Cal-Pac Announcement: Interim Justice and Compassion Ministries Team – March 7, 2025
Cal-Pac Interim Justice and Compassion Ministries Team Announced
North District News – March 2025
Current resources, program support, related ministries, contacts, departure of Rev. Dr. Denyse Barnes, Director of Justice and Compassion Ministries.
Cal-Pac Digest March 5, 2025
2025 Clear openings, update on Cal-Pac conference structure, 2025 clergy appointments and more.
Cal-Pac Conference Restructuring, March 4, 2025 letter
Read about the General Council on Finance and Administration recommendations which include a significant restructuring and simplification of the Conference staff in finance and administration.
Update on Cal-Pac Conference Structure
Cal-Pac Digest February 26, 2025
Western Jurisdiction Leadership gathering encourages “embodied sanctuary” in divisive times.
Cal-Pac Digest February 19, 2025
View the most recent message from Bishop Escobedo-Frank during her visit to Community UMC of Pacific Palisades, as well as a report from The Cal-Nev Conference and the Cal-Pac Conference who have teamed together to provide the anchor group of volunteers and supplies at the recent Eaton Fire Recovery Center.
2025 Annual Conference – June 11-14 – Indian Wells Spring
Your 2025 Annual Conference team has been planning for months, and we’re excited to begin sharing updates with you! Read on for hotel location and reservation information and the schedule overview.
AC2025 Location & Schedule Announcement
A pastoral message from Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
“Jesus calls every generation to wholehearted discipleship: opening our hearts to the people we encounter daily; practicing compassion with our families and neighbors; honoring the dignity and worth of all people near and far; recognizing the systems that destroy human lives through poverty, war and exclusion; and advocating justice and care in our churches, communities and social structures. God calls us further to be stewards of creation, caring for the skies and waters, soil and plants, and all beings.” – preamble to United Methodist Social Principles
Like all of you, your Western Jurisdiction bishops have been paying attention to the stories in our national news feeds that showcase, above all, how deeply fractured our country is right now. Like you, we’ve felt Anxious. Sad. Angry. Numb.
As United Methodists, we turn to scripture, to our Social Principles, and our own lived experiences to inform how we are called to put love into action in this season of our country’s history.
Your Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops humbly offers this video for you to watch or show in your local ministry setting as we seek to reclaim the narrative of love, justice and mercy for a time such as this.
As you embody what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in this time, you are encouraged to keep sharing the stories that highlight the beauty and diversity of God’s creation.
In gratitude and solidarity,
Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops
Click image above to play video
Cal-Pac Fire Update January 26, 2025
As we move towards the next stage in the recovery and support of fire victims across the Los Angeles area (and beyond!) there are a number of opportunities for our churches to engage in assisting those affected as well as helping our Disaster Response team and UMCOR in carrying out their work.
- Stephen Ministers – we already have a number of folx lined up to help with grief counseling and support and would like to now call for those of you who are qualified Stephen’s ministers to add your names to our list. In addition to working with the fire victims themselves as we move to helping with sifting, we also need support for those people who are working directly with the victims as they listen to their stories and hold space for them. This work is emotionally challenging, and they will also need someone to talk to and help them process. Please submit a response form if you are qualified and interested.
- Fire buckets – We have obtained a warehouse space in Pasadena to store supplies for UMCOR and disaster response. Now we need to add to the supplies there. Churches can assemble fire buckets (you can find the details here)
- Sifters construction – These are tools which can be constructed by church teams – you find the details here.
- Cleaning Kits – these can help those who were evacuated and now need to clean their homes. You can find the details for these kits here.
- Document Retrieval – For those churches which are close by to the fire locations you can offer assistance for folx who have lost everything by hosting a document retrieval service. If you have space to set up a “clinic” for this purpose and some laptops to assist then here is form which can help you help those who need to restore all of their personal documentation.
Cal-Pac Fire Update January 24, 2025
Cal-Pac JCEMT Immigration Strategy Group Update
Cal-Pac Fire Update January 15, 2025
WILDFIRE UPDATES
We continue to pray for our congregations and communities during the current fire disaster. Current updates and resources can be found on our website: www.calpacumc.org/lafires2025/
- Hours of operation for both locations will be 9:00AM to 8:00PM.
Cal Pac Fire Update January 14, 2025
REQUEST OR OFFER HELP
We have created a simple submission form where you can offer donated items, temporary housing, or make requests for support. SUBMIT NOW >>
DISTRICT SUPPORT CONTACTS
If you or your church needs support or would like to offer help, please reach out to a designated contact from your district below for coordination:
WEST: Rev. Allison Mark, communications@faithsouthbay.org
NORTH: Rev. Alex Powell, info@bfumc.net, 818-845-1531
EAST: Dorman Jung, depjung9@gmail.com
CALPAC: Rev. Dr. Denyse Barnes, dbarnes@calpacumc.org
SUPPLIES AVAILABLE
In partnership with FEMA, two (2) Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)s are open as of 01/14/25:
- DRC #1 (Palisade Fire): Westside Pavilion, 18000 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064.
- DRC #2 (Eaton Fire): Pasadena Convention Ctr, 300 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101.
Two additional FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers will open on Wednesday, 1/15/25:
- UCLA Research Park West (Palisade Fire; 10850 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064)
- Pasadena City College – Community Education Center (Eaton Fire; 3035 E. Foothill Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107).
- Hours of operation for both locations will be 9:00AM to 8:00PM.
Cal-Pac Fire Update January 13, 2025
