure a copy of the Lay Servant Ministries Participant’s Book (DR626 • 978-0-88177-626-3 • $11.00) by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson. The participants’ book is available at Cokesbury and on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.
Participant Requirements: Have the book named above, read the 1st session before the first course meeting, and fully engage in all sessions with audio and video active. Additional assignments will be provided in your welcome letter.
Register Here: https://gnw-reg.brtapp.com/LayServantMinistriesBasicCourseSept

Earthkeepers Training with a Spanish Track
2025-10-02 - 2025-10-05 | Des Moines United Methodist Church, 22225 9th Ave S, Des Moines, WA, 98198, United States
Are you passionate about caring for the environment and looking for a way to connect your faith with action? The United Methodist EarthKeepers program offers training for individuals ready to launch or grow environmental projects in their communities.
Watch and share a short invitation on Facebook from Rev. Jenny Phillips, PNW Elder and Director of Environmental Sustainability for Global Ministries.
Participants gain tools for spiritual reflection, community organizing, and project planning—all through a United Methodist lens. Whether your interest is in energy efficiency, sustainable food, environmental justice, or creation-focused worship, EarthKeepers equips you to make a lasting impact.
There will be a Spanish language track for this training.
Dates and Times: Training begins October 2 at 4pm PT and ends October 5, 2025 at 1pm PT. Pre-training homework will be provided on September 12.
Location: Wesley Homes and Des Moines First UMC in Des Moines, WA, a short train ride from Sea-Tac Airport.
Lodging and Meals: Sheraton Four Points, Des Moines, WA. Global Ministries will cover the cost of single lodging on the nights of October 2, 3, and 4. Global Ministries will provide vegetarian meals starting with dinner on October 2 and ending with lunch on October 5.
Travel: Participants are responsible for their transportation from their homes to the training location. Global Ministries will provide transportation between the hotel and training location, and for the field trip, will be provided.
Field Trip: Participants will take a Washington State Ferry to Vashon Island to visit Vashon Island UMC and learn about the church’s resilience hub.
Questions? Email environment@umcmission.org
Application
Connection Form
More information at http://umcmission.org/earthkeepers

Leaning Into Grief: Personal and Planetary Sorrows
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-05 | Camp Burton Retreat Center, 9326 Southwest Bayview Drive, Vashon, WA, 98070, United States
Personal and planetary grief are inextricable. Our encounter with the manifold losses that characterize the human experience can till the soil of our hearts so that we are more available to the suffering of other beings and the earth we share…Sorrow can be paralyzing at first, but compassion…is a wellspring that offers infinite sustenance. ~ Mirabai Starr
Leaning Into Grief: Personal and Planetary Sorrows
October 3-5, 2025 | Camp Burton on Vashon Island
A full weekend, in-person, facilitated retreat designed to introduce participants to the embodied and communal work of grief.
Registration Deadline: Friday, September 19 / Click to Register
Grief is an integral part of life that requires our attention if we want to be fully available for life. In our culture, however, we have forgotten how to share our grief with one another. When we add to our personal losses the experience of economic instability, ecological degradation, the extinction of species, individual and collective health crises, and the unrest and turmoil within human societies, the burden of grief that we are carrying as individuals can begin to feel unbearable. There are very few spaces where we are invited to experience and express this complex grief in community. This retreat will utilize Francis Weller’s “Five Gates of Grief” to connect participants to their distinct and multifaceted experiences of grief in the context of a co-created “village.”
The weekend will be facilitated by experienced grief mentors who have apprenticed in the grief ritual tradition of the Dagara tribe as brought to the U.S. and shared by Malidoma and Sobonfu Somé. We have been oriented to this tradition through mentorship with Francis Weller and others. Participants will be guided through chanting, poetry, teaching, writing exercises, small group sharing, and the creation of a grief shrine. Our time together will culminate in a communal grief ritual, in which we will witness and support each other as we move into the shared experience and expression of our sorrows and losses. All participation is invitational; nothing is “required” beyond being present with and sharing the griefs you are carrying, to the best of your ability.
Cost: $575 Early Bird (available to first 12 to register) / $675 Regular Registration
Lodging and meals are included in registration fees. If the fee presents a barrier to your participation, please let us know. A limited number of Discounted and Scholarship registrations are available.
Registration Deadline: Friday, September 19. Registration is limited to 30. Click to Register
Facilitators
Peter Jabin, M.Div., LMHC, Pastoral Psychotherapist | Cristina Manzoni, MA, CCC, FT, Palliative Care/Hospice Chaplain | Reve Shannon, Grief Mentor | Kim Warner, Grief Mentor
Those serving under appointment or assignment may use their formation grant funds ($3500 per quadrennium) to pay for this workshop. Learn how to apply for your formation grant funds here, under ‘Formation and Continuing Education’: https://www.pnwumc.org/ministries/board-of-ordained-ministry/resources-for-clergy-members/

