Updates on Ministries
Rightly ordered financial management for Friends
organizations – October 29-31, Twin Rocks
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- Fostering open conversations about money in your meeting
- Budgeting as a reflection of our Friendly priorities and values
- Nuts and bolts: reading and crafting financial reports
- Socially responsible investing for meetings and organizations
Northwest Yearly Meeting is partnering with Friends Fiduciary Corporation and Western Friend magazine to bring this practical and Spirit-centered exploration of the financial issues facing Friends organizations.
It seems we all struggle to find better ways of working together—from hardships with fundraising for building upkeep to simply having a loving, open conversation about how finances can better express Quaker values.
At this workshop, Friends experienced in various aspects of finances will cover a number of topics, including:
Treasurers and finance clerks will find the workshop especially helpful, but the sessions are designed to be interesting and accessible to anyone who wants to learn more about Spirit-led financial decision making. You will also have ample time to talk with people from other meetings, churches, and Quaker organizations over meals and during facilitated peer group discussions.
Cost: $125/person
Lodging: the delightfully historic Hadley Hall at Twin Rocks Friends Camp
Register online.
Teaching Abroad begins eleventh year
- Teachers are beginning to return to China. Three teachers are at Hubei Technical Vocation College in Xiaogan, China: Dorothy Sherman (tenth year), Miriam Voth (fourth year), and Joanna Cox (first year). Two will return to Wuhan University of Technology: Marilyn Harmon (eleventh year) and Ann Brantingham (seventh year).
If you would like prayer cards for this team or applications for 2011-2012, contact the NWYM office at
office@nwfriends.org. Several have already begun the application process.
Update on North Africa planning
- The Board of Global Outreach approved a subcommittee to begin laying plans for a renewed outreach effort in North Africa. Plans are team centered and include both short-term and long-term service focused on serving and caring for North Africans. If you have interest in serving in North Africa, please contact NWYM Associate Superintendent Shawn McConaughey at smcconaughey@nwfriends.org.
Friends Center offers course on new ministry start-ups:
- On the campus of George Fox Evangelical Seminary in early October, Trey Doty (GFES development director and NWYM Board of Leadership Development clerk) led a Friends Center course on developing new ministries. According to Trey, every ministry leader faces the opportunity to relevantly meet community needs in innovative and creative ways. Understanding why and how to develop a ministry start-up is essential, whether that involves catalyzing and leading the new venture or becoming a vital member of the team.
The course introduced students to the design and process of new church development and nonprofit start-up. It addressed several entrepreneurial challenges facing church planters and ministry leaders: effective communication, biblical/theological purpose, planning, organizational health, personal influence, team building, and resource development.
For information about upcoming Friends Center courses, please contact Colin Saxton at csaxton@nwfriends.org.
NWYM News & Announcements
Eyes Fixed, Running Free from Hebrews 12:1-2 guided the 118th annual sessions of Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Churches, held at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, during July 25-29.
Highlights marking our week of worship, fellowship, and learning include:
- A great week at Tilikum, coordinated by Erin Johnson, and evening activities for the children planned by Roxy Schaad.
- A variety of events, worship, and business gatherings for middle and high school youth. Many adult volunteers helped organize a fun and meaningful time.
- During evening worship, several groups (including the youth on Wednesday) led us as we gathered in Bauman auditorium.
- Our speaker for the week, Scott Daniels, inspired and challenged us to engage the world around us in ways that authentically reflect Christ. The Boards of Global Outreach and Local Outreach also gave us an opportunity to hear how this is already happening in both the Northwest and through Friends serving abroad.
- As we gathered for worship and business in the morning sessions, we approved several revisions in the Faith and Practice, approved a budget recommendation of $1,421,202, recorded Darla Samuelson, RiversWay (Tigard, OR) pastor as a minister of the gospel and celebrated RiversWay’s transition from a ministry point to a local church within NWYM. All of the boards presented 2011 ministry plans and reviewed their work over the past year. Yearly Meeting sessions concluded with a meal and time of celebration on Thursday night.
- Videos of evening worship gatherings are available on the NWYM website at www.nwfriends.org. Minutes from the business sessions, as well as the Epistle, will be available soon. You may order the 2010 Minutes and audio DVDs of keynote speakers by contacting Kimberly Felton at office@nwfriends.org.
- Samuel School I – Oct. 8-10 at Twin Rocks Friends Camp. Elders from our local churches nominate 7th and 8th graders to come together at this retreat for fellowship and to gain tools on the many different ways to discern God’s voice.
- Bible Quizzing – Oct. 16 at Newberg Friends Church. This is our first quiz meet of the season. Youth are studying and competing over the book of John.
- Mid-Winter – Jan. 14-17 at Eugene Friends. During this weekend, high school students around NWYM come together for connection and service.
- Youthworkers Training Conference — Nov. 5-7 in Hood River, OR. Trey Doty, clerk of the Board of Leadership Development and director of George Fox Evangelical Seminary development, will facilitate training on mentoring. Register online.
- Summit 2010 – Dec. 28-Jan.1. Evangelical Friends North America sponsors this conference for young adults, where they connect with Friends from around the U.S. and gain resources for different service opportunities among EFC-NA (www.friendssummitt.com).
