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SUMMARY:Western Jurisdiction Webinar: Understanding the Constitutional Amendments
DESCRIPTION:  \n \nAt the General Conference 2020/2024 meeting\, four pieces of legislation passed that would change the denomination’s constitution. In order for these changes to go into effect\, the legislation must be ratified by the collective votes of annual and central conferences of the UMC. Throughout 2025\, all central and annual conferences will be asked to vote on these important topics at their Annual Conference meetings. \nThe four pieces for ratification are: \n\nBallot #1: Regionalization: Changing the structure of the UMC to create equity across the worldwide church.\nBallot #2: Expand inclusiveness in church membership\, especially as it relates to gender and ability.\nBallot #3: Stand against racism and colonialism.\nBallot #4: Clarify local pastor status regarding who can vote for clergy delegates.\n\nUnderstanding these amendments is crucial as we move forward together\, as each will impact how we operate as a global church. The Western Jurisdiction has prepared information on each to help you cast your vote. Lay and clergy members of the annual conference are invited to learn more and prepare for this critical vote by joining us on May 19 at 5:30 p.m. AKDT\, 6:30 pm PDT\, 7:30 MDT\, for an information webinar where you can learn more from your ratification conference teams\, and ask any questions you may have. \nSign up now\n 
URL:https://greaternw.org/event/western-jurisdiction-webinar-understanding-the-constitutional-amendments/
LOCATION:WA
CATEGORIES:General Church,Western Jurisdiction
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260421
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260427
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SUMMARY:Greater Northwest 5 Day Academy
DESCRIPTION:Registration is now open for the\nGreater Northwest 5 Day Academy for Spiritual Formation\nApril 21-26\, 2026\nWe’re taught to fear and flee darkness and dark times. But the gifts of God’s presence await when we learn to face and befriend the dark. We invite you to step away from the demands of daily life to enter into this enriching and transformative week of spiritual exploration. \nThe daily rhythm includes morning and evening prayer\, worship with Eucharist\, morning and afternoon study led by faculty\, reflection time\, silence\, community sharing\, listening circles\, and free time. \nClick here to register for this retreat.\nEarly Bird Registration $1030 through 1/15/26  |  Full Price Registration $1130 after 1/15/26 \nRegistration fee includes tuition\, private room & bath and all meals at the beautiful Archibishop Brunett Retreat Center overlooking Puget Sound in Federal Way\, WA. \nScholarships are available. Contact Karen Fisher\, registrar for information. \nWe’re grateful to have received a generous donation toward the retreat center costs\, and invite you to consider contributing to the Greater Northwest Academy for Spiritual Formation\, or to sponsor a participant.\nTo contribute contact Winona Forme\, treasurer. \nTHEMES & FACULTY\nDESCENT FOR THE SAKE OF ASCENT\n“In Jewish mystical tradition we ‘fall’ precisely in order to spur our spiritual rise\,” writes presenter Rachel Barenblat\, whose vocations include poet\, rabbi\, spiritual director\, and parent. Co-founder of Bayit\, a Jewish spiritual innovation incubator\, she has blogged as the Velveteen Rabbi since 2003. She holds in MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars\, and is author of several volumes of poetry\, among them Crossing the Sea and Texts to the Holy. She teaches at the intersection of creative life and spiritual life. She serves Congregation Beth Israel of the Berkshires\, and lives in western Massachusetts with her son. \nEMBRACING HOPELESSNESS: LAMENT\, CRITIQUE\, & ESPERANZA\nPresenter Juan Carlos Huertas is committed to practices that move communities to liberation through shared wisdom\, communal leadership\, and contextual action. Juan Carlos is a follower of Jesus\, husband\, father\, spiritual director\, and Minister of Proclamation and Practice of Justice at First-Plymouth CongregationalChurch in Lincoln\, NE. He holds a Master of Divinity from Emory University\, and a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana College in Pineville\, LA where he majored in Religion and minored in Spanish—his first language growing up in San Juan\, Puerto Rico. \nFor those who hunger for deep spiritual experience. The Academy for Spiritual Formation creates transformative space for people to be in communion with God\, self\, others\, and creation for the sake of the world. The daily rhythm includes morning and evening prayer\, worship with Eucharist\, morning and afternoon study led by faculty\, reflection time\, silence\, community sharing\, listening circles\, and free time. \nOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM\nCathy Warner\, Retreat Leader\, Laity\, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia\nCarolyn Bowers\, Worship\, Clergy\, Pacific Northwest UMC\nKaren Fisher\, Registrar\, Clergy\, Pacific Northwest UMC\nKaren Nelson\, Hospitality\, Clergy\, Oregon-Idaho UMC\nAnne Schlesinger\, Listening Circles\, Clergy\, California/Nevada UMC
URL:https://greaternw.org/event/greater-northwest-5-day-academy/
LOCATION:Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center at the Palisades\, 4700 Southwest Dash Point Road\, Federal Way\, WA\, 98023\, United States
CATEGORIES:Retreats
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