Facing the Future: 2025 Conference for Clergies in Cross Cultural Appointment
2025-10-07 - 2025-10-09
Presented by the General Commission on Religion and Race:
October 7 – 9, 2025
Los Angeles, CA
In a season marked by systemic challenges, emotional exhaustion, and the complex demands of cross-racial and cross-cultural ministry, clergy are being asked to give more than ever before. Facing the Future 2025 is a sacred pause—an invitation to be renewed, restored, and reignited. It is a space where exhaustion meets grace and where the joy of the call can shine again.
This year’s theme, Rejoice, Recenter, Revive, calls CR/CC clergy to breathe deeply and be renewed by God promises.

Rejoice in God’s presence and in the joy of ministry,
Recenter your soul and calling,
Revive with strength and clarity for the journey ahead.
FTF 2025 offers more than tools—it offers a place to be seen, strengthened, and sent forth with renewed purpose.

Through spirit-filled worship, transformative workshops, honest conversations, and healing community, you’ll experience a time of renewal grounded in God’s care. Whether you’re navigating burnout, seeking inspiration, or simply longing to be among those who understand your journey, this gathering is for you.
This is more than a conference—it’s a call to be revived by the Spirit.
Come rejoice. Come recenter. Be revived.
Click here to learn more and register.

Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2025-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course/2025-10-07/

Indigenous Peoples' Day
2025-10-13
The conference office is closed in commemoration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

UMCOR Disaster Response - Early Response Team Basic Training
2025-10-13 08:30 - 17:00 | Faith Church, 3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Rd SE, Issaquah, WA, 98029, United States
Be ready for when the next disaster strikes to help those most in need.
Train now to be an Early Response Team member.
Our next UMCOR Disaster Response – Early Response Team Basic Training is being offered on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT at Faith Church – Issaquah, WA (3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Rd SE, Issaquah, WA 98029).
The Early Response Team Basic Training will prepare you on ways to clean out a flooded home, haul debris, sift through ashes and work alongside survivors while staying safe. The class is taught by United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) certified trainers and includes examples of recent missions, hands-on activities and an opportunity to meet people with a passion to serve. Anyone 18 years or older is welcomed to attend.
The registration fee is $26.57 and includes all training materials, lunch and snacks. The registration deadline is Monday, October 13th. There are several pre-requisites to complete before the class so please register ASAP.
Click here to register!
Questions? Contact Kathy Bryson, PNW Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, at brysonpnw@gmail.com, (509) 539-2978.

