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The leadership team of the Western Jurisdiction, meeting last week in Portland, Oregon, unanimously adopted a statement to "reaffirm our commitment to a radically hospitable church in two converging ways": As United Methodists, we must resist injustice and insist that the Church repent of the exclusionary principles of the Traditional Plan. Grounded in our Wesleyan heritage, we will foster a new movement to gather the energy of inclusive United Methodists throughout our global connection. The ...

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño has added her name to a statement by San Francisco faith leaders, condemning the horrific attacks on two mosques in New Zealand that killed 49 people and seriously injured at least 20 others.   The statement is being circulated by the San Francisco Interfaith Council through its executive director, Michael G. Pappas.   "As people of faith, we stand in solidarity with the Muslim community in New Zealand, with all our Kiwi friends and with all our Muslim sisters and ...

For Immediate Release March 14, 2019   United Methodist bishops respond to article in The New York Times In response to the New York Times article alleging that improper voting occurred at recent Special Session of General Conference, the Council of Bishops has issued the following statement: “The Council of Bishops has always worked to help the delegates to do their best work, as the legislative body of the church. This means being a voice for fairness. The Council does not plan, host or ...

Young people of the California-Nevada Annual Conference gathered at Japanese United Methodist Church in Sacramento last weekend and signed a statement of support for members of the UMC community wounded by the recent actions of General Conference. The conference's Youth and Young Adults Gathering 2019 included workshops related to the special called session of General Conference, along with the opportunity to take part in a solidarity action by signing the statement. Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño ...

Even though GC2019 is still very much on our minds and in the news, it’s important to remember that another General Conference is scheduled for May of next year – and it’s at this June’s Annual Conference Session that the delegates who will represent California-Nevada at General Conference, and at the Jurisdictional Conference in July 2020, will be elected. Download information and instructions for nominating and electing lay delegates here.

At its March 5 meeting, the Commission on the Annual Conference Session revised the deadline for submitting reports, recommendations, resolutions, and petitions to the 2020 General Conference that must be considered by the 2019 Annual Conference Session. The change – from April 1 to May 1 – was deemed appropriate due to the late meeting of the Judicial Council. That body will meet April 23-26 in Evanston, Illinois to consider the constitutionality of the legislation passed at the 2019 Special ...

The Los Rios District of the California-Nevada Annual Conference is offering Basic Lay Servant Training on Saturday, March 30, 2019, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., at Church on the Rock, Antioch United Methodist Church. The Book of Discipline requires each local church to have a Lay Servant.  They are to serve the local church or charge in any way in which their witness or leadership and service inspires the laity to deeper commitment to Christ and more effective discipleship. This includes the ...

The Communications Office for the California-Nevada Annual Conference has created a 3-minute highlights video from Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño's Post-General Conference Episcopal Visit to Los Altos United Methodist Church on March 3. Pastors, you may wish to share it with your church on Sunday. + Download video here (Right-click and Save Link As) Footage courtesy of the Los Altos UMC A/V team.

Watsonville NETworX is offering an orientation to the “give a hand up, not a handout” program in May, co-sponsored by the California-Nevada Annual Conference and the Capital City CIRCLES Initiative. Through a 12-16 week training program, NETworX resources individuals to help them develop a personal life plan and chart a course to leave poverty behind. Participants (called Champions) first are helped to assess their own strengths and resources (financial, educational, spiritual, emotional, ...

Mission Volunteers (Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church) has recently launched two far-flung PrimeTimers events for 2019: to Paducah, Kentucky and to the Czech Republic. Applications are open and scholarships are available, but the March 31 deadline is fast approaching. Download PrimeTimers brochure that includes all information about the program and 2019 trips, along with the application. Download flyer.  

The hurt inflicted by General Conference 2019 was not lost on the larger faith community of Sonoma, California. On March 3, just days after the legislative body of The United Methodist Church voted to retain exclusionary language in the denomination’s Book of Discipline and to toughen sanctions against clergy who are found to have broken the rules, members of Sonoma UMC received an outpouring of support from other congregations as they made their way to church. Sonoma UMC is a reconciling ...

