Report on Pacific NW Annual Conference, 2023

PNWAC 2023 employed a hybrid format this year. Some meetings were livestream only, and some were both livestream and in person. Some meetings included members from each of the three conferences to which the bishop is appointed, and some were specific to a single annual conference. The meetings were held on several days across two months.

The first meeting for PNWAC members only was a special called meeting on May 7 th to consider petitions for disaffiliation by 13 churches. That procedure was held pursuant to the provisions of the 2019 Book of Discipline and processes developed by the Conference Board of Trustees. The Trustees explained that each local congregation seeking to disaffiliate had voted overwhelmingly for the disaffiliation. The Trustees negotiated the disaffiliation agreement with the understanding that each of these congregations had faithfully pursued its ministry in the local community and would continue a ministry in the same community, though not as a UMC congregation. Members of PNWAC 2023 voted overwhelmingly to approve the petitions for disaffiliation.

On May 20 th the three annual conferences (Alaska Missionary Conference, Oregon/Idaho Conference, and Pacific Northwest Conference) joined in a livestreamed Opening Session that was livestreamed from Juneau. The high-light of the opening session was the investiture of Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth of the Greater Northwest Area. Bishop Cedrick is an accomplished story-teller and preacher who introduced his theme – Go and Do Likewise - for this session of Greater Northwest Area annual conferences based on Luke 10:37b, the story of the good Samaritan.

Members of PNWAC 2023 convened in two livestream Focus Sessions to discuss 17 pieces of legislation to be acted upon during the plenary sessions. The plenary sessions were hybrid sessions with more than 200 members gathered in person in Schneebeck Music Hall on the campus of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. About 150 members participated on-line. PNWAC adopted eight pieces of legislation required for administration of the conference: Conference advance specials, Minimum Compensation, Moving Allowance, Past Service Rate, Retirement Annuity Responsibility, Disability Benefits, Retirement Grants, and Conference budget for 2024. The adopted 2024 budget represents a 3.96% reduction from the budgeted amount for 2023, even though it included significant amounts for re-staffing following Covid, and compensation adjustments in line with the employment market.

PNWAC adopted legislation formally closing Pe Ell UMC and East Wenatchee: Trinity UMC. These churches were recognized for their long ministries in their local communities. In other legislative actions, PNWAC adopted the following actions:

• Amended Conference Rules to add home missioners and commissioned missionaries as lay members of PNWAC.
• A request to the Faith Foundation Northwest to divest its own funds and any funds held in trust from fossil fuel investments. This action also encouraged local churches to review their investments and to consider divesting from fossil fuel investments.
• Encourage just partnerships with local and state environmental justice organizations for environmentally just outcomes.
• Petitioned General Conference to add fossil fuels to UMC investment screens.
• Pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and encouraged local churches to pledge increase their energy efficiency by 50% by 2030.
• Proposed a study of PNWAC practice regarding separation pay for clergy ordained in another denomination.
• Solidarity with the Filipino People by supporting the Philippines Human Right Act and to educate UMC members in the PNWAC on conditions of the Filipino people, monitor ongoing human rights crisis and its impacts on our Methodist siblings, and advocate for just and lasting peace.

During PNWAC plenary sessions, Bishop Cedrick addressed the long-rumored merger of PNWAC and Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference. Both conferences have worked and will continue to work toward joint Cabinet meetings, joint agency meetings and shared services agreements. Bishop Cedrick, however, is not convinced, at this time, that a merger is in the best interests of either conference, the Western Jurisdiction, or the UMC.

PNWAC celebrated those persons related to this annual conference who have died since PNWAC last convened. Those ordained members who are retiring were recognized and their representative participated in the ritual of passing the mantel to those who follow in their footsteps. Those accepting the mantel included two provisional elders - Vangie Rand and Ashley Skinner Creek -, ordained deacon – Mary Stanton Nurse -, and ordained elders – Yvonne Agduyeng, Murray Crookes, Drew Frisbie, April Hall, Laura Holmes, Danielle Ramsay, and Dirk Wooten.

Following the commissioning and ordination service, Bishop Cedrick presided over the closing session for the three conferences of the Greater Northwest Area which was livestreamed from the sanctuary of Mason UMC in Tacoma. Through his sermons at the opening and closing sessions and at the three annual conference sessions, Bishop Cedrick also introduced his M.I.L.E. program for this quadrennium. M.I.L.E. = Ministry that matters; Itineration (pastoral location); Lay ministry enhancement; Eliminating racism. Bishop Cedrick’s sermons are posted at pnwumc.org. and are helpful in understanding our new Bishop and his program.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Odiorne
Lay Member, Pacific Northwest Annual Conference