CONNECTIONS UPUMC • Unbinding the Gospel, Adult Sunday School meets Summer Sundays, 11:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall, beginning today. • Staff-Parish Relations Committee meets Monday, June 18, 6:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall. • Administrative Council meets Monday, June 18, 7:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall. • Lunch Bunch, Cup and Saucer, Tuesday, June 19, 12:30pm. Bev Read makes reservations. • Family Karaoke Night, 6:30-9pm, Saturday, June 23, Errol Stephenson Hall. Information: Jenn Herbach. • Outreach Committee meets Sunday, June 24, after potluck. THE LARGER CHURCH • Retirement Party for Rev. Karen Crooch, Morningside UMC, Salem, Saturday, June 23, 1-4pm. • Creation Vacation, June 30-July 4, Camp Magruder. See Marcia for more information. • Sing Across the Walls: 2007 Oregon-Idaho School of Christian Mission, July 12-15, George Fox University, Newberg, OR. Registration Deadline is June 29. • UMW Young Women’s Event, July 13-15, George Fox University, Newberg, OR.
THE COMMUNITY • Game Days, First and Third Sundays, 2-5pm, University Park Coffee Shop. • Portsmouth Neighborhood Association Event, Walking the Neighborhood, Tuesday, June 5, 7pm, Clarendon Elementary School.
FUTURE EVENTS, FOR YOUR CALENDAR • Third Annual North Portland Pride Festival, Sunday, August 12, Noon-4pm, UPUMC. • UPUMC FUNd-raising Cruise, September 16-23, 2007. Talk to Betty Cruson to sign up. WEEKLY AT UPUMC • Choir practices Sundays at 9:30am, Tuesdays at 6:30pm, Sanctuary. • Men’s Group, Tuesdays, 10am, Narthex. • Alcoholics Anonymous, Narthex, Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8pm, weekly. • Overeaters Anonymous, Wednesdays at 7pm. • Morrison Center Program, Thursdays 5-9pm, beginning June 21. STAYING IN TOUCH Edna Riddle, Sunrise Adult Care Center, 11945 SW Butner Rd., Portland OR 97225; 503-841-1295.
Harriet Bonhorst, Pioneer Tower, 515 P Street #202, Sacramento, CA 95814; phone: 1-916-446-4863.
Erica Martinez, 182 E Nevada St. Ashland, OR 97520. Cell phone: 1-503-791-3680.
Elmina Nath, 5525 NE 15th Ave., Portland, OR 97213, telephone 503-206-7654.
Jeanne Pulliam, 8603 SE Causey Ave, Apt 202; Happy Valley, OR 97086-2604, Telephone 503-594-2539.
Aleena Sologar, 6611 NE MLK Blvd Apt. 101, Portland, OR 97211. 503-285-4761.
HOLDING IN PRAYER Dana Brandt—cancer, chemo—at home. Carolyn Hammett—cancer, chemo—at home. Bev Heginbotham—chemo—at home. Phil Herbach—awaiting hip replacement—at home.
THE NURSERY IS STAFFED DURING WORSHIP FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN SCHOOL AGE.
WEEKLY FINANCIAL REPORT Budget for 2007: $120,895 Needed monthly: $ 10,075 Needed through June: $ 60,450 Received year to date: $ 43.002 Received in June: $ 2,281 Needed during June $ 17,448
PLEASE DON’T GO HUNGRY. WE HAVE FOOD IN OUR PANTRY, LOCATED IN THE HALLWAY LEADING TO ERROL STEPHENSON HALL. TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.
ALTON L. COLLINS SUMMER EVENTS On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 17, Alton L. Collins Retreat Center will host a Father’s Day Brunch for the whole family from 12:30-2pm. $17 per adult, children 3-12 half price, under 3 free. Reservations at 503-637-6411 or
On Sundays June 17, July 8, and August 19, Alton L. Collins Retreat Center will host SummerFest Music Events. the schedule is 4:30 gathering, 5pm entertainment, 6pm ice cream and home made cookies.
In addition, the July SummerFest will be preceded by the 2nd Annual Southern Style Barbeque, with donations to raise money for Retreat Center Programming. Requested donations, $15 for adults, $7.50 for children. Reservations at 5033-637-6411.
A TRANSGENDER UM PASTOR At the May 24-26, 2007 Baltimore-Washington Conference session the concern of a transgender clergyperson was discussed at the Clergy Executive Session. Bishop John Schol also raised the issue with the full conference session, which included the lay members from congregations. Bishop Schol has indicated his prayerful and deep concern for Rev. Phoenix, the St. Johns congregation and the clergy and laity of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. He recognizes that this will raise a number of questions and concerns for people within the conference and invites all United Methodists to be prayerful and seek greater clarity and understanding of transgender people and how decisions are made within the conference on such issues. The following questions and answers are presented to help clergy and laity to explore a greater understanding of the discussion at the Baltimore-Washington Conference session.
Does The United Methodist Church have an official position on the issue of transgender clergy? The church has no official position on this issue. The Book of Discipline does not prohibit transgender clergy from serving in the pulpit. What does transgender mean? Transgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity (sense of themselves as male or female) or gender expression differs from that usually associated with their birth sex. How does this issue relate to the Baltimore Washington Annual Conference? About a year ago, Bishop John Schol was contacted by the Rev. Ann Gordon, pastor of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Baltimore. Rev. Gordon met with Bishop Schol and expressed the intent to undergo a change in gender identity to become the Rev. Drew Phoenix. Rev. Phoenix met with the staff parish committee, informed the congregation of the decision and started the legal name change process. Bishop Schol has approached this matter prayerfully and seriously. He spoke with Rev. Phoenix several times. He also had conversations with church leaders and received a letter from Rev. Phoenix’s therapist and church leaders indicated their appreciation for Rev. Phoenix’s ministry and the therapist indicated that Rev. Phoenix could continue to serve effectively. The congregation has been growing under Rev. Phoenix’s ministry. What is Rev. Phoenix’s current status? A change in gender does not affect a pastor’s status (status is a term to describe a clergypersons relationship with the annual conference. Status may include things like retired, leave of absence, and appointed to a congregation). The staff parish committee at St. John’s has requested Rev. Phoenix continue to serve the congregation, and Bishop Schol will reappoint Rev. Phoenix effective July 1. Was there action taken at the annual conference? Any pastor who changes his/her name must report the name change, which in turn becomes a part of the Board of Ordained Ministry’s report at the clergy session. A name change does not require any formal action by the church. During the clergy session, and again later during the full session, Rev. Phoenix shared his personal story. Has there been any violation of church law? There is no law in the Book of Discipline indicating that a transgender person cannot serve a congregation. There have been two requests for a ruling of Church law by Bishop Schol. Bishop Schol will rule on these within the next thirty days. Why did Rev. Phoenix take this step? [See next week’s UP-words for] Rev. Phoenix’s testimony.
University Park United Methodist Church (UPUMC) is located at 4775 N Lombard, Portland Oregon 97203. UPUMC is small, diverse, growing, laughing, committed, caring, serious, warm and REAL! We are a community that encourages each other as we grow in faith, in knowledge, in service, and in love of self, God and neighbor. At University Park we not only respect but welcome diversity in race, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical and mental ability, economic status and profession. We believe all people are equal before God and entitled to Gods grace and abundance. Pastors: Rev. Dr. Jeanne Knepper & Rev. Marcia Hauer http://www.upumc.net
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