Creative Worship and Guest Readiness workshops to be offered The Office of Congregational Development of the California-Nevada Annual Conference is pleased to host Jason Moore from Midnight Oil Productions (and formerly from Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church) in a series of events across the conference. Jason will lead a workshop on Creative Worship, in which he will work with pastors and teams to develop compelling and inspirational worship each week. He will also be leading a workshop on ...

The California-Nevada Conference chapter of United Methodist Women invites you to take part in a Social Action Event, School to Prison Pipeline, on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at First UMC Sacramento.   Guest Speakers include Dr. Charles D. Tinsley, Director of the “Getting Out of Dodge” Ministry, the Sacramento Black Parallel School Board, and Sammy Nunez, Chairperson of First Families San Joaquin.   Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with check-in and refreshments and the event starts at 9:00.   ...

A United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) construction team is being organized to participate in the construction of a new worship sanctuary by Temple Methodist Church in Nasinu, a suburb of Suva, Fiji. The target date is Sept. 1, 2019 but is flexible, depending on those interested and available. Construction experience is preferred but not essential, as the emphasis is as much on relationship building as on the building of a physical structure. Cost of the self-funded trip is $2500. ...

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño made the first of 12 Post-General Conference Episcopal Visits on Sunday, March 3, visiting Los Altos United Methodist Church with some members of the California-Nevada delegation to General Conference and other key leaders.   In announcing the visits, the bishop wrote that the purpose would be “to inform our clergy and congregations about the actions of the General Conference and the implications for our conference and denomination,” adding, “These visits will also be ...

March 11, 2019 (Monday!) is the new deadline to make hotel reservations in preparation for the Council of Bishops’-sponsored United Methodist Ecumenical and Interreligious Training (UMEIT) in the USA 2019, taking place April 1-4, 2019 in St. Louis, Missouri.  UMEIT is held in conjunction with the annual National Workshop on Christian Unity. Visit www.nwcu.org for more information about the event.    The UMEIT: USA portion will include basic training on The Ecumenical Movement and contemporary ...

The Board of Directors of the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) met immediately following the 2019 Special Called General Conference of The United Methodist Church. The [GCORR] meeting held in St. Louis, Missouri February 28-March 2, 2019 included time to discuss the Special Called Session and its impact on the mission and future of GCORR. In a unanimous vote, the Board of Directors endorsed and affirmed a statement from GCORR General Secretary Erin Hawkins in regards to the ...

Editor’s Note: Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, Director of Connectional Ministries Jorge Domingues, and I attended the March 3 worship service at Epworth United Methodist Church, Berkeley. There, at the request of Epworth’s pastor, Rev. Kristin Stoneking, co-Lay Leader Judy Cayot reflected on her 2019 General Conference experience at a time when emotions for most United Methodists were still very raw. I received her permission to share it here.   By Judy Cayot co-Lay Leader, Epworth UMC, Berkeley   ...

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A message from the General Board of Global Ministries about UMCOR Sunday: Lent [began] this Wednesday. UMCOR Sunday (formerly One Great Hour of Sharing) is traditionally recognized on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which is March 31 this year. As part of your congregation’s time of spiritual reflection and preparation, consider ways that small groups can engage in fundraising to prepare an offering for UMCOR Sunday. This offering is important because it covers the administrative needs of the ...

With the actions of the 2019 General Conference before the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church, some UMs have become aware that they know very little about the body referred to as the denomination’s “High Court” or “Supreme Court.” What follows was copied directly from the Judicial Council section on the UMC website, umc.org (http://www.umc.org/who-we-are/judicial-council).     About the Judicial Council "Is that resolution by General Conference in accord with The United Methodist ...

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño has shared a letter of support from the bishops of the Western regions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to the bishops of the Western Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. Read Bishop Carcaño’s message here (contains a link to the ELCA letter). Read letter from ELCA bishops now.  

The California-Nevada Conference’s Youth and Young Adults Gathering 2019, taking place at Sacramento Japanese UMC tomorrow (Saturday, March 9), “opens an opportunity for a Solidarity Action,” according to Conference Director of Young People’s Ministry Fel Cao, “with the signing of a Statement of Support for our beloved members of our UMC community who are deeply hurt by the recent decision of the Special Called Session of The United Methodist Church General Conference.”   Rev. Cao invites young ...

