March 2, 2006

Dear Leaders of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference,

Grace and peace to you in this season of Lenten reflection and preparation!

A number of significant changes are being made as we plan for annual conference this coming June. I know that may seem a distant future for many, but the planning for the session has been underway at full speed for several months. This E-Vine is one of several you may be receiving to let you know about the changes AND to ask for your help in embracing these changes and informing others.

It has been my experience that our gathering together as lay and clergy at annual conference is a significant moment in our covenant with God and with each other. When this covenant is taken seriously and when it patterns our life together, we model for our churches the best of what it means to be a part of The United Methodist connection!

FIRST, THE DATES AND LOCATION. We will be meeting on the campus of Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho. The official dates of annual conference are Wednesday morning, June 7 through Saturday morning, June 10. However, the clergy Orders are both planning meetings for the late afternoon of Tuesday, June 6, and you may already be aware of a special event that evening. One of our colleagues in ministry, the Rev. Jerry Peters of Union and North Powder United Methodist Churches, will reprise his role as the great comedian, Red Skelton at 7 p.m. The event is free, but an offering will be taken to benefit a hunger-related mission project.

REGISTRATION will be done entirely online this year. This will assist us in accuracy and timeliness in the registration process. There is a great process in place, and we ask you to please assist your lay members with this process. Help is available online or by telephone to assist us in this new and efficient way of registration. Step-by-step instructions will be mailed out in an annual conference packet.

This year, the ORDINATION SERVICE will be moved to Friday night. We hope this change will allow for better attendance by annual conference members and will facilitate participation by families and friends of ordinands. I hope you will make every effort to be at the ordination service to support by prayers and presence those whose call to ministry is being affirmed and recognized.

As you plan your travel to and from annual conference, please be aware that the session is scheduled to conclude after a closing worship service on Saturday. Our goal is to send everyone off to travel home well inspired. Please make your travel plans accordingly.

The MINISTRY MARKETPLACE will replace the "Ministry Fair," and will be open during the entirety of annual conference. You will have time to browse and receive materials about a wide range of ministry opportunities and settings and perhaps to speak to someone directly about the information you receive.

LIVING THE CONNECTION will be the new name given to our "plenary" sessions. This name change honors the real intent of the time when we are all together as an annual conference!

If you are unable to be present for all or part of the annual conference session, please write to your district superintendent for PERMISSION TO BE EXCUSED.

Remind persons that they have only to log on to our WEBSITE at www.umoi.org for details and forms!

These are a few of the changes that I want to alert you to. More changes may be announced in the future, and I may also remind you through future E-Vines of ways in which you can assist us. I am depending on you who are the appointed and assigned leaders of our congregations to make every effort to communicate this information to your laity. We cannot do this without your participation!