2026 Pacific Northwest Annual Conference Report
June 23-25, hybrid with in-person locations in Spokane Valley, Wash.
The 153rd session of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference was held in a hybrid format on June 23-25, 2026, at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church in Spokane Valley, Washington, with its legislative Focus Sessions (May 28, 29), Clergy Session (June 3) and a shared Greater Northwest Area Opening (May 20) preceding online. Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area presided.
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During a spirited Opening Worship service designed to honor and reflect stylistic elements of the African American tradition, Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth set the tone with a word both unflinching and pastoral. Speaking to the conference theme, “Love Boldly,” based on the new United Methodist Vision Statement and the familiar command from Matthew’s Gospel (Matt. 22:37-39), the bishop invited members to tell the truth about what love requires in this moment.
“This is not the time for a timid church,” Bishop Cedrick cautioned. “This is the time for courage. For clarity. For a love strong enough to take public form with moral clarity.” “Is it gonna be old or is it gonna be bold?” That is the question.
The bishop also encouraged members to pace themselves as they go about the work of loving boldly.
“Our body isn’t a machine. Your soul is not conference property. The church pays you, it does not own you.”
Opening motions, elections begin, and a new associate conference lay leader
An opening plenary session, held directly after worship, allowed for a mix of opening motions, instructions and procedural items to lay the groundwork for the work to come. An opportunity was provided for additional nominations for the General Conference and Western Jurisdictional Conference Delegation elections that would begin later in the day.
A proposed 2027 conference budget was presented by Eve Parrish, co-chair of the PNW Council on Finance and Administration. Due to a conference rule requiring its consideration after 24 hours, members would return to it the following day.
The opening session was followed in the afternoon by a laity session, during which members received additional delegation nominees and elected a new Associate Conference Lay Leader, Deaconess Sophia Agtarap.
Legislative actions taken by the conference
Throughout plenary sessions, conference members cast periodic ballots to elect the 2028 General and Western Jurisdictional Conference Delegation. Using much of the time available, the body completed its work on the final evening. The following individuals were elected to represent the PNW Conference.
| Position | Laity | Clergy |
| General Conference Delegate | Julia Frisbie, delegation lead | Kathleen Weber |
| General Conference Alternate | Patrick Scriven | Mele Taumoepeau Aho |
| Western Jurisdiction Delegate | Falisha Hola | Joe Kim |
| Western Jurisdiction Delegate | Erin Tombaugh | Elizabeth Ingram Schindler |
| Western Jurisdiction Delegate | Andy O’Donnell | Mary Stanton-Nurse |
| Western Jurisdiction Delegate | Sophia Agtarap | Megan Madsen |
| Western Jurisdiction Alternate | Nica Sy | Justin White |
| Western Jurisdiction Alternate | Joey Lopez | DJ del Rosario |
On a consent calendar from the Administrative Support Focus Session, the conference voted to support several petitions caring for the benefits of clergy, establishing minimum compensation for clergy, and the moving allowance. They agreed to the formation of a task force to explore if and how benefits might be offered for deacons, deaconesses and home missioners who aren’t currently eligible for the same from their existing appointments.
Separately, members approved the closure of two churches — Aberdeen First UMC and Seattle: Magnolia UMC — hearing some of each church’s history and honoring their years of faithfulness through prayerful liturgy.
The conference approved a request to support the Church Council of Greater Seattle at $6,500 for three years, starting in the current budget cycle and ending in 2028. A petition seeking to reimagine the formula used to calculate local church apportionments was referred to a study group after statements supporting that referral were offered by CFA Chair Rev. Melissa Ramming and Rev. Joe Kim, representing the petition writers.
When the conference budget came before members for consideration on the second day of conference, they approved a motion to reduce the amount presented by $242,827, asking for CFA to determine the necessary reductions and present a revised budget reflecting this decrease for consideration. Without sufficient time for CFA to do this work, it was announced that a Special Session would be necessary to complete this work. A date is anticipated in the coming months.
On the consent calendar from the Connecting for Mission Focus Session, members approved the PNW Conference Advance Specials with Mary Johnston Hospital and the Church Council of Greater Seattle, which were newly added. They also supported celebrating the new Feast of Creation on the first Sunday in September, or on another Sunday near the feast day.
