The Pacific Northwest Conference has changed significantly over the last decade. We have fewer churches, fewer people in the pews, and a very different distribution of congregation sizes than we did in 2016. But the mission field hasn't shrunk. Patrick Scriven looks at what the data shows and considers what it might mean for how we move forward together.

In his latest post, Rev. Paul Graves reflects on the power of small groups to effect change, drawing on his experience with a Saturday morning street corner vigil at his Hillsboro retirement community. Connecting Margaret Mead, the NO KINGS protests, and a poet's words about civic courage, Graves argues that small, seemingly isolated acts of resistance add up to something meaningful.

Something is shifting in the life of the United Methodist Church. Rev. David Valera, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference, reflects on the questions he keeps hearing in conversations with clergy and laity: Where is God leading us? In the middle of change and uncertainty, he points us toward a steady, grounded hope.

The 2026 Ethnic Summit gathered leaders of color in Portland for three days of renewal, honest conversation, and cross-cultural connection. More than a conference, Rev. David Valera writes that the event created intentional space for rest, reflection, and relationship-building across racial and cultural lines. Participants left with renewed clarity and purpose — and with deepened commitments to carry the work forward.

Knowing that injustice exists isn't enough — we also need a theory of how change actually happens. Building on a recent article about change theory, Andrew Lang explores what it takes to build authentic relationships across difference. His answer: it starts with inner capacity. Learning to stay present, ask curious questions, and engage honestly — even when it's hard.