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Hello Friends in District 52,
In anticipation of a new district being formed effective July 1, 2012, we are contacting you to begin some conversations to prepare us for that time. As you know, Bishop Hoshibata has assigned 52 churches to the new district, which will include congregations through the Columbia Gorge, north-central Oregon, and NE Oregon, as well as churches in the Portland metropolitan area.
Along with the current Metro District churches, the following churches will become a part of the new district:
Arlington, Dufur, Echo, Heppner, Hermiston First, Asbury (Hood River), Wesley (Milton-Freewater), Pendleton First, Pine Grove-Odell, The Dalles, Tygh Valley, Wasco, and Weston! Welcome!
We will bid farewell to Tigard, Clatskanie, and Rainier UMCs as they become part of another district.
The Rev. Dr. Lowell Greathouse will continue as District Superintendent, and Barbara Collins will remain as Administrative Assistant in this District office.
One of the first things we will do together: NAME OUR DISTRICT! We have invited people to send their ideas—so far we have received 5 or 6 names, and we would encourage EVERYONE to join the search for a new moniker. So please send your proposals to the district office via email (metrodistrictoffice@umoi.org) or mail to District Office, 1505 SW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97201-2524. At Annual Conference, there will be a gathering on Saturday, June 16 where we will celebrate our new district and together decide on our name.
Also at the Annual Conference Session we will elect new district and conference committees with representation from churches in the new district. We would love to hear from you now about people in your local churches who have special gifts or passion, who would be excellent leaders at the district and conference levels. These could be individuals already serving in some capacity, or people newly ready to serve. We are committed to creating new district ministry teams that make use of gifted people from all corners of the new district.
The April edition of our newsletter still bears the name “Metro Connection”. After Annual Conference when the district name is determined, the newsletter name will change accordingly, identifying us as a new entity!
For our friends in Oregon Trail District, click here to view the April newsletterfrom the current Metro District; we hope that you will enjoy reading it, and begin to feel a sense of community ahead of the time when you become part of a NEW district, with new physical boundaries, new colleagues in community, and a brand new identity!
We are eager to join with you in this venture, and look forward to working together and getting to know each other better in the year ahead.
Blessings,
Rev. Lowell Greathouse
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