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| First UMC - Fort Collins |
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| First UMC sanctuary |
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| Bishop Oliveto addresses the clergy |
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| Some books for Pastor Charles |
Pastor Charles spent a few days in Fort Collins this week with other clergy from around the Mountain Sky Conference at the annual Clergy Orders retreat. In addition to hearing from Bishop Oliveto and other conference leaders, there was spritual content from Rev. Beth Richardson who is a retired clergy from our conference and who is known for her work with The Upper Room.
At Annual Conference this year, conference leadership heard loud and clear the desire for greater transparency regarding the conference budget. The members of the Conference Committee on Finance and Administration are responding to that request by ensuring that an updated budget report can be found monthly on the conference website. You will see it here: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/
We in The United Methodist Church are connected to one another. One reason why our denomination has been a powerful movement within the United States and across the globe is because we share our resources and multiply our impact of sharing the love of God as found in Christ Jesus through ministries of compassion and justice.
Within the Annual Conference, your mission shares enable us to deploy pastors, train laity, and support ministries with and for those who are vulnerable and in need. We are honored to serve churches across our vast geography – those in rural and traditionally under-represented communities and those that reside in large metropolitan cities. We want to highlight some of the ways your mission share dollars are at work, within the Mountain Sky Conference and beyond:
Leadership Development funds grants to local churches invested in laity leadership development and/or anti-racism work
Camping and Campus Ministries that benefit youth and young adults as we witness the movement of the Holy Spirit through all ages and generations
We supply grants for local churches through each focus area for abundant health, creation justice, disability matters, technology and resourcing
70% of the Mission Engagement budget goes to commitments like Angola pastors’ support, disaster response and recovery, and Ecumenical ministry support
Abundant Health initiatives focus on mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic violence prevention
Resourcing areas focusing on advocacy and inclusion: focusing on some areas such as LBGTQ inclusion, anti-racism, intercultural competency, cross-racial/cross cultural and ethnic ministries, partnering with clergy of color.
Thank you for your mission shares, which enable these ministries to happen!
The Mountain Sky Conference leadership seeks to be faithful stewards of our shared resources. We hope by sharing this budget report, this commitment can be confirmed.
Blessings,
Bishop Karen Oliveto
Angela Thomas, Chief Financial Officer
Bruce Berger, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Finance and Administration
~ Susanna Wesley
Our lessons will come from Philippians 2:1-13 and Matthew 21:23-32.
+ We celebrate this week's birthday: Steve Matthews
+ We are blessed by those who served this week: Belinda Alkula (videographer), Louise Cook (pianist), Tim Cook (study class), Rebecca Glancy (liturgist), Kathy Lloyd (Zoom host), Etta Levitt (Zoom usher), Suzanne Polacek (bells), Jim Vander Vorste (greeter/fellowship), and Joey Vander Vorste (fellowship/flowers).
Concerns:
+ Pastor Charles lifts up in prayer all those involved in the church trial of Bishop Minerva Carcaño last week [she was aquitted on all counts].
+ Suzanne Polacek asks for prayers for Ron as he undergoes further treatments this week.
+ Amy Abshire asks for prayers for Nels (her brother-in-law) who is having surgery this week.
Michele Matthews lifts up her doctor who was hurt in a car accident in the parking lot.
+ Suzanne Polacek lifts up her friend, Laura, who was in a car accident.
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+ Please sign up to write for the Advent devotional. This year's theme is "The names of Jesus." See the sign-up sheet on the Greeter's table or speak with Pastor Charles.
+ A memorial luncheon for Donna Wasson will be held on Tuesday, September 26, starting at 11:45 a.m., at St. Paul’s UMC in the fellowship hall.
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| Flowers from the Vander Vorstes |
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Louise and Suzanne offer the prelude
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Welcome...Pastor Charles
Prelude…Louise Cook and Suzanne Polacek / “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” by Mark Hayes
*Call to Worship (Psalm 105:1-4, The Inclusive Bible)...Rebecca Glancy Alleluia! Give thanks to the LORD! Call upon God’s Name; proclaim God’s deeds among the peoples! Sing to God; sing praise and tell of all God’s marvels! Glory in God’s holy Name; let the hearts that seek God rejoice! Turn to the Lord—to God’s strength—and seek God’s presence constantly.
