Setting Ministry Priorities Conversations

Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth has invited lay and clergy members within the Greater Northwest Area to conversations about resources, ministry and collaboration in the area, continuing conversations that annual conference members started when they met in June. This is another step in a discernment process that will help us determine ministry priorities and future opportunities to collaborate for better outcomes and greater efficiency.

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Conversations 1-4

During the annual conference sessions held in June of 2024, members of the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho, and Pacific Northwest Conferences each participated in three conversations (Conversations 1-3).

Late in July, a fourth conversation was held over Zoom open to all lay and clergy members. This conversation built upon the first three conversations with participants reviewing items surfaced during the annual conference conversations and beginning a process of prioritizing needs and opportunities.

While these conversations were not recorded, the aggregated results of their feedback is posted here delineated by conference.

Conversation #4 Aggregated Responses

Conversation 5

Conversation 5 was held over Zoom on August 7 and 8 with separate opportunities for each conference. Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth led a discussion and exercises to explore the underlying purpose that drives our ministry. Recordings of three conversations are shared below.

Missed Conversations 4 & 5? It’s not too late to add your perspective!

Conference Polls for Persons who did not attend Conversations 4 or 5

Bishop Bridgeforth is inviting those who were not able to attend Conversations 4 or 5 to offer their input on ministry priorities for their conferences and the GNW Area. After watching the bishop’s short message, please use the conference-specific links included on this page to submit your perspective.

Additional Conversations

The ‘Setting Ministry Priorities’ conversations will inform each annual conference when members meet in a special session later this year to approve a 2025 budget for their conference that moves us closer toward aligning our funding with our ministry, staffing, programmatic, and budget priorities.

Additional conversation are scheduled with the next round occurring later in August. All United Methodists in the GNW Area are encouraged to participate. Consider inviting every member of your congregation and ministry to attend this session or one of the future opportunities. Each conversation in this open process will build upon the previous ones; you can attend as many as you like.