Lay Servant Ministries: The Basic Course
2025-10-14 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-servant-ministries-the-basic-course/2025-10-14/

Q&A Opportunity to prepare for the Special Session
2025-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/qa-opportunity-to-prepare-for-the-special-session-2/
On Wednesday, October 15, at 6 p.m. PT, lay and clergy members of the Pacific Northwest Conferences are invited to bring questions they may have after reviewing the materials for the Special Session on October 29, 2025. Non-members will be able to watch the session on the Special Session Resource Page. Members who register by the October 10 deadline will receive this meeting link by email.
Members of the Pacific Northwest Conference can find the legislation for consideration, along with support materials, on the Special Session Resource Page. This will serve as our Focus Session, allowing voting members to receive the budget well in advance of voting on it so we can honor conference rules.
During the meeting, panelists will be present to help answer questions about the proposed conference budget and related matters. To make the best use of our time, please review the materials your conference is providing before you formulate and ask questions. We will be utilizing Zoom’s Q&A feature to answer as many questions as possible.

Lay Servant Ministries: Lay Pastoral Care Giving
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-pastoral-care-giving/2025-10-16/
Lay Pastoral Care Giving offers insights into the life span and the dynamics of contemporary life, helping church leaders reach out with God’s love and care to others. Expressing care to someone in need, whether within the community of faith or beyond, may seem the most natural thing in the world. For some, it is, for others, it’s less so. All can improve.
The course is being offered online this October (Thursdays and Tuesdays, 6 to 8 PM PDT) for those interested in taking the next step in their exploration. The instructor is Billie Fitzsimmons, a Certified Lay Minister.
While the course is offered for those who register at no cost, participants must secure a copy of the Lay Pastoral Care Giving Participant’s Book (ISBN • 978-0-88177-554-9) by Tim. M Farabough. The participants’ book is available at Cokesbury and on Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats.
Participant Requirements: Each participant must have a book, read it, complete assignments, and be fully engaged in all five, two-hour sessions with audio and video capability active.
Register Here: https://gnw-reg.brtapp.com/LayPastoralCareGiving2025

PNW United Women in Faith Annual Gathering
2025-10-17 - 2025-10-18 | Bothell United Methodist Church, 18515 92nd Ave NE, Bothell, 98011, United States
Join United Women in Faith from across the PNW Conference for their 2025 Annual Gathering, taking place October 17-18 at Bothell UMC. This year’s theme, “If Not Now, When?,” calls us to be present, courageous, and faithful in the unique moment we’re living in. The keynote speaker is Jana Jones, National President of United Women in Faith.
Whether you are a longtime member or new to United Women in Faith, you are welcome to be part of this weekend of worship, learning, fellowship, and inspiration.
Please refer to the PNW United Women in Faith website for more information.

PNW United Women in Faith Leadership Team Planning
2025-10-17 08:00 - 12:00 | Bothell United Methodist Church, 18515 92nd Ave NE, Bothell, 98011, United States
Please refer to the PNW United Women in Faith website for more information and precise times.

Connecting Neighbors preparedness training
2025-10-18 09:00 - 17:00 | Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers Street, Edmonds, WA, 98020, United States
Be the Connection Before, During, and After Disaster
Whether you’re a church leader, volunteer, or someone who simply wants to be part of the solution, this training equips you to care for your family, your congregation, and your neighbors before and after disaster strikes. Anyone in the GNW Area is invited to attend!
Who Should Attend?
Anyone in your church community—no special background or experience required!
What You’ll Learn:
Ready Congregants – How to prepare yourself and your household
Ready Churches – How to protect your church property and people
Ready Response – How to serve your community in disaster response and recovery
Want to Go a Step Further?
You can become a Connecting Neighbors Ambassador—trained and resourced to lead workshops in your own church and beyond. It’s a great way to multiply impact and help others get ready, too.
This training is FREE! Lunch, snacks and materials are all included. Registration Closes Friday, October 10.
Let’s prepare together—because loving our neighbors means being ready to show up when they need us most.
Download a flier to promote this event!
Click here to register today!

