A full day’s work and an open invitation: #PNWAC26 Begins

Story by Sophia Agtarap | Photos by Patrick Scriven

After a warm welcome from Inland and Seven Rivers District Superintendent Daniel Miranda, an opportunity to learn about New Connections UMC, and greetings from members of Spokane Valley UMC’s hospitality team, the Opening Plenary was underway.

Statements and presentations from Accessibility, Safe Plan, VPOLL Instructions, Opening motions, the Rules Committee, Nominations, General Conference Nominations, and Focus Session reports were delivered and set the stage for the day’s work. The afternoon continued with awards and recognitions, and reports from Disability Ministries, Disaster Response and Commission on Environmental Stewardship rounded out the afternoon before the Gathering of the Orders/Clergy Gathering and Laity Sessions convened.

The Laity heard from nominees to General Conference whose nominations were submitted in advance, while names were also taken from the floor. Deaconess Sophia Agtarap was elected Associate Conference Lay Leader, continuing the work of Andy O’Donnell, who has held this role since 2022.

Voting began before dinner, and no delegates were elected to General Conference in the first round. The Focus Sessions continued, including the passage of a funding request for the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

The Plenary concluded with a moving presentation from the Circle of Indigenous Ministries as they invited us to tell the truth and bear witness to the harms of colonialism that played out in this region, in particular by and through the early Methodist Church, through clergy like the Rev. James H. Wilbur, who ruled with a heavy hand modeling and claiming the standard of “The Plow and the Bible.” 

The invitation to emotional repair and to bring repentance and healing to Indigenous communities marginalized and traumatized by the Church continues to be an open invitation through the Circle of Indigenous Ministries.