Greater Northwest Area of The United Methodist Church

Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth's Installation and GNW Opening Session
2023-05-20 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 9161 Cinema Dr, Juneau, AK, 99801, United States
This event will be livestreamed – in-person participation will be by invitation only due to limited church capacity.
Click here to learn more.

Northwest Leadership Institute - 2023
2023-04-26 - 2023-04-27 | Cathedral of the Rockies, Downtown Campus 717 N. 11th St., Boise, ID, 83702, United States
Details

It’s a new day and leadership has never been more challenging, exciting and frustrating. What does the post-pandemic church look like? How will we lean into new opportunities? Where are we headed in this challenging time? What will the ministry look like on the other side? Come to Boise and join our three newest Bishops in the Western Jurisdiction for a time of dreaming, visioning, and strategizing as we write the next chapter together.
The Northwest Leadership Institute’s goals are to gather leaders to think, dream, worship and connect as we together find the path forward. Plan now to be present for this historic exciting time.
We have many options for you to be present. You can be present in-person or you can opt-in to be present online and skip the travel. We will work to make both experiences positive.
I am excited to join you in April for this amazing time.
“You were born for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14
Grace and peace.
Rev Dr. Duane A Anders (He, Him, His)
Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise FUMC
Click here to learn more and register.

GNW Area Laity Leadership Training 2023
2023-03-18 10:00 - 12:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/gnw-area-laity-leadership-training-2023/
On Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to noon PST via Zoom, staff from across the GNW Area will offer training for local church leaders in the areas of SPRC, Trustees, Finance, and Administrative Board.
The trainings will cover basic responsibilities and best practices, as well as dive deeper into human resources issues, using property and assets for ministry, the single board model, and managing conflict.
Click here for more information and to register for this training.

Opposing White Christian Nationalism and the Midterm Elections
2022-11-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Rainier Arts Center, 3515 S Alaska St, Seattle, 98118, United States
Valley and Mountain Fellowship is hosting a dialogue on November 6 at 4 pm about White Christian Nationalism and the Midterm Elections between Rev. Dr. Obery Hendricks, author of “Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith” and Dr. Anthea Butler, author of “White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America.” The dialogue will be moderated by Rev. Dr. Edward Donalson, III, author, “#BlackLivesMatter: Toward an Intersectional Theology,” and will be available in-person and online.
The event will be livestreamed on the Valley and Mountain YouTube page.
Click here to learn more about this event and to RSVP on Facebook.

Webinar: Are you prepared for a disaster?
2022-09-27 18:00 - 19:00
Are you prepared for a disaster? September is National Preparedness Month, so there is no better time to learn how you can be personally prepared for natural disasters in the Greater Northwest.
Click here to register today!
Abundant Health Ministries is offering a presentation on the topic on Tuesday, September 27, from 6-7 p.m. PT (5 p.m. AKT/7 p.m. MT). The presentation will discuss:

The natural disasters common in the Greater Northwest and their effects on our communities.
Steps you and your family can take to prepare for such events.
Ways you can help your church and community be prepared.

Presenters for this webinar will include:

Louise Kienzle, OR/ID UMVIM and Interim Disaster Response Coordinator
Cheryl Reagan, PNW UMVIM Coordinator
Ronda Cordill, Western Jurisdiction UMVIM Coordinator

If you have any questions, email Emilie Kroen.

Lay Servant Ministries: The Method of Our Mission - polity course
2022-09-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-19 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-15 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-08 18:00 - 20:00 | WA
Course Title: The Method of Our Mission – Polity Course
Inclusive Dates: Sept 8 – 22, 2022
Schedule: Monday & Thursday Nights from 6 to 8 PM PT
Location: Zoom
Offered by: Oregon-Idaho Conference
Instructor: Emilie Kroen. Oregon-Idaho Director of Lay Servant Ministries
Fee: Cost of the Book: $20.99
Registrar: Emilie Kroen, ekroen@yahoo.com; Cell 503.312.4138 By September 1
Registration information needed: Name, home address, email address, phone #, & your local church
Book: The Method of Our Mission: United Methodist Polity and Organization
Course Description:
This accessible book uses a Wesleyan theological frame—connection—to help readers understand United Methodism’s polity and organization as the interrelationship of our beliefs, mission, and practice. The book is organized into four parts—United Methodist beliefs, mission, practice, and organization. Governance practices and organizational structure are framed within a Wesleyan theology of connection.
Contact with Questions: Emilie Kroen, ekroen@yahoo.com; 503.312.4138
Course requirement: Participants must be fully engaged in all 5 zoom sessions with audio and video.

