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United Methodist Church to mark 150th anniversary House of worship known for progressive social outreach, welcomes LGBTQ community  Instant Connection editor’s note: As The United Methodist Church prepares to debate its position on LGBTQ rights in a special session of General Conference next week, a California-Nevada congregation has been recognized in a secular media article for its progressive stance. An excerpt of the excellent article appears below, with a link to the full version. By Lou ...

No, it has nothing to do with penguins. The Happy Feet Dinner taking place at Community United Methodist Church in Rio Linda next week is a fundraiser for children with club feet. Elverta UMC and the Rio Linda UMC are joining forces hoping to raise $710 – the amount needed to help just one child who has the disabling but treatable medical condition. It’s a project of Katherine Parker, California-Nevada Annual Conference missionary to Nepal. The Happy Feet Dinner will take place on Saturday, ...

Los Altos United Methodist Church (LAUMC) hosted a workshop on The Changemaker Initiative at this year’s Gathering of the Orders in Modesto.   Senior Pastor Rev. Kathi McShane, along with Lay Leaders Kim Jones and Melissa Allison, spoke to 40 inquisitive clergy about this new approach to discipleship that took place at LAUMC during 2018.   The workshop included insight into LAUMC’s decision to partner with the global non-profit organization Ashoka to launch a 10-month experiment in a new way of ...

We have received an important update regarding travel in Haiti from Ronda Cordill, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) jurisdictional coordinator for the Western Jurisdiction. The message originated with the mission volunteer coordinator for the Methodist Church in Haiti, David Draeger.   Draeger reports that Haiti is experiencing serious disruptions in travel due to political demonstrations. Roadblocks spontaneously emerge at many locations, he says, so the UMVIM guesthouse is ...

Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. This adds up to more than 10 million women and men in the course of one year – and someone in your life may be among them.   Learn how to listen, talk, and take action when someone you care about is being abused. Attend the workshop “Say Something: How to Help a Friend or Family Member Living with Domestic Violence,” next month at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Orinda.   The workshop will focus ...

The Advocacy and Justice Committee of the California-Nevada Annual Conference recently selected Jean Reynolds to serve as the conference’s new Peace with Justice Coordinator. I had a chance to visit with her this week about the work of the committee, what peace with justice really means, and about possibly little-known resources to help enhance peace with justice efforts by United Methodists in Cal-Nevada churches. Watch the 16:27 video of our conversation below.   Reynolds says trainings are...

Western Jurisdiction communicators will provide pool coverage of General Conference 2019 from a jurisdictional perspective, using social media along with the Western Jurisdiction Update, a special limited-run newsletter created solely to communicate news of the special session.    The pilot edition of the Update, containing an Epiphany message from the Western Jurisdiction bishops, was emailed last month using the mailing lists of all the conferences in the jurisdiction. During General ...

By Adrian Pell Conference Statistician   Next Friday, Feb. 15, is the deadline for all churches to submit the statistical information that is required by the Book of Discipline. Since adoption of our tithe system, this is also essential input to the conference budgeting process, which takes place in March. At the time of writing (Feb. 1), 53 churches had completed their reports ... which only leaves 300 or so to go! Full details were sent to churches and pastors in December and January, and can ...

Rev. Matthew Pearson, pastor of Elk Grove United Methodist Church in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, was interviewed this week for an ABC Channel 10 report on a controversy over inclusive textbooks. The Elk Grove Board of Education Tuesday night (Feb. 5, 2019) heard numerous arguments both in support of and in opposition to new K-8 textbooks that comply with the 2012 Fair ACT, before unanimously approving the curriculum.   That state law requires schools to make reference to ...

The 2018 tithe report has been updated to reflect final numbers for the year. Finance Director Diane Knudsen says it will be at least a month before the numbers for the “2018 Tithe base” column are available, however. She says 2019 tithe amounts will begin to be posted after April 15. View final 2018 church tithe report here.

By Cate Monaghan Interim Communications Director The special called 2019 session of General Conference begins in two weeks, in St. Louis. The time frame is compressed – just three days – but the significance of the gathering would be difficult to overstate. During their time at The Dome at the America’s Center Convention Complex, delegates from all over the world will attempt to decide on a United Methodist Church structure that preserves unity while accommodating diverse theological ...

The Healthy Church Initiative event “Discipleship is Everything,” Featuring Rev. Nicole Reilley [at left], will be offered February 22-23 at the California-Nevada Conference Center in West Sacramento. Churches unable to send representatives are invited to participate remotely, via Zoom video conferencing.   The registration deadline is coming up, but there’s still time to register your team for a transformational time of training around discipleship. The Office of Congregational Development’s ...

