Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Conference Will Not Return to Boise, Idaho, in 2027 After Debate Over Minister’s Safety

The Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church will not meet in Idaho in 2027. The conference was held June 18-20 at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise under the theme “Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully and Lead Courageously.” Boise State Public Radio reported that the gathering was marked by a lengthy and often emotional debate over whether the conference should return to Idaho.

The annual conference represents 145 United Methodist churches in Oregon and Idaho. Its agenda included decisions on an annual budget and clergy compensation, along with presentations on food pantries and shelters for people in need.

Less than two hours into the third day, a clergy member from an Oregon congregation made an unexpected motion. “We move that the 2027 annual conference be outside of Idaho and to a location that is safe for all,” the member said. “Harm has already been done at this year’s conference.”

The member explained that the day before, while accompanying a spouse to a local hospital for emergency care, they had experienced what they described as microaggressions that made them feel very anxious and unsafe. They asked the body to consider moving the next annual conference to a location where more of the community would feel safe and be able to take part. The reporter’s note states that the clergy member is nonbinary. The outlet is not identifying them or their congregation, because a regional spokesperson said they have been the target of “hateful rhetoric in online forums and hate mail.” The motion’s concern for safety and for the participation of vulnerable members of the community reflects the call to defend those who cannot easily defend themselves (Psalm 82:3).

Greater Northwest Episcopal Area Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, who leads a region that includes Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and churches in British Columbia, Canada, described the events as a convergence of concerns. “All of that became an opportunity for the body to talk about … LGBTQ sentiment in Idaho, so it’s kind of a perfect storm,” he said.

Bridgeforth spoke with Boise State Public Radio reporter George Prentice about the emotional debate during this year’s conference and the fallout from the decision on next year’s meeting.

Source: Read the original report