Members approved, after substitution, legislation to provide a pathway for deaconesses and home missioners to retain conference membership in retirement. The conference also approved a petition supporting human rights in the Philippines and condemning violence, military aggression and murder, after receiving a substitute motion.
Two new items came before members, each arriving after the previously held Focus Sessions.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Committee on the Episcopacy, members considered and approved a new request empowering the Trustees to manage or sell the episcopal residence in Normandy Park. Doing so allows more flexibility in where current and future bishops live, with a net-zero impact on the conference budget.
An additional new item, brought to the floor by Joey Lopez, was a petition advocating conference support for the recently launched ‘No Hate in WA State’ campaign against two ballot initiatives in Washington State seen by many as targeting young LGBTQ+ students. After several testimonials from members in support, the conference voted overwhelmingly to endorse the campaign.
Toward the end of its plenary session, members approved the Nominations Report as presented by Nominations Committee Chair Rev. Derek Nakano. They also supported a plan to return to Spokane Valley UMC for its next regular session, June 17-19, 2027, after some debate.
Significant ministry reports received by members
Outgoing Inland and Seven Rivers Superintendent Daniel Miranda and New Connections UMC Pastor Cody Stauffer presented a video telling the story of the New Connections merger. The merger brought together the Asotin, Clarkston, Lewiston: First and Lewiston: Orchards congregations. Members celebrated the faithful step forward together.
In her Laity Address, PNW Conference Lay Leader Falisha Hola reflected on the conference theme, calling members to respond to fear, injustice, and uncertainty with resilient faith and action. Drawing on a Tongan proverb about seaweed that perseveres despite the ocean’s currents, she celebrated the resilience of the laity and their commitment to showing up, serving, and leading through every season.
A disaster response video presented by Kathy Bryson, PNW Disaster Response Co-Coordinator, highlighted how the PNW Conference responds to disasters with compassion, coordination, and long-term commitment, walking alongside communities through both immediate relief and ongoing recovery.
In an extended truth-telling report delivered by Rev. Drew Hogan, Ronda Cordill and Rev. Paul Mitchell, focused on the history and experiences of the Yakama people and the role Methodism and early leaders like Rev. James Wilbur played in their cultural genocide and financial exploitation. The report underscored the necessity of confronting difficult truths to foster understanding and promote reconciliation.
Rev. Molly Fraser and Armando Espinoza provided an update on the conference’s new Ministry Opportunity Fund grant process. The team is allocating up to $120k across two categories ($5k to $20k) over three annual cycles. Over the first two cycles, the fund has already issued 11 grants.
And the Environmental Stewardship Commission also offered a progress report, celebrating churches that are taking action to care for God’s good creation while providing support and resources. Eric Walker also celebrated several churches that have successfully secured grants to fund climate-friendly initiatives.
Celebrations and awards
Members thanked Bruce Galvin, who announced that he would retire after 51 years serving as the conference’s pensions officer. Andy Hendren, General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Wespath, was on hand for the celebration, speaking to the impact of his ministry across the church. Incoming chair Rev. Shane Moore also thanked outgoing Pensions Chair Jeff Johnson for his years of steady leadership.
A guest from Discipleship Ministries, Rev. Motoe Yamada Foor, presented the One Matters Award to Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church. The award is offered to a church that demonstrates significant revitalization in discipleship. In a moment of serendipity, Yamada Foor shared that the church’s pastor, Rev. Karen Yokota Love, had once been part of a young adult bible study group she led before Yokota Love went to seminary.
On several opportunities, the conference paused to celebrate with the Church the 70th anniversary of the ordination of women and the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Order of Deacons.
Falisha Hola, Patrick Scriven and Heather Blue from United Methodist Communications teamed up to announce the first-ever #BeUMC awards in the conference. The award recognizes individuals and churches that actively embody the denomination’s core mission and vision. Carolyn Stimbert, Rev. Pam Brokaw, and the Shelton and Garden Street United Methodist churches received the honor.
