PORTLAND, Ore. – A group of United Methodists from around the globe will take time to listen to one another next week.
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“Listening with Open Hearts: Building Bridges and Deepening Relationships” will be held Aug. 24-29 in Portland, Ore. It will include representatives from Africa, the Philippines, Europe, and the United States in a time designed to engage participants in a global conversation to: (1) provide an opportunity to share issues and concerns related to our various contexts, especially those facing The United Methodist Church outside of the United States, (2) deepen our understanding and relationships with one another, and (3) create an environment of intentional listening.
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Sponsored by the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference and the Love Your Neighbor Coalition (LYNC), the event will offer opportunities for United Methodist participants from outside the United States to share about the missional situation of the church in their areas. In addition, there will be opportunities to worship and engage in Bible study together.
Organizers see this as a way to assist the larger United Methodist Church, by modeling a method of having important conversations with each other that reflect how we can be together conversationally and missionally in a changing world.
This conversation will be facilitated by the Rev. Kalaba Chali, Mercy and Justice Coordinator for the Great Plains Annual Conference, and Rev. Dr. Mary Elizabeth Moore, Dean of United Methodist-related Boston University School of Theology. Both are experienced in working in an international context. They have worked with the organizers to develop a framework for honest listening about the social justice and missional needs of the church in many places around the world.
Because the gathering is intended as a place for relationship building and contemplative conversation, it is not open to the public or press. Participants will be encouraged to return to their own homes and missional contexts to share what they have learned.
The Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church (www.umoi.org) is the regional body for United Methodists in Oregon and Southern Idaho. Bishop Elaine Stanovsky of the Greater Northwest Area is the presiding bishop.
The Love Your Neighbor Coalition (lyncoalition.org) is comprised of 13 organizations supporting diversity and justice in The United Methodist Church and the world.
Greg Nelson serves as director of communications for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. An online press availability will be scheduled near the end of the event, contact Greg Nelson at greg@umoi.org for more details.