Cal-Pac Bishop Carcaño to represent UMC Church POTUS address

This message originated from the UMC Cal-Pac office yesterday.  FUMC Pasadena sends it's prayers and well wishes to Bishop Carcaño on this mission of hope.
 

January 28, 2013 Special Update
The White House, upon recommendation of the U.M. General Board of Church and Society, has invited Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño to represent the United Methodist Church at a public address by President Barack Obama tomorrow, Tuesday January 29, in Las Vegas. The President will speak to the proposal reported below. The invitation came in light of the current administration’s recognition of the strong, positive voice that the U.M.C. has brought to the issue of immigration and needed reform. When more news becomes available, it will be posted here and to the Cal-Pac Conference website.
 
United Methodist bishops, social-justice agency welcome step forward on immigration reform
Caution, though, more changes needed to achieve just, workable system

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church welcomes the Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform presented by eight U.S. Senators Monday, January 28. This framework offers necessary steps towards policy solutions, particularly regarding a pathway to full citizenship for all undocumented immigrants and the strengthening of the family immigration system, both of which are crucial aspects of any legislation that is both effective and humane.

The framework is being put forward by Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Richard Durbin, D-Ill.; Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; John McCain, R-Ariz.; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

The framework’s principles offer necessary steps towards immigration policy solutions that are just and humane, according to Bishop Minerva Carcaño, episcopal leader of the Los Angeles Area (California-Pacific Conference) and chair of the United Methodist Interagency Taskforce on Immigration. “A pathway to full citizenship for all undocumented immigrants and policies that will allow the reunification of immigrant families are crucial aspects of any legislation that strives to be effective and humane,” she emphasized.

Carcaño said the steps being recommended in the framework help the United States move toward immigration reform, but she cautioned that there is much more work to be done. “One specific area of concern is making a pathway to full citizenship contingent on even stronger and potentially harsher border enforcement,” the bishop said. “We will continue to monitor the plan for implementing these principles for immigration reform. I do, however, applaud our senators for their hard work and look forward to working closely with them in moving these principles toward effective, just and humane legislation.”

The framework contains essential elements such as a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants called "DREAMers" and agricultural workers. It would also reduce waiting times for separated families to be reunited thereby strengthening the family immigration system and would protect the rights of workers with strong labor protections.

Rectify enforcement-first proposals

Unfortunately, the framework also makes the pathway to citizenship for many undocumented immigrants contingent on more onerous border enforcement, some of which could take years or even decades to achieve. "The enforcement-first proposals must be rectified before these proposals can be effective legislation," stressed Bishop Robert Hoshibata, episcopal leader of the Phoenix Area (Desert Southwest Conference) and president of the General Board of Church & Society.
 
Hoshibata pointed out that The United Methodist Church has led in the grassroots mobilization of the faith community across the United States, organizing hundreds of public witness events in support of just, humane immigration reform. “United Methodists are calling for humane and common-sense solutions because they see firsthand how our immigration system tears families apart, exploits workers, and keeps entire communities terrorized under our current enforcement policies,” he emphasized.

The United Methodist Church believes “at the center of Christian faithfulness to Scripture is the call we have been given to love and welcome the sojourner … to refuse to welcome migrants to this country and to stand by in silence while families are separated, individual freedoms are ignored, and the migrant community in the United States is demonized … is complicity to sin” (Welcoming the Migrant to the U.S., 2012 Book of Resolutions).

Moral courage needed by Congress 
Just as United Methodists have led in the struggle to defend and support the rights of immigrants, they are organized and ready to work closely with Congress and President Obama to see the principles in this framework that are just and effective enacted into legislation, according to Jim Winkler, chief executive of the General Board of Church & Society.

We need Congress to show the moral courage necessary to enact immigration reform,” Winkler said. “The framework has created a first step towards just, workable reform, and with some changes, can improve the lives of our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Winkler said immigration reform must be both moral and practical. 

It will secure both the future of the United States and the rights of immigrants and their families,” he said. “We applaud the leadership by the Senators and we urge all members of Congress to work towards enactment of just reform as soon as possible.

The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church. Prime responsibility of the board is to seek implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements on Christian social concerns of the General Conference, the denomination’s highest policy-making body. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education & Leadership Formation, United Nations & International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for the denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City.

Related Social Principles
162 III. The Social Community 
163 IV. The Economic Community

More Info on the United Methodist Church California Pacific Conference at their website.

California Pacific Annual Conference 2012 Update

The following is a post conference update to the congregation about the 2012 California Pacific Annual Conference, submitted by JP Harris.

     Once again, the University of Redlands was the scene for this annual gathering of United Methodists from throughout the Cal-Pac Annual Conference. Held June 14 through 17, eight members of our congregation attended in various capacities. They were Paul Audley, Barbara Gorton, JP Harris, Garry Hart, Marilynne Kennedy, Melanie McCann, Michael Moore, Wanda Gae Stefansson along with all of our clergy. Annual Conference is a time for renewal, reconnecting with friends, raising your voice loudly in song with other United Methodists, and charting the course for our churches for the next year and beyond. There are 378 churches in our Annual Conference and virtually all were represented in the over 1,200 attendees.

     This Annual Conference was the last to recognize the 7 California Districts. Effective July 1, the Annual Conference is re-aligned into 4 California Districts, the Hawaii District remaining unchanged. We have gone from 8 Districts (7 California plus Hawaii) to 5. First Church is now part of the new North District and our District Superintendent is Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth, whom many of you met when he gave our Consecration Sunday sermon two years ago. The North District office has been moved to Chatsworth from its former location at Sierra Madre UMC. (By the way, Sierra Madre UMC is in the new East District.)