United Methodist Communications has launched a new advertising campaign aimed at reassuring churchgoers as the denomination struggles to define itself. “'The Movement Continues' emphasizes our calling,” reads the headline of a press release that says the campaign “seeks to inspire church members and leaders to feel encouraged, assured and hopeful about the future of the denomination.” The release quotes Dan Krause, chief executive of UMCom, as saying, “This campaign is an important reminder ...

The California-Nevada Annual Conference’s Sacramento Pentecost Circuit is sponsoring a series of Saturday workshops under the heading, “The Disciple Making Process,” beginning this month.   The workshops will utilize TeamWorks Tools for Creating Vital Faith Communities, which contains four guidebooks designed to help churches create a healthy leadership team that prays, learns, and dreams together.   The first workshop, Connecting with Your Community, will take place Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 ...

Join El Sobrante United Methodist Church for an evening of “wonderful Russian music” on Wednesday of next week – Feb. 13, 2019, at 7:30 p.m., at the church. The Konevets Quartet is an all-male a cappella vocal quartet from St. Petersburg, Russia. Their program includes a mixture of Russian sacred, medieval, folk, and regimental music in the rich tradition of Russian choral music and the male chamber choir. Part of the Quartet’s revenue aids the continuous restoration of the Monastery of the ...

The Mission Volunteer Office at Global Ministries, a general agency of The United Methodist Church, is advertising two open volunteer placements that need to be made immediately. They are: Tanzania – Assistant Women's Program Coordinator needed, to support an ongoing women's crafts project for the purpose of income generation for local women in a remote area. The volunteer will also be asked to oversee the teaching of introductory business principles. St. Mary’s, Ohio – Support needed for ...

Commission on the General Conference FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 1, 2019   Nashville, Tennessee: The Commission on the General Conference has devised a process for determining the order in which legislative proposals will be considered by the single legislative committee during the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference. [download PDF of Process, below] Petitions which compose a plan will be considered together as one unit. Petitions which are not part of a plan will be considered ...

Jim and Jean Strathdee will lead a workshop and perform in concert on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., in Santa Rosa, CA.   Fee for the 9 a.m. workshop is $20 if you pre-register; $25 at the door.   There is no admission charge for the 7 p.m. concert but a free will offering will be taken.   The event is titled “Light of the World – a Journey into Lent and Easter.”   Call 707-542-2569 for more information. Download flyer here.  Download ...

Following a successful stewardship campaign, the California-Nevada Annual Conference has been able to meet its General Church and Western Jurisdiction commitments for the second year in a row. Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño made the announcement this week at the Gathering of the Orders retreat, then she and Kristin Stoneking taped a message to the conference. The conference was able to reach 100% of apportionment giving for 2018 based on a combination of factors, according to Diane Knudsen, ...

Three churches in Concord, California combined efforts for a Jan. 19 event to benefit two churches in Paradise, California – the community virtually destroyed by a wildfire on Nov. 8, 2018.   Choirs from Concord United Methodist Church, Clayton Valley Presbyterian, and St. Bonaventure Catholic Community performed separately and together in a concert at St. Bonaventure that raised nearly $20,000. The money will go to Paradise United Methodist Church and St. Thomas Catholic Church in Paradise.   ...

Lake Merritt United Methodist Church asks others within the California-Nevada Annual Conference to help promote its 6th Annual Lift Concert – to be held March 9, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. The concert brings together musical talent from throughout the community in support of the Lake Merritt UMC food pantry, Lake Lunches, Ministry to the Unsheltered, and Laney Community College Student Food and Spiritual Support Programs. The concept is to lift up those suffering from food insecurity. A reception with ...

This Saturday evening (Feb. 2) at 6:00, Rola Al Ashkar, a local Christian ministerial resident, will give a cultural presentation on Syria at Davis Community Church’s Fellowship Hall. Refugee women will speak to their experiences, a Middle Eastern meal will be served, and there will be music and dancing, along with a raffle.   Suggested donation $20, with proceeds going to support an English class and to meet transportation needs.     Download flyer for more details and to RSVP by email. Space ...

You probably know that a special called session of The United Methodist Church’s legislative body, General Conference, will take place Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis. You probably know that the session will deal with the denominational stance on gender equality, with the aim of finding a way for the church to accommodate differing views on same-sex marriage and ordination while remaining unified. However, you may have only a vague notion of how General Conference actually works – how decisions are ...

By Rev. Michael Yoshii Chair of Advocacy & Justice Committee, and a Co-Chair of Order of Elders California-Nevada Conference of The UMC   This past week, as communities remembered the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., prominent writer and civil rights advocate Michelle Alexander authored an editorial in the Sunday, January 20th New York Times titled, "Time to Break the Silence on Palestine." [Read Opinion | Time to Break the Silence on Palestine.]    Invoking King's April 4, 1967 ...