Viva la Church
2025-10-21 - 2025-10-23
What’s next for the Church? This fall, leaders from across the country will gather in Las Vegas, Nevada, to seek bold answers together. Viva La Church is a dynamic innovator gathering for leaders, dreamers, and doers who are passionate about the future of the Church.
This dynamic three-day gathering is designed for clergy and laity who are ready to reimagine church. Whether you’re revitalizing a small congregation, exploring new models of ministry, or simply curious about how to reach new people in new ways outside of church walls, you’re invited.
Click Here to learn more and register.

Lay Servant Ministries: Lay Pastoral Care Giving
2025-10-21 18:00 - 20:00 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-pastoral-care-giving/2025-10-21/

Lay Servant Ministries: Advanced Course - Called To Preach
2025-10-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-29 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join Rev. Joanne Coleman Campbell as she leads you through the Advanced Course on Preaching, “Called to Preach.” This course is designed for those who have not completed formal preaching training, for pastors seeking a basic refresher course, and for others who are called upon to preach in a pastor’s absence. Called to Preach is the required preaching course in the lay Speaker track of study. Register: https://gnw-reg.brtapp.com/LayServantMinistriesACCalledToPreach

Lay Servant Ministries: Lay Pastoral Care Giving
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-pastoral-care-giving-2/2025-10-23/

United in Faith: A Call to Action
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers Street, Edmonds, WA, 98020, United States
Join faith leaders and neighbors for “United in Faith: A Call to Action,” an ecumenical gathering on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Edmonds United Methodist Church (and via livestream). Organized by the Edmonds UMC Political Action group, the event features Bishop Shelley M. Bryan Wee (ELCA) and Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth (UMC) and invites churches to build a rapid-response coalition for justice and democracy.
For more information, visit: https://www.edmondsumc.org/united-in-faith
Download the promotional flier or slide for this event.
The event is free and open to all.

Halloween Youth Overnight -- Real. Raw. Redeemed
2025-10-25 - 2025-10-26 | Olympia First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE, Olympia, 98501, United States
West Side PNW Youth Present:
Halloween Youth Overnight — Real. Raw. Redeemed.
In a world where we are always putting on masks to perform, you are invited to a 24 hour event of fun, service, and worship! West Side PNW Youth invites you to a Halloween overnighter where between costumes and games we are reminded that God calls us to take off our masks and be our authentic selves before God and one another. Bring your youth group and join us as we invest in connectional youth ministry once again!
Date: Saturday to Sunday October 25th-26th
Address: 1224 Legion Way SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Time: 1:30 PM on Saturday to 11:30 AM after worship on Sunday
Who: Youth 6-12th grades

Link to register: https://forms.gle/45F4UBfuvaZNHb2q7

Flyer: Youth All Nighter

Roots & Wings: Puget Sound District Training
2025-10-25 09:00 - 15:00 | Port Hadlock Community UMC, 130 Church Ln, Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA, 98339, United States
Laity and clergy of the Puget Sound District are invited to join use for our annual training event. In an effort to make the event more accessible, we are once again hosting Roots & Wings on three different dates in different locations across the district. The dates and locations are:
Saturday, September 27 – Central UMC, Sedro-Woolley
Saturday, October 25 – Community UMC, Port Hadlock
Saturday, November 15 – Haller Lake UMC, Seattle
Each location will feature members of the church sharing about ministry that is happening in their community, along with tips and suggestions for other churches to consider. There will also be other workshops across a variety of topics.
Registration for Roots & Wings here.

