July 17th, 2008 by Linda Sullivan
The official wrap-up of Annual Conference, a summary of activities and actions, is now available on the Conference website. This summary is a resource for members who wish to report to their local congregations and anyone wanting to know what happens at Annual Conference.
You may also see and download photos from the wrap-up below. (Photos are being processed and loaded today.) For photos of the Jars of Clay Event, click on that article in the blog below.
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July 8th, 2008 by Pamela
What goes into preparing for the journey towards being a bishop in the United Methodist Church? For Donna Pritchard, it’s a lot of faith, surprise, support, play, and most of all prayer. Read the rest of this entry »
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July 8th, 2008 by LynettePodkranic
Rev. Robert (Bob) Flaherty is running for Bishop in the Western Jurisdictional Conference (WJC) of The United Methodist Church and was one of two candidates endorsed by the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference in June. The contest will be decided at the WJC, July 16-19, 2008 in Portland. This quadrennium, the WJC must elect two new bishops due to the retirement of Bishop Beverly Shamana and the voluntary resignation of Bishop Edward Paup, who was elected General Secretary for the Global Board of Global Ministries (GBM) at General Conference in March. Read the rest of this entry »
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July 6th, 2008 by LynettePodkranic
Dr. Steven A. Booth, Director of eChristianEd.com, is promoting his innovative program for the first time directly to Oregon-Idaho Conference members. eChristianEd.com offers an online, paraprofessional, non-degree certification (PPC) in Christian education. This program, started in 2001 at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina, is the only paraprofessional track program approved by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church (GBHEM).
The program consists of two foundation courses, available exclusively online: (1) Biblical and Theological Foundations for Ministry, and (2) Foundations for Christian Education. In addition, to achieve certification students must complete three out of the four advanced courses, which are specialized courses in: (1) Children’s Ministries; (2) Youth Ministries; (3) Adult Ministries; and (4) Family Ministries. Courses are taught by university professors.
The program and courses are designed to help paid staff and church volunteers lead and operate more effective ministries. The courses are graded on a pass/fail basis, with a level of difficulty equivalent to a 100- or 200-level college course, according to Dr. Booth. Most students complete one course per semester. Enrollment is now open for fall 2008, which begins in September 2008.
by Lynette Podkranic, special feature writer for Annual Conference
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June 25th, 2008 by Linda Sullivan
It was my joy and pleasure to attend the Annual Conference Session of the Oregon-Idaho Conference. For the better part of five days we were kept more than busy with vibrant, energetic worship services, discipleship and discernment groups, plenary (Living the Connection) sessions and commissioning and ordination celebrations. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 25th, 2008 by LynettePodkranic
From Salem First UMC, Cesie Scheuermann is our new Conference lay leader. For the past four years, Cesie has served as Western District lay leader, with 2008 marking her fourth Annual Conference. Cesie was voted in at the Laity Session during Annual Conference on Thursday, June 19. She is replacing Tom Wogaman, who is retiring and did not seek re-election. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 24th, 2008 by Claudia Roberts
At lunch today I was fortunate to have taken a seat at the table next to Larry Able, deacon and architect of sacred spaces. He works with church communities looking to build new churches or remodel existing spaces. I remembered being present at his ordination a few years ago but had never had the opportunity to visit with him. Larry told us the amazing story of the building of a new church and a new neighborhood in Kimberly, Idaho. The congregation had envisioned building a new church some years ago and bought a parcel of land on the edge of town. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 24th, 2008 by LynettePodkranic
The Rev. Bill Mullette-Bauer assumes his new position as director of stewardship and finance for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference on July 1, 2008. He is technically replacing Conference Treasurer Bob Meyers who is retiring after 22 years of service in the Conference Office. However, the title and focus of the position will have a greater Christian stewardship emphasis. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 23rd, 2008 by Linda Sullivan
Bishop Hoshibata called the morning’s session to order at 8:35 a.m. with his potato masher from the people of southern Idaho. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 23rd, 2008 by MikeSanderson
Dan Haseltine and Jars of Clay rocked the Pavilion at the Oregon State Fairgrounds as Annual Conference featured a unique Saturday evening concert. The concert was intended to bring young people from the Salem area and beyond to connect with the United Methodist Church. About 4,500 people–young and old–listened and danced during concert. Haseltine’s silky tenor led the Jars through a set of mostly newer music with a few of their older hits thrown in including “Flood”, “Love Song for a Savior,” and “I Need You.” The Jars sound is driven by the acoustic and rhythm guitars of Mark Odmark and the soaring lead guitar of Stephen Mason in the vein of U2 and REM.
The concert was paid for by the Bishop’s Fund for Boldness and brought in 4,900 pounds of non-perishable food items for the Marion Polk Food Share as part of the Bishop’s Initiative to Eliminate Hunger. The concert also featured an Invitation to Discipleship (i2d) with a number of Annual Conference members participating as prayer partners for those in attendance who responded to the call. Additionally more than 100 people filled out interest cards; the cards were distributed to Salem UMCs for follow-up in order to bring new disciples into their communities.
by Mike Sanderson, Special Features Writer for Annual Conference
To download full-size photo, click on thumbnail, then double click on image that opens, click on “Save As” and save file to your harddrive. Please credit UMOI/Bill Vollmer.
All photos in this section by Bill Volmer
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