News

California-Nevada Staff to Work Part-time with GBOD

  Kelly Newell, California-Nevada Annual Conference director of camping and young people's ministries, assumed a part-time role with the denomination's General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) on January 1. In addition to her California-Nevada Conference duties, she has assumed the role of young people's ministry staff for the Western Jurisdiction. In the GBOD role, Newell will help to develop relationships in the Western jurisdiction, conferences, districts, and local churches to leverage...

Conference Leadership Gathers in Nashville to Explore Adaptive Leadership

Nineteen leaders of the California-Nevada Conference recently gathered in Nashville, Tenn. for the 2013 Quadrennial Training Event for Teams of Conference Leaders. The event, which attracted more than 1,000 United Methodists from annual conferences across the United States, focused on learning and practicing skills for adaptive leadership and stories of adaptive learning.   This training event takes place at the beginning of each quadrennium and the theme this year was "Even the...

Cal-Nevada Conference Leadership to Attend 2013 Quadrennial Training Event

Does your leadership make a difference? How do you know what you need to learn for the future? What is the difference between a church and The Church, and what is your role in connecting both? These are just a few of the questions that will be the focus of the 2013 Quadrennial Leadership Training event at which annual conference teams will come together with general agency staff to learn in Nashville, TN, Jan. 17-20, 2013. The theme "Even the wind and the waves obey him…" is...

San Francisco Pastor Named Next Bridges District Superintendent

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced a cabinet change, effective July 1, 2013. After six years, the Rev. Renae Extrum-Fernandez (upper right) will be completing her service on the Cabinet. Rev. Extrum-Fernandez is superintendent for the Bridges District. Bishop Brown spoke highly of Extrum-Fernandez's tenure saying, "I am extremely grateful for Renae's creative and faithful leadership during these times of change in the California-Nevada Conference." Bishop Brown says that...

New Communications Director Comes on Board in January

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (Dec. 11, 2012—The California-Nevada Annual Conference is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Larry Hygh, Jr. as the next Conference director of communications. Hygh, a 5th-generation Methodist and layman, assumes the post on January 14 with a one-day orientation, and then will participate in the 2013 Quadrennial Training in Nashville with Bishop Brown, the extended cabinet, and members of the Conference core team. He succeeds Cate Monaghan, who is retiring...

Server Migration Causes Email Glitch

The weekend of Oct. 20-21, 2012 Information Technology (I.T.) at the United Methodist Center began the process of migrating to a new server. As a result of that process, a glitch occurred that affected the email for Linda Caldwell (Lindac@calnevumc.org). The problem was not discovered until Tuesday. If you sent Linda an email between Oct. 20 and 23, she did not get it – and you did not get a message that it was not received.    Please re-send any email directed to...

Get Acquainted with New Conference Staff

We invite you to get acquainted with three new staff members at the United Methodist Center (Conference Center) in West Sacramento. Please welcome them as new members of the Conference team that works to support local churches – in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Administrative Assistants Jasmine Johnson and Allison Oster have joined Office Coordinator Cindy Buna and Receptionist/Hospitality Specialist Becky Sheldon in the Districts...

Bishop Announces Cabinet Change

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced a Cabinet change, effective July 1, 2012. After six years, the Rev. Jerry Smith (upper right) will be completing his service on the Cabinet. Rev. Smith is superintendent for the Great Northern District. "I am extremely grateful for Jerry's faithful leadership during some challenging years for the California-Nevada Conference," the bishop said. "He has led the formation of the Great Northern District and has a deep love for that region...

Greg Bergquist Is New Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced that the Rev. Greg Bergquist has been named the new Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development for the California-Nevada Annual Conference. He will join the staff July 1, 2012. The position currently is held by the Rev. Ted Virts, who has been appointed to a local church. "I am delighted to welcome Greg Bergquist to my Cabinet," the Bishop said. "He will coordinate our work in developing lay and clergy spiritual...

Conference Superintendent for Congregational Vitality Is Hired

Following a nationwide search, Bener Agtarap has been named the new Conference Superintendent for Congregational Vitality for the California-Nevada Annual Conference.   Agtarap will join the staff July 1, 2012. Originally from Manila, Philippines, he is an ordained elder in the Wisconsin Annual Conference and since 2009 has served as a new church strategist for Path 1 and New Church Starts Division of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD).   "We are excited for what the...