Lay Servant Ministries: Lay Pastoral Care Giving
2025-10-28 18:00 - 20:00 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-pastoral-care-giving-2/2025-10-28/

GNW Hispanic/Latinx Leaders Meeting
2025-10-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Meeting
The Greater Northwest (GNW) Hispanic/Latinx Leaders Meeting is a monthly gathering open to all Hispanic/Latinx pastors and leaders serving in local churches across the GNW Episcopal Area.
We meet by Zoom on the last Wednesday of each month from 6:00–7:00 PM (PST) under the leadership of our chairperson, Aurora Pavón.
These meetings provide a space to:

Check in with one another and share updates
Discuss upcoming events, workshops, and activities
Plan collaborative initiatives
Lift up community needs and concerns

This is a valuable opportunity to connect, learn, and support one another in ministry.
For more information, please contact: cesantos@pnwumc.org

Special Session of the Pacific Northwest Conference
2025-10-29 18:00 - 19:30 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/special-session-of-the-pacific-northwest-conference/
Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth has called for a Special Online Session of the Pacific Northwest Conference to take place on Wednesday, October 29 beginning at 6 p.m. More information about this meeting can be found on this resource page.
Registration will be sent to members no later than September 15, 2025. Please be in contact with your District Administrator if you haven’t received your invitation.

Lay Servant Ministries: Lay Pastoral Care Giving
2025-10-30 18:00 - 20:00 | https://www.pnwumc.org/event/lay-pastoral-care-giving-2/2025-10-30/

Lay Servant Ministries: Leading Worship
2025-11-01 09:00 - 11:30, 2025-11-08 09:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Lay Servants who have completed the Basic Course are invited to participate in this four-week class on leading worship, led by Rev. Dr. Desi Larson, from November 1-22, 2025. The class will be held on Zoom on Saturdays from 9:00-11:30am. This class is worth 1 CEU and counts toward either Lay Servant or Lay Speaker Certification. It is also a prerequisite for Certified Lay Minister Modules.
Using Hoyt Hickman’s book, Worshiping with United Methodists, this course will help students understand the basic pattern of United Methodist worship within the broader context of Christian worship. Drawing upon five basic principles, the author explains the formative nature of worship and how it can revitalize persons’ lives.
The Rev. Dr. Desi Larson is a member of the Oregon-Idaho Conference, currently serving as Pastor of Trinity UMC in Sequim, WA. Prior to moving to the western US in 2016, Desi was a member of the New England Conference and served as Pastor of several churches in Maine. Desi holds a BA degree in English and Visual Arts from Waynesburg College in Pennsylvania and a Master of Divinity from Boston University in Massachusetts. Being a life-long learner, Pastor Desi also received MS and Ph.D. degrees in Adult Education from Cornell University in New York.
DATES: November 1, 8, 15, and 22
TIME: Saturdays, 9:00-11:30am PST
WHERE: Zoom (Link will be sent with registration confirmation)
FEE: the cost of the book — Worshiping with United Methodists by Hoyt Hickman ($13.99 at Cokesbury, or $20.99 at Amazon; ISBN 13: 9780687335268)
Participant Requirements: Must have completed the Basic course. Each participant must have a book, read it prior to the first session, complete assignments, and be fully engaged in all 4 sessions with audio and video capability active. The registration deadline is October 20.
Contact Rev Sheila Miranda, smiranda@pnwumc.org, with questions or if you need assistance.
To register, please complete the form on our registration website.

AIDNW Presents a Performance of “The Detention Lottery” An Immersive Theater Experience
2025-11-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Wallingford United Methodist Church, 2115 North 42nd St., Seattle, WA, 98103, United States
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants move through the federal detention system each year. The larger detention centers, such as the one in Tacoma, have their own courts. But little is known about what happens behind closed doors where cameras are not allowed. Seattle playwright Margaret O’Donnell believed a play was the only way to share what those inside—from the detainees to the guards—experience every day.
An immersive theater experience, suitable for middle-school children and older. The play offers a rare, unfiltered look into the realities of America’s immigration courts – spaces typically closed to the public and even to family members. We hear desperate conversations between attorneys and their clients, and life-and-death decisions made in a traffic court setting.
This play is presented by Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW) in collaboration with the Wallingford United Methodist Church.
Donation accepted at the door (suggested donation $20). No one turned away for lack of funds. Join us. (For more about the author: https://odonnellplaywright.com/)