*Hymn…“Depth of Mercy” (UMH #355)
Prayer of Confession (Book of Worship, #490)...Rebecca Glancy
O merciful God, we confess that we have not acknowledged You as the source of our successes, our substance, our selves. We have been far more ready to complain when things go wrong than to praise when all is well. We have fed our bodies a rich diet while neglecting to feed our souls. Power and wealth have assumed greater importance to us than sensitivity and service. We have allowed religious words and forms to substitute for living encounters with the persons You have called us to love. Forgive us, compassionate Redeemer, and grant us the opportunity to start over again. Keep us from repeating the mistakes of the past or from new evils that could mislead or destroy. In the name of the Christ, we offer our earnest prayers for pardon and deliverance. Amen.
Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations
Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer...Pastor Charles
Epistle Lesson: Philippians 1:21-30...Rebecca Glancy
Bell Anthem…“Sweet Spirit,” arranged by Bill Ingram Gospel
Lesson: Matthew 20:1-16...Pastor Charles
This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
Sermon...Pastor Charles / “Someone is watching”
*Hymn…“O Jesus, I Have Promised” (UMH #396)
*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles
Postlude...Louise Cook / “On Eagle’s Wings” by Michael Joncas, arranged by Douglas Wagner
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| Giving the front door a sprucing up! |
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| Ready to swap out the summer and autumn flowers |
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| Welcome, autumn! |
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| Photo by Pastor Charles |
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS – After three days of testimony and an evening spent in prayerful deliberation, a jury of Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño’s clergy peers found her not guilty of violating The United Methodist Book of Discipline on the four charges she faced.
Rev. Dan Hurlbert, chair of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Episcopacy, responded shortly after the trial, writing, “In accordance with ¶ 2704.1.c of The 2016 Book of Discipline which states, “the jurisdictional committee on the episcopacy may suspend the respondent pending the conclusion of the trial process,” Bishop Carcaño’s suspension is concluded. She will resume her episcopal duties in the California-Nevada Annual Conference and the United Methodist connection. The Committee on Episcopacy is grateful to all the participants in the trial for their prayerful work, and we look forward to supporting Bishop Carcaño in her ministry going forward.”
Western Jurisdiction College President Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank was present as the verdict was announced. “The focus of God’s work is creation, healing, and restoration. We join God’s work of healing and restoration in the Western Jurisdiction and California-Nevada Conference. My heart and prayers are with everyone who has been involved in this process.”
Bishop Carcaño has been on suspension since March 2022 while the investigation was started, then paused while she appealed to the United Methodist Judicial Council, then returned to the Western Jurisdiction to try and reach a just resolution between all parties. Ultimately, that could not be achieved without going to trial.
During the trial, the Church argued that Bishop Carcaño’s actions broke the sacred trust that binds all ordained United Methodist clergy, including bishops. Retired Mountain Sky Conference Elder Rev. Janet Forbes served as the Church’s counsel, with supporting counsel Richard Marsh. The complainants, all serving under Carcaño in the California-Nevada Conference, brought forward complaints regarding conference finances, the pastoral leadership of the bishop and issues of harassment.
“Now the healing begins, and I recognize that it’s not going to be an easy path, but we must try. I commit myself to this hard work of healing and restoration,” noted Bishop Carlo A. Rapanut, secretary for the WJ College of Bishops, who was also present for the trial. “May this serve as an opportunity to provide a witness to the world as we live out our Christian values of grace, forgiveness, justice and love.”
The trial came after an 18-month suspension of Bishop Carcaño. She is the first bishop in The United Methodist Church and the first Methodist bishop in nearly 100 years to face a trial.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,
Today, a jurisdictional trial concluded that involved our colleague, Bishop Minerva Carcaño, as respondent. Under the oversight of presiding officer Bishop Alfred Gwinn, the trial resulted in a dismissal of all four charges against Bishop Carcaño as the jury found her actions to be within the bounds of her episcopal authority.
Although the judicial process is complete, we recognize that pain and anguish are present in this moment. We especially extend our care to those who gave voice to their convictions with courage through the complaint process and the trial. We don’t minimize the hurt we all carry, and at the same time, we begin the work of healing. No verdict – innocent or guilty – will do the hard work of restoring and building the necessary trust for healthy relationships. This will require diligence, mercy, reconciliation, and restoration by all parties.
With the trial now over, the Western Jurisdiction’s College of Bishops will welcome Bishop Carcaño back into our shared collaborative work. As we build new and restore old relationships, we will walk alongside her as fellow servant leaders, even as we continue to hold each other accountable in love.
