One of the best parts of our life together as a parish is the amazing leaders we have. Each quarter a group of formal and informal community leaders get together to check in, dream, and plan. This past week we got together in the back yard of the Sellwood Faith House. Jeff and I prepared a bbq for folks and as we ate we talked about the possibilities and dreams we have had for the parish.
We decided, after a long delay, to go ahead and hold our reconciling vote on October 10th & 11th. We will be asking the question should the Southeast Portland Parish become a reconciling community? Agreeing to become a reconciling community means that we welcome and celebrate all people, especially LGBTQ people. We also agree to work with others to advance justice and inclusion for all LGBTQ people in The United Methodist Church and beyond. Anyone who is part of the community can vote, you do not have to be a member. You can vote in-person at Trinity or in the comments on Facebook during morning worship on October 10th, in-person at the Sellwood Faith house at Dessert Church on the 10th, on zoom during Snack Church on the 11th, or through a mail in or email ballot. Simply send to the Trinity building (3915 SE Steele Steele) or email officetrinityumc@gmail.com with your name and yes or no. The results will be announced on Tuesday October 12th, so get your votes in by midnight on the 11th. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Our leadership team is also continuing our work on accessibility, striving to help the facilities and gatherings of the parish be more welcoming to folks of all abilities. Our trustees will be spearheading this work.
A group of our leaders will be joining a community organizing cohort this fall to help us refine and adapt our work to fit the needs of the community. While we love the work of Steele Street School, given the realities of a COVID world we may need to rethink our path to sustainability. This cohort will give us the opportunity to listen a fresh to God’s call for our parish. We will be meeting once a month starting in October with a group of Lutherans & Presbyterians from Southeast Portland to learn about our community, strengthen our imagination and investigative skills, and attune ourselves to what may be. If you are interested in joining let me know!
The other thing your leadership team identified was a need to connect. Our Fun Bunch will be planning games nights in October & December. I am working on a day apart at the coast for February. These times of fun, of rest, of renewal are vital as we continue to be church in these strange times.
I am so very grateful to serve a community with such amazing leadership and so much life!
-Eilidh
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