News

Western Jurisdiction Meetings, 'A New Thing,' Are Well Received

By Cate Monaghan Director of Communications, CA-NV Annual Conference   See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19   When Bishop Grant Hagiya (resident in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, shown at right) posed the question on Sunday, "Should we do this again?" he received a warm response. There were nods throughout the roomful of bishops,...

Registration Opens for March 14 Gathering of Clergy

Register now to attend a day of soul-satisfying worship and re-affirmation of your call to ministry, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, California. This day of worship and renewal for all clergy and candidates – in all orders of ministry, active and retired, appointed and not-currently-appointed – features worship and music leaders Mark Miller and Marcia McFee and is sponsored by the California-Nevada Annual...

Bishop Announces Cabinet Change

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced a Cabinet change, effective July 1, 2012. After six years, the Rev. Jerry Smith (upper right) will be completing his service on the Cabinet. Rev. Smith is superintendent for the Great Northern District. "I am extremely grateful for Jerry's faithful leadership during some challenging years for the California-Nevada Conference," the bishop said. "He has led the formation of the Great Northern District and has a deep love for that region...

Dates, Times, Locations of Discovery Events Are Set

The dates, times, and locations for this spring's Discovery Events have been finalized. The schedule is as follows: Great Northern District: Oroville Saturday, February 25, 2012 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Registration 9:30 a.m.) First United Methodist Church, 45 Acacia Avenue, Oroville, CA 95966   Bridges District: Fairfield Sunday, March 25, 2012 2-6 p.m. Fairfield UMC, 1875 Fairfield Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533   El Camino Real District: San Jose Saturday, March 31, 2012 10...

Greg Bergquist Is New Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced that the Rev. Greg Bergquist has been named the new Conference Superintendent for Leadership Development for the California-Nevada Annual Conference. He will join the staff July 1, 2012. The position currently is held by the Rev. Ted Virts, who has been appointed to a local church. "I am delighted to welcome Greg Bergquist to my Cabinet," the Bishop said. "He will coordinate our work in developing lay and clergy spiritual...

Discovery Event Registration Opens

Online registration is open now, for a series of Discovery Events focused on being, seeing, and doing what matters to God. Join Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., Conference and district superintendents, and other clergy and laity for a time of re-connecting with our passion for Jesus Christ and our compassion for all, as preparation for reaching those who are close to the heart of Jesus.   Explore the resources available to each church to help it fulfill its part in God's mission, and learn...

Plan to Attend a Discovery Event in 2012

Over the last several years, we in the California-Nevada Annual Conference have been changing how we live as a connection of churches. Many things have taken place: we have sought to "rethink, renew, and reform" around a network of circuits; we have devised a plan to encourage, equip, and position servant leaders – both lay and clergy – to join with God's mission in the world; we have dedicated ourselves not only to revitalizing existing congregations but also to creating...

2012 Bishop's Confirmation Retreat Registration Opens

Registration has opened for the 2012 Bishop's Confirmation Retreats – scheduled March 9-10 at Monte Toyon and May 18-19 at Camp Lodestar. Each retreat is an opportunity for confirmation candidates to engage in a high-energy, hands-on event through worship, workshops, and fellowship with Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. (resident bishop of the California-Nevada Annual Conference), workshop leaders, and other United Methodist youth. This can be a faith-deepening experience before, during, or...

Did You Read Bishop Brown's Advent Message?

Did you read Bishop Brown's Advent message? If not, be sure to do so. It's located on the Home Page at www.cnumc.org (scroll down to the Bishop's Greetings section), and in the Bishop's Articles section, located under the "Bishop" tab on the Home Page. Bishop Brown concludes his message with the hope that we enter this new year with new energy and new commitment to be the people God has called us to be, and to see the things that we have as an opportunity to be – and to do...

Bishop Brown Posts Advent Message

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has posted an Advent message to the Conference website. In it, the bishop says that in the Christian tradition, Advent is a time of beginning – and says, "It begins with hope as we anticipate the coming of the Savior."   Read the bishop's message in its entirety. It appears on the Home Page at www.cnumc.org (scroll down to the Bishop's Greetings section), and in the Bishop's Articles section, located under the...