Conference Offices Will Be Closed for Veterans' Day

Offices in the United Methodist Center in West Sacramento will be closed on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 in observance of Veterans' Day....

Great Northern District Lay Discipleship Classes Available in August and November

Register now for the Great Northern District Lay Discipleship Training, August 27 and November 19. Classes will be offered in each of the Great Northern District regions: Coastal, Mountains, Valley, and Lakes. All classes are $10 plus the cost of the textbooks. Scholarships are available. Meals and drinks are not provided, so pack a sack lunch.   For locations and class detail, download brochure/registration form here.   Advanced registration is required. Classes will be...

Cal-Nev Seeks Applicants for New Conference Staff Position

Do you want to make a huge impact – reaching more people, more diverse people, and younger people, through vital congregations? Do you have a passion for the Gospel, compassion for God's people, and experience equipping leaders and starting systems that start and grow faith communities? If so, we want you to apply to be the Conference Superintendent for Congregational Vitality, a new staff position in The California-Nevada Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church....

Longtime Conference Employee, Pam McKee, Retires

The time has come to celebrate and give thanks for the work of Pam McKee, longtime administrative assistant for the San Jose District and now, the El Camino Real District.  On July 1, Pam retires from her work with the California-Nevada Annual Conference. (The work of the district offices has been consolidated into a Districts Administration Center, located at the Conference offices in West Sacramento.) She plans to keep busy teaching business courses as adjunct faculty at Foothill...

Cal-Nev Cabinet Structure Reflects New View

At least two of the questions in the Call to Action survey relate directly to changes taking place within the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Those who viewed the April 6 webinar live or who watched the archived version (at www.umcleadershipsummit.org) were asked to respond to questions about the mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church.   35.4% of respondents "agreed" and even more (38.7%) "strongly agreed" with the statement, "The adaptive...

Cal-Nev Communications Contributes to GCORR Conversation

The Communications Office of the California-Nevada Annual Conference received two mentions in the February, 2011 CORR{ageous}! Times – an electronic newsletter from the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR). In How to Communicate – Telling Your CORR Story, readers are invited to listen to a Jan. 25 webinar in which Cal-Nev Communications Director Cate Monaghan contributed to a discussion about how a Conference's Commission on Religion and Race can increase its recognition...

Special End-of-Year Instant Connection

Today's is the last regular Instant Connection of 2010. However, there is one other special story we want to bring you before the end of the year. Next Wednesday, December 15, the Bay View and Golden Gate District Offices will close – and with their closure, two longtime employees of the Conference will begin new chapters in their lives. We will honor Ivania Miranda and Bruce Pettit next week. Watch for the story on line and in your Inbox....

DCM's Assistant, Dina Stenwick, Retires

A great partner in ministry Dina Stenwick is retiring at the end of this year after seven years as Administrative Assistant for the Rev. Linda Caldwell, Director of Connectional Ministry, and for the Conference Board of Missions.   "She has been a great partner in ministry," Caldwell says. "Dina has kept me mindful of tasks that needed attention and has handled others with great skill, with little or no direction from me. She has been a valuable link to Conference...

A Day of New Beginnings

Four new districts came into being on September 1, 2010 – their day of birth following one of transition, in which two district offices closed their doors. At Annual Conference Session in June, members approved a resolution sponsored by the Cabinet and Conference Committee on District Superintendency to reduce the number of districts within the California-Nevada Annual Conference from seven to four. The bishop, in accordance with The Book of Discipline (Paragraph 415.4), then drew...

Extrum-Fernandez to Head Board of Pensions

OAKLAND, California—The California-Nevada Annual Conference Board of Pensions has announced the election of Paul Extrum-Fernandez to the position of Executive Secretary (Conference Benefits Officer), effective August 1, 2010. The appointment follows the July 9 announcement of Grady Knowles' retirement. After 31 years of service, Knowles stepped down as Executive Secretary on July 31, but will continue on the staff of the Board as a consultant over the next several months, to assist in...