A final judgment has been rendered in the case brought by Claremont School of Theology (CST) against Claremont Graduate University and The Claremont Colleges, Inc., formerly known as Claremont University Consortium (CUC), and related cross-claims. A dispute had arisen over whether CST’s property was encumbered with a Right of First Offer restriction that would have required CST, if it wanted to sell its property, to sell it to the consortium at the 1957 selling price, plus improvements and ...

By Rev. Neal Christie Assistant General Secretary, Education and Leadership Formation General Board of Church and Society Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice will gather in Washington, D.C., April 5-8, 2019 for its 17th Annual Conference. Registration for the conference is now open – and our sponsors need your help to amplify and promote this important advocacy training event!   This year’s theme is “Troubling the Waters for the Healing of the World – #GoodTrouble.” The theme...

Pacific School of Religion (PSR) will host a Service of Commissioning, Word and Table on Friday, Feb. 15, on behalf of those planning to attend the upcoming special called General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis.   The service will take place in PSR’s Chapel of the Great Commission, beginning at noon. Pacific School of Religion is the oldest Protestant seminary on the West Coast and a longtime trainer of UMC leaders. Clergy, lay leaders, alums, and supporters of full ...

The current partial shutdown of the federal government is the longest on record, underway for nearly five weeks now, and with no end in view. Federal employees constitute those in the first wave of impact, bearing the initial financial brunt of the shutdown – although its ripple effect extends well beyond those workers, touching all aspects of the economy.   United Methodist churches are responding to the crisis. Read Jim Patterson’s story, Furloughed government workers turn to the church, here....

“In the hours and days after disaster, those who survive are looking for anything to give them hope. ERTs can provide the kind of immediate response that restores hope, builds faith, and encourages those who are looking to their neighbor for support.” — Rev. Tom Hazelwood, assistant general secretary, UMCOR Would you like to be one of those hope-giving, faith-building encouragers? You can be! Register to take part in an Early Response Team (ERT) Training at the West Sacramento office of the ...

Since 1994 the Mission Handcrafts Project has provided $108,889 in support for Advance Specials and other missions around the world. Last year alone, the project raised $3,735 for missions and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), with 31% of it coming from sales at the California-Nevada Annual Conference Session (ACS) and the rest from sales at local Cal-Nev churches. Items sold by Mission Handcrafts come primarily from countries where United Methodist missionaries are working, and...

The 2019 General Conference Delegation page has been updated with biographical information for some of the members of the California-Nevada delegation. (We’re awaiting bios from the others and will include them as they’re received.) The page includes names, designations, photos and contact information for all the delegates, however. You’ll find it on the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference site, which is accessible through a direct link located on the right side of the home page, ...

Rev. Jorge Domingues, Director of Connectional Ministries for the California-Nevada Annual Conference, was “randomly selected for further questions” while visiting the US-Mexico border at McAllen, Texas with Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño this week. “It was a routine thing, but I had the opportunity to see the CBP [Customs and Border Patrol] from inside,” he reports. “Nice officers trying to help people with problems on their visas who were really scared … But it was a temporary scare to the rest of...

By Rev. Brian Diggs Associate Director, UMCOR West   Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, the UMCOR West Office and Depot seeks to be a vital part of the work and vision of the United Methodist Committee on Relief. As a member of UMCOR’s Relief Supplies division, UMCOR West builds, shelves, and distributes relief supplies to areas in the United States that have been affected by natural disasters.    2018 proved to be a busy year as UMCOR West addressed floods, hurricanes, and most ...

Members of the Korean Caucus of the California-Nevada Annual Conference met with Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño and other conference leaders in December for a two-hour dialogue about the direction of The United Methodist Church, and the plans for A Way Forward to be considered at a special called session of General Conference next month. The gathering was one of many “intentional, faithful conversations” conference leadership has been having about the issue. It took place at Contra Costa UMC in ...

Up to $2,000 is available to United Methodist churches and organizations for projects that support Advocacy and Justice Actions, but the Feb. 15, 2019 deadline is fast approaching. Don’t miss this opportunity to further your church’s justice work! Methodists are called to works of justice – to discover the reasons why the homeless are homeless and why the working poor don’t make a living wage, to stand with those who have no voice in our system, to address underlying causes for injustice, and ...

El Sobrante United Methodist Church invites you to an evening of wonderful Russian music beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13, when the Konevets Quartet presents its annual program at the church.   Tickets are $15 at the door. The Konevets Quartet is an all-male a cappella vocal quartet from St. Petersburg, Russia. Their program includes a mixture of Russian sacred, medieval, folk, and regimental music in the rich tradition of Russian choral music and the male chamber choir.   Part of ...

Cal-Nev’s Rev. Hubert Ivery to Lead Workshop The United Methodist Council of Bishops is urging United Methodists to join in observing the global Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organized by the World Council of Churches, Jan. 18-25. This year’s theme is “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue ...” It is inspired by Deuteronomy 16:18-20. Here in California-Nevada, observances have been planned by the North State Ecumenical Conference, to include a workshop on racism led by the Rev. ...

