By Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr
PORTLAND, OR — The Mount St. Helens Room at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel was more than just a meeting space from April 13–15, 2026; it was a sanctuary of transformation. Under the banner of Rest, Resist, and Rise, the inaugural summit hosted by the Western Jurisdiction Inter-Ethnic Coordinating Committee (WJIECC) and the Pacific Northwest Conference (PNW) Commission on Ethnic Ministries (COEM) proved that when vision meets divine timing, a new roadmap for leadership emerges.
The Spark of a Movement
The journey began in October 2025, amidst the electric atmosphere of the “Viva La Church” Innovation Summit in Las Vegas. A holy spark was ignited when the Executive Committee of the WJIECC—including Chair Rev. Dr. Joel Hortiales, Vice Chair Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr, and Treasurer Rev. Dr. Vathanak Heang—gathered in a hotel lobby to dream. We asked ourselves how we might take the fire of the annual ethnic ministers’ retreat from the PNWC COEM and offer that vitality to the entire Western Jurisdiction.
Armed with a vision from God and a deep sense of empowerment, we announced a “Save the Date” right there on the gathering floor. With the immediate support of Bishop Kristin G. Stoneking, the dedicated advisor to the WJIECC, a movement was born. Her backing, combined with the support of the PNW COEM, allowed this vision to be implemented in less than six months, successfully convening over 50 invited ethnic leaders from the tundra of Alaska to the deserts of Arizona.
A Sacred Welcome to the Greater Northwest
As the summit convened, the gravity of the moment was recognized by Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, Resident Bishop of the Greater Northwest Area. In his greeting, Bishop Bridgeforth noted that in his 26 years of ministry within the Western Jurisdiction, he had never witnessed an event curated on this scale specifically for the mutual care and togetherness of ethnic leaders. Seeing the group gather with such a strong sense of joy, his words became the heartbeat of the conference—a divine seal reminding everyone that this space for rest and connection was not merely an elective convenience, but a sacred mandate and a historic necessity for the journey ahead.
This spirit of hospitality was carried forward by Rev. Dr. Bryon Harris, a pastor in the PNWC, who managed registration with a level of excellence that transformed a logistical task into an act of pastoral care. His hospitality set a profound tone, ensuring every attendee felt seen and valued from the outset. The assembly was formally opened by Rev. Dr. Allen Buck, Executive Director of Indigenous Circle Ministries of the Greater Northwest, whose powerful land acknowledgement grounded the gathering in the sanctity of the land and ensured the summit began with spiritual alignment and respect.
The Theological Core: Rest as Resistance
The heartbeat of these three days was a deliberate shift from the “grind” of ministry to the grace of being. We stood together in a unified act of resistance against a status quo that often demands we use our voices only for labor or lament; instead, we reclaimed our voices as instruments of self-preservation and holy truth. Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr reflected on the ontological shift found in Matthew 28:2, where an angel rolled back the stone and sat upon it. In the face of empire, we are called to sit unbothered while God reorders the silence of our Holy Saturdays. By transforming a barricade into a bench, the angel revealed that plots designed to seal our fate are repurposed as platforms for victory, moving us from the performance of labor to the power of presence.
Our communal grounding was deepened as Rev. Dr. Joel Hortailes guided us in a devotion centered on the beauty of dwelling in unity. Through the breath of the Psalms, he led us to inhale the spirit of corporate wholeness, reminding us that our collective witness is sustained by the life-giving air of the Spirit. The invocation of unity culminated in the prayers of Rev. Dr. Vathanak Heang, who petitioned for the summit’s success, binding our efforts to the Holy Spirit’s transformative power.
Furthering this grounding, Bishop Kristin G. Stoneking emphasized the necessity of listening to the body as a site of divine revelation. Drawing a parallel between the resurrected body of Jesus and the bodies of those in leadership, she reminded us that we carry our ministry in our flesh. Therefore, the rest and care found in the Sabbath are essential for us to truly rise and perform our work with holy vitality. By embracing this restorative grace, we honor the temple of the Holy Spirit, ensuring that we can truly rise with the strength required to do the work of the Kindom.
Healing in Practice: From Somatics to Sessions
This theological foundation was made tangible through layers of restorative practice and a curriculum carefully curated by Candi Cylar (SBC21) to honor the unique DNA of ethnic leaders. Participants engaged in bracelet making, tea blending, and art therapy, finding the necessary space to breathe. Early morning somatic healing and sound baths were offered by a certified breathing coach, while professional massage therapy—provided by a team of certified BIPOC practitioners—offered a rare opportunity for physical and spiritual decompression. This intentional inclusion allowed leaders to feel fully cared for by therapists who understood the somatic weight carried by those in ethnic ministry.
The sessions further deepened this journey of self-preservation. Rev. Allison Mark opened with a session on togetherness that set a high standard, later returning to lead a transformative presentation on leading from disruption. Rev. Dr. Kevass J. Harding provided much-needed emotional release through his vulnerable truth-telling on financial and emotional wellness, while Dr. Brian Brown helped leaders embrace healthy mindsets through the power of assessment. Finally, Dr. Amy Steele’s session on rest as resistance challenged participants to shed toxic values, utilizing a guided body scan to anchor them in the work ahead. High-energy young adult line and Latin dance leaders even led the group in movement, turning togetherness into a shared, physical practice of collective liberation.
Impact and the Ascent
The impact of the summit was echoed in the testimonies of those present, beginning with Rev. Marie Wilson, WJ BMCR President, who testified that a “heaviness was lifted” through the sacred space of active listening and the profound new connection she found with Rev. Cecilia Comer. Similarly, Rev. Kirsten Oh shared that she felt deeply empowered to carry this fire home, seeking to scale this unique experience of liberty and restoration within her own conference.
The culmination of our time together was marked by a powerful closing anointing service led by Dr. Brian Brown. These anointings served as a spiritual seal, commissioning every leader to return to their respective fields not just as workers, but as empowered and risen servants of the Most High. This final act of grace ensured that we were sent out with a tangible sense of holy vitality.
As the gathering concluded, Dr. Michael Bowie, Executive Director of SBC21, reflected on the symbolism of our meeting place—the Mount St. Helens Ballroom. He noted that we were meeting on a “summit” in a room named for a mountain known for disruption, yet we had found a true peak of collective potential. We returned to our communities, having unlearned the toxic narrative of worthiness through exhaustion, and embraced a new rhythm of grace instead. We did not just leave refreshed; we left risen.
Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr chairs the Commission on Ethnic Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference and serves as Vice Chair for the Western Jurisdiction Inter-Ethnic Coordinating Committee. She also serves as pastor at Gresham United Methodist Church in Gresham, Oregon.
