Greetings from Boise

Greetings from Boise and the 58th session of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. Conference started with joy and celebration today as we remembered how we are called and created: to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

This year, Lay Members to Annual Conference Alina Klimecky and Bob Wilson join Pastor Rachel and myself in Boise with Lay Member to Annual Conference Harriet Ottaviano representing First Church and voting online. We are also joined by Blake Whisenhunt who caravaned with all the conference youth coming from the Portland area, Em Rigler in her capacity as chair of the Board of Faith Foundation Northwest, Jim Teisher as part of the conference’s newly minted Green Team, and Paul Nickell who is the Conference Lay Leader.

Of the many other business items we have covered today, we celebrated clergy who have been licensed, commissioned, or ordained. We also celebrated this year’s clergy and lay retirees. There, I had the pleasure of meeting former First Church associate Rev. Brenda Sene. As the clergy prepared to robe for the Commissioning and Ordination service this afternoon, she showed me the stole that she chose to wear today: a beautiful rainbow that held many beloved names—yours! This name-stole was gifted to Brenda when she left First Church. On the occasion of her retirement today, she is wearing it in your honor.

It has been a joy to celebrate our Connection this week. I look forward to sharing more updates with you at this week’s Fireside Chat (Sunday, June 21 at Noon in the Fireside Room) and in a report by our Annual Conference team.