We are thankful for all who contributed their time and gifts to this trial, ensuring a fair hearing of the facts and the faithful deliberations of the jury. The court’s officers, presiding officer Bishop Gwinn and secretary Rev. R. Preston Price, capably facilitated while coordinating details for the relocated trial with leadership in the North Central Jurisdiction and our building host, Wespath.
We also give thanks for the leaders within the Western Jurisdiction who navigated this complaint process with diligence and care, balancing the requirements of The Discipline with a desire to do no harm. In particular, we offer our gratitude to Rev. Janet Forbes and Richard Marsh, who dutifully represented the Church as counsel in this trial.
As your College of Bishops, we remain committed to guiding our jurisdiction through this season with integrity, compassion, and a listening spirit. We invite you to join us in prayer, seeking God’s wisdom and grace as we navigate the path ahead.
Grace y Paz,
Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank
President, Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
Resident Bishop of the Los Angeles Area
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| Bishop Carcaño stands as the verdict is read |
Sept. 22, 2023 | UM News
A church court found Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño — The United Methodist Church’s first Latina bishop — not guilty of four charges.
Carcaño, who has served as bishop of the California-Nevada Conference since 2016, stood trial before a jury of 13 racially diverse clergy members from the North Central Jurisdiction. The trial, which began Sept. 19, took place at the offices of Wespath Benefits and Investments in Glenview, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.
The bishop faced accusations under church law of disobedience to the order and discipline of the church, undermining the ministry of another clergy person, harassment and fiscal malfeasance.
After a few hours of deliberation on the evening of Sept. 21, the jury — called a trial court in The United Methodist Church — rendered a verdict acquitting her on all counts.
Read more at this link.
“Not only to the California-Nevada Conference, but the Western Jurisdiction and the cost to all of you,” she told a jury of fellow United Methodist clergy.
“Friends, I am embarrassed that I was not able to manage the work of this annual conference and its staff and its relationships in a way that would have prohibited this extended process that has not only affected me, but affected the California-Nevada Conference … and has brought disruption to the life of The United Methodist Church.”
The jury heard from the bishop and other witnesses who defended her work in the California-Nevada Conference as the trial of the bishop entered its third day at the headquarters of Wespath, the denomination’s pension agency. This is the first trial of a bishop in The United Methodist Church or any of its predecessors since 1928.
Read more at this link.
“In generations past, it was an obligatory behavior pattern,” said Doblmeier, who has made more than 35 films on religion and spirituality for Journey Films, which he founded. “We're inviting people to rediscover the Sabbath as a gift that's less about the obligation of it. It's more about the opportunity and the privilege of doing it.
“One day a week, you say, ‘I've done enough, and I am enough. I have enough for that one day.’
Read more at this link.
Carcaño — who has led the California-Nevada Conference since 2016 — faces four charges of violating church law, stemming from three complaints. She stands accused of disobedience to the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church, the undermining of another pastor’s ministry, harassment and fiscal malfeasance. The bishop has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On the afternoon of Sept. 19 and into Sept. 20, the jury of fellow United Methodist clergy heard witnesses for the counsel for the church — essentially the prosecution. The trial is taking place at the offices of Wespath Benefits and Investments in Glenview, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.
Jurors heard testimony about three different disputes that gave rise to the complaints and the subsequent charges.
“It is up to you to determine from the evidence presented whether the church has proven the charges against the respondent by clear and convincing evidence,” retired Bishop Alfred Gwinn, the presiding officer, told the jury at the start of the trial.
“The respondent, Bishop Carcaño, is presumed to be innocent until the conclusion of the trial process, when you will render a verdict on the bill of charges and specifications.”
Read more at this link.
~ John Wesley (An Earnest Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion, 19.11.54)
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño faces four charges of violating church law. She is accused of disobeying the order and discipline of The United Methodist Church, undermining the ministry of another pastor, committing harassment (including but not limited to racial and/or sexual harassment) and committing fiscal malfeasance.
The announcement by retired Bishop Alfred W. Gwinn, the presiding officer in the case, marked the first public disclosure of the nature of the accusations she faces since March of last year when Western Jurisdiction leaders announced that Carcaño was under suspension while complaints against her were under review. She has been on leave with pay and benefits ever since.
Carcaño pleaded not guilty to all four charges. All four charges stem from three complaints filed against the bishop by members of the California-Nevada Conference.
Read more at this link.