Angela Molloy, chair of the Disability Ministries Committee, awarded six churches for taking steps to be accessible to all people. Two churches — Des Moines UMC and Bremerton UMC — earned a silver satisfactory badge. Four churches — Wenatchee First UMC, Yakima: Wesley UMC, Ronald UMC, and Coeur d’Alene Community UMC — earned gold badges for going above and beyond ADA requirements.
On behalf of the PNW Board of Church and Society, and in partnership with United Women in Faith, Rev. Dave Wright announced the awarding of Peace with Justice Grants to seven ministries across the conference. Wright also announced that this year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipient is Rev. K. James Davis, in recognition of his decades of ministry and leadership advocating for peace, justice, and inclusion.
The conference also allocated time for a Ministry Fair, where different groups and ministries could share about their work and network with others. Held outdoors on a warm early-summer evening, the ice cream provided by the PNW United Women in Faith was a well-planned blessing.
Worshipful opportunities
On the first night of the annual conference, members gathered for a Memorial Service, where Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, who serves the California-Pacific Conference, offered a sermon of comfort, hope, and enduring faith for all who mourn. Drawing on personal experiences of grief and the promise of Hebrews 12, she encouraged attendees that “it’s a bold and beautiful thing to love even when that love could end in loss and loneliness.”
The bishop’s message reminded those gathered that they are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, urging them to persevere, trusting that God holds every tear and never leaves us alone.
Appropriately subdued and beautiful music, organized by Worship Team chair Rev. D Estelle Ramsay and conducted by soon-to-be-ordained deacon Rev. Joe Lee, accompanied members’ reflective moments as they remembered those they have lost. Lee also sang a somber and reflective rendition of “Give Me Jesus.”
The second day of the conference started with devotional time led by Rev. Lisa Talbott, who serves as GNW Assistant to the Bishop for Equity and Intercultural Competency. Talbott used the opportunity to mark the 70th anniversary of the ordination of women and the generations, both by blood and by faith, whose courage, faithfulness and resilience continue to shape the church today.
Later in the day, time was set aside in the schedule to celebrate and honor ministry transitions. For a second year, clergy and lay ministry appointments and assignments were symbolically fixed with liturgical parts filled by the bishops, superintendents, and lay leaders. This included blessing the new superintendents as the conference fully transitions to the new team-based superintendency model.
During the transition service, a symbolic mantle was passed from retiring elder Rev. Sue Ostrom to Rev. Drew Hogan, part of this year’s ordination class. Members also received a message from the retiree class that was interviewed over Zoom before the conference. Ten clergy members retired this year, having served a total of 276.5 years.
On the final day of conference in an Ordering of Ministry Service, members and guests celebrated the commissioning of one provisional elder —Wilma Reyes — and the ordination of one deacon —Joe Lee — and four elders — Mele Taumoepeau ‘Aho, Kate Crisci, Drew Hogan, and Catherine Lyle.
The service included performances of “You Will Be My Witnesses” by the AC Conference Choir and “I Am The Church” by a choir that included the children participating in the childcare program, each to the delight of those in attendance.
Guest preacher Bishop Mande Muyombo, resident bishop of the North Katanga Area, delivered an encouraging message, riffing off the line “Can something good come out of the West?” A question he answered with an emphatic “yes!” as he shared about deep relationships of nurture that were developed when he spent time in nearby Coeur d’Alene years ago.
In words addressed to those being commissioned and ordained, Muyombo offered a challenge to all. He reminded attendees that a call to love is a call to emptying; a call to action for our communities and us.
“It is your pastoral responsibility”, Bishop Muyombo offered, “to be a conduit of God’s love.”
During worship, conference offerings were taken for The Endowment for Theological Education in the Central Conferences, the regional faith reporting of FāVS News, and the Mission Community Outreach Center, a ministry with deep ties to Spokane Valley UMC.
- Membership stands at 24,611, down 1,317 from the previous year.
- Worship attendance stands at 9,570, up 260.
- Church school attendance stands at 1,629, down 73.
- Professions or reaffirmations of faith for 2025 totaled 441, up 26 from 2024.
- Adults and young adults in small groups for 2025 totaled 7,361, up 136 from 2024.
- Worshippers engaged in mission for 2025 totaled 7,894, down 51 from 2024.
— Patrick Scriven, Director of Communications, Pacific Northwest Conference
Postscript