The Conference Commission on Religion and Race is accepting grant applications for leadership training programs, especially those targeting youth and young adults.   This year, grants will be awarded in two grant cycles. In the first, $2500 will be awarded. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 25, 2019.   $2500 will be awarded in the second grant cycle, also. For that, the deadline to apply will be Thursday, July 25, 2019.   No late applications will be accepted.   Recipients must agree to ...

By Mary Nakamura, Sacramento Japanese UMC TeamWorks Tools for Creating Vital Faith Communities contains four guidebooks that are designed to help churches create a healthy leadership team that prays, learns, and dreams together. On February 16, 44 lay and clergy from the three circuits comprising the Greater Sacramento Region of the Los Rios District, California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist Church, gathered together to work on the second book in the series, which focuses on ...

For Immediate Release March 6, 2019   WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (COB) has asked the Judicial Council for a declaratory decision as to the constitutionality and the meaning, application, and effect of Petition 90066, which was approved by the Special Session of the General Conference on February 26. In the request filed today (March 6, 2019) and signed by COB Secretary Bishop Mande Muyombo, the COB noted that bishops voted to make the request during...

Transcriptions of the work of the Special Called Session of General Conference, Feb. 23-26, 2019, along with the official record of the legislation approved, are found in the Daily Christian Advocate (DCA), the official journal of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church.  The actions of the legislative committee are recorded in the February 26, 2019 DCA. The actions of the plenary are recorded in the February 27, 2019 DCA. The journals are available to download in English, ...

Three California-Nevada United Methodist pastors, asked to respond to the actions of the 2019 General Conference, affirmed that their churches will continue to welcome the LGBTQ community. Watch the story from ABC 10 News:  

United Methodist Communications has released the official video from the 2019 General Conference. Watch video here.

For Immediate Release March 1, 2019   WASHINGTON, D. C. – In the aftermath of the Special Session of the General Conference, Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, President of the Council of Bishops has issued a pastoral letter based on James 5:13-16.   “James does not call us to identify the sins of one another.  He calls us to confess our sins to one another, and to pray for one another, so that we may be healed,” Bishop Carter says in his letter.   Congregations have been asked to read the letter during ...

[UPDATED 3/15/19] A series of Post-General Conference Episcopal Visits has been scheduled throughout March and April, 2019, at 12 locations in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. On Monday, Feb. 25, Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño emailed the schedule. Her message is copied here:   To the people of the California-Nevada Annual Conference:    As you are aware, the Special Called 2019 Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church is currently taking place in St. Louis, MO.    ...

Bishops of the Western Jurisdiction, meeting immediately following the close of the special session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church, agreed on the importance of having a common message at this crucial time in the life of the denomination. In this video, which may be played in churches on Sunday, they share their vision for moving forward after the devastating decisions made at the special session. Read English language video script here. Read Spanish language ...

The long-awaited special-called session of the General Conference 2019 has officially ended. If you were unable to participate or missed out on this historic gathering, you can now find updated and follow-up coverage of all proceedings on the General Conference page. Visit the General Conference page here.   

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 At the 2019 Special Called Session of the General Conference, Rev. Donna Pritchard, chair of the Western Jurisdiction Leadership Team made this statement on behalf of Western Jurisdiction Leadership: "We have long appreciated the richness of the global diversity of our United Methodist Church and have embraced opportunities to join with you all in the work of making disciples for the transformation of the world. "We also understand the purpose of the Church to be in...

After hours of delaying tactics by opponents, the United Methodist General Conference 2019 delegates passed The Traditional Plan 438 to 384. A last-ditch effort to bring the One Church Plan back was defeated in the morning and was followed by efforts to amend the Traditional Plan to address constitutionality issues raised by the Judicial Council, the church’s top court. The Rev. Tim McClendon, South Carolina, called for a vote on the Traditional Plan as amended, which affirms the church’s ...

As the special session of the 2019 General Conference comes to its conclusion, compassionate delegates take to the mic. View several speeches below. Where will the UMC be in 100 years?   Emily Allen, Lay Delegate Rev. Motoe Yamada-Foor, Clergy Delegate Plenary Speeches - Feb. 26, 2019 Rev. Adam Hamilton, Great Plains Conference Rev. Mark Holland, Great Plains Conference Emily Allen speaks on amendment 90037.  Rev. Jeffrey Kuan proposes amendment to 90036.  

