News of the Western Jurisdiction Conference

Conference Begins With a Bang

Day 1 RealVideo (1.2mB) (2.9mB)

The Western Jurisdiction Conference began with the bang of drums! the San Jose Taiko drummers shook the floors with their drumming. Bishop Beverly Shemana called the meeting to order after the rousing performance. Rules were set, and a revised process for election of bishops was adopted.

As a part of that process, the following names were added to the list of those to be considered for election:

• Philip Amerson, Cal-Pac
• Alan Jones, Cal-Nev
• Youngsook Kang
• Tweedy Sombrero
• Frank Wulf

These completed the list of those nominated who could speak briefly to the delegates. Jane Tews, DSW nominee, withdrew, as did Philip Amerson. The remaining nominees each spoke to the Conference for about 5 minutes. Each was received warmly. Here is a brief description of what they said:

• Minerva Carcano, Oregon-Idaho, came to Ore-Idaho at their request from the South Central Jurisdiction, after it became clear that her advocacy for the poor and marginalized had caused her rejection by her conference. The one true loving God excludes no one...redemption is possible for all; no one is abandoned or forgotten.
  
• Grant Hagiya, Cal-Pac, has always sought to make a difference. Attending to the work of local church, districts, and annual conferences is a priority for a bishop. Conferences need compelling visions and missions; Helen Keller once said "life is either a daring adventure or it is nothing." As a bishop of the whole church, we dare not shrink back from the gifts of the West, particularly diversity in every way. All are welcome: there is always an empty chair for the sojourner.
  
• Bob Hoshibata, PNW, shared a vision for the church from his visit to a college roommate's home for thanksgiving. The table conversation included debate, argument, and fighting... but eventually forgiveness happened around the table and people left the table as family. The church needs an active exchange of ideas as people stay at the table until there can be the gift of forgiveness. When the going gets tough, families stay together.
  
• Alan Jones, Cal-Nev grew up in the north of England as a small church organist. The key to the organ was behind the bar at the Standard of Freedom pub where the Chartists and Methodists met together; the church needs to recapture the sense of being a movement not a denomination. There needs to be a change in how we do business... growing the church needs to become top priority, providing leadership in a justice-based evangelism. Relationships are the secret of leadership; Christians are called to be wierdos for Christ, provide prophetic edge ; the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people must be as first class citizens just as all others. The church must reach out to the Muslim world and repair relationsihps.
  
• Youngsook Kang, Rocky Mtn, invites all into God's ministry of reconciliation and tranformation... local boundaries need to be transcended. The church is not perfect yet; challenges are abundant: one is sustaining the unity of the Church. Unity and diversity are both gifts of God.
  
• Craig Parrish, PNW, wants to make a difference to those in the pew, to reconnect the pew with ministry; a word of hope that "you're loved and welcomed here" is what is wanted, not doctrinal uniformity. Euro-americans must confront racism; he called himself a "recovering white male". The West must continue to lead in the GLBT debate; take time know one's conference by being present, to lead by mobilizing toward a vision, creating harmony and emotional bonds.
  
• Charles Schuster, Rocky Mountain, urged the church to "move out of boredom" As an unapologetic liberal, he believes in the future of the church. Christmas is not about gynecology but it is about the incarnation of God everywhere. Easter is not about the resusitation of a corpse, but it is about the revitalization of the human spirit; Christians must live Easter, not just believe. People have to be strange to be strangely warmed: "someday our denomination will wake up and be Christian again."
  
• Ben Silva-Netto, Cal-Nev has gifts of spirituality, is passionately evangelical in faith and with social concern, peace, children and poverty, violence, the peace movement GLBT communities, growth of churches and revitalizing them. Holy Communion is not only a ritual but a daily experience in the lives of each person; listen to voices of the young and respond with creative ministries.
  
• Rachael Simeon, Alaska Missionary and Yellowstone, has a sister being considered for election in the North Central Jurisdiction. Small is not somehow less valuable: she is proud of being from a small membership place and wants to find out why churches in the West aren't keeping pace with the fast-growing areas. The West needs to lead the denomination. The small size of the WJ is good: it is small enough to be honest and to risk. Becoming whole is a guiding principle of faith. There's more to faith than majority thinking: the tyranny of the majority has little relationship to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Geography forces a different image of ministry.
  
• Tweedy Sombrero, DSW, is a full-blooded Navajo. "To walk in beauty is to put on Christ. The Holy Spirit is like the rain which strengthens us; when we open ourselves to receiving that rain which is the Holy Spirit, we are truly blessed by what Christ promises. When I walk in beauty I touch all around me."
  
• Steve Sprecher, Ore-Ida, took a scriptural perspective on GC: Prov 29:18, where there is no vision, the people perish; lack of vision and spirituality is what happened at GC: there were divisive actions and spirit. The Unity statement does not describe who we are, but it is a bold statement of who we are to become, and it helped the church to reclaim the center and marginalize those who would divide the church. Leadership, vision, and collaboration brings reconciliation.
  
• Frank Wulf, Cal Pac, is convinced that bishops must work with all to help vision emerge. The church must move beyond being a middle class white community paralyzed by a theology of scarcity. As one who has experienced ridicule rejection because of his sexual orientation, he is thankful for the welcome given by the West to GLBT persons. "Hospitality is at the very heart of who and what we are called to be by Jesus and by Wesley. He is a campus minister concerned to find creative ways to disciple young people. Leadership does not mean tokenism. The Spirit is working through young people. "let them bring their energy and imaginations to church and they will change us for the better."
  

Thursday holds several ways of getting acquainted with all these nominees, including a new "fishbowl" method, as well as interviews with delegations, caucus groups gathering to endorse or support one or another of those nominees.

The Episcopal Address gave a "state of the Jurisdiction" report, highlighting the ministries of each Conference and calling on the West to "practice radical hospitality."