Bishop Brown Posts Council of Bishops Letter on Conference Website

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has posted a letter from the Council of Bishops, with an introduction of his own, on the California-Nevada Annual Conference website at www.cnumc.org. The introduction and a link to the Council letter are on the Home Page, in the "Bishop's Greetings" section, just below "Events."   (Or access them by clicking on the "Bishop" tab in the main navigation bar, and then select "Bishop's Articles.")   The bishop's...

Laity Day 2011: An Extraordinary Day

By Gayle Shearman and Burt Yin Conference Co-Lay Leaders Enthusiasm burst forth at "Ordinary to Extraordinary – A Day for the Laity" this past weekend (Nov. 5, 2011). More than 80 disciples gathered at the United Methodist Center in West Sacramento for a day of inspired songs, video, keynotes, and conversation focusing on where God is calling each of us to do "Extraordinary" things in our ministry and outreach.   Gayle Shearman, Conference Co-Lay Leader,...

Bishop Brown Elected President-Designate of Council of Bishops

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., episcopal leader of the San Francisco Area of The United Methodist Church and resident bishop in the California-Nevada Annual Conference, has been elected president-designate of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Rosemarie Wenner of Germany was elected to the presidency. She will begin her term on the third day of the 2012 General Conference, succeeding Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, and will hold office for two years. Bishop Brown will succeed her in 2014.   The...

Bishop's Connectional UMVIM Trip to Fiji

It is Monday, Oct. 17. Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. and 25 others are on a connectional United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) trip to Fiji. Christopher Klein writes: The sweet sound of soft song enfolds us from behind – honored, as we always are, with the first row. We await the start of morning service back at Centenary. This "Lotu" is for the office staff and nearby ministers. The men and women now sing in call and response. It will be another full day...

Read Blog Posts of the Bishop's Delegation to Fiji

The delegation currently in Fiji, led by Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., is blogging about the experience. Read the posts at www.calnevumcfiji2011.wordpress.com. The Rev. Michael Love has been sending back photos of the trip, which have been posted to the First UMC of Palo Alto website at www.firstpaloalto.com....

Bishop Addresses 'Rest and Renewal' in New Article

A summer message by Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has just been posted to the Conference website. Appropriate to the season, its title and subject are "Rest and Renewal." Read the bishop's article in its entirety on the Home Page at cnumc.org (scroll down to "Bishop's Greetings"), or go to cnumc.org/bishop and click on "Bishop's Articles" in the menu on the right side of the page....

New Bishop's Article Posted

  "Fanning the Flame" is the title of the new article by Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., posted today to the Conference website at cnumc.org. To read the article in its entirety, go to http://cnumc.org/bishop and click on "Bishop's Articles" – or, on the Home Page, simply scroll down to "Bishop's Greetings."    ...

Bishops Hear Call to Lead Church's Future

By Heather Hahn* ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (UMNS) — United Methodist bishops must take a greater leadership role in shaping the church's future, the president of the Council of Bishops said on Monday (May 2, 2011).   "Today, I want to invite you, my sisters and brothers, not simply to lean but to lead into the future," said Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, referring to his comment at a previous meeting that the bishops should lean forward into the future, "to seize this...

UM Council of Bishops Goes 'Paperless' in Georgia, May 1-6

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., resident bishop of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, will be among the 113 United Methodist bishops from Africa, Europe, Asia and the U.S. who will gather in St. Simons Island, Georgia for the semi-annual Council of Bishops meeting, May 1-6. During the week, council members will attend strategic planning meetings and plenary sessions at Epworth by the Sea conference and retreat center. The meeting will include a memorial service on Sunday, May 1; the...

Bishop Calls on Cal-Nev UMs to 'Join the Movement of God's Mission' at Easter

In his latest article, published April 18, 2011, Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. calls on United Methodists in the California-Nevada Annual Conference to Catch Fire in 50 Days and Join the Movement of God's Mission in the World. Catch Fire in 50 Days is an Easter-to-Pentecost Bible study prepared by the Rev. Blake Busick and other members of the Conference's task force on congregational vitality. Bishop Brown asks that everyone participate in this "season of preparation for the work we will...