JJ Warren: "No plan to separate us can unite us like God's love." During floor debate over the plans for a way forward, JJ Warren, Lay Delegate from the Upper New York Conference, offered this impassioned testimony for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA persons within The United Methodist Church. After a day filled with close votes, the room erupted in response to this moment of light. Watch his message to the church.

By Cate Monaghan Interim Director of Communications, CA-NV Annual Conference of The UMC One thing can be said about United Methodists: We know how to worship! After a year of planning for a General Conference designed to move the denomination forward from decades of painful dissent over the issue of human sexuality, delegates and observers to the special called session have lifted their hearts and voices toward the rafters in celebration of God’s faithfulness, praying that they themselves ...

On February 23, 2019, the MARCHA West chapter hosted the WJ Young Adults Latinx group for a dialogue on issues of human sexuality to prep the young adults for what they might hear and experience during the 2019 General Conference Special Session. Guess what their reaction was. Read about it on the Western Jurisdiction website.  

Sunday February 24, 2019 - Congregational Prayer for United Methodist Church   Gracious and loving God, who leads, teaches and guides, You who offer compassion, grace and mercy, be with us now.  We passionately seek Your presence during challenging times and circumstances and we trust that you are moving in and around our lives.  We, as one part of your Body, the Church, go into the days and weeks ahead seeking to discern Your deep desire for us as The United Methodist Church.  Give us courage ...

The Conference Commission on Religion & Race is accepting grant applications for leadership training programs, especially those targeting youth and young adults. Please fill out the application available here and email to Rev. Tikiko Lesuma at: pastorofhopeumc@gmail.com or mail to Hope United Methodist Church P. O. Box 233243 Sacramento CA 95823   For 2019, the Conference Commission on Religion & Race has agreed that Grants be awarded in two grant cycles. The first grant cycle deadline will be ...

By Rev. Hyok In Kwon Pastor, Berkeley Korean UMC in Oakland  Executive Director, Peace Committee, the Korean Association of The UMC   The fateful dice have been cast for the second summit of the US and North Korea. According to Pres. Trump’s announcement during his State of the Union address on Feb. 5, he will be meeting Kim Jong-un in Vietnam on Feb. 27 and 28. This second summit was arranged to break through a long impasse for achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. During ...

General Conference 2019 Is in View  Like the Emerald City, St. Louis and General Conference 2019 now are visible on the horizon. In just one week and two days, we’ll arrive at our immediate destination – and the real journey will begin.    Here are some navigational tools for tracking the Feb. 23-26 action during the special called session of General Conference.    Watch Live from the cnumc.org home page: The live stream of GC2019 will be in the main feature position of our home page, ...

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño traveled to the McAllen, Texas area in late January for a meeting of The United Methodist Immigration Task Force that included a visit to the border. Kathy Gilbert, a reporter for United Methodist News Service (UMNS) – along with UMNS photographer Mike DuBose – accompanied the group and published a moving account, “United Methodists respond to migrants at the border.”    Get article here.

Two members of the California-Nevada Board of Camping and Retreat Ministries represented the conference at the recent 2019 National United Methodist Camp Retreat Ministries Gathering.   Sharon Godbolt and Rev. Lisa Jean Hoefner, Pastor/Director of Lake Tahoe UMC and Retreat Center (L-R above), attended the event, held Jan. 28-Feb. 1 at the Life Enrichment Center and Warren Willis Camp in Leesburg, Florida.    Some 300 leaders heard great preaching, Hoefner reports, studied every aspect of camp ...

For Immediate Release Tuesday, February 12, 2019 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The bishops of The United Methodist Church are preparing to preside over the three-day Special Session of the General Conference set for Feb. 23-26 in St. Louis, Missouri.    In a letter to the United Methodists released today, Council of Bishops President Bishop Ken Carter noted that the bishops will be bound by a covenant of presiding, which was written in collaboration with the Commission on the General Conference.    “The ...

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 ...