By Rev. David Valera
The 2026 Ethnic Summit: Rest. Resist. Rise. brought leaders of color together in Portland, not simply for a conference, but for a shared experience of renewal, connection, and honest conversation.
From the opening moments on Monday, April 13, there was a clear sense that this space had been thoughtfully and prayerfully curated. Participants arrived carrying the weight of their ministries, their communities, and the complexities of the times in which we live. And yet, over the course of the gathering, something meaningful unfolded.
Most of the planned experiences were deeply engaged. The opening session and reception set a tone of energy and welcome, where laughter, movement, and presence helped ease people into community. Throughout the summit, participants leaned into opportunities for reflection, healing, and creativity, whether through guided breathwork, art spaces, or simply taking time to be still.
What stood out most were the relationships.
Across cultures and across racial identities, people entered into conversations that were both honest and life-giving. Stories were shared. Perspectives were expanded. There were many small but powerful “gems of connection,” moments when trust was built, understanding deepened, and new relationships began, while others were renewed.
The speakers and resource persons offered more than content; they offered presence, wisdom, and challenge. Their leadership resonated deeply with participants to the point that many expressed a desire to continue these conversations in longer, more sustained settings in the future.
By the time the gathering concluded on Wednesday, there was a noticeable shift in the room. People were not just leaving with notes or ideas, but with a renewed sense of clarity, connection, and purpose.
This summit reminded us that when we create space to truly rest, to resist what diminishes life, and to rise together in community, something sacred happens.
And that kind of work does not end when the event concludes; it continues in the relationships carried forward.
With gratitude, we give thanks for Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth and Bishop Kristine Stoneking, whose presence helped ground this gathering in vision and spirit; for Rev. Dr. Troy Lynn Carr and the PNWC COEM team, whose care and intentional leadership shaped this sacred space; and for the Western Jurisdiction Inter-Ethnic Coordinating Committee, whose partnership strengthened this work.
May the seeds planted during these days continue to grow.
May the connections formed here continue to deepen.
And may we go forward, rested, resilient,
and ready to resist what diminishes life,
and to rise together in hope.
Thanks be to God.
Rev. David Valera serves as Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church.