The Rev. Kristin Stoneking has a message to the California-Nevada Conference as the 2018 ledgers are closed.  

“The bishop conveys these critically important ideas … in the kind of simple but powerful way that stays with listeners and deters them from giving up – a very real danger as the conflict stretches into months and then years.” – Ray Kirstein The request was this: “It would be invaluable” for Bishop Minerva Carcaño to lend her “prophetic voice … to counter the ‘crisis’ narrative as it is being promoted by this administration.” It came from Ray Kirstein, the producer of State of Belief, the ...

Get to know the delegates who will represent you next month at the special called 2019 General Conference of The United Methodist Church! We have created a 2019 General Conference Delegation page with delegate names, designations, and photos, located on the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference site. (There is a direct link to the 2019 General Conference site on the right side of the home page, directly under Bishop’s Message.) We will continue to update the Delegation page in coming ...

Church Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliate, Church and Casualty, is providing all participating churches with access to a cloud-based platform called ThinkHR that will help churches and annual conference agencies with their Human Resource needs.    Most churches have a need for experts who can offer them advice on how to deal with employees, but few have lay members with the needed expertise. ThinkHR offers integrated HR resources and training, supported by live HR experts, that can fill ...

Clergy of the California-Nevada Annual Conference are to take Clergy Boundary Training once a quadrennium. Classes for the first half of 2019 have been announced: April (date to be determined) – Clergy Boundary 101 Training, as a part of the Continuing Education Event to be held at Kings Beach UMC. May 1, 2019 – Clergy Boundary Training 201, at Davis UMC in Davis May 23, 2019 – Clergy Boundary Training 201, at Asbury UMC in Livermore June 5 – Clergy Boundary 101 Training, at Pinole UMC in ...

Up to $2,000.00 is available to UMC churches and organizations for projects that support Advocacy and Justice Actions. We, who call ourselves Methodists, are called to works of justice, to discover the reasons why the homeless are homeless, why the working poor don’t make a living wage, to stand with those who have no voice in our system, to address underlying causes for injustice, and to make our world a better place. Projects must address social justice and advocacy for public policy. The ...

The deadline for churches to submit 2018 tithes and for making contributions to the Fulfilling Our Commitments/Close the Gap campaign is noon on Monday, January 14. Checks must be physically in the Conference Finance Office by noon Monday in order to be counted as a tithe or donation for 2018. You may make an online donation here.  

The Office of Congregational Development’s Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) is pleased to host “Discipleship Is Everything,” February 22-23 at the Conference Center in West Sacramento, California. Discipleship is at the heart of the mission of The United Methodist Church. Developing a church-wide discipleship system and process are keys for a church to become vital in mission and ministry.   This two-day event is specifically designed for pastors and teams from local churches. Day One will be ...

By the Rev. Alex Joyner District Superintendent, Eastern Shore District of the Virginia Conference The traditional spot of Jesus’ birth is hardly more than a cleft in a rock. The cave beneath the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem preserves the location with a silver star that pilgrims kneel to kiss as they filter through the hot, crowded space that would have served as a stable. But for Joseph and Mary, it was shelter from the night. As we see the devastating images from California in the ...

By Diane Knudsen Executive Director of Finance and Administration We only have a few more days to prepare ourselves for the mystery of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Are you and your church bearing witness to a weary world, shining the bright light of hope out the door and into the streets? I’m grateful for all of you and pray you feel the love and support of all of us at the United Methodist Center this Advent season. Our witness includes showing up for each other in a myriad of ways. ...

Pacific School of Religion will lead an immersion experience at the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church in February. In addition to PSR students, interested lay and clergy members of the California-Nevada Annual Conference are welcome to attend the class in St. Louis.   The class will include pre-conference meetings that will address the history of the denomination’s position on human sexuality and the ordination of LGBTQI+ clergy (February 8 and 15), ...

Human Relations Day is less than two months away and will be here before we know it!   Pastors and churches, please plan to celebrate and give to Human Relations Day on January 20, 2019. United Methodist Communications (UMCom) has new resources to help promote this special Sunday, and activities to educate congregations about why we celebrate Human Relations Day: Human Relations Day is our day to celebrate everyone’s potential to do great things. It’s our day to empower those living on the ...

The Korean Association of The United Methodist Church (KAUMC) has sent a $5,000 check to the California-Nevada Annual Conference’s disaster response fund, to aid Camp Fire recovery efforts. In a letter to Bishop Minerva Carcaño, signed simply “Members of” the association, the group shared how members’ hearts were broken by the fires in Northern and Southern California and the families “who are still looking for and/or grieving their lost property, their missing friends and family members, their ...