LSM Class: The Method of Our Mission – Polity Course
2022-09-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-19 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-15 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-09-08 18:00 - 20:00 | WA
Course Title: The Method of Our Mission – Polity Course
Inclusive Dates: Sept 8 – 22, 2022
Schedule: Monday & Thursday Nights from 6 to 8 PM PT
Location: Zoom
Offered by: Oregon-Idaho Conference
Instructor: Emilie Kroen. Oregon-Idaho Director of Lay Servant Ministries
Fee: Cost of the Book: $20.99
Registrar: Emilie Kroen, ekroen@yahoo.com; Cell 503.312.4138
Registration information needed: Name, home address, email address, phone #, & your local church
Book: The Method of Our Mission: United Methodist Polity and Organization
Course Description: This accessible book uses a Wesleyan theological frame—connection—to help readers understand United Methodism’s polity and organization as the interrelationship of our beliefs, mission, and practice. The book is organized into four parts—United Methodist beliefs, mission, practice, and organization. Governance practices and organizational structure are framed within a Wesleyan theology of connection.
Contact with Questions: Emilie Kroen, ekroen@yahoo.com; 503.312.4138
Course requirement: Participants must be fully engaged in all 5 zoom sessions with audio and video.

Basic Lay Servant Ministries Course
2022-08-29 18:00 - 20:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/basic-lay-servant-ministries-course/2022-08-29/
Inclusive Dates: August 15, 18, 22, 25, and 29
Schedule: Mondays and Thursdays 6 to 8 PM PT
Location: Zoom
Offered by: Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
Instructor: Emilie Kroen
Fee: The cost of the book
Registration Deadline: August 5, 2022
To Register: Email Emilie Kroen at ekroen@yahoo.com, or call or text Emilie at 503-312-4138. Provide your Name, Address, Phone #, and your local church setting.
Book: Lay Servant Ministries Participant’s Book by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson. Available for purchase via Amazon, Cokesbury and The Upper Room.
Course description: “God calls you to a life of servanthood as a disciple of Jesus Christ. …Lay Servant Ministries is the first step for many laypersons toward their faith journey as they strive for a closer relationship with the Lord,” the authors write in the intro. This course is designed to equip church leaders in The UM Church. It explores personal spiritual gifts, servant leadership, each leader’s role in developing future leaders, the importance of consistent spiritual practices, the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating, and more.
Participant Requirements: Have the book named above, read the 1st session ahead of the first session, and fully engage in all 5 sessions with audio and video active.

Basic Lay Servant Ministries Course
2022-08-25 18:00 - 20:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/basic-lay-servant-ministries-course/2022-08-25/

Nutrition and Healthy Eating on a Budget - Abundant Health Ministries
2022-08-23 18:00 - 19:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/nutrition-and-healthy-eating-on-a-budget-abundant-health-ministries/
Abundant Health Ministries will be hosting a virtual event on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 6-7 p.m. PT (5-6 p.m. AKT, 7-8 p.m. MT) on the topic ‘Nutrition and Healthy Eating on a Budget.” The presenter will be Siew Guan Lee, MS, RD, who is an Extension Educator in Family & Consumer Sciences for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho Extension in Twin Falls County.
Siew Guan Lee will be presenting:

The basics of nutrition and strategies to help you eat well while stretching your food dollar.
How healthy eating is important at every age—and can be done on a budget.
How eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives is important.
When you are deciding what to eat or drink, she will discuss how to choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.

To register for the virtual educational event, visit: https://forms.gle/RrM8Ne9pVyENGjLn7
If you have any questions, contact Emilie Kroen at ekroen@yahoo.com.
About Siew Guan Lee
Siew Guan Lee is a family and consumer sciences Extension Educator with the University of Idaho located in Twin Falls, Idaho. She is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), and her programs focus on nutrition and health, including diabetes education, senior nutrition, youth development, food security and food access. Siew currently administers the University of Idaho’s Extension Eat Smart Idaho program for the Central District, serving low-income individuals and families in the Magic Valley area. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Idaho.

Basic Lay Servant Ministries Course
2022-08-22 18:00 - 20:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/basic-lay-servant-ministries-course/2022-08-22/

Basic Lay Servant Ministries Course
2022-08-18 18:00 - 20:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/basic-lay-servant-ministries-course/2022-08-18/

Basic Lay Servant Ministries Course
2022-08-15 18:00 - 20:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/basic-lay-servant-ministries-course/2022-08-15/

BSA & UMC Informational Webinar
2022-08-10 18:30 - 20:00 | WA
The Greater Northwest Area treasurers will be hosting an informational webinar on August 10th at 6:30 p.m. PT. Any church that has or is considering hosting a Boy Scout Troop or unit should plan to have at least one church leader attend the webinar. Brant Henshaw (PNW and Alaska Conference Treasurer) and Candace Clarke (OR-ID Conference Treasurer) will be available to answer questions.
During the webinar, the treasurers will be covering updates on the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) settlement, the new Affiliation Agreement and the new Facility Use Agreement, and will attempt to answer questions you may have on moving forward with this area of ministry in your community. They anticipate the webinar to last about an hour and would appreciate questions in advance so we can have the best possible information available for you.
Registration is required.

