Here We Come A-Conferencing
Like Advent and Christmastide, conferencing in the United Methodist Church really is a season:
There are particular songs we sing, such as the classic conference opener, “And Are We Yet Alive” (if “Here We Come A-Conferencing” isn’t a song someone has already written for the Methodist conference season, it ought to be).
There are set liturgical acts that take place, such as commissioning and ordination.
Much like the experience of Advent for many, conference season brings with it nostalgia mixed with a hope for the future.
This year’s Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference will do its work while pondering the scripture passage from the Gospel according to John when Jesus meets a woman at a well in Samaria. At First Church we’ll also get to hear and ponder this scripture on the Sunday of Annual Conference, June 23.
In a letter about Annual Conference, the Bishop shared:
“In the ancient world, wells functioned as grocery stores do today, a communal space where towns folk and travelers alike would gather the precious and necessary resource of water. The chance meeting of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and their interaction brought refuge for her and those around her. Their encounter prompts a teaching moment for Jesus, which we can choose to learn from even today.
From this story, we draw the theme for our 2024-25 conference year, “Being Well.” This builds on the 2023-24 theme of “Go and Do Likewise.” With it, we are not abandoning our call to do no harm and to do good. Instead, Being Well is our call to be as Christ would have us be in this time and space. Being well emotionally, physically, spiritually, and ecologically is a daily pursuit. When we intentionally include space to look inside and around to identify and amplify structures, policies, and behaviors that support being well and well-being, we are actively doing good and wisely dismantling harm.”
The members of Annual Conference are made up of active and retired clergy as well as an equal number of laity from each local churches across the region. Below is a list of the many people from First Church who will participate in this year’s Annual Conference in some way. Please hold these members of our community in prayer as they prepare their hearts, minds, and voting devices for the work of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference:
Laif Kvarsten, Columbia District College Student (equalization member)
McKenzie Clark, Columbia District Young Adult (equalization member)
Arin Edwards, Columbia District Youth (equalization member)
Bob Wilson, Lay Member to Annual Conference
Harriet Ottaviano, Lay Member to Annual Conference
Phyllis Leonard, Lay Member to Annual Conference
Pat Rieke, Lay Member to Annual Conference
Drew Hogan, Youth Equalization Member Coordinator, Annual Conference Tech Team
Cheryl Bittle, Chair of the Committee on the Episcopacy
Paul Nickell, Conference Lay Leader
Paul Cosgrove, Conference Chancellor, Chair of the Council on Finance and Administration
Rev. Tom Rannells, Retired Clergy
Rev. Joanne Rannells, Retired Clergy
Rev. Lowell Greathouse, Retired Clergy
Rev. Rachel Byers, Clergy (incoming)
Rev. Ethan Gregory, Clergy (outgoing)
Rev. Karyn Richards-Kuan, Clergy
There are others who are affiliated with our church and are members to the Annual Conference but who are not able to participate this year. You can learn more about different parts of Annual Conference on the Conference website.
In addition to Annual Conference, here at our local church we have a Charge Conference on the horizon. A Charge Conference is different from an all-Church Conference. In a Charge Conference, voting members include members of Parish Conference as well as the clergy affiliated with our church, such as retired clergy. In a Church Conference, all of the above are voting members, plus all members of our church.
On Tuesday, June 18 at 7 p.m. we’ll hold a Charge Conference via Zoom to consider the report from the Committee on Lay Leadership and Nominations, as well as clergy salaries for Rev. Dylan and Rev. Rachel. The incoming clergy salaries have been approved by the clergy, SPRC, and District, and are now ready for Charge Conference approval prior to the new appointment year.
Though only Parish Conference members and affiliated clergy may vote at Charge Conference, others are allowed to attend. Voting and non-voting members can email karyn@fumcpdx.org for the Charge Conference Zoom link.
Happy Conference Season!
Pastor Karyn