     The District Re-alignment, in general, has parts of Pasadena and all of Santa Barbara District rolling into the new North District, the Los Angeles, Long Beach and parts of Santa Ana Districts becoming the West District, parts of Pasadena and all of Riverside District becomes the East District and parts of Santa Ana, Riverside and San Diego districts become the South District. The last time the Districts were re-aligned was in 1984, and this current re-alignment closely follows where we were in 1951.

     The realignment will cause us to re-examine how we as local churches relate to one another. To foster a greater reaching out to other churches, and the communities in which we live, churches are now grouped into Mission Areas. The Mission Areas will push us out of our silos and cause greater collaboration with our neighboring congregations, bringing our strengths to a common table where everyone will benefit. It is hoped it will act as a force multiplier, giving us greater strength, flexibility and availability to shared resources and aid us all in meeting the mission of the church, “To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”

     The Pasadena Mission Area consists of 7 UMC congregations: Altadena, Pasadena First, Holliston, Saint James, Scott, South Pasadena, and Immanuel (Highland Park). Our calling has always been to serve the world around us, in partnership with one another. Mission Areas will re-emphasize what has always been our core function.

     Worship is an integral part of Annual Conference. There were numerous worship services held over the 4 day event and on Sunday we all joined for our traditional Sunday Worship Service. Although all the services were moving and gave you a chance to sing loudly with other like-minded Methodists, to me the most moving worship services were the Memorial and Communion Service  and the Ordination Service.

     The Memorial and Communion Service gave us a chance to pay tribute and remember those members of our clergy and their spouses that are “Absent from the body, Present with the Lord.” We learned a lot of church history and other interesting facts. I learned that Rev. David Sharp, the founder and owner of Sharp Seating, the company that provides virtually all of the seating for the Rose Parade, including the seating directly in front of our church, AND who assisted us greatly last year with ticket sales for our New Year’s morning Pancake Breakfast fund raiser, was a former Nazarene and United Methodist minister, serving in Pomona, Northridge, Honolulu and Tustin. He passed away on October 4, 2011 at age 89.

     We also learned that Rev. Don Shelby, who passed away on April 4th of this year at age 81 and is the father of Darla Dyson, was truly a pillar of our church and widely respected by the entire Annual Conference, having spent 45 years in Southern California as a United Methodist pastor and mentor to many of our clergy. His presence will be sorely missed.

     The Ordination Service was equally moving as we watched persons who had formerly been in service to our congregation being granted provisional and full connection status. Rev. Bob Rhodes, formerly our Youth Pastor here at First Church, became a Provisional Elder, on loan to the Nebraska Annual Conference in service as an Associate Pastor at Trinity UMC in Grand Island, Nebraska. Additionally, Rev. Colleen Windham-Hughes, who also previously served our church, became a Deacon in Full Connection, on appointment as a professor at California Lutheran College.

     A large part of each Annual Conference is the consideration of legislation that governs the churches within our Annual Conference. This year was no different and there were many resolutions that were acted upon. Budget is never a small part of the proceedings, and this year it was even larger as the Annual Conference continues to struggle with reduced apportionment monies from local churches. Additionally, a new accounting system was introduced which further complicated the process as existing functions were re-categorized within the five Essential Ministry Teams. After two separate sessions prioritizing where the Annual Conference would spend its resources, the apportioned budget (the only portion voted upon by the Annual Conference) was approved at over $12 million within a Total Conference Budget for 2013 of over $26.8 million. The entire budgetary process re-emphasizes the importance of paying our apportionment so the important work of the Annual Conference can be carried out within our many and varied ministries.

     Starting in 2000, the Cal-Pac Annual Conference has passed, and at each subsequent Annual Conference re-affirmed, our commitment to being specifically inclusive of all persons. As many are aware, every 4 years United Methodists from around the world hold a General Conference. At the 2012 General Conference, a resolution passed stating that homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. In response to that resolution, the California-Pacific Annual Conference renounced that statement, declared the statement itself was incompatible with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Additionally, the Annual Conference affirmed the sacred worth of all persons, including members of the LGBTQ community; committed to continuing to build inclusive Christian communities in our churches, where LGBTQ lay persons and clergy are loved and welcomed; and we invited churches and individuals to adopt this statement, and join in living out its principles.

     Another resolution was passed which was deeply troubling in that it dealt with the discontinuance of St. Mark’s UMC in Anaheim. Last year, Crescent Heights UMC in West Hollywood was also discontinued. Although new ministries are starting within our Annual Conference, a resolution to discontinue reminds all of us that we cannot take for granted the continued existence of any church. We must be energetic in renewing our churches. We must strive to be welcoming to all persons that today are unknown to us. We must be a church that truly lives the mission statement “Open hearts, Open minds, Open doors.” This coming year Pasadena First must renew our commitment to live out our own mission: “Christ is Calling! Come. Worship. Serve.”

     At the conclusion of the conference on Sunday, a celebratory luncheon was held in honor of Bishop Mary Ann Swenson and her husband, Jeff, and her 39 years of ministry as they begin a new chapter in their lives, retirement. Although we are all wondering who will be appointed the new Bishop, we will all just have to wait and see!

     If you want more information, go to www.cal-pac.org and click on the 2012 Annual Conference button within Directories on the left. A complete list of the agenda and all documents associated with all of the various topics discussed and voted on are found there.