GNW Closing Session
2022-06-25 09:00 - 14:30 | https://youtu.be/j2ScPQwD5XM
A shared closing session for the 2022 Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church.

GNW Opening Session
2022-06-19 18:00 - 20:00 | https://youtu.be/uKPVSkpZ2tI
A shared opening worship service, episcopal address and additional shared reports for the 2022 Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences of The United Methodist Church.

Greater Northwest Annual Conference Sessions
2022-06-19 - 2022-06-25 | https://greaternw.org/event/greater-northwest-shared-annual-conference-session-2/
The GNW area’s primary week of annual conference sessions, where the business of each Conference is conducted by clergy and lay members, will start on the evening of Sunday, June 19, with a GNW area-wide opening. The remainder of the week will include a separate focused day of work for each conference and individual days for ordination and commissioning services in PNW and OR-ID.

The GNW Area-wide Opening will take place on the evening of Sunday, June 19.
The Alaska Conference will meet online on Monday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. AKT.
The Pacific Northwest Conference will meet online on Tuesday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT.
The Pacific Northwest Conference’s Service of Commissioning and Ordination will occur during the day on Wednesday, June 22.
The Oregon-Idaho Conference will meet online on Thursday, June 23, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. MT.
The Oregon-Idaho Conference’s Service of Commissioning and Ordination will occur during the day on Friday, June 24.
The GNW Area-wide closing plenary and celebration will occur during the day on Saturday, June 25.

Each day of business will include morning bible studies and evening devotions during the first and last hour. These opportunities will be open for anyone – not just Annual Conference members – to attend.
Click here for more information. Please watch for more information in conference and GNW Area communications. Published dates are subject to change, and we will announce additional opportunities as they become available.

GNW Laity Session
2022-06-14 18:30 - 20:00 | https://youtu.be/LZhR-iVtBm0
A shared laity session of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences.

Transitions Retreat
2022-06-06 - 2022-06-07 | https://greaternw.org/event/transitions-retreat/

Called to Preach: Lay Servant Ministries Advanced Course
2022-05-29 13:00 - 15:00 | WA
Book for new LSM course beginning May 1.
Called to Preach 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.
This course meets the required preaching course in the Certified Lay Speaker track of study, and serves as an advanced continuing education class for the Certified Lay Servant and Certified Lay Minister tracks.
*Each participate must have the book, read it, and fully participate in all 5 sessions with audio and video.
Book: From Pew to Pulpit: A Beginner’s Guide to Preaching By Clifton F. Guthrie
TIME: 1 to 3 p.m. PST, 2 to 4 p.m. MST.
DATES: May 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29
INSTRUCTOR: Rev. Nancy Mead
LOCATION: On Line Zoom Course*
This course if offered by Mountain Sky Annual Conference
COST: The cost of the book
REGISTER By April 24, 2022 at
LayServantTraining.org
For more info or questions please contact Gene at(719)588-7627 or gene@trinitylsm.org

GNW Webinar: Exploring and understanding changes afoot in The UMC
2022-05-24 18:00 - 20:00 | https://greaternw.org/event/gnw-webinar-exploring-and-understanding-changes-afoot-in-the-umc/
Change is unfolding in The United Methodist Church: A delayed General Conference until 2024, people from across the spectrum forming new denominations and leaving The UMC, work within the existing United Methodist Church to create positive change and build connections, and more. All of these changes could have an impact on local churches and clergy. That’s why leaders from across the Greater Northwest Area want to begin a dialogue with clergy and laity about what these changes might mean for all of us here who are committed to being Christ’s disciples for a transformative world. Join us for the first of what will hopefully be continued conversations on the changes ahead for the church.
Click here to register.

Abundant Health food insecurities training
2022-05-24 18:00 - 19:30 | WA
Churches across the Greater Northwest Area are invited attend virtual education event on food insecurity and hunger on May 24 being hosted by Abundant Health Ministries. The featured speaker for this event will be Sharon Thornberry, Columbia Gorge Food Bank manager for the Oregon Food Bank. Register here. Anyone with questions can contact Emilie Kroen: ekroen@yahoo.com.
